Pete's 2020 'I'm not going to buy any books and oly read the ones i already have' challenge
Forum2020 Category Challenge
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1psutto
Is the obvious mistake(s) in the title going to bother me enough to start a new thread? Maybe - watch this space...
I aim to read 50 books of my TBR this year, that's only 4 a month (ish) and I've added my Xmas books to the TBR. But I've not added my birthday books (it's in a couple of days) so they'll count against the total. Any book I add to the shelves that's not off the TBR will count as a -1 against the total. So if I do have a lapse of self-control and purchase a shiny book I'd better read it straight away because if it's added to the shelf I then have to read two TBR books to increase my score!
I aim to read 50 books of my TBR this year, that's only 4 a month (ish) and I've added my Xmas books to the TBR. But I've not added my birthday books (it's in a couple of days) so they'll count against the total. Any book I add to the shelves that's not off the TBR will count as a -1 against the total. So if I do have a lapse of self-control and purchase a shiny book I'd better read it straight away because if it's added to the shelf I then have to read two TBR books to increase my score!
2psutto
January
My birthday is on the 3rd and I'll no doubt be getting some books. I will have to read them all before the end of the year otherwise they'll add minus points...
I got a late Xmas present from a friend at NYE but luckily I could add that to the TBR before the rules for 2020 kicked in!
READ
Criminal Macabre *TBR*
Critical Response Process
Scarfolk
Obabakoak
The Topless Tower
The museum of unconditional surrender
Haven't you heard?
100 ways to improve your writing
Bought
These are ARCs received from an event I attended hosted by Penguin
The Last day
The Liar's dictionary
The intoxicating Mr Lavelle
The silent treatment
My birthday is on the 3rd and I'll no doubt be getting some books. I will have to read them all before the end of the year otherwise they'll add minus points...
I got a late Xmas present from a friend at NYE but luckily I could add that to the TBR before the rules for 2020 kicked in!
READ
Criminal Macabre *TBR*
Critical Response Process
Scarfolk
Obabakoak
The Topless Tower
The museum of unconditional surrender
Haven't you heard?
100 ways to improve your writing
Bought
These are ARCs received from an event I attended hosted by Penguin
The Last day
The Liar's dictionary
The intoxicating Mr Lavelle
The silent treatment
3psutto
February
Read
The amateurs
All my cats
Wild words
Sky light rain
How to write like Tolstoy
Technique in Fiction
writing with power
the last: a novel
Edinburgh, Alexander Chee
The Mezzanine
Horse destroys the universe
Dark Mountain: Refuge
Wonderbook
Across the land and the water
An Armenian Sketchbook
Before you write your novel
Birds without wings
Speak Gigantular
On Writing
Story Trumps Structure
Bought
The Breach, MT Hill ARC
Dead Astronauts Pre-Order
Read
The amateurs
All my cats
Wild words
Sky light rain
How to write like Tolstoy
Technique in Fiction
writing with power
the last: a novel
Edinburgh, Alexander Chee
The Mezzanine
Horse destroys the universe
Dark Mountain: Refuge
Wonderbook
Across the land and the water
An Armenian Sketchbook
Before you write your novel
Birds without wings
Speak Gigantular
On Writing
Story Trumps Structure
Bought
The Breach, MT Hill ARC
Dead Astronauts Pre-Order
4psutto
March
read
The Peregrine
The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction
Setting: Time and place
179 ways to save a novel
Dead Astronauts
techniques of the selling writer
Consider this
The Breach
Description
The Last Draft
Haven't you heard?
all among the barley
folk
The Himalayas A journey to Nepal
The Snow Leopard
bought
The besieged city
Get in trouble
All Among the Barley
The Snow Leopard
Make it Scream, Make it Burn
The Breach ARC
Eden, Tim Lebbon ARC
read
The Peregrine
The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction
Setting: Time and place
179 ways to save a novel
Dead Astronauts
techniques of the selling writer
Consider this
The Breach
Description
The Last Draft
Haven't you heard?
all among the barley
folk
The Himalayas A journey to Nepal
The Snow Leopard
bought
The besieged city
Get in trouble
All Among the Barley
The Snow Leopard
Make it Scream, Make it Burn
The Breach ARC
Eden, Tim Lebbon ARC
5psutto
April
Read
The Last Day
The intoxicating Mr Lavelle
Get in Trouble
Make it Scream, Make it burn
Eden, Tim Lebbon
The refrigerator monologues
Nineteen Eighty Four
Into the woods
Dear Agent
Wite a great synopsis
The ministry of truth
Coffinmaker's blues
Things from the flood
The underwater welder
The world-ending fire
Bought
Read
The Last Day
The intoxicating Mr Lavelle
Get in Trouble
Make it Scream, Make it burn
Eden, Tim Lebbon
The refrigerator monologues
Nineteen Eighty Four
Into the woods
Dear Agent
Wite a great synopsis
The ministry of truth
Coffinmaker's blues
Things from the flood
The underwater welder
The world-ending fire
Bought
6psutto
May
Read
In translation: translators on their work and what it means
The price you pay
Narrative Design
My sister the serial killer
My name is monster
Whatever happened to interracial love
How to write a novel using the snowflake method
How to write a dynamite scene using the snowflake method
Violet
No plot, no problem
The book of Koli
Invisible Women
Bought
Violet ARC
End of the line ARC
No plot, no problem - present
Stop look breathe create - present
The book of Koli
Read
In translation: translators on their work and what it means
The price you pay
Narrative Design
My sister the serial killer
My name is monster
Whatever happened to interracial love
How to write a novel using the snowflake method
How to write a dynamite scene using the snowflake method
Violet
No plot, no problem
The book of Koli
Invisible Women
Bought
Violet ARC
End of the line ARC
No plot, no problem - present
Stop look breathe create - present
The book of Koli
7psutto
June
Read
the poems of wilfred owen, stallworthy
Embrace your weird
The Muse Asylum
Last Orders
On Writing Horror
The vintage book of amnesia
Ship of Theseus
Booklife (Re-Read)
The Ice Palace
The girl from a thousand fathoms
Northern Chills
Build Your Best Writing Life: Essential Strategies for Personal Writing Success
Story Pitch
You're never weird on the internet
Bought
The Girl From A Thousand Fathoms - well when a friend brings out a book you have to support them!
Read
the poems of wilfred owen, stallworthy
Embrace your weird
The Muse Asylum
Last Orders
On Writing Horror
The vintage book of amnesia
Ship of Theseus
Booklife (Re-Read)
The Ice Palace
The girl from a thousand fathoms
Northern Chills
Build Your Best Writing Life: Essential Strategies for Personal Writing Success
Story Pitch
You're never weird on the internet
Bought
The Girl From A Thousand Fathoms - well when a friend brings out a book you have to support them!
8psutto
July
Read
Business for Breakfast volume 1
How to talk about writing
The Plague
21 Days to a novel
Newton and the counterfeiter
Success... and how to avoid it
Squirm
A Peculiar Peril
Granta 102
A Midlands Odyssey
Stop look breathe create
38 most common writing mistakes
How to critique creative writing
The world turned upside down
Be Pure, be vigilant, behave
Poetry in the making
How to be an artist
Bought
A Peculiar Peril
Mime - Friend's book, supported on Kickstarter
I crumbled and bought some books - oops (as long as I don't add them to the TBR!)
The Complete Book of Scriptwriting
Dark Matter: The Private Life of Sir Isaac Newton: A Novel
Writing comics
Words for pictures
The art of comic book writing
Read
Business for Breakfast volume 1
How to talk about writing
The Plague
21 Days to a novel
Newton and the counterfeiter
Success... and how to avoid it
Squirm
A Peculiar Peril
Granta 102
A Midlands Odyssey
Stop look breathe create
38 most common writing mistakes
How to critique creative writing
The world turned upside down
Be Pure, be vigilant, behave
Poetry in the making
How to be an artist
Bought
A Peculiar Peril
Mime - Friend's book, supported on Kickstarter
I crumbled and bought some books - oops (as long as I don't add them to the TBR!)
The Complete Book of Scriptwriting
Dark Matter: The Private Life of Sir Isaac Newton: A Novel
Writing comics
Words for pictures
The art of comic book writing
9psutto
August
Read
How to be a poet
Midnight Days
Bound in venice
Dancing by the light of the moon
Spacewarp by Pat Mills
Jungle Rock by Pete Loveday
The Sea-Stone Sword
Feck perfuction
What WH Auden can do for you
The Bestseller Code
The Sky Slayer
The Poet's Cookbook
Bought
Spacewarp by Pat Mills - ARC
The Storm-Forged throne by Joel Cornah - ARC
Read
How to be a poet
Midnight Days
Bound in venice
Dancing by the light of the moon
Spacewarp by Pat Mills
Jungle Rock by Pete Loveday
The Sea-Stone Sword
Feck perfuction
What WH Auden can do for you
The Bestseller Code
The Sky Slayer
The Poet's Cookbook
Bought
Spacewarp by Pat Mills - ARC
The Storm-Forged throne by Joel Cornah - ARC
10psutto
September
Read
The Storm-Forged throne by Joel Cornah - ARC
The Home by Mats Strandberg - ARC
The making of a story
Tales from the loop
2000AD's Greatest 40 years
The art of voice
How to be a Liberal
The painter, the creature and the father of lies
The art of editing: Raymond Carver and David Foster Wallace
Writing in the dark
supernatural the roads not taken
How to write wrong a choose your own adventure book
how to write a CYOA story
Inside UFO 54-40
Bought
The Storm-Forged throne by Joel Cornah - ARC
The Home by Mats Strandberg - ARC
How to be a Liberal - Pre-order from 2019
Writing in the dark by Tim Waggoner - pre-order
supernatural the roads not taken
trial of the clone
heart of ice
Inside UFO 54-40
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Trial of the Clone
Heart of Ice
Can you Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?
Maze: Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle
Hopscotch
Ocean of Lard
The Most Boring Book Ever Written
Read
The Storm-Forged throne by Joel Cornah - ARC
The Home by Mats Strandberg - ARC
The making of a story
Tales from the loop
2000AD's Greatest 40 years
The art of voice
How to be a Liberal
The painter, the creature and the father of lies
The art of editing: Raymond Carver and David Foster Wallace
Writing in the dark
supernatural the roads not taken
How to write wrong a choose your own adventure book
how to write a CYOA story
Inside UFO 54-40
Bought
The Storm-Forged throne by Joel Cornah - ARC
The Home by Mats Strandberg - ARC
How to be a Liberal - Pre-order from 2019
Writing in the dark by Tim Waggoner - pre-order
supernatural the roads not taken
trial of the clone
heart of ice
Inside UFO 54-40
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Trial of the Clone
Heart of Ice
Can you Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?
Maze: Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle
Hopscotch
Ocean of Lard
The Most Boring Book Ever Written
12psutto
November
Read
Monkeys with typewriters
Creativity, John Cleese
Only the broken remain
Road Rage
Creating Characters
Ghoster
Can you survive the zombie apocalypse
Robots in Space
Bone Harvest
Maze: Solve the world's most challenging puzzle
Trial of the clone
Errata: A Tor.Com Original
Dialogue by McKee
Editors on Editing
Someone Like Me
Bought
Bone Harvest ARC
Read
Monkeys with typewriters
Creativity, John Cleese
Only the broken remain
Road Rage
Creating Characters
Ghoster
Can you survive the zombie apocalypse
Robots in Space
Bone Harvest
Maze: Solve the world's most challenging puzzle
Trial of the clone
Errata: A Tor.Com Original
Dialogue by McKee
Editors on Editing
Someone Like Me
Bought
Bone Harvest ARC
15MissWatson
Hello! Nice to see you here!
18rabbitprincess
Good luck with all of your goals for the coming year!
19JayneCM
I'm looking forward to seeing what you have on your shelves.
>17 Tess_W: So true! That is one of the resolutions I say to myself all the time - but it never sticks!
>17 Tess_W: So true! That is one of the resolutions I say to myself all the time - but it never sticks!
20DeltaQueen50
Hi Pete, I've given up telling myself I am not going to buy any more books. Now I just try and read faster!
22This-n-That
Wishing you a fun year of reading, Pete. Good luck with sticking to your goals.
>21 VivienneR: I've stopped trying too although containment is possible, lol.
>21 VivienneR: I've stopped trying too although containment is possible, lol.
23thornton37814
LOL - You have 4 more days until you break that resolution!
24fuzzi
>17 Tess_W: bwahaha!
>1 psutto: I like your dedication, and have starred your thread to follow along. :)
>1 psutto: I like your dedication, and have starred your thread to follow along. :)
25Chrischi_HH
Tess nailed it in >17 Tess_W:... ;) But I wish you the best of luck and happy reading!
26psutto
Thanks all - very encouraging ;-)
I've just calculated that in the last 10 years (my very first challenge was the 2010 one) I've read 1389 books
I failed my 2019 challenge so I'm going to set myself an "easier" one for 2020 - I'm going to (try to) read 50 books off the TBR
I'll calculate what the TBR is after New Year's but aim to read all the hardbacks and as many of the books by women as possible - my TBR baseline last year was 336 physical books (and I didn't count the e-books)
I have shelves worth of TBR books which are vaguely sorted into:
Short Stories
Non-Fiction
Literary
Genre (more than 1 shelf)
Crime
So an easy split would be 10 of each...
I've just calculated that in the last 10 years (my very first challenge was the 2010 one) I've read 1389 books
I failed my 2019 challenge so I'm going to set myself an "easier" one for 2020 - I'm going to (try to) read 50 books off the TBR
I'll calculate what the TBR is after New Year's but aim to read all the hardbacks and as many of the books by women as possible - my TBR baseline last year was 336 physical books (and I didn't count the e-books)
I have shelves worth of TBR books which are vaguely sorted into:
Short Stories
Non-Fiction
Literary
Genre (more than 1 shelf)
Crime
So an easy split would be 10 of each...
27fuzzi
>26 psutto: that's a very good average, 139 a year!
28psutto
>27 fuzzi: - considering 2 of the years I read less than 100 too! (90 odd both times though)
29psutto
My TBR is 403 this year (336 last year so added almost 70!)
So I'd better get reading off the shelves!
I was planning on some re-reads this year, I don't re-read as much as I think I should, but with a TBR that large it feels like cheating myself to re-read :-/
So I'd better get reading off the shelves!
I was planning on some re-reads this year, I don't re-read as much as I think I should, but with a TBR that large it feels like cheating myself to re-read :-/
30madhatter22
Happy birthday! Hope you got some great books to add to the pile.
That's a great goal for the year! It's also mine every year, but I haven't managed it yet. :) Good luck!
That's a great goal for the year! It's also mine every year, but I haven't managed it yet. :) Good luck!
32psutto
>30 madhatter22: Thanks & it's similar to my goal last year ;-)
>31 lkernagh: Thanks!
My birthday book haul is:
Obabakoak
Cloud & Ashes
The Amateurs
The Last
Horse destroys the universe
The Topless Tower
Journey to Armenia
Edinburgh
The Mezzanine
The Museum of Unconditional Surrender
Haven't you heard? Marie Le Conte
Scarfolk Annual
And in addition the ones I got for Xmas that I added to the TBR (as unread books at the beginning of Jan are TBR):
The complete poems of WB Yeats
Asleep in the sun
>31 lkernagh: Thanks!
My birthday book haul is:
Obabakoak
Cloud & Ashes
The Amateurs
The Last
Horse destroys the universe
The Topless Tower
Journey to Armenia
Edinburgh
The Mezzanine
The Museum of Unconditional Surrender
Haven't you heard? Marie Le Conte
Scarfolk Annual
And in addition the ones I got for Xmas that I added to the TBR (as unread books at the beginning of Jan are TBR):
The complete poems of WB Yeats
Asleep in the sun
33psutto
So My Jan reading is likely to be off this haul. I'm currently reading (and enjoying) Obabakoak
34christina_reads
>32 psutto: Oh, Asleep in the Sun is an interesting one! I would recommend going into it with as little prior information as possible (i.e., don't read the cover blurb if you haven't already!). I think it packs more of a punch that way.
35psutto
>34 christina_reads: - good hint. I've not read the back blurb - I generally don't but I'll ensure I wont. I really enjoyed the invention of morel by him
36psutto
I've been a bit lax in assigning books to the shelves at home and I have more books than shelf space (I'm going to build two more bookshelves in alcoves downstairs - the 'library' (our spare room) is full!)
So I'm looking for tips on how to arrange the books - "books are a window into the soul." https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/jan/how-to-rearrange-your-bookshelf.html...
How do you arrange yours?
So I'm looking for tips on how to arrange the books - "books are a window into the soul." https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/jan/how-to-rearrange-your-bookshelf.html...
How do you arrange yours?
37Tess_W
>36 psutto: LOL I don't do any of those. I just slide a new book in wherever there is room. I have only 3 bookcases, so I don't have trouble finding anything. For the past 5 years I've almost exclusively bought e-books, knowing that I needed to downsize. When I read a paper book, 80% of the time I donate it to the Friends of the Library; therefore, my shelves are actually shrinking.
38psutto
>37 Tess_W: - I should probably buy books as e-books first and then only buy a physical copy if I really love it. But I prefer physical books (I do read e-books and listen to audio books but they seem formats for particular circumstances)
39lkernagh
>36 psutto: - Like Tess, I now restrict my book purchases to ebooks. When I did organize my physical books, I was more of an alphabetical by author last name followed by publication/series order, but I did have a bookshelf for all the oversized books so that I could have the shelving set to accommodate a more uniform height of the books displayed. Boring, I know. ;-)
40DeltaQueen50
I organize my shelves alphabetically, boring and practical but I did have to smile when the article mentioned the difficulty of slipping a new book in amongst the others. My solution is to stack 'n pack new books until I get the time to re-organize my shelves.
41christina_reads
My organizing strategy is a hybrid of the styles mentioned in that article. My first division is by genre; within each genre, I go alphabetical by author. But I'm also a "stack and pack" person, because I don't have enough shelf space otherwise! I like this strategy because it satisfies my need for order and makes it easy to find things. The con is that adding new books can require a lot of rearranging!
42clue
A couple of years ago I developed a method that suits me well and it takes about half of my life to maintain it, so beware.
I have 4 bookcases in my dining room that fit nicely into an alcove that runs across the room. One bookcase is for Mystery and they are in order by author. The other 3 have fiction, all in order by author. In the, yep, spare bedroom, I have 3 bookcases that are nonfiction and they are arranged by topic: history, art, gardening...
In my bedroom there is a built-in that has a couple of shelves with doors below and three open shelves above. I just allow myself 2 shelves for books, each holds about twenty-five. One shelf has the next in each series I read and the other is where I shelve books that I plan to read over the next couple of months, and yes, that shelf is in constant motion.
Good luck!
I have 4 bookcases in my dining room that fit nicely into an alcove that runs across the room. One bookcase is for Mystery and they are in order by author. The other 3 have fiction, all in order by author. In the, yep, spare bedroom, I have 3 bookcases that are nonfiction and they are arranged by topic: history, art, gardening...
In my bedroom there is a built-in that has a couple of shelves with doors below and three open shelves above. I just allow myself 2 shelves for books, each holds about twenty-five. One shelf has the next in each series I read and the other is where I shelve books that I plan to read over the next couple of months, and yes, that shelf is in constant motion.
Good luck!
43JayneCM
Hmmm, if only I had enough shelves to actually fit all my books!
My arrangements probably make sense only to me, but I can find any book (as long as it is in a shelf!)
Fiction, in general, is alphabetical, within my categories. Contemporary together (I don't have much contemporary). Fantasy and sci fi together. Certain series are together such as my collection of green Viragos and my Oxford World Classics (which conveniently all have a number!) Weirdly, I have Pulitzer Prize and Booker Prize winners in year order together. Historical fiction I group by era/event they are about chronologically.
Non fiction is by genre. Biography is a genre but then ordered by type (ie. author, musician, royalty) and chronological order.
Book arranging is a never ending pastime!
My arrangements probably make sense only to me, but I can find any book (as long as it is in a shelf!)
Fiction, in general, is alphabetical, within my categories. Contemporary together (I don't have much contemporary). Fantasy and sci fi together. Certain series are together such as my collection of green Viragos and my Oxford World Classics (which conveniently all have a number!) Weirdly, I have Pulitzer Prize and Booker Prize winners in year order together. Historical fiction I group by era/event they are about chronologically.
Non fiction is by genre. Biography is a genre but then ordered by type (ie. author, musician, royalty) and chronological order.
Book arranging is a never ending pastime!
44psutto
Thanks all - Currently mine are a mix - bookcases arranged mostly by genre (Non-fiction split into poetry, pop science, travel etc) and several shelves for fiction. Each bookcase is arranged alphabetically but they aren't contiguous. I have too many to fit so now am wondering about a big re-arrange. But that'll take a while...
45psutto
My latest book (that I edited) is available for pre-order. If anyone would like an eARC in return for a review let me know: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Sidekicks-Peter-Sutton-ebook/dp/B083WTWJ2F/re...
46fuzzi
>41 christina_reads: sounds like we both shelve about the same. I have genre first, then author alphabetical, THEN each author's titles, alphabetical.
>36 psutto: I mainly have mine by genre, then alphabetically. One shelf is for all my L'Amours (and Keltons), one area is for my Cherryh books, etc. I have one whole shelf for my Bible commentaries, too. There are some exceptions, but I try to keep them fairly well organized.
>36 psutto: I mainly have mine by genre, then alphabetically. One shelf is for all my L'Amours (and Keltons), one area is for my Cherryh books, etc. I have one whole shelf for my Bible commentaries, too. There are some exceptions, but I try to keep them fairly well organized.
47LisaMorr
Congrats on reading that number of books in the last 10 years! And good luck with your TBR challenge this year.
How did you like Obabakoak by the way?
As far as arranging books, I'm hoping my husband is serious when he says we should build an addition so I can have a proper library for all my books... in the meantime I have most of my fiction hard-cover books (by author, A-R) in our formal living room. I also have another bookshelf in the living room for my collection of Franklin Library and Easton Press books. The rest of the fiction hard-cover are in the finished basement.
All of my fiction paperbacks are in the basement, alpha by author. In the basement I also have an area for anthologies, one section for hardcover and one section for paperback, alpha by author or editor. Then I have a section for Oxford World Classics and NYRB, alpha by author. Then I have a couple of shelves for US presidential biographies. Another shelf for history books. A section on social sciences. Half a shelf for graphic novels. A shelf for books on golf. Three bottom shelves for those really tall books. A shelf on aviation. A shelf of various reference books, quotes, etc. Then a shelf of I guess I would call home ec(?) - home organizing and stuff. There are probably 5-6 shelves of Virago Modern Classics, and they are overflowing...
Then one bookshelf in our guest bedroom which as travel books, humor, politics, and biographies/autobiographies...
After looking that over, I think I've written a lot more than you probably wanted and it probably hasn't helped you in organizing!
How did you like Obabakoak by the way?
As far as arranging books, I'm hoping my husband is serious when he says we should build an addition so I can have a proper library for all my books... in the meantime I have most of my fiction hard-cover books (by author, A-R) in our formal living room. I also have another bookshelf in the living room for my collection of Franklin Library and Easton Press books. The rest of the fiction hard-cover are in the finished basement.
All of my fiction paperbacks are in the basement, alpha by author. In the basement I also have an area for anthologies, one section for hardcover and one section for paperback, alpha by author or editor. Then I have a section for Oxford World Classics and NYRB, alpha by author. Then I have a couple of shelves for US presidential biographies. Another shelf for history books. A section on social sciences. Half a shelf for graphic novels. A shelf for books on golf. Three bottom shelves for those really tall books. A shelf on aviation. A shelf of various reference books, quotes, etc. Then a shelf of I guess I would call home ec(?) - home organizing and stuff. There are probably 5-6 shelves of Virago Modern Classics, and they are overflowing...
Then one bookshelf in our guest bedroom which as travel books, humor, politics, and biographies/autobiographies...
After looking that over, I think I've written a lot more than you probably wanted and it probably hasn't helped you in organizing!
48christina_reads
>47 LisaMorr: Have you considered turning your house into a used bookstore? ;)
49JayneCM
>47 LisaMorr: Keep him to it! I have dreams of one day having a library. I would love to build a little cabin on our property just for a library as my house sounds like yours.
>48 christina_reads: My hubby would love if I did that at our house. Except I think he knows that I could never sell my babies, and if I did, I just have to buy more anyway!
>48 christina_reads: My hubby would love if I did that at our house. Except I think he knows that I could never sell my babies, and if I did, I just have to buy more anyway!
50LisaMorr
>48 christina_reads:, >49 JayneCM: Only problem is that I would hate letting most of them leave the house - I'd be like that person at the garage sale who picks the stuff up and brings it back into the house!
As far as the house addition, we'll see! I'll keep you posted!
As far as the house addition, we'll see! I'll keep you posted!
52Tess_W
>51 psutto: Is that a novella or a book of short stories?
53psutto
It's billed as a novel but there are a lot of short stories within it - as the characters tell each other stories -it gets a bit meta, on what makes a good short story too
54LisaMorr
>51 psutto:, >53 psutto: Thanks - I have that teed up to read soon this year.
55psutto
>54 LisaMorr: - Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did then :-)
56psutto
I went to an event that Penguin organised last night - a new writer's showcase. I came away with several ARCs (but I'm telling myself these don't count against the 'I won't buy new books' because I didn't buy them) - several books/writers I was interested in but especially The Liar's Dictionary https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1116935/the-liar-s-dictionary/9781785152047.... and The Last Day
57fuzzi
>56 psutto: bwahaha! Love your justification...I could do that myself.
58psutto
I would just like to warn cat lovers off from reading all my cats which includes quite horrific accounts of the supposed cat lover killing kittens (in a very, very non-humane way) and torturing and killing cats - it's quite horrific :-o I threw it at the wall after about 30 pages
59psutto
So my not buying books is actually going quite well, although something I pre-ordered last year is going to be delivered today, but I'm not counting it because I paid for it last year - that's fine right?
60christina_reads
>59 psutto: Totally fine!
61fuzzi
>59 psutto: exactly!
62JayneCM
>59 psutto: Definitely fine! You are very dedicated!
64psutto
Read Birds without wings which is a chunkster (I'm put off chunksters a lot nowadays - I can read 3 x 200 page novels or 1 600+ page novel?) which was a sprawl and very slow compared to the stuff I've been reading lately. It was recommended though and was the only book I had on couple of long journeys and a work trip so I persevered. Ido wonder though - if it wasn't De Bernieres and wasn't a sixth novel would it have been published? (it was published in 2004)
The thing I found very interesting about it (apart from the horrific Gallipoli WW1 campaign part which was compelling!) is that it's a study in intolerance and the dangers of nationalism (dealing as it does with the Armenian genocide and the 1923 expulsion of the Greeks from Turkey) and I look at the UK and the US today and see all the same danger signs - so a relevant blast of history (but not the one people usually reach for on WW2)
Anyway that's a long-winded way of saying that reading this book was an experience - and that's unusual nowadays (as I mainly demand my books be snappy and plot-driven) feels like a rediscovery that slow literature has its plus points (last time I felt that was Moby Dick but I think I mostly enjoyed that book for the sense of accomplishment I felt upon finishing it)
Anyway - recommended!
The thing I found very interesting about it (apart from the horrific Gallipoli WW1 campaign part which was compelling!) is that it's a study in intolerance and the dangers of nationalism (dealing as it does with the Armenian genocide and the 1923 expulsion of the Greeks from Turkey) and I look at the UK and the US today and see all the same danger signs - so a relevant blast of history (but not the one people usually reach for on WW2)
Anyway that's a long-winded way of saying that reading this book was an experience - and that's unusual nowadays (as I mainly demand my books be snappy and plot-driven) feels like a rediscovery that slow literature has its plus points (last time I felt that was Moby Dick but I think I mostly enjoyed that book for the sense of accomplishment I felt upon finishing it)
Anyway - recommended!
66psutto
My other half is giving me a surprise a month as part of my 50th birthday - this month she gave me a book token and I went and bought some books today :-)
The besieged city
Get in trouble
All Among the Barley
The Snow Leopard
Make it Scream, Make it Burn
These don't count though as they're presents...
At least that's what I'm telling myself!
The besieged city
Get in trouble
All Among the Barley
The Snow Leopard
Make it Scream, Make it Burn
These don't count though as they're presents...
At least that's what I'm telling myself!
67rabbitprincess
Presents totally don't count against the TBR numbers! Happy milestone-birthday year :)
68JayneCM
>66 psutto: Gifts definitely do not count! Enjoy your new books.
And happy birthday - I turn 50 this year as well.
And happy birthday - I turn 50 this year as well.
70rabbitprincess
>68 JayneCM: Happy birthday year, Jayne! :D
71DeltaQueen50
Happy belated birthday, Pete. I, too, say that books as gifts don't count!
73JayneCM
>70 rabbitprincess: Thank you! Maybe we need to institute a 'buy as many books as your age' tradition, like the Thingaversary!
74psutto
Oh well I guess with everything in lockdown I'll get more reading and writing done! I have been told to work from home until at least the end of May and all theatres, cinemas etc are closed here and the events I had booked up have been cancelled or rescheduled so no excuses (apart from Netflix)
75VivienneR
Happy belated birthday! What a great selection of books you chose with your first surprise.
77psutto
I abandoned The besieged city - not my sort of thing at all...
Which means I'm onto the last book I bought this year (figuratively) which is Greer Gilman's Cloud and Ashes
I have to say I massively enjoyed the ARCs I got:
Eden by Tim Lebbon - a near future SF Horror set in a wilderness 'virgin zone'
The Liar's dictionary - this was brilliant - a woman working for a dictionary finds out its full of Mountweazels (look it up) - if you take delight in new words and wordplay then this is for you
and the intoxicating Mr Lavelle - a bawdy (oh so very bawdy) romp on the grand tour in the 18th century - don't read if graphic (gay) sex would put you off - I wouldn't have picked this up normally (got it in a giveaway bag from Penguin along with The last day and the liar's dictionary and thought I'd give it a go
I didn't enjoy the last day so much - mainly because it was very hand wavy about the worldbuilding
Which means I'm onto the last book I bought this year (figuratively) which is Greer Gilman's Cloud and Ashes
I have to say I massively enjoyed the ARCs I got:
Eden by Tim Lebbon - a near future SF Horror set in a wilderness 'virgin zone'
The Liar's dictionary - this was brilliant - a woman working for a dictionary finds out its full of Mountweazels (look it up) - if you take delight in new words and wordplay then this is for you
and the intoxicating Mr Lavelle - a bawdy (oh so very bawdy) romp on the grand tour in the 18th century - don't read if graphic (gay) sex would put you off - I wouldn't have picked this up normally (got it in a giveaway bag from Penguin along with The last day and the liar's dictionary and thought I'd give it a go
I didn't enjoy the last day so much - mainly because it was very hand wavy about the worldbuilding
78christina_reads
>77 psutto: You got me with The Liar's Dictionary -- sounds interesting!
79psutto
>78 christina_reads: - hope you enjoy it as much as I did :-)
80psutto
At an event last year I picked up a copy of The ministry of truth and in preparation to reading it I've re-read Nineteen Eighty Four which was more frightening and depressing than the last time I read it... can't think why ;-)
81fuzzi
>80 psutto: I've read 1984 twice, also. The first time as a preteen, but when I reread it as an adult I wound up with nightmares. Even in the late 1970s I could see the possibility of it happening.
82psutto
Just finished The price you pay which is a little Seven Psychopaths, a little Chuck Wendig a little Chuck Palahniuk and a little Nick Harkaway and a whole lot of fun.
83psutto
I was sent The book of Koli by the author - really very good
I've found it hard last month not to order a bunch of books
I've found it hard last month not to order a bunch of books
84JayneCM
>83 psutto: Ooh, I will have to look for that book. I loved The Girl With All The Gifts.
86psutto
I've just read The girl from a thousand fathoms and although it is a friend's book and you'd expect me to recommend it I can honestly say that this feels like a breakout book. It's very good. An ex-policeman sets himself up as a Private Investigator and the usual 'find the cat' case is anything but usual - includes magic, cats, mermaids and elder gods - it's a lot of fun! You can buy it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Thousand-Fathoms-David-Gullen-ebook/dp/B08637FYHL
It is it's own thing but I think people who like Good Omens and Dirk Gently will really enjoy it
It is it's own thing but I think people who like Good Omens and Dirk Gently will really enjoy it
87psutto
Whilst I'm promoting friends' books I'd also draw your attention to Triggernometry which is a fun novella from the author of Nunslinger - in a world where mathematicians are dangerous outlaws and Malago Browne is approached by an old compadre to do 'one last job' leading to a fun heist tale
88rabbitprincess
>86 psutto: That does sound like fun! :)
89psutto
Halfway through the year and I've read 79 books
I've "bought" 19 books - 9 ARCs sent or given to me, 1 pre-order, 7 books given to me as presents and 2 I bought to support friends
Of those I've yet to read 2 - if that's still the case at the end of the year they'll go on the TBR - but my aim this year is not to add more books to the TBR than I read (which is what I've been doing in recent years) so I'm still going to try 1 year without buying (too many) books
It's been a little easier than I thought it would be but then being locked in due to Covid for almost 4 months is probably why - I've only had to resist online purchases
I've also been trying to make room on my shelves (reading the TBR helps - as not all the books I read get shelved, some go to the discard pile) and I'm blogging about one particular shelf (my writing books) if you're interested: - https://petewsutton.com/2020/06/17/writing-about-writing-about-writing/
I'm currently reading The Plague because it's been on the TBR for years and now seems like an appropriate time!
I've "bought" 19 books - 9 ARCs sent or given to me, 1 pre-order, 7 books given to me as presents and 2 I bought to support friends
Of those I've yet to read 2 - if that's still the case at the end of the year they'll go on the TBR - but my aim this year is not to add more books to the TBR than I read (which is what I've been doing in recent years) so I'm still going to try 1 year without buying (too many) books
It's been a little easier than I thought it would be but then being locked in due to Covid for almost 4 months is probably why - I've only had to resist online purchases
I've also been trying to make room on my shelves (reading the TBR helps - as not all the books I read get shelved, some go to the discard pile) and I'm blogging about one particular shelf (my writing books) if you're interested: - https://petewsutton.com/2020/06/17/writing-about-writing-about-writing/
I'm currently reading The Plague because it's been on the TBR for years and now seems like an appropriate time!
90psutto
I abandoned Bound in Venice it should be just the sort of book I love - but maybe it's the translation, it left me cold...
91fuzzi
>89 psutto: so, how did you like The Plague?
92psutto
I really enjoyed The plague and I'm going to get round to The Stranger one day!
93psutto
Been on holiday for two weeks - a UK based holiday because of Covid - but a complete reading slump, I think I've only listened to podcasts and read magazines over the holiday which is unlike me...
I did get an ARC of The Home by Mats Strandberg which I think I'll start next
I did get an ARC of The Home by Mats Strandberg which I think I'll start next
94rabbitprincess
>93 psutto: Oof, the dreaded reading slump! I hope you had a good holiday, though.
95psutto
>94 rabbitprincess: - it was a nice break from work but the weather was 'changeable' to say the least ;-) The dangers of vacationing in the UK which is why a lot of UK holidayers go to places like Spain - I usually like to go to Asia or South America or other 'explore' type holidays so it's a bit odd this year to not have a big trip planned. Before Covid happened we planned to go to Peru (I'd even bought a bunch of books by Peruvian authors to take with me) but that's not going to be possible for a while :-/
still, two weeks off work let me recharge my batteries anyway
still, two weeks off work let me recharge my batteries anyway
96fuzzi
>95 psutto: I enjoy our occasional "staycation". Sometimes it's nice to just wake up and not have to go anywhere!
97rabbitprincess
>95 psutto: We were supposed to have been in the Netherlands and Belgium this month. That said, we would have been booking everything back in March, and by that point the signs were clear that we wouldn't be going anywhere. So we didn't really have a plan to look forward to yet.
But agreed, it is good to have time just to recharge the batteries!
But agreed, it is good to have time just to recharge the batteries!
98psutto
I have been approached to write a tie in novel/choose your own adventure for a game so I've broken my 'no new books' rule specifically to buy some choose your own adventure books for research purposes. Been a long time since I read such books!
99DeltaQueen50
>98 psutto: That sounds like a fun writing project! Enjoy the research. :)
100psutto
I've very much seen a gap in the market for a book on how to write interactive fiction - the ones I've read so far are rubbish. Either too specific (how to use a specific type of SW to write an IF book) or too brief...
The quest continues!
The quest continues!
101fuzzi
>100 psutto: write one!
103psutto
Heh - I don't think the person who wrote this article knows what a REAL TBR is ;-)
https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/october/How-to-tackle-your-to-be-read-pi...
https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/october/How-to-tackle-your-to-be-read-pi...
104christina_reads
>103 psutto: I thought the article had some good tips, but I had to laugh at the suggestion of putting my physical TBR on my nightstand or in the fridge! I guess that might work if your TBR pile were only 10 books...
105rabbitprincess
>103 psutto: I would perhaps apply those guidelines more to my "on deck" pile, but not for all of my TBRs (at 400 and counting).
106JayneCM
>103 psutto: Same with me! If my TBR were translated into a physical pile, it would take over the entire house!
107Helenliz
I thought it had some interesting methods of culling and picking from the TBR. BUT I'm not sure what they mean by "stop buying books". Simply does not compute! >;-)
108psutto
My Thingaversary is today and the 1010 Challenge was what I signed up for an account to do - So thanks for 10 years of book chat! next year will be my tenth challenge!
109rabbitprincess
>108 psutto: Happy Thingaversary! :D Ten years is amazing!
110MissWatson
Happy Thingaversary!
112psutto
>111 fuzzi: book tempter!
This thread is all about not buying books (this year) :-P
This thread is all about not buying books (this year) :-P
114fuzzi
>112 psutto: but it's your THINGAVERSARY! You're SUPPOSED to buy books!
115Tess_W
>112 psutto: In fact, I think it's almost the "law" around here!;)
116psutto
I'm doing NaNoWriMo so not much reading going on but I did manage to read Only the broken remain which is an excellent collection of weird tales - I review it on my blog here: https://petewsutton.com/2020/11/12/only-the-broken-remain-review-interview-with-...
117christina_reads
>116 psutto: Good luck with NaNoWriMo! I've optimistically signed up for it a few times, but I have never managed to get past week 1!
118psutto
>117 christina_reads: Thanks! As of today I'm at 19,724 words - so with 16 days to go I'm off the pace, and not writing every day as yet
119mathgirl40
Belated congratulations on your Thingaversary and good luck with NaNoWriMo!
120psutto
I "read" Maze: The world's most challenging puzzle which is a puzzle 'choose your own adventure' book from the 80's. I had a few goes at trying to get through the maze in the shortest path and it's hard - I was glad to see that no-one claimed the prize and there were three extensions (http://www.intotheabyss.net/the-solution-to-maze/) - somehow this one passed me by in the 80's although I did have a similar puzzle book and loved this sort of thing as a youngster. I'm not sure you can "read" this as the author states "it's a building in the shape of a book" - I may give it a proper go at some point and create maps and try and work out the clues properly but it's nice to know there is a solution out there for when I get frustrated :-)
121fuzzi
>120 psutto: I remember those books, but am unsure if I ever read one.
122psutto
bad news - we had a leak in the library (well the room we keep 90% of the books in we grandly call the library)
good news - books were unharmed
bad news - now it needs redecorating (had to replaster the ceiling) & books now under plastic sheeting
good news - books were unharmed
bad news - now it needs redecorating (had to replaster the ceiling) & books now under plastic sheeting
123NinieB
>122 psutto: If the books are unharmed, that's more good news than bad news!
124DeltaQueen50
Terrible about the leak, but very good news indeed that your books weren't damaged!
125Helenliz
>122 psutto: well that could have been A LOT worse!! Good luck with the redecorating.
126psutto
Thanks all! - all furniture removed from the room except for bookcases (screwed to wall and full of books) which are now under plastic wrap. Redecorating during Christmas break is on the cards...
127fuzzi
>126 psutto: sorry you have extra work over the holidays, but perhaps you can do some updating as well.
SO glad the books are okay.
SO glad the books are okay.
128Tess_W
I always say everything is replaceable except the following (in order of importance: life, computer, books. Glad they weren't damaged.
129psutto
Final tally
Books read: 167
116 by men
44 by women
(rest by multiple authors)
books from 19 different nationalities
33 rated Unfinished (DNF)
27 rated Average (Finished, would not recommend)
93 rated Good (A Good example of the genre - I enjoyed it)
12 rated Brilliant (Hit the right spot at the time I read it)
76 off the TBR (and yes that's with not trying to buy new books - but some of my reads were new, or borrowed, or ARCs or pre-orders or part of audio subscription or just plain bought)
Books read: 167
116 by men
44 by women
(rest by multiple authors)
books from 19 different nationalities
33 rated Unfinished (DNF)
27 rated Average (Finished, would not recommend)
93 rated Good (A Good example of the genre - I enjoyed it)
12 rated Brilliant (Hit the right spot at the time I read it)
76 off the TBR (and yes that's with not trying to buy new books - but some of my reads were new, or borrowed, or ARCs or pre-orders or part of audio subscription or just plain bought)