SuBsalabim [SuB = the German equivalent for TBR pile & Simsalabim = German equivalent of abracadabra] is a TBR reduction challenge a couple of friends and I started last year. Basically, every month we get a TBR pile of five books, one pick of each of the other contenders. The goal is to read as many of these as possible during the month or the year to score points. The gist is to read books one might not choose oneself to read next. It’s fun. And we’re more or less competitive and constantly argue about maxing out the fairness of our scoring system.
October
Alex’s Pick: Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1) by Seanan McGuire
On my TBR since: 2016
Background: Um, so … I don’t really remember why I got this except for it sounding quite intriguing? Deliciously dark and haunting – just perfect for the autumn season!
Eva’s Pick: The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway
On my TBR since: 2014
Background: A gorgeous cover, time travel and a timecrossed romance – this is so down my alley!
Andrea’s Pick: Deception’s Princess (Deception’s Princess, #1) by Esther Friesner
On my TBR since: 2014
Background: The cover! The cover! A gorgeous redhead in the midst of shades of green. I would have bought this book without even reading the blurb based on that alone. It being about a medieval Irish princess is like the icing on the cake. The whole packages gives me ‘the Irish version of Merida’ vibes. Let’s see whether I’ll love Maeve as much as her Scottish counterpart.
Steffi’s Pick: Laura und das Labyrinth des Lichts [Laura and the Labyrinth of Light] (Laura, #6) by Peter Freund
On my TBR since: 2007
Background: Ten years. Ten freaking years. I’m a little shocked. Laura used to be a huge part of my teens. Every year, I got the newest book for Christmas and devoured it during the holidays. So why is this one still on my TBR, you might ask. Well, because the series was supposed to end after the 5th book – and what an ending it was. Mind … blown. To this day, I’m kind of surprised it made the cut because it’s one of the most unsatisfying and yet totally reasonable endings. And then this one was announced and I wasn’t all too happy about it. And yet, I had to have it. And then I did something totally stupid and skimmed through it and completely spoiled myself – developments I really didn’t like at all, so I was in no mood to read it. Unfortunately, even ten years weren’t able to make me forget all of what I read back then. I still hope I’ll be able to somewhat enjoy it.
Isi’s Pick: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
On my TBR since: 2017
Background: I must admit that I’m not really familiar with Norse mythology. I know some bits and pieces from books, but mostly the twisted version that is the recent Marvel movies. And those I only watched because I really love Loki, mostly because of Tom Hiddleston. Oh, and of course I know about Odin’s horse Sleipnir (which is actually Loki’s son from when he turned into a mare to seduce a stallion to make sure the wall of Asgard wasn’t finished in time – or something. It’s really weird).
I’m waiting for the second Wayward Children novella and … there’s no end in sight. v-v The official pub date was in October, I think. Ordered it online (not Amazon, don’t worry ;D) in August too, and back then the info was it’d be shipped within two weeks. Six weeks later, I sent them an e-mail asking when it would actually be shipped. Supposedly on October 25 now, but with my luck it’s gonna be another month or so. THAT BOOK BETTER BE GOOD.
I ordered that one just after I finished reading the first. Also no sign of it so far, but it wasn’t that long ago anyway. Let’s see who’ll get it first – if we get it at all xD !
If you get yours first, I might end up in a screaming fit. xD Mine wasn’t shipped today either. It’s been two months, goddammit! (And that first October in the first comment was supposed to be an August …)