The 2016 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread - Page 9

Nyssa · 01-12-2016, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Congratulations. I like your new avatar.

Thank you! Twice!!

drjd · 01-13-2016, 06:19 AM

I have been able to keep a satisfactory pace so far. 7 books read, no new purchases, added just 2 freebies to TBR shelf. :sigh:

Now I am planning to start reading a series of novels by Raymond Khoury, awaiting long in my TBR. Will begin with 'The Last Templar' today. Any ideas about this author/series please?

HomeInMyShoes · 01-13-2016, 09:15 AM

Apparently I have surpassed 1,000 pages so far. Not bad for the middle of the month. 2,000 pages is a good month for me.

astrangerhere · 01-13-2016, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjd

<snip> Now I am planning to start reading a series of novels by Raymond Khoury, awaiting long in my TBR. Will begin with 'The Last Templar' today. Any ideas about this author/series please?

I read the Last Templar when I was in college, which was a while ago now, but I remember not liking it at all. The only reason I finished it was that this was pre-ereader days and it was the only book I had with me on a trip.

Bilbo1967 · 01-13-2016, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjd

Now I am planning to start reading a series of novels by Raymond Khoury, awaiting long in my TBR. Will begin with 'The Last Templar' today. Any ideas about this author/series please?

I quite liked it. It's a pretty unashamed Da Vinci Code derivation, but I thought it was readable and it kept my attention. Don't expect a literary feast, but if you like that kind of thriller you'll probably enjoy it.

CRussel · 01-14-2016, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

If I've started a book, I count it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Wow! An issue where my standards are stricter than yours! At last!

I have to finish it to count it. It means I won't abandon a book on the home stretch, but I'm committed by that point anyway. I don't think I ever keep on reading past enjoyment or expectation thereto just for the sake of pages already read. Life's short and reading's for love.

If I've read more than 50 pages or so, it counts on my list of read books. I have a special shelf on Goodreads for Abandoned books.

drjd · 01-14-2016, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

I read the Last Templar when I was in college, which was a while ago now, but I remember not liking it at all. The only reason I finished it was that this was pre-ereader days and it was the only book I had with me on a trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I quite liked it. It's a pretty unashamed Da Vinci Code derivation, but I thought it was readable and it kept my attention. Don't expect a literary feast, but if you like that kind of thriller you'll probably enjoy it.

Thanks to both of you. I will go for it as I like this type of thrillers... page turners.

issybird · 01-14-2016, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

If I've read more than 50 pages or so, it counts on my list of read books. I have a special shelf on Goodreads for Abandoned books.

I also have a GR shelf for abandoned books, but it's an exclusive shelf so it doesn't conflate with my read books. I want to record them to prevent me from trying a book again, just in case I was successful in repressing the memory of it entirely!

HomeInMyShoes · 01-14-2016, 08:58 AM

My books at present could be a little more page-turny.They're good, they just aren't setting any blistering pace records.

issybird · 01-14-2016, 09:41 AM

My problem isn't page-turniness, it's overall quality, which has been off for me lately. I checked back to the beginning of December and my GR ratings average below 3 stars, which is dreadful. My average for all of 2015 was 3.3, which seems about what it should be, given a baseline of 3 stars for the typical book.

At least my current reads, if I anticipate a bit, will average over 3 stars. It includes yet another 2-star book which is good enough to finish; one of the 4-star reads is excellent but very slow going indeed. I won't be able to finish it this month, either (after not finishing it in November or December!). The other good news is that I'm in the middle of my second excellent litfic book of the year, after a notable lack of such last year (no litfic book made my 10-best list).

CRussel · 01-14-2016, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I also have a GR shelf for abandoned books, but it's an exclusive shelf so it doesn't conflate with my read books. I want to record them to prevent me from trying a book again, just in case I was successful in repressing the memory of it entirely!

mine is exclusive too. For JUST that reason.

HomeInMyShoes · 01-15-2016, 08:59 AM

I shall have to think about setting this up. Although there's only been 1 DNF for me in the last many years.

sun surfer · 01-15-2016, 12:00 PM

Good luck to everyone in your challenges! Time to finally list mine.

I'm going simpler. The main challenge is to read 60 books. My goal was 40 in 2014 and 50 in 2015, so I can't resist 60 in 2016. I completed the former goals, but the trajectory isn't promising - I read 51 books in 2014 and 50 in 2015. I'll be very interested to see where I end up at.

There will also be seasonal, i.e. quarterly, subchallenges. I really liked splitting my subchallenges into two halves the last couple of years and I think I will like quarterly ones even better, as these give the opportunity to refresh things more often. So, to begin:

January-March, Winter

The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville
A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
A Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell

HomeInMyShoes · 01-15-2016, 12:17 PM

Good luck with Moby Dick. Not one of my favorites.

sun surfer · 01-15-2016, 03:44 PM

Thanks HIMS! It's formidable but I hope I'll enjoy it.

01-15-2016, 12:00 PM	#133
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Good luck to everyone in your challenges! Time to finally list mine. I'm going simpler. The main challenge is to read 60 books. My goal was 40 in 2014 and 50 in 2015, so I can't resist 60 in 2016. I completed the former goals, but the trajectory isn't promising - I read 51 books in 2014 and 50 in 2015. I'll be very interested to see where I end up at. There will also be seasonal, i.e. quarterly, subchallenges. I really liked splitting my subchallenges into two halves the last couple of years and I think I will like quarterly ones even better, as these give the opportunity to refresh things more often. So, to begin: January-March, Winter The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen The Epic of Gilgamesh Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro A Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell Last edited by sun surfer; 01-15-2016 at 12:18 PM.

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01-13-2016, 06:19 AM	#122
drjd The Couch Potato Posts: 34,509 Karma: 230999999 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Touch, Archos 9, Onyx Boox C67ML Carta	I have been able to keep a satisfactory pace so far. 7 books read, no new purchases, added just 2 freebies to TBR shelf. :sigh: Now I am planning to start reading a series of novels by Raymond Khoury, awaiting long in my TBR. Will begin with 'The Last Templar' today. Any ideas about this author/series please?

01-13-2016, 09:15 AM	#123
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Apparently I have surpassed 1,000 pages so far. Not bad for the middle of the month. 2,000 pages is a good month for me.

01-14-2016, 08:58 AM	#129
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	My books at present could be a little more page-turny.They're good, they just aren't setting any blistering pace records.

01-14-2016, 09:41 AM	#130
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,320 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	My problem isn't page-turniness, it's overall quality, which has been off for me lately. I checked back to the beginning of December and my GR ratings average below 3 stars, which is dreadful. My average for all of 2015 was 3.3, which seems about what it should be, given a baseline of 3 stars for the typical book. At least my current reads, if I anticipate a bit, will average over 3 stars. It includes yet another 2-star book which is good enough to finish; one of the 4-star reads is excellent but very slow going indeed. I won't be able to finish it this month, either (after not finishing it in November or December!). The other good news is that I'm in the middle of my second excellent litfic book of the year, after a notable lack of such last year (no litfic book made my 10-best list).

01-15-2016, 08:59 AM	#132
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I shall have to think about setting this up. Although there's only been 1 DNF for me in the last many years.

01-15-2016, 12:17 PM	#134
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Good luck with Moby Dick. Not one of my favorites.

01-15-2016, 03:44 PM	#135
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Thanks HIMS! It's formidable but I hope I'll enjoy it.

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