I propose we read

edited July 18 in Books
New year, new goals. So, what do you think about the OB starting one big collective goal? I say we each write down 15 books that we must read in 2013. For me, 20 sounds too ambitious (we all have to read other stuff in our jobs and daily activities, too) but 12 sounds a bit easy. So I came up with 15.

I already picked mine. All of them I started reading a long time ago but got distracted by something else (life they call it), or I just never got around to them. I'm really curious to see what you all come up with.

Comments

  • edited January 2013
  • edited January 2013
    It has been a while since I've been able to get into a proper reading habit. Too many textbooks, webcomics, online serial fiction, tech reviews/news, and misc. other things to read. And school keeps me quite busy so I'll be lucky to make it through the 3 books I definitely want to read let alone find 12 more.
  • edited January 2013
    I wouldn't worry too much about hitting the specific goal. The important thing is READING

    vintagereading6.jpg

    Also puns.

    That man is going to drown.
  • edited January 2013
    Nah, that book's got a rope on it. If they pull it back fast enough he might not drown.

    IN FACT! Maybe it's a book on how to swim, or the secrets of not drowning when lost at sea.
  • edited January 2013
    So long as we don't all have to read the same books, I'm in.

    I read books all the time. Just the other day I finished "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"
  • edited January 2013
    Well? Don't leave us hanging, what did he see??
  • edited January 2013
    I just finished Where's Spot?, a thrilling ride through the psyche via animalistic allegory that puts Orwell to shame.

    Spoiler Alert:
    He's in his basket.
  • edited January 2013
    I still need to read Fifty Shades of Grey.
  • edited January 2013
    You don't need to read it. Your just feel pressured by weird perverts with no taste in good porn to do so.
  • edited January 2013
    Lauren, by all means go ahead. No one will judge you on what kind of porn you read.
  • edited January 2013
    I like the Dresden Files, and I just finished Cold Days a week or two ago. I thought it was arguably the best book in the series to date.

    Plus, I think that's book 12 or 13, so if you start with book 1 then you pretty much have your whole year's worth of books done by the time you catch up in the series.

    I've also been meaning to read the Wheel of Time series. I hear that's good.
  • edited January 2013
    Wheel of Time is a 14 book series with 1 prequel. The last book came out just recently, so I haven't started it yet. WoT alone would meet the 15 book requirement though. However, according to good old wiki I can figure the average page count to be very close to 800. (794+). For 15 books this series would a surprisingly aggressive read.
  • edited January 2013
    I need to get on reading that last book before I forget everything that happens in the other 13.
  • edited February 2013
    The first 45 days of the year are gone. How's everyone doing with their lists? I, sadly, haven't had as much free time as I thought I would, so I've only read one book on my list. I thought I would've read two by now. :(
  • edited February 2013
    I'm almost half done with a book...
  • edited February 2013
    I'm really bad at finishing books. I've had a little more success with reading for fun this year because I've started taking books with me to the gym. I just hop on an elliptical and read for however long I want to stay. It only gets me through small sections of a book at a time, but it's certainly better than not reading at all. Plus, I have slightly more motivation to go to the gym, lol. It's a decent plan!
  • edited February 2013
    XoLore wrote: »
    I'm almost half done with a book...

    Or are you almost done with half a book?
  • edited February 2013
    I finished How I Killed Pluto, currently reading The Name of the Star. I've been following Maureen Johnson (the author) on Twitter for awhile, figured I should actually read her book. Good stuff! I've already preordered the second book in the series.
  • edited August 2013
    You guys still doing this?

    I got a kindle last year so I've been reading a lot more. What with not having to schlepp across town with a heavy-ass bag of books from the library now.
  • edited August 2013
    I have! Need to update my Goodreads status though, thanks for the reminder.

    While flying to and from random non-California states, I got to do some catching up on my reading. My friend Art lent me Cordelia's Honor, which incorporates a few books in the Vorkosigan Saga. I'd never seen this series before, but after reading the first story (Shards of Honor), I'm definitely interested in seeking out more.
  • edited August 2013
    Hey! I just got a Kindle a couple weeks ago, went from never reading to craving books all of a sudden. It's awesome.
  • edited September 2013
    So I finally finished The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. I'd recommend it for anyone that enjoys light sci-fi/adventure type stuff.

    I, personally, find the concept of the multi-verse/infinite universe particularly interesting. So the concept of this book definitely appealed straight away (plus I'm guaranteed to read anything that Terry Pratchett has had any involvement with). With the discovery of 'the long Earth', a potentially unlimited amount of alternate pristine Earths, the collapse and reconstruction of the world economy and culture is dealt with well, without getting too bogged down.

    Then of course you have exploration, strange discoveries and general adventure. All Leading up to a very satisfying ending that has me looking forward to the next book in the series.
  • edited September 2013
    So with Good Omens, I felt you could definitely tell which parts were Gaiman and which were Pratchett. Was it the same case for The Long Earth? I've never read any of Stephen Baxter, so I wouldn't be able to tell when I read it except for maybe, "This doesn't sound like Terry - must have been Steve."

    OR!

    Were they able to successfully merge their voices into one voice? Like some sort of Dragon Ball Z fusion thing?
  • edited September 2013
    I've not read much of Baxter, and what I did was a long time ago, but I'd say it was a blend. You can definitely see Pratchett's hand in the way concepts are shaped and presented, but it doesn't flow in the same way and the tone is even throughout.

    I dunno, it's kinda hard to explain. You'll just have to check it out for yourself.
  • edited September 2013
    On my return flight from London, I read John Green's The Fault in our Stars cover to cover. It's a story about two teenaged cancer patients finding love. Probably one of the sadder books I've read, it depicts dealing with cancer and death in a shocking and realistic manner. If you've ever lost a loved one to cancer, I highly recommend this book. If you haven't, I still recommend this book.