The 2013 Annual Reading Challenge - Discussion Thread!

[Nyssa]

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

Originally Posted by orlok

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

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by applesauce

and my stubborn refusal to [not] 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.

I do urge you to give yourself permission to abandon a book that's not to your taste. You have no obligation to the author to finish it just because you've started it.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I do urge you to give yourself permission to abandon a book that's not to your taste. You have no obligation to the author to finish it just because you've started it.

But thats so much easier said than done...especially when you're thinking: "Maybe if I give it a few more pages".

[applesauce]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I do urge you to give yourself permission to abandon a book that's not to your taste. You have no obligation to the author to finish it just because you've started it.

I did not actually hate Salems Lot, finished YAH. But it did not love it. I have made myself a promise that any book I hate ie Shades Of Grey I start again I will just ditch. I mean how insane was I to read all 3 Shades books telling myself with all that talk they had to get better.
It is part of my 2013 xhallenge to myself, if I hate it ditch it. My next step will be allowing myself to read more than 1 book at a time, I feel this will push the ones I am not totally in love with into the ditch pile.

I know pretty lame needing steps to break a life long bad habbit

applesauce

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

But thats so much easier said than done...especially when you're thinking: "Maybe if I give it a few more pages".

Oh, I know. I never used to abandon books, but I have started doing so. Life's too short!

[orlok]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Oh, I know. I never used to abandon books, but I have started doing so. Life's too short!

Hear, hear. Something I have started to do more often now - I've finally abandoned the view that if an author has to gone to this much trouble to write a book, I should give them the courtesy of trying to read it all. Now I just say "rubbish", toss it, and move on. A recent example was 15 Seconds byAndrew Gross. Apallingly written attempt to simulate teen-speak (at least I think that's what he was doing) and I couldn't get much past the first few pages.

[astrangerhere]

Just started The Law of Superheroes for my first non-fiction of the year. I transitioned out of private practice and into the full time teaching of the law in December, and this seemed a fitting endeavor to commemorate that.

The book discusses many major principles of law using actual storylines from DC, Marvel, Image (and many other publishers) comic books. For example, I spent last evening reading a discussion of whether or not Batman can testify against the Joker AS Batman or if the 6th Amendment Confrontation Clause would necessitate the revealing of his secret identity on the stand.
Fascinating read for a comic book geek or an attorney, and I just happen to be both.

[JSWolf]

I've just updated my list. Have a look.

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...69#post2366269

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've just updated my list. Have a look.

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...69#post2366269

The way you set it up:

[Quake1028]

I have 2.5 down, should be the full 3 done by the weekend. Right on track for my goal.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Five years down, thirty-nine to go. A very good start to the reading year and keeping to the reading list so far.

[BaenSidhe]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

But thats so much easier said than done...especially when you're thinking: "Maybe if I give it a few more pages".

When I'm reading a book that I'm not liking, I start skipping/skimming ahead looking for something to recapture my interest. If I can't find anything, well, I've skipped all the way to the end, so then I'm done with the book!

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by BaenSidhe

When I'm reading a book that I'm not liking, I start skipping/skimming ahead looking for something to recapture my interest. If I can't find anything, well, I've skipped all the way to the end, so then I'm done with the book!

You know, I would not have considered that! I just don't skim; I either read it or I don't.

[Yapyap]

Eight books down, 112 to go.

And the last two were pretty long - near 9000 and over 11,000 Kindle locations respectively, which is considerably more than my average read which tends to be in the 4000-6000 locations category.

I'm trying very hard with my secondary challenges, and have actually only bought one book in the last seven days. I've had my finger hover over the buy button for several others but have managed to talk some sense into myself, as those would have been all impulse buys of the "oh, this looks like it might be interesting; maybe I'll want to read it some day" kind (which almost never end up getting read right away, so they might just as well go to wish list instead).

[jbcohen]

Eight books down Perhaps you should set a higher goal this year than you did last year. I am only up to thee as yet.