TBR CAT -- Planning Thread

Let's get this set up! If you have a suggestion for a month's theme, go ahead and suggest it now. If you're willing to host a month, pick one. And if you want to host a specific topic, specify which month. Hopefully, that will get us set up in plenty of time for those who like to plan their reading ahead of time.

We can also discuss the topics as they're suggested.

TBR CAT:

January: dudes22 -- First in, last out - read one of the oldest members of your tbr

February: Helenliz -- A book you borrowed to read and still haven't got to

March: sallylou61 -- Book acquired on/for trips or for a special occasion

April: mathgirl40 -- Book originally acquired for an LT group read or challenge

May: LibraryCin -- Book that I keep looking at, but never manage to open

June: donan -- Book bullet (i.e. book suggested by someone else, not necessarily on LT)

July: LittleTaiko -- Book by an author with more than one book on your TBR shelf

August: The_Hibernator -- Book purchased with great excitement and with plans to read right away that is somehow still on my tbr a year later

September: Robertgreaves -- Classics I feel I should read

October: DeltaQueen50 -- Book purchased because of its visual appeal (striking cover or colors, beautiful edition, etc.)

November: MissWatson -- Book given to me as a gift

December: RidgewayGirl -- A book I bought because it was so cheap (library sale, remainder table, etc)

Suggestions: (I'll collect the suggestions here for easy reference.)

Book that I keep looking at, but never manage to open

First in, last out - read one of the oldest members of your tbr

Book given to me as a gift

Book originally started or acquired for an LT group read (encompass CATs, KITs, BingoDOG as well as challenges from other LT groups)

Book purchased with great excitement and with plans to read right away that is somehow still on my tbr a year later

(These were all suggestions from the initial CAT planning thread. They can be modified or discarded if y'all want.)

Book bullet (i.e. book suggested by someone else, not necessarily on LT)

Book on subject or in genre don't usually read (but acquired anyway)

Book acquired for/on trip or at a special occasion

Book purchased because of its visual appeal (striking cover or colors, beautiful edition, etc.)

"Classics" that I feel I should read one day (so I bought them), but that day hasn't quite materialized years later

Library book renewed (or checked out again) at least twice

A book I bought because it was so cheap (library sale, remainder table, etc)

A book I bought and then learned it came late in a series I've never started

Authors with more than one book on your TBR shelves

Not my first rodeo! Meaning read a book that you have started and never finished

Following are just suggestions:
Book bullet (i.e. book suggested by someone else, not necessarily on LT)
Book originally acquired for a LT CAT or BingoDOG challenge (perhaps combine with group read suggestion)
Book on subject or in genre don't usually read (but acquired anyway)
Book acquired as souvenir of trip or special occasion

>2 RidgewayGirl: >3 sallylou61: I'll be happy to host "Book originally acquired for an LT group read or challenge", if that theme ends up being chosen. That will encompass CATs, KITs, BingoDOG as well as challenges from other LT groups. Hopefully, everyone will be able to find at least one book that fits this theme ... or dozens as in my case. :)

April is a good month for me, but I'm flexible.

I like all the other themes suggested, but especially "Book given to me as a gift." I find it impossible to get rid of a book that someone gave me as gift, no match how unappealing it is!

>3 sallylou61: Added your suggestions to the list.

>4 mathgirl40: Signed you up for April. I'll fill in the themes later, if that's ok?

>5 RidgewayGirl: Yes, that's fine, thanks!

>4 mathgirl40: - Nobody ever gives me books because they know how many I have and are afraid they'd give me a duplicate. At least I assume that's the reason. But I'll find something.

Kay - I'll take January and I'd like to host " first in, last out"

Seeing my reading eyes are always larger than my reading time, I have quite a lot of books tbr. I'll offer to host a month (gulp, not done this before). And I'd like to suggest "A book you borrowed to read and still haven't got to"

I suffer from this as the library allows me up to 20 renewals of a book (assuming no-one else has reserved it), meaning I could have a book out for 63 weeks. I've not yet pushed it that far, but there's time yet...

I don't mind when, but let's say February, to give me as little time as possible to chicken out >;-)

A couple more topic suggestions:

--Book purchased because of its visual appeal (striking cover or colors, beautiful edition, etc.).
--"Classics" that I feel I should read one day (so I bought them), but that day hasn't quite materialized years later. I have tons of these.

>9 Helenliz: Wow, your library beats mine--we get 15 renewals if no one has requested it. And (hangs head in shame) I *have* used the maximum on several occasions...

>9 Helenliz: Yay, Helen! Glad you're going for it and hosting a month :D

Ok, I've added names and Helenliz's suggestion to the lists.

How about:

A book I bought because it was so cheap (library sale, remainder table, etc)

A book I bought and then learned it came late in a series I've never started.

I would like to take March, and would prefer to do Classics I feel I should read unless kac522, who suggested it, wants it. If that is the case, my choice would be book acquired as a souvenir of trip or on special occasion. (I have a lot of books I've bought at the Virginia Book Festival but have never read.) Of course, the topic would need to be one selected in the final cut.

So, I may be adjusting this slightly to play along. I consider my "tbr" as anything I have adding to my list of books I want to get to some day, not just books I own. I think I might have to slightly alter some categories to fit that.

That being said, I'll peruse the suggested themes to see what I might want to host...

ETA: If we decide to include this theme, I think I'd like to host it:
"Book that I keep looking at, but never manage to open"

>15 sallylou61: You are welcome to lead a classics month--I was just tossing out ideas.

Suggestions added.

LibraryCin, is there a month you'd prefer?

Do we want to continue to make suggestions until, say, November 20th? Is that enough time?

>18 RidgewayGirl: No preference, really, but if we want to just keep going in order, you can put me in for May. If someone else really wants May, I can switch.

Let's change my suggestion, "Book acquired as souvenir of trip or special occasion" to
Acquired for/on trip or at a special occasion

Making it a souvenir is too limiting.

Thanks.

>17 kac522: Thanks.

Will allowances be made for those of us who don't get library books if that's the challenge? Or could Kindle Unlimited count as a library? The book is borrowed and you can only have so many books out at a time.

>22 owlie13: you can borrow from a lot of sources that are not a library. Books borrowed from friends & family, maybe? From Little free libraries? Even bookcrossing books, as the idea is that you release the book you've found back into the wider world again. I don't know how Kindle unlimited works, but if it is something that you have to "return" a book in order to download another, that sounds a lot like borrowing a book to me.

I'm excited for this CAT! I would love to host a month and I'm flexible as to which month.

>22 owlie13: Remember that the CATs are optional and designed to be dipped in and out of as desire and opportunity allows. They're just a way of making our reading more fun, and for us to have an opportunity to discuss books. Don't feel obligated. And CATs are entirely up to you. If you want to count kindle books, or that book your mother keeps asking you to return, that's entirely up to you.

>24 donan: I've marked you in for June, but we can rearrange as necessary later. Consider it a place marker.

>20 sallylou61: I've added your variation to the original suggestion.

>2 RidgewayGirl: Hi Kay,

I would like the phrase
Book acquired as souvenir of trip or special occasion/
to be dropped from the suggestion, and only the second phrase used.

Thanks.

>28 sallylou61: Done.

As a topic suggestion, authors with more than one book on your TBR shelves.

>30 Robertgreaves: Added.

These suggestions are great! I really like the "bought it cheap, such as at a sale"--I have lots of those!! Also ones I keep opening and looking at but never manage to read, and the classics idea. Lots of fun!

I would be happy to host a month - how about October?

>32 LadyoftheLodge: I was just coming to suggest 'bought because it was a bargain', but someone beat me to it!

I think I'd be able to find something for nearly all of the suggested categories so far, with the exception of 'bought for an LT group read/challenge' - I think I've always just raided what was already on Mt TBR for any challenge, rather than buy something new specifically for a challenge. Although if that category could be opened up to also include real life book groups, I'd be able to find something for that as well.

>33 DeltaQueen50: I've put you down for October.

>34 Jackie_K: You can decide for yourself what does and doesn't count.

Topic suggestion: Not my first rodeo! Meaning read a book that you have started and never finished.

>36 Tess_W: Oh my, I've got more of those than I want to think about!

>34 Jackie_K:, I'm glad you said that--I was feeling a little bit lazy for never being willing to go to a store or library to complete a challenge lol. The best I could do would be to choose an ARC from my pile of books waiting to be reviewed, or one of those few books I've gotten from Member Giveaways that are also waiting to be reviewed!

>34 Jackie_K: >38 whitewavedarling: The actual category proposed was "originally started or acquired for an LT group read or challenge". So the book doesn't need to have been bought for that purpose. Several times, I'd picked out something from my TBR pile and started it for an LT challenge ... and then lost momentum when we reached the end of the month and I was only 10% through the book. :)

>39 mathgirl40:, ah, good to know--I got caught up in discussion and missed/forgot the original phrasing!

>36 Tess_W: Added.

There are five months that are still open for volunteers (hint, hint).

We have fifteen potential topics. Please toss in your idea if you have one you'd like to see.

Suggestions are open until the 20th around noonish, EST.

What would people prefer -- that we vote on which suggestions to adopt, or have each host choose one?

Since there are only 15, I think we should let the host choose. Seems like it would be less work than setting up a vote just to eliminate 3.

I love voting on them, but that's a really good point about only eliminating 3 using a vote. Maybe not worth it.

Unless there are any that anyone has a significant objection to, I think leave it up to the hosts.

I think leave it up to the hosts, too.I can take August.

I could take November.

>46 The_Hibernator: and >47 MissWatson: Done and thanks to you both.

Two spots remain!

I'll volunteer for July.

>49 LittleTaiko: Done!

So, this was the one I said earlier that (if chosen), I'd like to host in May. :-) I guess we're choosing ourselves!

ETA: If we decide to include this theme, I think I'd like to host it:
"Book that I keep looking at, but never manage to open"

>51 LibraryCin: LOL that would not really narrow it down for me!

>51 LibraryCin: Done.

We still need a few hosts over at the CalendarCAT thread. Feel free to jump in!

>52 Tess_W: I guess you'll have lots of choices, then! :-)

Whoa! Wait - I think I only signed up for one month, not two! It looks like September might still be open. I think I said I'd do May.

>56 LibraryCin: Good catch! I've taken you off of September.

Folks, September is still up for grabs.

>57 RidgewayGirl: Thanks!

I'll volunteer for September

Thanks, Robert. You've been added to the list.

TBR CAT wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2019_TBRCAT

We just need to add in the themes when we figure them out.

Do we decide now which themes we want to host or wait until it's our month?

I think some hosts have expressed a preference already. (I know I did!).

Let's wait until the 20th, in case anyone has another potential theme to suggest. And then I'll attach themes to names based on your stated preference.

So if you have ideas, it's not too late to bring them up, and if you've signed on to host a month, feel free to keep an eye on the suggestions and then voice your preference now or after the 20th. If you've already chosen, I'll add that to the main list on the 20th, but feel free to change your mind.

My own preference would be for the books acquired on/for trips or for a special occasion, but I have acquired books for nearly every other reason mentioned here, too. So I'm flexible.

>65 MissWatson: I'm so impressed with all of you who know exactly which theme they want to host! There are so many interesting ones.

But it's probably wise to grab your first choice and change later, since they'll be assigned on a who-requested-it-first basis.

I could definitely find a book for almost all of the options suggested so far. My preference would be to host authors with more than one book on your TBR shelf if nobody else has claimed that one.

Has anyone claimed First In Last Out?

I have - #8

Classics?

>70 Robertgreaves: Hi Robert, I had requested it in #15, but would be glad if you did it instead. I realized after requesting it that March is a very busy month for me with the Virginia Festival of the Book. It occurs over 5 days, and I always buy books. Most of my classics are long, and I would prefer to choose a different topic where my TBR books would be shorter in length.

As mentioned earlier, I'll be happy to take "book originally started or acquired for an LT group read or challenge" if no one else wants it.

>71 sallylou61: Agreed then. I will do classics.

If Robert Greaves takes classics, I would like to do book given to me as a Gift. All of my other favorite topics have already been spoken for. (I'm assuming that a person's first choice takes preference over a second choice; don't want to use the word "trumps". I had listed acquired for/on a trip or at special event (using the old terminology) as a alternate in #15.)

I see Robert has already agreed to do classics

>74 sallylou61: I'm happy to swap if you would rather do the special occasion/event/trip. Books given as a gift also live on my shelves.

Is " book purchased with great excitement" taken already?

>76 The_Hibernator: I think that one is still up.

My plan is that on Tuesday I'll start at the top and match hosts with themes. If you've changed your mind, or switched with someone, I'll change the list as I go. I expect to make mistakes, so please take a look and correct me as needed.

>75 MissWatson: Thanks, MissWatson, I would like to swap if that is okay with you. I have a lot of special occasion books left to read.

>79 sallylou61: Yes, of course, you're welcome.

I've assigned topics. Please check your topic and make sure I've gotten it right and let me know if I haven't.

DeltaQueen50 and donan, you still have to pick your topics. Here are the remaining choices:

Book bullet (i.e. book suggested by someone else, not necessarily on LT)

Book on subject or in genre don't usually read (but acquired anyway)

Book purchased because of its visual appeal (striking cover or colors, beautiful edition, etc.)

Library book renewed (or checked out again) at least twice

A book I bought and then learned it came late in a series I've never started

>81 RidgewayGirl: Looks good. Thanks!

>81 RidgewayGirl: Oh, put me down for the "Book purchased because of its visual appeal (striking cover or colors, beautiful edition, etc.)" - I know I have done that more than a few times!

>81 RidgewayGirl: I'll take book bullet. Thanks!

And we are good to go! See you all in January, when Betty will kick the year off with First In, Last Out.

Fantastic - I've almost finished planning my reads for this challenge next year. Once I've finished December's ColourCAT book I'll have the wonderful pleasure of digging out all the paper books I have planned for this CAT and for the Non-Fiction challenge in the 75 group, and then making a very satisfying pile of books to savour.

>86 Jackie_K: I spent hours over the Thanksgiving weekend doing just that! It was like a scavenger hunt, trying to locate all the books in the many places they are hiding in my house. Now I need to place the sticky notes on the books to remind myself of the months and topics. Seems as if I forget something instantly if I don't write it down!

>87 LadyoftheLodge: I have lists for the two challenges on my bedside table, so I don't lose them. That also helps me remember the ebooks I will read (as obviously they can't go into the physical book pile). I will also go through my Jar of Fate towards the end of the year and dig out all the titles I'm hoping to read (I'll put any titles I don't read back in so they can have their chance another time) and keep them separately too.

This year I found there were only 2 or 3 books that I'd chosen for a challenge where, when it came down to it, I just wasn't in the mood and chose something else instead. I know planning books to read in advance doesn't work for everyone, but I'm always really chuffed when I find that there's a book on my TBR that meets a challenge, so I'm happy to leave it until the right month for the challenge.

>88 Jackie_K: Oh, the Jar of Fate! I have one of those too, but it has not gotten much business lately! I have an old-school type composition book in which I write my lists. I have been using it for a few years now and it is fun to look back and see what I read in previous years.

So, the January thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/300226

Is there a TBRCAT wiki set up? There isn't a link on the group home page, so just wondering. I should be able to make some time to set it up (just need to find my instructions again!) in the next few days if it hasn't already been done.

Although I had January, I have no idea how to set up a wiki, so I hope I wasn't supposed to. There are a few that aren't set up yet.

>92 dudes22: Oh, it looks like the other CATs are set up, but not the KITs... or, at least the links aren't there.

No, just because you are doing January doesn't mean you are meant to also set up the wiki. Usually someone just does it! LOL! I did the SeriesCAT, because I was the one who suggested it (though I had to ask for help on how to do it).

So, in the next few days, I can try to set this one up, but I wanted to be sure someone else hadn't already done it. It's possible it's been done, but the link just wasn't added to the group page. (I made sure to let the person who set up the group page know the link to the SeriesCAT when I set it up, so she could add the link.)

ETA: AlphaKIT wiki is set up, but the link not posted, so I've given that link to rabbitprincess to see if she can update and include the link. I haven't yet looked for the others. Looks like BingoDOG wiki is either not set up or the link not posted, as well

TBR CAT wiki is set up: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2019_TBRCAT

>94 majkia: Thank you!

Link has been added to the main group page!

>96 rabbitprincess: Thank you so much!

February's thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/302409#

The thread for March is up at: https://www.librarything.com/topic/303844#

April's thread is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/304819

May's thread is posted: http://www.librarything.com/topic/305904

Any sign of June's thread yet? Or have I missed it? (entirely possible!)

>102 Jackie_K: I thought there had been a thread posted, but I'm not seeing it now... I thought I remembered making a comment there!!!

ETA: I found it: http://www.librarything.com/topic/307050

>103 LibraryCin: Thank you very much!

Here's the link for the July thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/308088

I'll get the August one set up tonight!

Hey, I'm sorry it's taking me so long. It's hard with a 7mo crawling around to get on my computer.

I discovered a little late that I didn't know how to make the Wiki page. I thought I did. Does anyone want to give me instructions? I'd really like to be responsible and do this.

the wiki page is fine. just create the thread and I'll update the wiki

Oh, never mind! It looks like I don't have to set one up, just go to the one that's already there! :)

ETA: Thanks Jean

Here's the thread!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/309527

September thread is up.

I knew at one point but I've forgotten how to add the month's title to the index at the top of the wiki page.

October's TBRCat : https://www.librarything.com/topic/311224

November thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/312080

The 2020 Planning Thread for CATs next year has started here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/312074#6945930

The 2020 CATs Voting thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/312553

Do we have a December thread yet?

Not that I have seen.

Sorry! That's me. Getting it up NOW.

And it's up! Sorry, November has gone twice as quickly as it was supposed to.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313214

It is crazy how fast the month has gone. I keep having internal battles between what I know the date to be and what I think it is. Chaos!