NPF 50 Book Challenge

[Jeneralissimo]

Now that I have established that there are several other hardcore readers on the forum, I figured I would make another thread for those who wish to participate in the 50 book challenge. Remember this is a motivational tool. If you read more than 50, that's great. If you don't make it, you probably still read more than when you weren't keeping track. You can start whenever you want. Post when you feel like it. I will probably try to post at the end of each month. (I'll start in November, since I am partway in two books right now.) Try to include a little synopsis of each book so that others can see if they would like it.

Just a few things to keep in mind: don't post spoilers unless it's under a spoiler tag, and if you're going to write long reviews, remember to code them.

[Shishio]

I started this past Saturday with Animal Farm by George Orwell which mirrors real life so well (Despite the fact it's about anthropomorphic animals.) it's scary.

[Fifthfiend]

Stickied because eh, what the hell.

[Roy_D_Mylote]

What's this now?

[Jeneralissimo]

Well, it started with this thread (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=15561), which has a link to the livejournal 50bookchallenge. Basically it is motivation for people to finish (or at least try to read) 50 books in a year.

[Nathan_Rahl]

i dunno. I think since the beggining of January i've already read 50 books. That's not including ones for school. I particularily enjoyed 'The Romanovs', a biography of the final days of the last tzar, and analyzes all the false claims of people who want to be Romanovs.

[Shishio]

Finished The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle today. Before that I read A Fine and Private Place by the same author.

[Crashtester]

hmmm, that sounds pretty awesome, I'll definitely take that challenge up.

[RakkaQueen]

Ok....I started. It sounds like a good use of my time, and if it's not at least i will enjoy myself.

[Muffin Mage]

I'll start on the first of the year. Keep it nice and dramatic, and particularly meaningless when I finish it in mid-July.

[Shishio]

I've finished The Essential Guide to World Comics, and am now reading the current issue of the Fantasy & Science Fiction short story magazine.

Do short story magazines count?

[P-Sleazy]

This semester (September-Now), I've read 6 books. Some I liked Some I didn't. This is actually a good review for my english exam on Saturday cause no I have to post the book, auther, and a short snippet. :)

Coal Tattoo by Silas House. A pretty good story following two sisters who have to make it on thier own in Kentucky in the 1950's. Part of a 3 part trilogy.

As I lay Dieing by William Faulkner. Hated it. But if you want to read about a family dealing with the loss of a family member, this is for you.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Really good book. 5 sisters and I think you know the rest.

Remembering Satan by Lawrence Wright. A true story that happened in Washington. It really gives an indepth view into how memory works.

All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland. Reading through this, and you'll feel VERY grateful of your family, REGARDLESS of how much you hate them, this will make you feel lucky.

Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. Ok, I didn't read it, but this is a memoir of a guy who was sucked into the world of heavy metal and he goes off on A LOT of random tangents. He also has some facts wrong. He even wrote parts of this book drunk.

[Muffin Mage]

As I Lay Dying? You hated it? I pity you, my friend. That was the "My mother is a fish" book, man. How can you hate it?

Oh, one book I think should be required reading for every high school student is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kenneth Toole. Sort of an example of why you want to not live with your parents for the rest of your life. You don't want to end up like Ignatius Reilly, believe me.

[batgirl]

I read "As I Lay Dying" for my American Fiction and death class and I hated it as well.

50 books? *cracks knuckles* As a Literature major, this should be a piece of cake. I've already read about 20 since september, so we'll see how it goes.

[Jeneralissimo]

Hey everybody, 2007 starts tomorrow! Don't forget to start recording all the books you read if you plan to participate in the challenge!

And, because I hate (almost) pointless posts: My 2006 Book List (http://bellerussian.livejournal.com/112202.html#cutid1)

I'll post again at the end of the month with my latest books. Good luck everyone!

[Lefty]

This sounds interesting, I don't know if I have time to do 50, but I'll post a short summary of what I read.


Recently, My sisters keeper by Jodi Foster. Hella, Hella, Hella emo. A really, really good book, but all the chicks in creative writing class told me they cried.

Currently, Hunters of Dune by Frank Herberts son and some other guy, O.K., not dune, but ok. I think it's like the 7th in the series and I've only read the 1st one, Dune.
BTW, everyone who loves books should go read Dune. It's amazing.

Also I'm reading two books of H.P. Lovecraft compilations. It's freaky, OMG the freakyness. The Cthulu short story is good, I can see why alot of people love it, but everyone needs to go read Dragoon. It's a really interesting story about a guy who washes onto a continent that recently rose up from the sea floor and all the freaky shit he finds. Anyway, great thread idea...

[Gascmark de Leone]

Fifty books, eh?
Let's see... I read the Chonicles of Narnia, again. Light reading, I know, but I hadn't read them for a while.

I might read The Dark Tower series again, but only if I feel like being a masochist.

[Muffin Mage]

Finished my first book of the year. Procopius' Secret History. Or Annals. Whatever title you want to go with. It's an interesting view of Justinian, reminds me a lot of Communist Russia. It's not exactly the most rigorously accurate and unbiased account, but on the other hand, it's not like there are millions of sources to corraborate with. Good read, but I'd want to get another perspective of the guy before I pass judgement.

[42PETUNIAS]

Just found this now, I guess I'll post all the books I've read since christmas (mind you, I normally don't go through books anywhere near this fast, but I did more than my fair share of reading over the break)

The Chrysalids: I can't believe I hadn't read this before now, but great science fiction for anyone who hasn't read it. Not too complicated, but overall great story, with a great amount of meaning. Its a pretty gutsy move to write a book in which the good guys lay down a massacre near the end, just outright execution of a bunch of people and then be able to completly justify it.

Hyperion: This was a great science fiction book, and I really liked the format, with several different stories, each really representing a different genre, and all of them great. I'd never heard of it before i was given it, but it was really good, my only complaint is that it screws you into wanting to get the sequel, which is definitly on my to-buy list of books.

Animal Farm: Just like the person above me said, great book, also made me interested in russian history, throughout the book I kept searching the internet to find out who and what everything in the book represented.

Ringworld: Another sci-fi book (I've got an aunt who gave me all these books (except animal farm) It was pretty good, a lot of the things in it were pretty cool, and it had a lot of good ideas, but compared to the other books i've read, it wasn't extremly good. I'd put it as a decent book, but compared to Hyperion and the Chrysalids, just not as good.

Rendezvous with Rama: Another good science fiction, many good elements, and my only complaint was that it was too anti-climactic. It never really went anywhere, just sort of ended without a bang. Most of the story was good though, and I really liked the whole idea of an alien craft coming through the solar system, a ship meeting it, boarding it, and living there for a while, and yet never actually making contact with the aliens Thats certainly never been done before.

And now, I'm reading A Game of Thrones. It seems like a crime that I've let such a good book go until now without reading it, but I never made the connection between the name of the book, and the series a Song of Ice and Fire that i've heard so much about.

[YamiKaosu]

Eh, I need a reading challenge like this. Problem is finding the time, but we'll see. Also, I don't do all that well at summarizing, but I'll try my best.

I've recently finished:

Howl's Moving Castle (Diane Wynne Jones): I'd actually wanted to read this, because I loved the movie so much. I found it overall humorous and cute, and I might like the storyline better in the book than the movie (interactions between Sophie and Howl are hilarious).

The Seer and the Sword (Victoria Hanley): I loved this book. Kings and seers and romance = win. :D

Next on the list:

The Merlin Conspiracy (Diane Wynne Jones)
The Eyes of God (John Marco)
Castle in the Air (Diane Wynne Jones)

[ToxicFrog]

This shouldn't be at all a problem, the issue will be remembering to record what I read.
So far (since the start of 2007, and not counting short stories):
The Phoenix Guards - Steven Brust
500 Years After
The Paths of the Dead
The Lord of Castle Black
Sethra Lavode
Dragon
Issola
The Atrocity Archives - Charles Stross
Storm Front - Jim Butcher
Fool Moon
Grave Peril
(total 10)

Currently:
Summer Knight - Jim Butcher

On heap:
Kushiel's Dart - Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel's Chosen
Kushiel's Avatar
Mixed Magics - Diana Wynne Jones
A Game of Thrones (reread) - George RR Martin
A Clash of Kings (reread)
A Storm of Swords (reread)
A Feast for Crows
Dzur - Steven Brust

This also doesn't count non-recreational reading like the Lua 5.1 Reference Manual or Sipser's Introduction to the Theory of Computation, of course.

[Jeneralissimo]

Wow, I am bad. If I hadn't seen ToxicFrog's post I would have forgotten to post tonight.

Here's my count so far:
1. In Pursuit of the Green Lion ~ Judith Merkle Riley (http://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Green-Lion-Margaret-Ashbury/dp/0307237885/sr=1-1/qid=1170385470/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7413686-6452717?ie=UTF8&s=books)
2. Entombed ~ Linda Fairstein (http://www.amazon.com/Entombed-Alexandra-Cooper-Mysteries-Paperback/dp/0743482271/sr=1-1/qid=1170385606/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7413686-6452717?ie=UTF8&s=books)
3. Eragon ~ Christopher Paolini (http://www.amazon.com/Eragon-Inheritance-Book-Christopher-Paolini/dp/0375826688/sr=1-1/qid=1170385705/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7413686-6452717?ie=UTF8&s=books)
4. Odd Thomas ~ Dean Koontz (http://www.amazon.com/Odd-Thomas-Dean-Koontz/dp/0553584499/sr=1-2/qid=1170385792/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-7413686-6452717?ie=UTF8&s=books)
5. To Green Angel Tower, Part 1 ~ Tad Williams (http://www.amazon.com/Green-Angel-Tower-Memory-Sorrow/dp/0886775981/sr=1-2/qid=1170385906/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-7413686-6452717?ie=UTF8&s=books)
6. Stardust ~ Neil Gaiman (http://www.amazon.com/Stardust-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0380804557/sr=1-1/qid=1170386020/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7413686-6452717?ie=UTF8&s=books)

I am currently reading To Green Angel Tower, Part 2 ~ Tad Williams (http://www.amazon.com/Green-Angel-Tower-Memory-Sorrow/dp/0886776066/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/104-7413686-6452717). I would recommend any of the above books, except maybe for Eragon, which wasn't bad, it just wasn't very original. Stardust was good, not as good as Neverwhere, but I set pretty high standards for Neil Gaiman these days.

Happy reading, everyone!

[Mike McC]

I'm doing this. I haven't gotten to read too many yet, but hopefully I'll soon remedy that.

Book read: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.

Currently reading: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin.

Soon to follow: A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin.

[42PETUNIAS]

I am happy to say that I have just finished a Game of Thrones. Fucking amazing that was. Over the weekend i bought the rest of the series with a some of my bookstore gift certificates i got for christmas, so those will be the next books to follow. I'll race you fencer. :D

[PyrosNine]

I may be coming onto this a bit late, but as a seasoned reader who can read the first three harry potter books in one day, I shall join this challenge.

My first book shall be Inkspell, Followed by Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, followed by the second to last Harry potter book, and then several Discworld books.

Prepare to be schooled in my readingness!

[Jeneralissimo]

The tally for February is a little shorter, but between deadlines at work and breaking up with my boyfriend, I think I have enough excuse.
7. To Green Angel Tower, Part 2 ~ Tad Williams (http://www.amazon.com/Green-Angel-Tower-Memory-Sorrow/dp/0886776066/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/104-7413686-6452717)
8. On What Grounds ~ Cleo Coyle (http://www.amazon.com/What-Grounds-Coffeehouse-Mysteries/dp/042519213X/sr=1-1/qid=1172805615/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books)
9. Bedlam ~ Greg Hollingshead (http://www.amazon.com/Bedlam-Greg-Hollingshead/dp/0312354746/sr=1-1/qid=1172805705/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books)
10. Mad Ship ~ Robin Hobb (http://www.amazon.com/Mad-Ship-Liveship-Traders-Book/dp/0553575643/sr=1-2/qid=1172806217/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books)

The ones on either end were amazing. Bedlam was interesting, but not great. On What Grounds was a 300p mystery. I read it in one day after finally finishing To Green Angel Tower (1650 pages, w00t!) The recipes in the back might be good, but if you're looking for more than that I wouldn't recommend it. Current book is Water for Elephants ~ Sara Gruen (http://www.amazon.com/Water-Elephants-Novel-Sara-Gruen/dp/1565124995/sr=1-2/qid=1172805951/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books), which I am borrowing from one of the editors. So far three people on my team have read it and liked it.

[Mike McC]

Hey, ya'll could be updating your progress. It'd be a great way to spread some knowlede of books you liked and others may always be looking for something to read. So go ahead, update!

Anyway, my update is a small one. I've only got four books under my belt this year so far, all by George R. R. Martin, his A Song of Ice and Fire series:
A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows

Anyway, I figured I do something light next, and tackle the first four Artemis Fowl books, by Eoin Colfer. After that, i might jump back into a huge fantasy epic with Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, all 12 released books of it (books 1-11, and the prequel).

[42PETUNIAS]

I've read a couple more by now, A Clash of Kings, as well as Inherit the Wind. Now moving on to A Storm of Swords.

[Teal Mage]

Well, I wasn't going to join this challenge, but I decided to, just because.

This year to date I've read:
The Shadow Sorcoress, by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Shadow Singer, by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Scion of Cyador, by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Game of Thrones, by George R.R Martin
The Phantom, by Terry Goodkind
and am currently reading a Clash of Kings, by George R.R Martin.

I am so going to fail when it comes to reading 50 books.:sweatdrop

[Jeneralissimo]

Don't worry, Teal. GRRM's books are insane and I am glad to see so many people here reading them (or in KP's case, listening to them :rolleyes:). Anyhow, I'll post my total for March tomorrow. I still have one that I need to finish before my deadline. Looks like the total for the first three months is 18! :)

UPDATE: 11. Water for Elephants ~ Sara Gruen (http://www.amazon.com/Water-Elephants-Novel-Sara-Gruen/dp/1565124995/sr=1-2/qid=1172805951/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books)
12. Holy Fools ~ Joanne Harris (http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Fools-Novel-Joanne-Harris/dp/B000GBFQSO/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175386571&sr=1-1)
13. Sea Glass ~ Anita Shreve (http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Glass-Novel-Anita-Shreve/dp/0316089699/ref=sr_1_4/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175386694&sr=4)
14. Guards! Guards! ~ Terry Pratchett (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/104-1957401-6294330?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Guards%21+Guards%21)
15. The Tidal Poole ~ Karen Harper (http://www.amazon.com/Tidal-Poole-Elizabeth-Mysteries-Dell/dp/0440225930/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175386849&sr=1-1)
16. Reliquary ~ Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (http://www.amazon.com/Reliquary-Douglas-Preston/dp/0765354950/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175386914&sr=1-1)
17. Katharine, the Virgin Widow ~ Jean Plaidy (http://www.amazon.com/Katharine-Virgin-Widow-Jean-Plaidy/dp/0099493144/ref=sr_1_2/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175386990&sr=1-2)
18. Moving Pictures ~ Terry Pratchett (http://www.amazon.com/Moving-Pictures-Terry-Pratchett/dp/006102063X/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-2616104-1313501?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175387074&sr=1-2)

[Seeker]

Alright, I'm finally going to jump on this. I love to read but between work, my kids, selling/buy a house, and various other distractions I haven't read anything but Half-Blood Prince in the last year or so. This is just the motivation I need to get through the stack of unread books I've picked up at the annual book fair around here.

I'll post a complete list of books I plan to read soon, but for now I'm going to start with one I just picked up.

God's Debris (http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Debris-Experiment-Scott-Adams/dp/0740721909) - Scott Adams

Since I doubt that I'll have enough time to devote to read more than one or two books a month; I'll just post each time I finish a book with a review of it and what I'm going to start next.

Also, Jeneralissimo, would you have the means to PM me a copy of pages 99 & 100 from To Green Angel Tower, Part 2? I bought it at that book fair and that page was missing.

[Teal Mage]

Well, it's May first...and I think that's when we're to post the books we read in the previous month...

Clash of Kings, by George R.R Martin
Storm of Swords, by George R.R Martin
Feast for Crows, by George R.R Martin

yeah...I read those three, they were good, now, all I have to do is wait for Dancing with the Dragon (was that the title?) to come out :(

Currently, Ordermaster L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
total: 8, unless my Math is off

[Mike McC]

.... now, all I have to do is wait for Dancing with the Dragon (was that the title?) to come outIt's titled A Dance With Dragons, so you were close.

Anyway, for me, add the four Artemis Fowl books to my tally:
Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident
Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

So, that brings me up to 8. With 4 months gone. Kinda a slow start. Anyhow, what's on my plate next: Slaghterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut and The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. After that... who knows?

[Teal Mage]

May count,

Sorcery Rising, by Jude Fisher
Wild Magic, by Jude Fisher

and that's it.

so that's...10 now. Currently reading The Rose of the World, also by Jude Fisher.

[Lord of Joshelplex]

Anyway, for me, add the four Artemis Fowl books to my tally:
Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident
Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

Hey, a Fowl fan. Is Opal Decpetion any good? Ive been needing to get me a new book for a while, and my selection of Dragonlance novels is almost depleted.

[Jeneralissimo]

Blargh, no one is posting in here, so I deleted my old post but added June's count.

Yes, I know, I've been a bad thread-creator person. I've been pretty busy with work and stuff, so here is my list for April, May, and June.

April:
19. Forever Odd ~ Dean Koontz
20. Brother Odd ~ Dean Koontz
21. Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident ~ Eoin Colfer
22. Cat's Cradle ~ Kurt Vonnegut

May:
23. Ender's Game ~ Orsen Scott Card
24. Bonds of Vengeance ~ David B. Coe
25. Bold Sons of Erin ~ Owen Parry
26. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time ~ Mark Haddon

June:
27. One Hundred Years of Solitude ~ Gabriel Marcia Marquez
28. Reaper Man ~ Terry Pratchett
29. Warhost of Vastmark ~ Janny Wurts
30. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell ~ Susanna Clarke
31. The Water Devil ~ Judith Merkle Riley

[Teal Mage]

Been awhile since I last posted in this (Thanks to Jen for posting, and reminding me by doing so) so here's what I've finished since my last post...

The Rose of the World, by Jude Fisher
Gardens of the Moon, by Steven Erikson

Currently reading Deadhouse gates, by Steven Erikson, which is the second in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. It's a good series, though the author makes no attempt to explain things. So I find it's confusing at first.

[Jeneralissimo]

Ah, so you can find Steven Erikson in Canada, huh, Teal Mage? I remember when I joined the fantasy communities on LJ, there were a lot of people from Canada and Australia. They all raved about Steven Erikson, but I could never find him here in the States. Of course, I now have an Amazon account, so I can get pretty much whatever I want....

So you would definitely recommend Erikson, even if he doesn't explain things particularly well?

[Teal Mage]

Yep, the story comes together really well in his series (well it did in the first book >>;;; ), despite the overall complexity/convolution (whichever you prefer) and it's certainly interesting.

So, if you can find him, pick it up. But be ready for some confusion and long names.

[Ex. 68471]

I know I'm late in this, but I'm here now, and I have actually been in a reading race with one of my friends. First to 100 wins between me and him. We only started in February.

1. The City of Ember
2.The Merlin Conspiracy
3. Mortal Engines
4. The Fire Within
5. Pirates!
6. Icefire
7. Firestar
8. The Amultet of Samarkand
9. The Golem's Eye
10. Ptolemy's Gate
11. The Doomspell
12. Al Capone Does my Shirts
13. No More Dead Dogs
14. The Schwa was Here

If I could find my list I'm sure I could make at least 30.

Currently reading:
The Theif of Always

On the forklift:
Nothing. I haven't been to the library in who knows how long.

[Death by Stabbing]

In no particular order...aside from how I remeber reading them

1. Fragile Things By Neil Gaiman
2. Smoke and Mirrors By Neil Gaiman
3. Reread Star Wars: The Paradise Snare By A.C Crispin
4. Reread Plum Island By Nelson DeMille (a very funny book...also a bit sad)
5. Night FallBy Nelson DeMille

That's all I can think of right now...I read more last year...

DBS

[Fifthfiend]

Books I've been a'bookin:

What We Know About War
Understanding Force
How Wars are Won

(noticing a theme yet?)

Confessions of an Economic Hitman (Gripping!)

I saw the new Terry Pratchett book is out, Wintersmith, but it's a Tiffany Aching book and that character took an extremely disappointing turn for the precious in Hat Full of Sky and I don't know if I want to take the chance of subjecting myself to that again.

Oh also: Whistling Past Dixie, by Tom Schaller, One Percent Doctrine, by Ron Suskind, and Lady of Mazes, by Karl Schroeder.

[Kerensky287]

I've been reading a lot recently, so I decided to take up this challenge. *begins Rocky music*

1 - 5: The Cleric Quintet by R.A. Salvatore
6. Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
7. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (by someone who isn't Tom Clancy... it sucked)
8. The Alphabet of Manliness by Maddox (does this count?)
9. Fallen by David Maine
10. The Preservationist by David Maine
11. (currently reading) Mass Effect: Revelations by Drew Karpyshyn (lead writer of Mass Effect game)
12. (will read soon) Harry Potter 7
13. A Confederacy of Dunces by some guy I forget

I've read others... but I put them away. I'll post them when I look at them.

[Mike McC]

Alrighty, had a bit of a reading drought there, but this month it picked back up again. Time to update my listing now:

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
12. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
14. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
15. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Dunno what's up next, haven't really decided yet.

[Teal Mage]

Almost forgot to post here.

Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains

Read those, all from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson. Interesting and hard to put down (well, easy to put down, hard to drop for good). On book 5 Midnight Tides and still finding myself slightly confused, his plot is great, but his lack of character desciption at times still hurt the story. But I think I understand the magic system at least. :shifty:

[Jeneralissimo]

Okay, July count:

32. Summer Knight ~ Jim Butcher
33. The Peshawar Lancers ~ S. M. Stirling
34. His Majesty's Dragon ~ Naomi Novik
35. Killing Floor ~ Lee Child
36. Balzac and the Little Chinese Steamstress ~ Dai Sijie
37. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ J. K. Rowling
38. Medicus ~ Ruth Downie
39. Throne of Jade ~ Naomi Novik

This month's count is going to be a bit shorter since I've been doing a lot of fill-in puzzles instead of reading. Tsk tsk, I know. Naomi Novik rocks! (Thank you, Fencer.) Lee Child was pretty good. (Thank you, Twiddy.) And Ruth Downie is a new writer of Ancient Roman mysteries. The reviews weren't stellar, but I enjoyed it, and I got it for a great price from Amazon.

[Seeker]

So it would seem that I am quite behind on this, par for the course for me. :)

Anyway here is whats a been a happenin so far. I've read:

God's Debris by Scott Adams - This was an incredible book and I recommend you read it.

Dune - Frank Herbert - I really liked this but I found the pacing to be a little odd. Even in climactic parts it felt slowed down. Subsequently, it took me a little while to finish it off.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows - J.K. Rowling - An amazing end to a great series.

Next up are:

Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan

Island of the Sequined Love Nun - Christopher Moore

[Teal Mage]

It's September now, so my August count.

Midnight Tides-The ending was well done.
Bonehunters- Probably my favourite thus far, normally I can't read 1200 pages in 6 days >_> but in this case...I didn't want to stop. :sweatdrop

Both part of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Still Steven Erikson and still lacking description of anything other then the environment, which is overly described in my opinion. Oh well, it's still a really nice series. Currently reading Reaper's Gale, the next book.

Which puts me at 17, I think.

[Gadgeteer]

Do graphic novels count? If so, I've got 50 down.

[Jeneralissimo]

Do graphic novels count? If so, I've got 50 down.

Sure, we're not picky.

I had a lot of shit going on in last month, so not a whole lot of reading got done in August.

40. Witches Abroad ~ Terry Pratchett
41. The Shadow of the Pomegranate ~ Jean Plaidy
42. Ahab's Wife ~ Sena Jeter Naslund

Ahab's Wife was yuck. It took forever and it was depressing. I just wanted to get it over with.

This month will be better. :)

[Mike McC]

Blah, I'm so behind, I haven't read anything since Harry Potter :-P Think I can get 35 books in by January?

And on Graphic Novels, I'd say that about... 350, 400 pages of manga-sized pages (about two volumes) would count as one book. They're a bit too quick to go through, so I'd say they need to be weighted a bit. Now, something like, I dunno, Watchmen, that's hefty enough to count as one.

[Teal Mage]

Whoops, forgot about this. :sweatdrop

Sept Count:

Reaper's Gale, Steven Erikson- Another great one, overall the best yet, but it wasn't quite as compelling as Bonehunters. Still, really good. And I feel like the confusion finally left.
Wild Geese- Read it for school and it was surprisingly decent.


But Wild Geese got in the way of my other reading :gonk: and since the next Malazan book isn't out where I am yet, I couldn't find it. So, I picked a new one, Kushiel's Dart, which is pretty good, even if it is in first person and lacks the showy magic I like.

I’ll be lucky to hit 30 by January. :p

[Jeneralissimo]

So, I picked a new one, Kushiel's Dart, which is pretty good, even if it is in first person and lacks the showy magic I like.

Isn't it full of sex, though?

Anyhow, September count:
43. Small Gods ~ Terry Pratchett
44. Ship of Destiny ~ Robin Hobb
45. Pompeii ~ Robert Harris
46. Shapers of Darkness ~ David B. Coe
47. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister ~ Gregory Maguire

These were all awesome. 'Nuff said.

[Teal Mage]

Isn't it full of sex, though?

It's about as filled with it as A Song of Fire and Ice. Maybe a little more graphic.

It eventually just seems to disappear altogether, I'm near the end now and it's only been implied for a while.

>.>
<.<

Although the girl loves pain, so that's slightly bizarre...

[Death by Stabbing]

6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By J.K. Rowling
7. The Occult Detectives of C.J. Henderson By C.J. Henderson. A collection of short stories
8. Eternals By Neil Gaiman and illustrated by John Romita Jr.

I'm sure I've read more...I just don't keep track of things well enough to really do this competition...If we do it again next year I'll try harder

[Jeneralissimo]

October count is here (rather pathetic, I'm afraid, but I have gone over fifty).

48. I Capture the Castle ~ Dodie Smith
49. The Curse of Chalion ~ Lois McMaster Bujold
50. The Healing Season ~ Ruth Axtell Morren
51. Die Trying ~ Lee Child

Already read two books this month and am about a third of the way through one I just started today. :)

[Teal Mage]

Okay, more then a little late this time.

Kushiel's Dart- I'd read the sequel, it's actually good.
Legacies, L.E. Modesitt-looks Sci Fi, and amazingly was not
Darknesses, L.E. Modesitt-looked even more Sci Fi, if anything was less
1984, George Orwell-...read it for school, and if I have a choice never again.

Reading Sceptres, the next in the Corean series (Legacies and Darknesses are the first two).

[Death by Stabbing]

9. The Gunslinger By Stephen King
10. Wolverine: Evolution Black and white edition. By Jeph Lobe and illustrated by Simone Bianchi
11. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

I know I had more I just have to figure out what they were

[Gadgeteer]

I know I had more I just have to figure out what they were

I know the feeling. I'd love to participate in this, but most of what I've read this year was graphic novels and I never really kept track of which ones or in what order.

[Mike McC]

Okay, since thee's no way in hell that I'm going to get 50 books in this year, I decided to restart my counting starting with November Anyway, my books so far in my new year:

1. Empire of Ivory, by Naomi Novik
2. The Color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett
3. The Light Fantastic, by Terry Pratchett

[russianreversal]

Well, when you think about it, one book a week isn't that much. I've probably read 25 books for Sep-Nov, but I couldn't name all them for you. However they due include the entire James Bond series and Dracula (can't believe I never read that before).

[Jeneralissimo]

Saturday night means it's time to finally update my list!

November count:
52. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency ~ Alexander McCall Smith
53. Anansi Boys ~ Neil Gaiman (More Gaiman awesomeness! I <3 Neil)
54. The Looking Glass Wars ~ Frank Beddor
55. Lords & Ladies ~ Terry Pratchett
56. Black Powder War ~ Naomi Novik
57. Empire of Ivory ~ Naomi Novik

Somehow my written list jumped from 54 to 56, so I hope I am not forgetting something here...

[Death by Stabbing]

12. The Things that are not there By C.J. Henderson
13. The Goodwulf Manuscript By Robert B. Parker
14. God Save the Child By Robert B. Parker
15. Mortal Stakes By Robert B. Parker

[Teal Mage]

And late once again for this.

Sceptres, L.E. Modesitt
Alector's Choice, L.E Modesitt
Natural Ordermage, L.E Modesitt
Settlers on the Marsh, Frederick Grove

As usual Modesitt's stuff was enjoyable, if nothing super amazing. Settlers on the Marsh really didn’t impress me, so yet another school book that I didn’t enjoy.

So yeah, my final count for 2007 was somewhere around 27.

Well, at least I tried. Either way, I'm currently enjoying the Confessor, by Terry Goodkind. >.>; I've waited long enough to finish his Sword of Truth series.

[Jeneralissimo]

December count:

58. Paladin of Souls ~ Lois McMaster Bujold
59. Bleak House ~ Charles Dickens
60. Sense and Sensibility ~ Jane Austen

So I wound up slightly short of last year, but still not bad.

Does anyone have any suggestions regarding keeping this thread going another year? Should we call it quits or are people still interested? Would it be easier if I send PM's every month to post to people who want them?

[Tendronai]

Well, now that it's a new year, I'd like to give it a try and see how many I can get. Consider this my formal sign-up thing.

[Teal Mage]

I'm still game for this. (Maybe I'll break 30 this year :p)

It's nice to be able to see what other things people are reading. Gives me a good idea of which authors to look for whenever I need to find a new series.

But in regards to keeping the thread going, I haven't seen much of a problem in the way it is right now.

[Gadgeteer]

New year means I can actually keep track of what I read.

Having just realized that I've already cleared two books, I think I'm off to a good start.

[Death by Stabbing]

New year means I can actually keep track of what I read.

Having just realized that I've already cleared two books, I think I'm off to a good start.

Same here! Woot!

[Elminster_Amaur]

I'd like to do this.
Since the 1st, I've read:

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People ~ Dale Carnegie
2. The Age of Speed ~ Vince Poscente

I'll likely add Modern Physics (a textbook for a class I'm not currently taking) to my list, by the end of this week.

[Seeker]

Still very behind on this and the deadline is coming up fast, oh well. Here's the update:

Finished Knife of Dreams - I liked this one alot but found myslef missing the big epic battles. Hopefully what's his face does a good job on the last book.

Halfway through Island of the Sequined Love Nun and up next is I am Legend.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Well I might as well start for the new year though all I get time to read at the moment is thousands upon thousands of journal articles.

But so far in the year:
1) The Way By Swann's, Proust
2) Phantom of the Opera, LeRoux
3) Heart of Darkness, Conrad.

I'm now in the hurdle of the very dense, modernist wastelands of more Proust and some Kafka which are slow going, my research papers, and Gormenghaust which is pretty fast read but reasonably long.

[Tendronai]

Well, it's February, so I can claim some things. Try to spot the books I read for school.

1) Stephen Colbert's I am America (and so can you!), Stephen Colbert
2) John Stuart Mill's On Liberty and Other Writings
3) Peace Power Righteousness - an Indeginous Manifesto, Taiaike Alfred
4) Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens, by J.R. Miller

I'll have more next month when I finish the four or so other books I started for my other courses.

[Teal Mage]

January count!

1. Confessor, Terry Goodkind
2. Soarer's Choice, L.E Modesitt

Okay, so I only got two. :sweatdrop

It could have been worse. Soarer's choice was actually really good for a Modesitt book. But the Confessor left something to be desired.

Next up, Night of Knives, by Ian Esslemont.

[RickZarber]

So I'm gonna try this out this year.

January count:
1) The History of the Hobbit, John D Rateliff
2) Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury

[Inbred Chocobo]

Hey why not, I'm going to start working on this.

January Count:
1) Twilight Falling
2) Dawn of Night
3) Midnight's Mask
4) Shadowbred

All four by Paul S Kemp. Admittedly I have read 6 of the 7 books of the Uskeven series before then, which is what got me on the Everis Cale series. And then that is what lead me to the Twilight wars. I don't know this shall be entertaining.

[Death by Stabbing]

January Countuuuuuuuu!

1. War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
2. The Marvel Encyclopedia
3. Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe
4. Runaways Vol 2
5. Runaways Vol 3
EDIT: Numbers were wrong

[Mike McC]

Two more.

4. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
5. War for the Oaks, by Emma Bull

[Jeneralissimo]

Fencer, where are your first three? o_O

January count (late, as usual):

1. Men at Arms ~ Terry Pratchett
2. Persuasion ~ Jane Austen
3. Northanger Abbey ~ Jane Austen
4. Mansfield Park ~ Jane Austen
5. The Meaning of Night ~ Michael Cox

Terry Pratchett is always good, of course. (I am currently working through Soul Music.) The Jane Austen stuff is because PBS is showing all her works on Masterpiece Theatre and I figured it was a good time to finally read it all. I'll have Pride and Prejudice and Emma done by the end of this month. The Meaning of Night was excellent, as I believe I mentioned in Fifth's thread. My cubemate is reading it now.

It's great to see so many people posting in here! ^^

[Mike McC]

Can't scroll up? They're in December (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showpost.php?p=706421&postcount=60). I restarted early, remember?

I don't abide by having to stick strictly within the year of 2008.

[Death by Stabbing]

6. Night Train to Rigel By Timothy Zahn
7. Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

[Teal Mage]

March now, time for the February count.

3. Night of Knives, Ian Esslemont
4. Magic Steps, Tamora Pierce
5. Street Magic, Tamora Pierce
6. Cold Fire, Tamora Pierce
7. Shatterglass, Tamora Pierce

It has been a long time since I've read this many books in a month. I blame it on the shortness of Pierce's Circle Opens Quartet. I had picked it up loosely years ago, but got side tracked by some other series. So, when I saw the continuation of this series, The Will of the Empress, I couldn't resist starting this again. It was so worth it.

As for Night of Knives, it was good. It had the same feeling of the other Malazen books, if maybe a little quicker and more focused. I liked it, but it pales to some other Malazen books. It is only the beginning of this side story, so I suppose can't expect too much from the new players...yet.

Now I’m working on the Will of the Empress, by Tamora Pierce.

[RickZarber]

February count:
3) Farewell Summer, Ray Bradbury
4) Brave Story, Miyuki Miyabe

...I really need to get on the ball here. Two a month is not gonna cut it!

[Inbred Chocobo]

February:
5) Shadowstorm, Paul S Kemp
6) IT, Stephen King.

Don't worry Rick, you aren't the only one who only did two books this month.

[Tendronai]

5) Selected Writings of Karl Marx
6) The Duty to obey the Law, By William Edmundson

Yeah, another 'only two books this month' guy. I've been busy.

[Jeneralissimo]

Hey, at least you guys remember to update (unlike me).:o I'll put my February count up when I get home.

UPDATE:
6. Soul Music ~ Terry Pratchett
7. The Pull of the Moon ~ Elizabeth Berg
8. Pride and Prejudice ~ Jane Austen
9. Serpent ~ Clive Cussler
10. March ~ Geraldine Brooks
11. Emma ~ Jane Austen

To be fair, two of these were really short. I couldn't follow some of the stuff that was going on in Soul Music, so I didn't enjoy it quite as much I as normally enjoy Pratchett's stuff. The Pull of the Moon was about a menopausal joyride (for real); I'm never reading anything by her again. The book was my mom's though, so at least I didn't buy it. P&P and Emma were the last two for my Jane Austen project (self-inflicted). It turns out I didn't need to finish Emma though, as it's going to be on this weekend (stupid public television fundraiser). My dad has a ton of Clive Cussler books, so I finally read one; it was alright. I might read more, but only because they are free. March won the Pulitizer, and it was pretty awesome. It's about Mr. March, the absent father in Little Women. I hadn't read any Civil War stuff for a while, so I am good for a bit now.

[Death by Stabbing]

A question: Do short stories count for the challenge? I mean just a single short story...I figure they don't but I might as well ask

[Jeneralissimo]

Well, this isn't a police state; it's really up to you. I almost never read short stories and personally I wouldn't count them unless I had just read an entire book of them (and that doesn't happen too often), but that's just me.

I have a book that was originally published as three separate novels, and I am counting them separately, though.

[Archibald]

God, Seems I'll get into the challange.

I'm in the army.. and the way this is heading I'll easily finish the challenge.

I've read 5 and started the 6ith book during the last weekend.. cause I was guard duty ALOT.

The books: "1984" by George Orwell
"Black box" by Amos Oz
"The helper" by Bernard Malmud
"Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo
"Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Huh.

Edit.. make that 6: Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

[Jeneralissimo]

Wow, look at this, I am actually posting on the first day of the month without prompting.

Last month was pretty pitiful reading-wise. (I blame Easter.) I am still trying to figure out if I read another book and just forgot to record it, but if I did it must have sucked because I can't remember. Anyhow...

March count:

12. Funeral Music ~ Morag Joss
13. Brideshead Revisited ~ Evelyn Waugh
14. The Alchemist ~ Paulo Coelho

Funeral Music was an alright mystery. I borrowed it from my cubemate and I will probably read the second one in the series but I don't think I would buy them. Brideshead Revisited I bought during a field trip to Harvard a few years back and I only just got around to reading it now. It's a classic; read it if you ever get the chance. I probably would be going on and on about Brideshead except that I finished the month with The Alchemist. Seriously, go read this book. It's short and sweet and to the point. It's about fulfilling your life's dream. I definitely want to read more of Paulo Coelho's stuff now.

[RickZarber]

Crap. March count:

5) The First Law Book 1 - The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie

And I read most of that one in February. Nearly finished another book for this month, had about a hundred pages to go... Looks like I'm gonna fail the challenge this year, unless something miraculous happens. Man, what happened to the good ol' days when I could get through a book a week?

[Delacroix]

March count:

1.Simon Spurrier - Lord of the Night
2.Trudi Canavan - The Magician's Guild
3,4,5.Raymond E. Feist - Magician, Silverthorn, A Darkness at Sethanon
6.Raymond E. Feist & William Fortschen - Honoured Enemy
7.Richard A. Knaak - The Kingdom of Shadow
8.Anthony Reynolds - Dark Apostle

Currenly reading Trudi Canavan book 2 - The Novice. Looking forward though to soe new Warhammer literature.

[Death by Stabbing]

8. The Promised Land by Robert B. Parker
9. Stardust By Neil Gaiman
10. Mystic Arcana by Marvel Comics...various authors.

[Teal Mage]

March Count! (And only a week late)

8. Will of the Empress, by Tamora Pierce
9. Sandry's Book, by Tamora Pierce
10. Tris's Book, by Tamora Pierce
11. Daja's Book, by Tamora Pierce
12. Brair's Book, by Tamora Pierce

I think there's a pattern here.
>.>
<.<
It was all good, nothing amazing, but it still was worth reading.

[Death by Stabbing]

11. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones
12. The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
13. Lai Wan: Tales of the Dreamwalker by C.J. Henderson and others

[Delacroix]

9. The Novice - Trudi Canavan
10. The Enemy Within - Richard Lee Byers


Currently going through The High Lord - Trudi Canavan. I'm absolutely in love with this trilogy.

[Jeneralissimo]

Hmm, I read The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan, but I wasn't horribly impressed with it. Pretty sure I sold the book already, too. Are the latter books better? I think I may have just not liked her writing style.

[Seeker]

Behind on posting as usual but this time I've actually read a few books. Here's the list:

Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore - finally finished this; it was a decent read but not as good as other Moore books I've read.

Wellspring of Chaos by L.E. Modesitt Jr. - I haven't read any of this series in awhile but this is my favorite one yet and has me wanting to re-read them all before reading the current one.

Star War: A New Hope by George Lucas - Okay read but man does that guy suck as a writer.

Empire Strikes back by Donald F. Glut - Not bad but a little exuberant for my taste.

Return of the Jedi by James Kahn - Pretty much the same but way to overblown on the descriptions. At one point he actually uses the phrase "slowly slows"...

[Jeneralissimo]

April Count:

15. The Kite Runner ~ Khaled Hosseini Awesome book, read it if you ever get the chance.

16. The Screwtape Letters ~ C. S. Lewis Dude didn't just write Narnia.

17. One Shot ~ Lee Child

I'm on a spiritual reading kick right now (see #16) and I realize that those kinds of books probably don't interest many people here. Since we don't talk about religion here, if you're interested in talking about spiritual reading, please im/pm me and I can hook you up with some good stuff. :-)

[Mike McC]

6. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
7. Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury

[Teal Mage]

April has returned me to my usual one or two books a month style.

13. The Highwayman, by R.A. Salvatore.
14. The Demon Awakens, by R.A. Salvatore.

So a friend of mine told me to try Salvatore's stuff a while back, and I've been putting it off forever. I'm still very hesitant to try his Dark Elf series, which is silly long.

Anyway, those two are part of the Saga of Corona/Demon War Saga and its fairly good. If a little overly described at times.

[Death by Stabbing]

14. Good Omens By Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
15. The Waste Lands Dark Tower Book III By Stephen King

[Jeneralissimo]

So a friend of mine told me to try Salvatore's stuff a while back, and I've been putting it off forever. I'm still very hesitant to try his Dark Elf series, which is silly long.


Do it, do it, do it! I read Salvatore a few years back. I actually started out with the Cleric Quintet and then moved on to the Drizzt novels. I don't think I read all of them, but as you can tell from this thread, I read a million different things.

Also, DBS, what did you think of Good Omens? It's like two of the greatest forces of the universe combined to make a masterpiece with extra awesome sauce. I loved Crowley terrorizing his plants. Don't know why that's what I really remembered from that book, but it stuck with me.

[Death by Stabbing]

Do it, do it, do it! I read Salvatore a few years back. I actually started out with the Cleric Quintet and then moved on to the Drizzt novels. I don't think I read all of them, but as you can tell from this thread, I read a million different things.

Not a fan of him...he killed Chewbacca...so yeah I don't like him

Also, DBS, what did you think of Good Omens? It's like two of the greatest forces of the universe combined to make a masterpiece with extra awesome sauce. I loved Crowley terrorizing his plants. Don't know why that's what I really remembered from that book, but it stuck with me.

Oh I loved it...I would read it outside when the weather was good and people would give me strange looks as if they wanted to ask me if a book would actually be that funny...I think it's a shame people don't read as much anymore...but anyways big time fun to read! Everyone should

oh and...

16. Wolverine: Enemy of the State By Mark Miller Illustrated by John Romita Jr.

[Tendronai]

So way-late March and late April counts:

7) Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
8) Justice as Fairness by John Rawls
9) Fury by Aaron Allston
10) Revelation by Karen Travis
11) The Power of Persuasion by Kirsten Kozolanka
12) Complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

I justify the last one by pointing out there's 10 years worth of strips over 1500 pages.

[Delacroix]

11. Trudi Canavan - The High Lord
12. C.L. Werner - Palace of the Plague Lord

Next target: Graham McNeill - Ultramarines omnibus

[Jeneralissimo]

May count:

18. My Life With the Saints ~ James Martin
19. The Two Towers ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

I don't know what it is about Tolkien, but it always takes me forever to finish one of his books. Also, I haven't read any Pratchett since like, February. I must rectify this.

[Rokrin]

20. The Last Mythal Book I: Forsaken House ~ Richard Baker

Yeah, this is the only book from the last two weeks...it's been a lot of fanfiction. I'm a sucker for Forgotten Realms novels, though, and I needed something for the plane ride. It was quite good.

[Teal Mage]

May count.

15. Ascendance, by R.A. Salvatore.
16. Homeland, by R.A. Salvatore.
17. Exile, by R.A. Salvatore

Since I have suddenly found the Corona series annoyingly hard to find, I had to give up on it for a little while. Whereas, the Dark Elf Triology was...so easy to find it was a little sickening.

Ascendance was nice, took a while to get into, but nice. Although, now that I'm actually reading Drizzt/Dark Elf books, I finally see where Salvatore's thing for Rangers comes from. The Dark Elf books are just really, really, really, really good.

[RickZarber]

I forgot my April count!

6) Tales Before Tolkien - The Roots of Modern Fantasy, ed Douglas A. Anderson

...No May book! :gonk: I fail.

Seriously, forget "50 book challenge". At this rate I'll be lucky to hit 15 by the end of the year!

[Jeneralissimo]

June count:

20. Terrier ~ Tamora Pierce

Pretty good, unfortunately the next one in the series doesn't come out until next year sometime.

21. A Thread of Grace ~ Mary Doria Russell

This was really good as well, although since it deals with Jews during WWII, it's really sad.

22. The Malice of Unnatural Death ~ Michael Jecks

My cubemate and I are both huge British mystery fans, and this was the second Jecks book for both of us. Neither one of us liked it. A lot of pages, a lot of running around, not a lot happening.

23. The Pilgrimage ~ Paulo Coelho

I love Paulo Coelho; that is all.

[RickZarber]

June count!

7) Tales Before Narnia - The Roots of Modern Science Fiction and Fantasy, ed Douglas A. Anderson

8) Titus Groan, Mervyn Peake

Finally getting around to books I bought last year. :stressed:

[Jeneralissimo]

If it makes you feel any better, Rick, I know I bought the book I'm currently reading a year ago. Sometimes books sit on my shelf for years before I can get around to them. Damn you, college!

Anyhow, how was that Titus Groan thing? I think I stumbled upon a miniseries based on it on PBS once and it was just super weird. Is the book worth reading?

[RickZarber]

Narg, how'd I miss this?! I should really check my profile thing more often...

I'm diggin' the books, the only problem is that they're not very conductive to sporadic reading. Really I only get to read on my 15 min breaks at work, and maybe an hour or so before I fall asleep. For an author who can take a whole chapter describing a sunrise, it can be kinda hard to pick up and leave off... If you have the time to invest in it, though, it's totally worth it. The man is a artist with the English language. Things like, "[A sunbeam] plucked a note of crimson from her dress." It's delicious.

I'd be interested in seeing the miniseries, though from what I was able to dig up it seems that it has very mixed reviews. The main complaint that I've read is that it seems to be lacking the atmosphere of the books. But the books are almost entirely about the atmosphere... O.o

[Jeneralissimo]

July Count:

24. The King's Secret Matter ~ Jean Plaidy

25. Victory of Eagles ~ Naomi Novik

26. Acacia: The War With the Mein ~ David Anthony Durham

27. Hot Six ~ Janet Evanovich

[Death by Stabbing]

17. Maid Marian by Elsa Watson
18. Degrees of Fear by C.J. Henderson
19. Judas Goat by Robert B. Parker
20. Dark Tower Book 4: Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
21. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
22. Rouge Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole
23. Wedge's Gamble by same
24. Krytos Trap by same
25. Bacta War by same
26. Wraith Squadron by Aaron Allston
27. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
28. Atomic Robo and the fighting scientists of Tesladyne by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegner
29. Wolverine: Born in Blood by Daniel Way and I forget the artist

And that was my summer...though there might have been more...I can't remember right now...oh well this is enough for now

[RickZarber]

And thus DBS becomes the one to finally break the Jen/Rick/Jen/Rick/etc posting loop!

...

August count!

9) Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

10) Titus Alone, Mervyn Peake

I actually read most of Gormenghast in July, but didn't finish it in time for the July count. Next month, more modern stuff! Still working hard on my personal "15 Book Challenge". Man, where did the days go where I could read whole books in a single day? I want those back.

[Jeneralissimo]

I hear ya, Rick. I can still make it to 50 this year, but it's going to be a struggle. I don't know what happened! I must be reading less at home or something. *stares at book sitting on computer desk* Cant imagine where all the time went....

Anyhow, August count:

28. Life of Pi ~ Yann Martel

Awesome, awesome book, and evidently Neil Gaiman met up with the author at some point and he is really cool as well. That's more than enough for me.

29. Twilight ~ Stephenie Meyer

I read this mostly on my flights to and from visiting Fencer. Nothing like teen vampire romance for summer reading. My boss currently has it, since she (like me) heard about it everywhere.

30. Maskerade ~ Terry Pratchett

Pratchett - always awesome, always. This was a book with the witches, though, so not for Fifth. :-p

31. Lady's Maid ~ Margaret Forster

This was a work of fiction about Elizabeth Barrett Browning's maid. Evidently it was based off the real person, although I didn't read that until after I had finished the book. It started out well, but after a certain point I was kinda just looking forward to finishing it. This one's on my sell pile right now, as I can't imagine reading it again.

32. By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept ~ Paulo Coelho

As I have mentioned before, I <3 Paulo Coelho. This book had a nice little twist at the end, so it was good. Some of the theology in it was a little shaky, but meh, I can handle that.

I am currently reading Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen. I'm four chapters in and so far it's pretty good. I haven't read any mysteries in a while, and this is something I can lend to the cubemate when I'm done with it.

[Death by Stabbing]

Ooh Life of Pi...I gave that to a math teacher I liked and learned a lot from once...and I found out today that the local book store no longer sells Terry Pratchet...yeah...I know...I'm pretty pissed

DBS

[Jeneralissimo]

A bookstore that doesn't sell Pratchett? That's mildly heretical, I'd say.

I mean, what the hell do they sell, then?

[DarkDrgon]

32. By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept ~ Paulo Coelho

As I have mentioned before, I <3 Paulo Coelho. This book had a nice little twist at the end, so it was good. Some of the theology in it was a little shaky, but meh, I can handle that.


How was that? the only book by him I read was The Alchemist, and it changed my life

[Death by Stabbing]

A bookstore that doesn't sell Pratchett? That's mildly heretical, I'd say.

I mean, what the hell do they sell, then?


Well they sell a lot of those Vampire Romance novels that are so popular now...or at least I hear people talking about them more these days...they used to have a whole level of a bookshelf filled with Pratchet but I went down there today (and bought some comic books with gift cards yay birthday! Boo for real books not being as interesting anymore and Boo for Neil Gaiman's new book not coming out for another monthish)

I have no idea what happened but I was going to buy a Pratchet book and when I looked at the SiFi/fantasy section not one of his books was there...and it wasn't like there was a gap...it was packed....maybe kids in college don't read books written by him

[Jeneralissimo]

How was that? the only book by him I read was The Alchemist, and it changed my life

I also started out with The Alchemist, then my dad read it, ran out and bought a bunch of his books. So now I have read The Pilgrimage and By the River Piedra... as well. They've all been different but amazing in their own way. I could definitely see myself reading them again at some point and maybe taking some notes. I don't know how one man can be so wise.

I have no idea what happened but I was going to buy a Pratchet book and when I looked at the SiFi/fantasy section not one of his books was there...and it wasn't like there was a gap...it was packed....maybe kids in college don't read books written by him

College kids better be reading Pratchett! I stayed up 'til 2 in the morning reading Discworld plenty of times in college. (Of course, sometimes I was up doing work until that hour as well. Boo.)

[Death by Stabbing]

I don't know how many college kids like to read in general these days.

[RickZarber]

September count!

11) Once Upon a Time in the North, Phillip Pullman

12) Love in the Time of Fridges, Tim Scott

13) Devil May Care, Sebastian Faulks

14) The Princess Bride, William Goldman

That's the most reading I've done all year! ...Hooray!

[Teal Mage]

*Is still doing this, just didn't keep track of June-September very well* :shifty: :sweatdrop

I finished a bunch of the Corona books, Demon Spirit, Demon Apostle and Transcendence. Kinda got bored of it, the series isn't that great. Will probably finish it still, but only because I want to know how it ends. Puts me at 20 books, all by Salvatore.

21. Sojourn, R.A. Salvatore. Much better then Corona, I'll probably read more Dark Elf stuff when I have time.

22. Toll the Hounds, Steven Erikson. I've waited almost a year for this, so totally worth the wait. Really good, but in a completely different style of writing then the Dark Elf ones, so comparing would be unfair. Although, I definitely prefer Erikson's stuff, it's so much more epic. =D

And that's it for now, reading some British Guy’s mystery novel right now. A Question of Blood, by Ian Rankin

[Tendronai]

Since I just realized I never officially did this, consider this my drop-out post. Too much work/school impeded my time, and I'm not organized enough to go back and find everything.

I'll try this again next year, when I've graduated and no longer have to do school/work simultaneously.

[Death by Stabbing]

finally some one else posted...I have a pretty big update...not as big as my last one...but still...quite a few comics this time.

30. Dark Tower book 5 Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King
31. Y: The Last Man Book 1 Unmanned By Brian K. Vaughn Illustrated by Pia Guerra
32. Death: The High Cost of Living By Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham
33. Watchman By Alan Moore Illustrated by Dave Gibbons
34. Y: The Last Man book 2 Cycles By Brian K. Vaughn Illustrated by Pia Guerra
35. Runaways: Dead End Kids by Joss Whedon Illustrated by Michael Ryan

[Jeneralissimo]

Hey guys, sorry I'm late, but I was busy on October 1st hearing Neil Gaiman read a chapter from The Graveyard Book. Be jealous, be very jealous. And yesterday I was just lazy.

Anyhow, September count:
33. Double Whammy ~ Carl Hiaasen redneck mystery, very funny, I wound up enjoying it a lot more than I thought

34. New Moon ~ Stephenie Meyer Yes, I am reading the Twilight series, and I like it, regardless of what other people might say.

35. Fearful Symmetry ~ Morag Joss British mystery, but I couldn't get into it. Second book by this woman, but I won't be reading any more of them.

[Death by Stabbing]

36. Looking for Rachel Wallace by Robert B. Parker
37. Y: The Last man: One Small Step Written by Brian K. Vaughn and illustrated by Pia Guerra

I started a bunch of books but didn't really have a lot of time this month to read any books other than these two all the way though...I hope I make the 50 book mark October was kind of a dead month and November isn't looking too good either

And I am very jealous! Was it magical? Did you get to meet Neil Gaiman himself!??! What does his voice sound like?!
Jen is lucky

[Teal Mage]

October!

23. Question of Blood, Ian Rankin. It was alright, very dialogue heavy though. Bit slow.

24. Farrier's Lane, Anne Perry. Slow at first, but turned out to be very good.

Reading another Anne Perry on a friend's recommendation. Breach of a Promise.

[RickZarber]

October count!

15) The First Law Book 2 - Before They Are Hanged, Joe Abercrombie

I also re-read Book 1, but I didn't think it should count as I already listed it earlier this year. I skimmed a bit, too.

[Jeneralissimo]

Yes, meeting Neil Gaiman was awesome, even if the book was pre-signed because he broke his finger in China.

Anyhow, October count:

36. The Valkyries ~ Paulo Coelho Still awesome

37. Tunnels ~ Roderick Gordon This is another book I borrowed from my boss. It's for young people and it's going to be a movie. The next book in the series is coming out in...April, I think. So far, it's been pretty good.

38. Eclipse ~ Stephenie Meyer I am now 3/4 through the Twilight saga and it's still great. I can't wait to read Breaking Dawn.

I am currently working on rereading The Winds of the Forelands, a series of 5 books by David B. Coe, in the hopes of getting them to Fencer sometime this century. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who reads epic fantasy. It moves very fast and has great characters.

I don't think I'll make it to 50 books this year, which makes me sad, but oh well.

[McTahr]

In no specific order, like hell am I trying to remember this junk. Gonna just go down my shelves.

1. The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky
2. Bluebeard - Kurt Vonnegut
3. Redwall - Brian Jacques
4. Deadeye Dick - Kurt Vonnegut
5. Possible Side Effects - Augusten Burroughs
6. Welcome to the Monkey House - Kurt Vonnegut
7. Making Friends with Black People - Nick Adams
8. Marriage of Heaven and Hell - William Blake
9. Songs of Innocence - William Blake
10. Songs of Experience - William Blake
11. Lies - Al Franken
12. The Truth - Al Franken
13. Oh, the Things I Know! - Al Franken
14. Why Not Me? - Al Franken
15. The Case of the Missing Books - Ian Sansom
16. Closing Time - Joseph Heller
17. The Assault on Reason - Al Gore
18. Armageddon in Retrospect - Kurt Vonnegut
19. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater - Kurt Vonnegut
20. Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man - Joseph Heller
21. 100 Selected Poems - E.E. Cummings
22. The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Beggar's Opera - John Gay
25. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
26. Kabul Beauty School - Deborah Rodriguez
27. Homeland - R.A. Salvatore
28. Exile - R.A. Salvatore
29. Sojourn - R.A. Salvatore
30. Crystal Shard - R.A. Salvatore
31. Streams of Silver - R.A. Salvatore
32. Halfling's Gem - R.A. Salvatore
33. The Legacy - R.A. Salvatore
34. Starless Night - R.A. Salvatore
35. Siege of Darkness - R.A. Salvatore
36. Passage to Dawn - R.A. Salvatore
37. The Silent Blade - R.A. Salvatore
38. The Spine of the World - R.A. Salvatore
39. Servant of the Shard - R.A. Salvatore
40. Sea of Swords - R.A. Salvatore
41. Catch-22 - R.A. Salvatore (Just kidding, Joseph Heller)
42. A Wolf at the Table - Augusten Burroughs
43. Amerika - Franz Kafka
44. Bagombo Snuff Box - Kurt Vonnegut
45. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
46. The Prince - Niccolo Machiavelli
47. A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works - Johnathon Swift
48. The Waste Land and other Poems - T.S. Eliot
49. Catch as Catch Can - Joseph Heller
50. The Epic of Gilgamesh
51...(and counting, I could keep going, but no sense waving it, and it's a 50 book challenge)

Okay, so that's like since this summer. I'm the nerdiest, most literature-hardy IT major you don't know?

I'd give a month-by-month if my memory didn't suck, so just roughly from July on.

At least I got extra nerd cred with the Salvatore. >.>

[Fifthfiend]

At least I got extra nerd cred with the Salvatore. >.>

If by "extra" you mean sooooooooo very much of it taken away.

Jesus, why not just read vampire romance novels?

[McTahr]

If by "extra" you mean sooooooooo very much of it taken away.

Jesus, why not just read vampire romance novels?

Because I'm not a teenage goth queen.

...

Okay, so maybe those pictures were fake, what of it?

[Fifthfiend]

I'm just saying, show me one significant difference between Twilight vampires and fucking dark elves.

[Jeneralissimo]

I'm just saying, show me one significant difference between Twilight vampires and fucking dark elves.

Oh, so that explains why I like them both.

Granted, I haven't read any Salvatore in a few years.

[RickZarber]

Keep forgetting to do this... November count!

16) The First Law Book 3 - Last Argument of Kings, Joe Abercrombie

17) Watership Down, Richard Adams

[Teal Mage]

For November...

25. Breach of a Promise, Anne Perry.

A good book, but it only counts for one.

And I was off to such a good start this year too. -.-

Oh well, what can you do.

[Jeneralissimo]

November count:

39. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan ~ Lisa See

40. Rules of Ascension ~ David B. Coe

41. The Graveyard Book ~ Neil Gaiman

42. Second Glance ~ Jodi Picoult

That's a month of good reading right there. Rules of Ascension was a reread from a year or so ago, just as good the second time around. Neil Gaiman is always amazing; I can't believe it took me so long to get to it! Second Glance was my first Jodi Picoult - a little chicy at times, but not nauseatingly so.

Looks like I might not make it to fifty, either! Who would have thunk it!

[RickZarber]

December count and, uh, year-end-total...

18) Iron Dawn, Matthew Woodring Stover

So, I made it past my personal goal of 15, which is good, I guess. Gonna go for 20 this year.

[Solid Snake]

I'm going to do this for 2009, I think.

Do nonfiction books count as well as fictional novels?

[Mike McC]

Yep. Non-fiction is accepted.

[The Argent Lord]

I'll try this. Uh... the book I'm reading now is two books, previously printed separately, in one. I'm counting them separately.

1. Shadow of the Torturer, Gene Wolfe - A fantasy future-history novel written from the perspective of an exiled torturer's apprentice. Unlike most fantasy books, it doesn't make up words, but replaces that convention with obscure and equally incomprehensible actual words.

[Cati]

I ought to do this as well. Somewhere along the line my brain decided fanfiction was a good alternative to books (oh noes!), and although there are a lot of great fanfics out there, there's still enough to make me think that it's lowering my IQ, haha. So my list for this year so far:

1. Against the Day, Thomas Pynchon. I started it during 2008, yes, but I'm counting it anyway since I still haven't quite finished it, even though I'm almost there. Trying to explain the plot of this freaking thousand page book is impossible (I don't think one actually exists), but it takes place between the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and the end of World War I. Setting? Just about every continent. Characters? Way too many. There's apparently a bunch of historical in-jokes, but I'm too much of an idiot to get them. To be honest, I'm finishing this book out of pure stubbornness, not because I enjoy it. Pynchon is a very good writer, that is obvious, but... this book is too complicated. By the time you think you know what's going on, it switches to a different character, and by the time it goes back to the original character, you can't remember who they were. VERY frustrating.

2. Chat, Nan McCarthy
3. Connect, Nan McCarthy
4. Crash, Nan McCarthy

All part of the author's "Cyberseries." Really not something I would normally read, but I borrowed them from a friend, and the books were short. Managed to read all three in one day. It's about an internet romance, told through email and chat logs. It was... interesting, but it's not really something I'd read again, especially because romance? Totally NOT the sort of thing I like to read. But it was all right. Cruel ending. XD

5. Exegesis, Astro Teller. Also borrowed from my friend, and I liked this one much better. It's also told in emails, but it's about the development of an AI -- emails are between the AI and its creator; things get out of control for the both of them. Much more along the lines of my interests, although the main character annoyed me a bit. Also a quick read (especially because of the email set-up), but it had more substance to it than the Cyberseries. No romance. Thank God.

January 4th, five (well, technically four and 3/4) down. Yay.

[Teal Mage]

Well, I ended up with 26 books this year.

26. Mage Guard of Hamor, L.E Modesitt. Jr

Which was surprisingly time consuming for one of his books, and not that interesting. Really, I would have enjoyed reading another Anne Perry more. I probably will.

Regardless, I've totally lost ground, last year I had 27 books. ^^;

I think I'll keep trying the challenge, even though there's no way I'll manage the 50.

[Jeneralissimo]

Sorry, guys. I would always remember that I hadn't posted when I was at work and didn't have my list. Anyhow, I only read 45 books last year, which might also be why I didn't want to post. :(

December:

43. Portuguese Irregular Verbs ~ Alexander McCall Smith

Hilarious if you are into academic humor, but it's probably not everyone's cup of tea. This is the same guy who writes the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency books. He has another series as well, but I can't remember the name off the top of my head.

44. The Joy Luck Club ~ Amy Tan

Somehow I reached the tender age of 25 without reading any Amy Tan books. I thought this one was pretty good, although I had to keep checking the front to see who was who. Each chapter was its own story, although some were connected to other chapters. I will probably read any other books by her that we have floating around the house.

45. Veronika Decides To Die ~ Paulo Coelho

This one was a bit weird, and I kinda figured out what was going on. Still good, though.

Already finished two this year, and am now working on Oliver Twist. Eventually I might post my whole 2008 list on my lj. Just don't hold your breath on that.

[Death by Stabbing]

This is still from last year...I have to catch up with my count...

38. Y: the last man: safe word Brian K. Vaughn Ill. Pia Guerra
39. Y: The last man: Ring of Truth same folks as 38
40. Wanted By Mark Millar illus J.G. Jones
41. A History of Violence I can't remember right now who it is by

Well shit looks like I didn't make it...fortunatly I have a ton of half finished ones so hey I might just happen this year!

DBS

[Jeneralissimo]

Alright, it's March, so I guess I better post. This year has been pretty dismal for me in terms of book reading, but only because I seem to be getting more of a life, so I'm not terribly sad. Also, I've been reading Dickens.

January count:

1. God's Joyful Surprise ~ Sue Monk Kidd

I was actually reading this for half of last year, but did not finish it until the beginning of January. It's great if you're looking for spiritual reading, and I hope I get the chance to read it again sometime.

2. Geisha, A Life ~ Mineko Iwasaki

I'm not sure if this came out after Memoirs of a Geisha became popular, but this is an autobiography of an actual geisha. It was really very interesting. I'll get to Memoirs one of these days.

3. Oliver Twist ~ Charles Dickens

Great book, but unfortunately, I was finishing it in time to watch it on Masterpiece, but the Masterpiece sucked so I gave up on it. They better not mess up Little Dorrit, but it's from the same guy that did Bleak House, which is what got me hooked on Dickens in the first place, so it should be awesome.

4. Wish You Were Here ~ Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown

This is one of those cute little cat-lover mysteries, set in a small town. I read it in two days when I had a stomach virus and couldn't really do anything else. It was a nice little escape and I will probably buy at least one more in the series.

I did not read an entire book in the month of February! I cannot even remember the last time that happened. When I was in college I had to read a novel a week sometimes! Do not despair, however, for I am almost done Magician: Apprentice by Raymond Feist.

[Death by Stabbing]

1. Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker
2. Star Wars: Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn

I've had a pretty weak showing thus far in 2009...I've had to do a lot of article reading for school so that's cut in a little...I'll have another book or two soon though...maybe by the end of the week.

DBS

EDIT:
I don't want to double post so...

3. The Dark Tower by Stephen King
4. Are you there Vodka? It's me Chelsea. by Chelsea Handler (hilarious book)
5. The Stench of Fresh Air by C.J. Henderson

More to come in May I hope

DBS