Project 24 for 2017

Guys, it’s happening again. Those who were reading StuckinaBook a few years ago may remember that I did Project 24 – where I only bought 24 books for the whole year. There were doubters. There were naysayers. But I did it!

project-24

For context – I buy at least ten times that number ofbooks most years (95% secondhand books), and probably rather more. On one day this year I bought 27 books.

The number of unread books on my shelves gets higher and higher. This isn’t so much about saving money as it is about reading the books I already own.

If anybody wants to join in, you can (of course) set your own rules – but my Project 24 books don’t include presents (that I buy for others, or that they give me) or review copies, but do encompass more or less anybody else.

So – watch this space! I’ll be feeding back on which books make the grade throughout the year. Up above is the banner I’ll be using with each reveal – do you reckon I can do it? And do you want to??

 

39 thoughts on “Project 24 for 2017

  • December 15, 2016 at 1:37 pm
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    This is a really great idea – when I look at the number of unread books on my bookshelves, I feel quite overwhelmed at them all. Count me in!

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    • December 15, 2016 at 3:48 pm
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      Excellent, Katherine! Very pleased to have you on board.

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  • December 15, 2016 at 2:14 pm
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    I believe in you!
    What about books bought with gift vouchers from friends??

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    • December 15, 2016 at 3:48 pm
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      Oo tricky tricky! Thankfully I’ve spent your voucher already – cos I’m not sure what I’d do there! (And thanks for belief :))

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  • December 15, 2016 at 3:07 pm
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    Sure you can do it. As long as you can go from February to December without buying a single book. :^))

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    • December 15, 2016 at 3:48 pm
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      Haha! I can always pray for an 11 month coma.

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  • December 15, 2016 at 3:39 pm
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    Just not possible here!
    Imagine passing up book number 25 from a charity shop and then never-ever seeing that book again anywhere!

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    • December 15, 2016 at 3:47 pm
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      Oh Sue, don’t make me doubt myself already! After #24, I’ll be keeping well away from bookshops ;)

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  • December 15, 2016 at 4:32 pm
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    Nice: First you introduce me to Slightly Foxed Books, and now this. Last month I took out a 2-year subscription to SF because They are so enticing.. On the other hand, my library is filled with books I feel bad about not reading.. Okay, I’m in – but first I’m going to buy a few SF editions as a Christmas present to myself and in anticipation of drastically reduced book expenditures in 2017. Next year will be spent reading from what’s left of my library and catching up on the Slightly Foxed back issues while making lists of books to buy in 2018. It will be interesting to see which books you and your readers choose as worthy of their top 24.

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    • December 22, 2016 at 4:10 pm
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      Oh dear, I’ve very sorry! I do give conflicting suggestions, don’t I? But I might well look on Project 24 as a good excuse to spend a little extra on some of the Slightly Foxed books I don’t have…

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  • December 15, 2016 at 5:41 pm
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    Count me in — I will also limit myself to only 24 books in 2017 — Added this requirement – every other book I read will be one already on my shelf.
    I have limited space, so I either bring my books to our monthly garden club meeting or if I don’t think anyone would like what I read, to half price books for other buyers. I then put the amount – always very small towards another used book at some time. Best wishes — love your blog. Laura

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:33 pm
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      Sounds great, Laura! I haven’t set limits on the amount I want to read from my shelves, but I’m hoping I can manage around 90%…

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  • December 15, 2016 at 6:01 pm
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    I’ve tried off and on to not buy any books, but I didn’t succeed. Good luck to you!

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:34 pm
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      Thanks Nan!

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  • December 15, 2016 at 7:25 pm
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    I think it’s a terrific idea. I’m very tempted to join you. I’ll think about it some more.

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:34 pm
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      It would fun to have you on board, Caroline :)

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  • December 15, 2016 at 11:54 pm
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    I broke out in a sweat just reading this idea. I think I will monitor myself away from the spotlight as I hate public failure and see how the rest of you go. Maybe for 2018, naw…I get the heebie-jeebies.

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:35 pm
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      Haha! I understand that – it’s taken a good few years before I’ve been willing to give it a second go.

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  • December 15, 2016 at 11:56 pm
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    I broke out in a sweat just thinking of this. I think I will do it secretly as I do hate public failure so much. I will enjoy seeing how others go with you. Happy 2017

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  • December 16, 2016 at 12:30 am
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    Oh yes I will join you, and had been wondering if you might do this again. My book amassing is out of hand right now. I must read from my shelves this year.

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:36 pm
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      Excellent, Sarah! I really am looking forward to getting deeper into my shelves.

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  • December 16, 2016 at 12:55 am
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    Well I’ve just had a mighty splurge after my Kindle broke and I decided to ditch it and buy hard copies of all the lost downloads … So it sounds a great idea – I’ve been attempting to blitz the ‘S’ section of bookcase this year (got to start somewhere!) but keep getting lured into library. So next year will rein in buying and borrowing. But no promises!

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:37 pm
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      I love the idea of tackling one alphabetical section of the library – it’s as likely as any method to bring up good variety! Rather like Phyllis Rose’s The Shelf.

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  • December 16, 2016 at 11:29 am
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    I’m doing the The TBR Dare from Jan to Mar and will try not to buy books during that time – but my town has two indie bookshops to support and I can’t not spend money in them!

    Good luck – I know you can do it again.

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:39 pm
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      Very true, Annabel. Maybe I’ll put a ‘use indies for present buying’ resolution alongside this.

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:39 pm
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      It would be good to have you on board, Lizzy!

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  • December 16, 2016 at 5:07 pm
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    I think it’s a great idea Simon! I have been thinking of doing something similar for next year also because my TBR pile is out of control. So I might join you. My problem is that we have a huge used book sale (over 600,000 books) every Feb here in town and I always end up buying quite a few books every year. (By “a few” I mean a suitcase full ;)…). I’m thinking of doing your challenge and limiting myself to under 10 books at the book sale.

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    • December 16, 2016 at 5:11 pm
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      Btw, this is Michelle @bookmusing…I’m not sure why my comment posted as anonymous…I must’ve posted it before filling in my info.

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:40 pm
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      Hi Michelle – at first, I misread that as saying you had 600,000 books yourself! And I thought it was about time you did the challenge ;) – but, yes, that would be a very big temptation…

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  • December 18, 2016 at 3:08 pm
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    This is very very brave…..! I probably SHOULD join in, but I’m not sure I’d manage it… I’m interested to hear how landed on 24 as a limit though? Why not 12, or 0 even?! Go hard or go home…..?!?! :-D

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:41 pm
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      Haha! Wash your mouth out! I can’t remember why I chose 24 the first time around – I think I wanted a number divisible by twelve (to divide by months) and 12 seemed far too few, and 36 too many…

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  • December 18, 2016 at 3:52 pm
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    I think I will join you with this one. I buy way too many books, and I must safe money and read the books I have on my shelves.
    I will make one exception, I am busy getting the last Agatha Christies I need to make my collection as complete as possible, and I will not count those. But I will limit myself to no more than 2 AC’s per month.

    Well, I must admit a bookbuying ban never worked for me before, but I am giving it my best shot!
    Thanks for the inspiration!

    Kind regards,

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:42 pm
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      Great, Bettina, good to have you on board – and that is a very admirably exception :) Let’s see if we can all do it together!

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  • December 19, 2016 at 9:36 pm
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    I really wish I had the will power to do this as I accumulate far too many books than I will ever be able to read. But I know myself far too well to commit to such a strict project! I will follow your progress with interest, though!

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:44 pm
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      Ha! Yes, good to know these things in advance – I think I need to the restrictions otherwise it just wouldn’t happen at all. Wish me luck!

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  • December 21, 2016 at 1:32 pm
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    I’ll look forward to seeing your progress with this. Having done one limiting challenge one year (only read 104 books in a year ha ha now I struggle to do that) I did it for six months, then rolled around madly in incessant reading for the rest of the year. It didn’t work anyway as instead of doing Improving Things or Spending More Time With My Partner (the challenger), I read mags and watched crap telly. So I’ll watch from afar and wish you good luck!

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    • December 22, 2016 at 7:44 pm
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      Thanks Liz! I think two challenges on consecutive years would definitely be overkill, so that makes sense :)

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      • December 26, 2016 at 7:38 pm
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        Oh, I did that one years ago but it still stings, the memory, the memory …

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