12-26-2013, 05:07 PM | #586 | |
Wizard
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Thanks for the mini-review of this one, I have had it in my TBR for a long time after getting the first 1 or 2 free last year, but never got around to starting it. I may move it up the list a bit because of this. |
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12-27-2013, 07:28 AM | #587 |
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2014 Annual Reading Threads!
The 2014 Annual Reading threads are now up!
Here is were we can disscuss our goals: The 2014 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread! Here is where we can list what we've read: The 2014 Annual Reading Challenge List Thread! Hope to see you all there! |
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12-27-2013, 08:35 AM | #588 |
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This thread will stay open briefly, so that members may re-cap their 2013 reading.
Don (Moderator) Last edited by Dr. Drib; 12-27-2013 at 10:09 AM. |
12-27-2013, 11:11 AM | #589 |
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I have 2 books left. This looks like it just might happen!
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12-27-2013, 11:40 AM | #590 |
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12-27-2013, 11:59 AM | #591 | |
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12-27-2013, 01:28 PM | #592 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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I think it best to keep this thread, and the 2013 list thread, open for a week into the new year, to allow people to update with final totals and comments.
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12-27-2013, 03:41 PM | #593 |
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I met my goal of books read, but failed to read all the MR book club selections. I did manage most of them.
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12-27-2013, 05:13 PM | #594 |
o saeclum infacetum
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It's a very mixed bag for me.
I had five challenges and a benchmark of 100 books as I tend to hit that level easily. Not this year; I'll barely make it and will have to slot in something short/quick at that. As for my main challenges, I've met three, but will fail colossally at two of them. However, I take several lessons from my failures. First, my challenges were non-fiction heavy. I thought I might be biting off more than was chewable and I was right. I love non-fiction but it wasn't realistic, given how tired I am weeknight evenings, when I can't always give more difficult works the concentration they require. Also, I ended up reading too many books at once, which created a feeling of being swamped that was non-productive. I like to have several books going, but at times I was up to seven (I'm at six now, alas). Another issue was getting bogged down in one particular book, for example a turgid biography of Cromwell by Antonia Fraser (which I picked because I thought it would be Cromwell-light!). I didn't abandon it as the information was there, but it pretty much torpedoed my 17th century challenge. I didn’t want to start another on-topic book before I finished it, but that one dragged on and on. So! This is what I’ve learned. I need to make my limited reading time more productive and try to get my numbers back up. I don't watch tv or game, but I do tend to read with a tablet at hand. I read something and want to look up background info or verify something, that leads to checking something else and maybe a third thing and while I’m online I might as well dip into my email and fora…. Half an hour or more later, I’m back to my book and there goes the evening. So I will leave tablet thingies across the room. If the looking-up isn’t pressing enough to get up and retrieve a device, it can wait. I also will try to read no more than three books at once with a solid limit at four (to provide leeway for book clubs and library items). I’ll use a three bears method: one hard book (serious non-fiction), one medium book (memoir, travel, litfic) and one light book; I’ll read the most difficult I’m up for. And while I’m good at abandoning lousy books, I need to be more proactive about backburnering books that are dragging me down, even if they’re worthwhile. Finally, I need to have no more than three goals; five was too many to juggle mentally. I’ll divide the goals on a monthly basis so it’s easy to track. I also need to have a more realistic ratio of light to heavy reading, so there’s always something I can read as part of my goals, even if I’m tired or on the hoof. What does work for me is a benchmark of 100 books with half devoted to goals and half to free reads, so I’ll continue that. (I also don’t mind if I fudge the individual goal numbers a bit, so long as I hit the 50 mark in toto.) I read many outstanding books in 2013, but by tightening my focus a bit I hope to avoid the lulls where nothing really appeals. |
12-27-2013, 06:47 PM | #595 |
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Not gonna quite make it either. Will probably, manage to squeeze one more in before the end of the year.
Have caught up on a couple of series though so that's a bonus. |
12-28-2013, 07:27 AM | #596 |
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I read the most books I think I have ever read this year, at 135. This is nothing compared to some of the heavyweights around the sight, but I'm pleased with the total. I may squeeze in one more before the end of the year, but am doubtful whether I will manage it or not. I read some really good books this year, and am really pleased with the results.
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12-28-2013, 08:28 AM | #597 | ||
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Snipping a bit for topic...
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These days, I generally read one book at a time, although I'll sometimes put an ebook down to zip through a graphic novel. Similarly, I have a monthly book club meeting, and I don't like to bring a physical book to it - so if I'm reading one, I'll set it aside in favor of an ebook for that purpose. I have a nonfiction ebook I've been meaning to get to that might be perfect for that, come to think of it... Quote:
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12-28-2013, 04:12 PM | #598 |
Wizard
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I finished my challenge!!! I'm so happy about this, in mid-November it was looking a little bleak.
Some interesting (to me) stats: I read 150 books in 2013 (probably 151 by the end) and 193 books in 2012. Average pages/book in 2013 was 422, and in 2012 it was 333. I read 1000 more pages in 2012. Improving the "quality" of my reading slowed me down a little, but rewarded me with some new favourite authors. |
12-28-2013, 04:18 PM | #599 | |
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12-28-2013, 04:34 PM | #600 | |
Wizard
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