A new year, a new book-buying ban

Happy New Year one and all! I hope you had a good festive period and warmest wishes for a 2015 filed with books, tea, cake and all things lovely. It's that time of year again when we are all setting ourselves book-related resolutions and goals for the year ahead, and I can't resist joining in the fun and good intensions with my own personal reading challenge.

This time last year, I embarked on a six month book-buying ban, which turned out to be the perfect thing not only to help keep my bookshelves under control a little, but it also broadened my reading horizons considerably. Through using the library instead of bookshops, I discover new authors, tried out (and loved) new genres, and generally had my reading spirits rejuvenated.

This year, I am going to embark on a similar challenge, but I am upping the stakes a wee bit: I will not buy any new books until I have read all the unread fiction on my bookshelves (or wherever else I have books lurking). I'm not sure how long this will take me... it could be 3 month, it could be 3 years (though hopefully not!) To kick this challenge off, I have decided to accept the TBR Double Dog Dare over at James Reads Books:

"All you have to do to win the TBR Double Dog Dare is to read only from your TBR pile between January 1 and April 1. You can still buy books, you just can’t read them until the TBR Double Dog Dare is over. (You can make exceptions for books clubs, arcs, and other things you really want to make exceptions for. The TBR Double Dog Dare is all about having fun. So if you join in for a week or a month, no worries.)"

I'll ignore the bit about buying books of course, but I do love that you can make exceptions. Mine will be that I am permitted to read any books I have already placed a reservation for at the library that arrives during this time period. There are a couple I am very keen to read. (In particular, I can't wait to get my hands on Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven, which I have seen glowingly reviewed numerous places.)

At the end of the dare, I will allow myself "free rein" with library books, but will keep going with my book-buying ban until all books in my TBR pile have been read (or donated to charity in the case of those I really don't think I'll read). I should admit that my TBR pile isn't as insurmountable as some. It's probably more resembles the Pennines than the Himalayas, but nonetheless I would still like to climb it.

Another confession is that rather than being scared of this challenge (a perfectly rational reaction for a bookworm to have to a book-buying ban), I am excited. After my experiences last year, I have learned how invigorating these challenges can be, like a breath of fresh air ruffling my leaves of my dusty book brain. I can't wait to see what this year's challenge brings and what new discoveries I make.

So, that's my little bookish New Year's Resolution. What goals have you set yourself and what challenges have you signed up for? Anyone else trying aiming to take on their whole TBR pile this year? I'd love to hear from you!