So there's this challenge to read 50 Books in a year. (Did I read it on Bookslut? Anyway, I've been following Neal Pollack's attempt through 2005.) And now that we're in the new place and my in-boxes-for-two-years (or more) books are meeting my custom-built-for-a-different-house bookshelves, I'm confronted rather physically with how many books are in my too-be-read pile. And I feel like I used to read plenty more than 50 books a year. Of course, that was back in the 16 years as a student when reading books was, in effect, my job.
So, I've decided to try. It's just under a book a week. Should be no problem, right? Of course, we're already a week into 2006 and I've only just finished the last half of Cosmonaut Keep by Ken MacLeod, which I don't feel like I can count against 2006, both because it was just half of the book, and because it was a re-read in preparation for reading the latter two books of the Engines of Light trilogy. Sigh. Wish me luck!
Comments
Do graphic novels count?
Posted by: Dan Telfer
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January 9, 2006 2:50 PM
Ooh, good question. I spent some brain power last night deciding that young adult novels counted (I got Scott Westerfield's Peeps for Christmas) but that some arbitrarily lower grade level-books did not (Erica and I are reading Sachar's Sideways School books for fun and those don't count, I decided.)
Maybe my rule is something about being a longer read than a single sitting. We'll see.
Posted by: Fuzzy Gerdes
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January 9, 2006 3:57 PM
Hmm.
I think this demands a word/page count sort of answer. As a fellow communter and owner of portable gaming systems, you see the flaw in the relative term "one sitting", no?
You average graphic novel is merely 4-8 issues pasted together. The word count is probably only a couple thousand words total- around one page of single-spaced text! So those don't count.
But while on the honeymoon, I purchased and finished Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman. I'd argue it, but I need a standard. It took more than one sitting, but I sat up all night and read Harry Potter 4 & 5 in "one sitting".
Posted by: Dan Telfer
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January 9, 2006 4:26 PM
Well, I'm not going to get into a word-count for each book -- this is just a personal challenge to try to get you (me) to read more. Nobody gives you a certificate when you're done, you just get to feel all literary.
Anyway, I left my book at home today, so I'm already that many pages behind. Stress! Stress! (Actually, I had fun doing the Sudoku this morning, instead.)
Posted by: Fuzzy Gerdes
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January 10, 2006 1:56 PM
I don't think graphic novels count. I decided for us (me).
So, don't read any. Ever.
Posted by: Dan Telfer
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January 10, 2006 2:08 PM
Yes, Peeps, So Yesterday, Midnighters 1 and 2, and any other book by S. W. counts. I just finished Peeps last night (it is on its way to you, as we speak. As we type?) Anyway, they are very good books, lots of enjoyment, and hey, young adult, old adult, a book is a book, unless it's a magazine. Hmmmm.
Posted by: tricia | January 10, 2006 4:13 PM