The OcTBR Challenge!

Today's interview is a MUST-READ for anyone with
​a pile of books begging to be read! 

Check it out and then join the challenge! 

THE OcTBR CHALLENGE!

​Created by​
Dan
Kathryn
Anna 

 
Let's start with the most important question: What is the OcTBR Challenge? 
 
Put simply, it’s a challenge for the month of October to read through as many of your unread books as possible. I think a lot of us are pretty guilty at collecting amazing books we want to read, but never actually getting around to reading them. Well, now we’ve set aside an entire month to do just that!
 
And who's behind this fantastic idea?
 
It was conjured into being by Kathryn, Dan and Anna on Twitter – proving that procrastinating on social media when you should be writing can occasionally be constructive.
 
Who can join in? How do people participate?  
 
It’s open to everyone! And although the aim is simply to celebrate reading for the month - so you can be as involved (or not) as you want online - we’re hoping people get into the spirit of things (and there will be prizes for those who do). We’re particularly excited for 1 October where we’ll be encouraging everyone to share photos of their TBR piles. Otherwise, you can sign up for blog posts, guest articles and updates on our website www.OcTBRChallenge.org. 
 
What made you start this? 
 
It came about from a silly tweet about taking a month off simply to read through your TBR piles, which then became real when the three of us realised “we should actually do this!”. Of course, in the real world you can’t really take a month off work to read. But when you look at events like NaNoWriMo, you can see that sometimes you just need a little encouragement and a competitive spirit and you can somehow find the time to get things done. We’re hoping that at the very least we can tap into this same spirit and help turn October into a celebration of catch-up reading.
 
What's in your own TBR piles? 
 
Kathryn: Kick the Moon by Muhammad Khan, Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch, Scythe by Neil Shusterman, Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig, A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman - to name a few!!
 
Anna: Mostly Swedish authors in my TBR pile! I do have Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig in it as well. More than one book by John Ajvide Lindqvist (the Swedish Stephen King, only better and creepier), C.S Lewis Perelandra, a reread. Swedish criminal professor Leif GW Perssons memoars, Jonas Gardells memoars, and Vaesen - Spirits and Monsters of Scandinavian Folklore, a beautiful, richly illustrated book that's both a wonderful read, and very decorative in my bookshelf. Will order more books very shortly, which is exciting!
 
Dan: I have a very chunky copy of Wanderers (Chuck Wendig) sitting on my bedside table, which I’m dying to read. But I’ve also got knockouts like Children of Blood and Bone (Tomi Adeyemi), The Tiger’s Daughter (K. Arsenault Rivera), Phasma (Delilah S. Dawson), Luna (Ian McDonald), The Beast of Nightfall Lodge (S.A. Sidor), and Stories and Spilled Tea (a collection of short stories by Michael J. Martinez) in my pile. I have no idea how I’m going to prioritise them for October (although we have a great guest post on the website about that very problem). 
 
Do you have any recommendations in case people want to build a TBR pile in time for the challenge? 
 
Kathryn: One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan, Tin by Padraig Kenny, The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge, and pretty much any Terry Pratchett book. But then I am a kid lit and SFF nut!
 
Anna: It doesn't have to cost a lot of money to fill up your TBR pile. A second hand bookstore can be a wonderful place, some real gems to be found. Your local library is well worth a visit, where you can get help finding almost anything! If you do want to spend a bit, take the opportunity to buy that book you've been wanting to read for ages, or the beautiful one that would stand out on your bookshelf.
 
Dan: Go to your local bookstore. Browse. Pick up all the books with cool covers that catch your eye and read the blurbs on the back. Whatever makes your heart race a little faster, either buy them or get yourself to your nearest library and get hold of copies. And if you only find one book that strikes a chord, no problem! Just spend October savouring it. :)

How cool is this?
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