100 books in 2010 Challenge

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

I am not sure that challenges like this are a good idea. As others have pointed out, reading should be fun... and putting this sort of pressure on yourself can detract from the fun of reading.

Another thought is, that such pressure can lead a participant to choose different works than they might otherwise. They might start choosing shorter works to make it easier to meet the challenge (No time for War and Peace this year...), and they might feel that they can't choose short story collections unless they intend to read them cover to cover.. and they might omit literary magazines all together (after all, does a literary magazine count as a book?).

--
Bill

It's really not that serious of a challenge. The main idea behind it is to have FUN, I guess a more appropriate title would be "Keeping track of your 2010 reads", but that doesn't have the same ring to it.

My reading habits haven't altered. I still read what I want to read and I haven't switched over to shorter reads just to add more titles on my list.

If I reach 100 titles by the end of the year it would be great, if I don't the world will definitely not come to an end.

[Zipr]

Originally Posted by Crusader

If I reach 100 titles by the end of the year it would be great, if I don't the world will definitely not come to an end.

Now, that is just pure conjecture at this point.

The problem I see is that inevitably, some stumbling block pops up that demands your full attention for a month or so. Some big project at work, family problems, etc.

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by Zipr

Now, that is just pure conjecture at this point.

The problem I see is that inevitably, some stumbling block pops up that demands your full attention for a month or so. Some big project at work, family problems, etc.

Now if it was 2011 this year then I would agree with you.

No, stumbling blocks at the work front since I work for myself and the day consists of waiting for customers to pop in, hence loads of time for reading!

[Nakor]

In my case the goal was to make me read stuff I otherwise wouldn't. Only it's not to make me read shorter stuff and increase my count. It's just to force me to pick up books and actually give 'em a try rather than discard anything I don't like the cover of. I have a bad habit of doing just that.

[Zipr]

Originally Posted by Nakor

It's just to force me to pick up books and actually give 'em a try rather than discard anything I don't like the cover of. I have a bad habit of doing just that.

I'd argue that it's a good habit. There are so many good books out there, why force yourself to read something you really don't like? Even if some of them turn out to be good and you missed it, you would have substituted something else you liked.

I use to get in the middle of books that I didn't care for then force myself to stick it out just so I can say I read it. Then, I questioned why and now if the story doesn't grab me, I move on to something else.

I'm not a sci-fi or fantasy fan, never have been. But, every time I'd see somebody gush over The Hobbit, or Discworld, I force myself to try it. I'd hate every minute. Now, I have no qualms with giving up on something I don't like and picking up something I do. The only caveat to all this is occasionally, somebody will tell me that a book is slow starting but gets really good in the second half. Those times I do try to stick it out.

[Nakor]

Oh, I don't force myself to read what I dislike. I just try books, and discard the ones that disinterest me (usually within a chapter or two). It's not about reading books I would otherwise dislike, but rather about not even bothering to find out whether or not I might like them. (And also thereby finding authors I hadn't tried before and might turn out to like.)

And I still don't bother starting anything with a premise that I know I won't like. For example I still don't bother with sci-fi or portal fantasy since I have no interest in either.

[Billjr13]

I think I a part OCD, I just seem to be compeled to finish a book once I start it. Even if it is a stinker. I also rarely have more than one book started at a time. Knowing this about myself it is sometimes hard to venture off into an unknown quantity/quality? Thinking I mihgt get trapped into read something I don't like. I have put a few down but it is rare for me.

[lene1949]

Originally Posted by Billjr13

I think I a part OCD, I just seem to be compeled to finish a book once I start it. Even if it is a stinker. I also rarely have more than one book started at a time. Knowing this about myself it is sometimes hard to venture off into an unknown quantity/quality? Thinking I mihgt get trapped into read something I don't like. I have put a few down but it is rare for me.

The books I've read this year have a minimum star of 3... I've been very lucky of what I've bought or downloaded...

I don't need an incentive to read, and will only read the book club winner, if it interests me, but I do love to be involved... I would never have read Stiff, if it had not been in the book club... I'm glad I did.

[Billjr13]

Originally Posted by lene1949

I would never have read Stiff, if it had not been in the book club... I'm glad I did.

What did you think of the liquid cremation? I just don't see people doing this to their loved ones. Seems very practical though for medical/veterinarian disposal.
I live jsut south of the university where the author visited, maybe I can get a tour.

[Latinandgreek]

I'm doing the challenge as well, and I'm enjoying it. This is the first year that I've been keeping track of which books I've read.

[lene1949]

Originally Posted by Billjr13

What did you think of the liquid cremation? I just don't see people doing this to their loved ones. Seems very practical though for medical/veterinarian disposal.
I live jsut south of the university where the author visited, maybe I can get a tour.

Any way to dispose of a corpse sounds terrible... thankfully the body is only the container which held the person, so I think the liquid cremation could be the way to go in order to save the environment.

I would certainly go and have a look, if I lived that close...

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by lene1949

Any way to dispose of a corpse sounds terrible... thankfully the body is only the container which held the person, so I think the liquid cremation could be the way to go in order to save the environment.

I would certainly go and have a look, if I lived that close...

Some people have suggested burying deceased individuals vertically in order to save precious land space on an increasingly populated planet.

I'm afraid that would make my feet hurt.

[Patricia]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Some people have suggested burying deceased individuals vertically in order to save precious land space on an increasingly populated planet.

I'm afraid that would make my feet hurt.

Vertically, but upside down then, Tom?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Patricia

Vertically, but upside down then, Tom?

I love it when management solves a problem by introducing another one.

Pat, you're not in management by any chance are you?

BOb

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Some people have suggested burying deceased individuals vertically in order to save precious land space on an increasingly populated planet.

I'm afraid that would make my feet hurt.

Originally Posted by Patricia

Vertically, but upside down then, Tom?

At least I could see where I'm headed!

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I love it when management solves a problem by introducing another one.

Pat, you're not in management by any chance are you?

BOb