That stupid 50-novel challenge
Remember back in April when we were all younger and more carefree and foolish and had big hopes and plans? Yeah, those were good times. Those were times early in the year when anything seemed possible, even reading 50 novels by the end of December. Bah. I’m at 38 now, and I don’t see me reading 12 more in the next month. I hate to lose. I hate it when Barry wins at a game I set up. I especially hate it because he’s going to gloat as soon as he sees this.
I saw on Diana’s blog that she’s kept up her pace of reading a book a week. Aarrgg! Why am I such a slacker? And I know BJ–who doesn’t own a TV–reads something like two or three novels a week. It’s not like reading is all these people do. BJ is a busy web designer, Barry and Diana are busy writing novels, some of you other monster readers out there have children and jobs and all sorts of other demands on your time. I applaud you. I need to be more like you. I don’t deserve to be friends with any of you.
So what’s your secret? I know BJ’s, and I’m not willing to go so far as to give up TV since I don’t watch that much to begin with, but I know some of you have lives that aren’t that different from mine, and yet you are such far superior people. Tell me how you’re doing it. Blow a little of your fairy dust over here.
I will read a book this week, I will read a book this week . . .
Hey, by the way, head over to Living Read Girl and join in the fab list-making of your early cultural influences, such as Schoolhouse Rock and comic books and Jane Eyre. Let’s see what made you who you are.
Technorati Tags: Reading, Reading Challenge, Books
Don’t feel so bad,Robin-38 is alot! I have this habit of making reading lists for myself(with little catagories like”Classic books” and “To Be Reviewed”)and I’m lucky if I get to nearly a half of what I plan to read.
Oh,and thanks for the plug:) I am interested in seeing what makes a person’s pop culture wheels spin.
38 is more than I’ve read this year.
I wish I could read a book a week. I’m lucky to get in one or two a month. And I’m always reading…
54 and counting…
Barry, a smiley face does not mask the gloat.
Thank you, Heather and Lady T.
Unless you count books like Microeconomics: Principles and Applications, Six Billion Plus: World Population in the 21st Century, or The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research, then I havn’t read 50 books this year either.
Truth be told, I think I’ve only finished one book this whole year that I read for pleasure, and it wasn’t even fictional – it was about the Scottish guy who walked across Afghanistan in 2002!!!
Now if you’ll excuse me, Understanding Globalization: The Social Consequences of Political, Economic, and Environmental Change awaits.
Lizzie, my brain hurts on your behalf.
I bought 50 books this year because I went to a book sale where all the books were 10 cents and I bought anything I thought I would be even remotely tempted to read. I don’t watch much TV, and don’t even have cable, and yet I have not read one of those books. The only 2 books I can recall reading the whole year are, The Devil Wears Prada and the The Tao of Equus. I did, however, finish the entire Pony Pals series with my daughter and we are deep in the last Harry Potter. So, if kids books count, then I have read at least 50.
Kids’ books count–especially Harry Potter.
damn, didn’t pick-up on th “0″–i thought it was 5 books. guess i’ll be pretty busy these next few weeks.
If we are counting Thomas the Tank Engine, are we counting multiple reads of it? If so, I am somewhere around 402 books. Otherwise, I would assume that I am in the thirties, which pales in comparison to my wife.
Well, there’s a chance you wrote a heck of a lot more than I did this year, unless you wrote one and a half books.
Also, you’ll note that most of the books on that list are not exactly doorstoppers. Most run closer to the 70k range than anything else. Since I’ve done this for two years in a row now, I’m thinking of dedicating next year to “famous classics I have, for some reason, not yet read.” And *still* my TBR shelf groans.
Diana, you can play it down as much as you like–you’re still an inspiration to me. I’m going on the Diana Plan (TM)next year so I can do better.
I’m all for your classics program, too. I started doing that a few years ago, finally reading a bunch of novels I had no good excuse for having missed. I’m really happy I’ve been catching up. Now I have a huge crush on Dickens.
Wow! 38 books is amazing!
Every several years I print out The Modern Library’s “100 Best Novels” totally psyched to expand my mind… then I take one look at book one (ULYSSES by James Joyce) and I go back to my fluff reading! Hahaha!!
Maybe one day…
Christen, I don’t know why you would EVER be so mean to yourself as to read Ulysses. Please forgive yourself for whatever bad thing you’ve done that you think requires you to punish yourself with that book. Move on to Dickens and Austen and free yourself.
christen, i perform a similar “self-improvement” exercise every so often. it’s “moby dick” that i can’t seem to slog through (seriously i’ve read the first half about 10 times). i’m doing that now with “snow” (not to be confused with the wonderful “smilla’s sense of…”)–figured, the guy who wrote (orhan pamuk)it is nobel prize winner, it’s a new york times book of the year, what’s not to like, right? ARGGGGGGGG, it is so painful, so pretentious and so badly translated (not being totally fluent in the turkish, i at least hope that it is badly translated, otherwise it is really, really pretentious). please blog, give me permission to stop! now!
Oh, Annette, honey, let it go. You’re not impressing anyone by reading that, and life is too short.
If you feel guilty, donate it to the library where someone else can pretend to enjoy it.
I recommend something funny and outrageous like No Touch Monkey! by Ayun Halliday. Go forth and prosper.
Annette… maybe they have these books on audio?! =)
I try so hard to read the “good” books (it’s the English major in me), but if it’s boring I just can’t do it.
I will have to check out No Touch Monkey now. (While browsing this site I cam across The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl… I requested it from the library this morning and now I can’t wait to read it!)
I feel for all you people who so desperately need to ‘self-improve’
Me? I just check the hair in the mirror and know that I am all set.
Patrick, will you be my mentor?
LIBRARY?!?!?!? Why not just kick Barry in the -
I mean, Welcome Christen. Try to wear appropriate clothing.
Oh, and of course, Robin.
Step 1: Be Perfect
Step 2: Remind everyone endlessly.
Those are the basics. After you master them we can move on into advanced hair perfection. What to do when your hair doesn’t cooperate in strong winds, etc.
really, not even one person is impressed–what a sad, sad, little life…oh well i quess i’ll just go re-read an old favorite like “ulysses”.(untranslated of course, as i am fluent in the irish.) even with my great hair, what i wouldn’t give to have patrick’s self-confidence.
I’m all for advocating Classics That Don’t Suck. I want a crush on Dickens, too.
Number one on my Classics That Don’t Suck List would be The Count of Monte Cristo. Words cannot describe how much this book ROCKS. I also really loved Lolita. Anyway, there are lots.
Sadly, most of my entries are pre 30th century. That’s where i find that I’m really lacking.
Um, 20th century. But yes, I haven’t studied ANYTHING in the 30th century.
Diana, totally agree with you about Count of Monte Cristo. That man was such a manly man, plus the book is such a perfect revenge novel, plus plus plus–just loved it.
Annette, didn’t realize you were “fluent in the Irish.” Or that that’s how you say that. Once again I have learned much from you.
Hmmm, I have actually never read the Count. I’ll have to add that to my list!
Barry… sorry! I’ll cancel my hold (yes, there is a waiting list for your book) and I’ll go out and buy the book!! What was I thinking?!
Patrick, I have no idea what you mean by “wear appropriate clothing” =) And thanks for the welcome! Hahaha
Christen, forget what Patrick or Annette (because you’ll be hearing from her, no doubt) has to say about appropriate clothing for the blog. I’m in charge here–not Patrick or Annette, despite what they think–and I say come as you are, wearing your ratty old robe if you want to. My standards are only fresh breath. Oh, and wearing a bra if you need one. Otherwise, no dress code at all.
chisten, christen, christen, pay no attention to the ranting blog mistress behind the screen, you have soooo much to learn. we’ll be gentle.
a waiting list for barry’s book!!! what could be cooler than that?
LoL! I should warn you guys: I’m a Knottie! (Please see theknot.com) We’re an evil group of Bridezillas, who have nothing better to do than talk smack about other people’s weddings all day and night!! =) I’ve learned the art of snarkiness from these crazy women!