The 2013 Annual Reading Challenge - Discussion Thread!

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Consider yourself lucky. While I enjoyed a few of the sets along the way, I think I spent too much time (26 books) that could have been spent elsewhere.

Ouch! I'm not sure how many my husband has read, but he pretty much feels the same way. He suggested early on that I steer clear. Nothing has really caught my eye enough to make m want to try him, anyway. Well nothing, except this conversation which triggered my question(s)...

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

The last two years, I've set and met a 100 book goal. Not so this year. I just took a new job and predict that it will take enough of my time that I am cutting my goal to 50.

Maybe I'll make 100 after all. I just finished my second and am a day or two away from finishing my third.

Most recently read: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. Quite a bit better than I expected. A little schmaltzy near the end, but a lovely weaving together of decades and characters.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Finished book number 2 and started book number 3. A good start to the year's reading.

[JoelArnold]

Last year, my reading output was atrocious. So this year I'm making it a goal to read at least 40 books. And so far I've read 2! I'm also trying to make a point to read some more of the classics.

Books I've read so far:

Earth Abides by George Stewart
The Giver by Lois Lowry (a short one, I know, but I'm counting it!)

[Yapyap]

Four done, 116 to go. So far I've read three adult urban fantasies and one YA paranormal/urban fantasy, and enjoyed them all moderately to quite a bit.

Not having much luck with my secondary challenge of not increasing my unread books list / avoid acquiring (buying + free) more than ten books a month, as I've bought ten already and January's only a third done...

[jbcohen]

Four read already I have only one read thus far.

[BelleZora]

I love looking through the Reading Challenge list as it changes and is updated. Issybird inspired me to pull Purge by Sofi Oksanen up the TBR list. Loosheesh sent me researching Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn and requesting the series be digitized. I'm looking forward to seeing which civil war books Jersysman reads. Pdurrant inspired me to face the facts about my book purchases. Harry inspired me to put "The Mammoth Book of Locked-Room Mysteries and Impossible Crimes" by Mike Ashley on my wish list (without Pdurrant's wisdom, I would have purchased it today).

These are just the first that come to mind. I've enjoyed everyone's entries and learned something from all. Thanks!

[jbcohen]

Anyone else get addicted to Warhammer 40K novels. I can't get enough of them and they are being published all the time, wonderful reading for as far aas the eyes can see for as long as I care to keep reading.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Ouch! I'm not sure how many my husband has read, but he pretty much feels the same way. He suggested early on that I steer clear. Nothing has really caught my eye enough to make m want to try him, anyway. Well nothing, except this conversation which triggered my question(s)...

I've read some of Shannara and have liked them. Also, I'm reading Running with the Demon. Good so far. Will finish it tonight or tomorrow.

[applesauce]

I was flying along doing 350 to 500 pages a day at least. THEN cam Salems Lot. Day 3 and I am still only at 70%. I just do not like it. I did enjoy the mini series as a kid, and it is Stephen King. But it is very slow and I know all the good bits already. Ho Hum, I will finish it.

applesauce

[orlok]

Originally Posted by applesauce

I was flying along doing 350 to 500 pages a day at least. THEN cam Salems Lot. Day 3 and I am still only at 70%. I just do not like it. I did enjoy the mini series as a kid, and it is Stephen King. But it is very slow and I know all the good bits already. Ho Hum, I will finish it.

applesauce

Looks like you have seriously underestimated your reading capacity if your target for this year is only 50 books, and you are already at 11 read half way through January. At this rate you will have hit target by mid-March. What will you do for the rest of the year ?

[Yapyap]

Six books done so far - meaning I'm very nicely on track for my 120 book challenge.

Side challenges, i.e. acquiring no more than an average of 10 books a month and keeping my unread books list in Calibre down to under 1000, are not going nearly as successfully. :-/

[Xanthe]

I've got three books read so far, and am in the middle of another one, and am listening to an audiobook, so I'm doing pretty good so far. I'm aiming for 100 (last year I only made it to 81).

What I am noticing from my list is how heavily it is weighted to fiction book series. I really read very few stand-alone novels now, much less than I used to in the past. I don't know if it's because the majority of the writers in the genres I like are writing series because that's the way their book deals are written, or if it's because I like the familiarity of an ongoing story arc sent in a particular story universe.

I also read much less non-fiction than I used to. I wonder if that's because I rarely go to the physical library anymore, so I'm not scanning the "New Non-Fiction" bookshelf and actually being piqued by their titles, and so I'm not really current with what's out there. The non-fiction I tend to read now is usually the result of an interest sparked by a news item or a mention in a novel, that I wind up researching more about online, looking for a recommended book on the topic that way. It's a more premeditated way of reading non-fiction rather than my previous lucky-chance way.

[applesauce]

Originally Posted by orlok

Looks like you have seriously underestimated your reading capacity if your target for this year is only 50 books, and you are already at 11 read half way through January. At this rate you will have hit target by mid-March. What will you do for the rest of the year ?

I am hoping that is so, but there is a couple of things there. I tend to read tombstones and these where all between 350 and 450 pages and VERY easy reading. Add in I have MS and can lose my ability to read for weeks at a time and my stubborn refusal to finish anything I start. This is made even worse by my reluctance to read what I am not loving can drag a book out for ages when I strike one I do not love.

Annoying bad habits hey

Okay 90% done on Salems Lot so I am going to finish it today YEAH.

applesauce

[orlok]

Originally Posted by applesauce

I am hoping that is so, but there is a couple of things there. I tend to read tombstones and these where all between 350 and 450 pages and VERY easy reading. Add in I have MS and can lose my ability to read for weeks at a time and my stubborn refusal to finish anything I start. This is made even worse by my reluctance to read what I am not loving can drag a book out for ages when I strike one I do not love.

Annoying bad habits hey

Okay 90% done on Salems Lot so I am going to finish it today YEAH.

applesauce

Thanks for explaining, and best of luck with your challenge.