Re: 50 Book Challenge!!!

[Kathryn Lacey]

I've been updating mine, but I haven't had the chance to update the first post with everyone's progress lately due to computer difficulties. I'll do that now. I'm currently on my fifth book already. I've been doing really well lately.

[Sunwolf007]

I have been reading but since I am reading 3 books at the same time its going to be a while before I finish one. Just saying that I didn't forget to update my post but that I haven't needed to yet.

[Silvone Elestahr]

I...haven't been reading.

[Kathryn Lacey]

I have a tip that may be a little helpful to those of you who are in this challenge.

The way I get myself to read in a timely manner is I set a quota of pages to read each day. Because my goal is fifty books for one year, I pretty much have to read one book a week.

Every time I start a new book, I divide the number of pages (x) by the days I have to read it (y) to get my quota (z).

x / y = z

Basically, if I have to read 140 pages in a week, I would divide that by 7.

140/7=20. This means I would have to read twenty pages a day.

If it's not a perfect number ((like if it ends up being 18.324 or something like that)), I round the number up no matter if it's 18.324 or 18.576.

Maybe what I do will help you guys, too?

[Ryona Noel]

Hiring a babysitter wouldn't hurt either
This summer, I will definitely be doing a lot of catch up. I'm not out of the game yet!!

[MoiraofWords]

I don't read based on the math, rather I read for the enjoyment. But it probably doesn't help that I read at more unusual times. Times that wouldn't be appropriate for everyone (such as meals for those that are married), or when I read around water >>. Although I find that a minimum of a chapter per time you pick up your book will help, as chapters in most books will be at ten pages as a minimum, and in other books, a more.

Well, that's just my outlook on it anyway.

[Kathryn Lacey]

Well, I use two bookmarks when I read: one to mark where I am, and one to mark the end of my daily quota. Just because I make sure I read a certain amount each day doesn't mean I can't surpass it. I also go a little extra because I won't end my quota in the middle of a chapter.

I definitely read for pleasure, but if I'm going to complete this challenge successfully, I have to make sure I read a certain number of pages each day. I'm already a little ahead of schedule. It's nice.

[Sighlent]

I would like to join this!!! But I definitely won't take me a year to read 50 books. It takes me a few hours to read a 400 pager but I definitely want to do this!!! I don't have any ideas on what I'm going to read because I've read a lot of books already but I'll get too it! Maybe even take some suggestions from the lists you guys have already compiled. Anyway, posting my list after this post.

Start Date: January 26th, 2010

[Kathryn Lacey]

Okay. That sounds good. You can either use the template I have, or you can make one of your own like Silvone did. Welcome to the challenge. I'll add you to the list once you have your list.

[Sighlent]

1. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
2. Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
3. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
4. A Rush of Wings: Book One of The Maker's Song by Adrian Phoenix
5. In The Blood: Book Two of The Maker's Song by Adrian Phoenix
6. Beneath the Skin: Book Three of the Maker's Song by Adrian Phoenix
7. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
8. Fire by Kristin Cashore
9. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
10. Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor ((Reading))
11. Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
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Benchmarks:
- Began: January 26, 2010
- Reached 5 Books: February 22, 2010
- Reached 10 Books:
- Reached 25 Books:
- Reached 35 Books:
- Reached 50 Books:
- Pages Read:

[Sighlent]

I kinda planned on just winging it. Reading a book as I come across it, if that's ok?

[Kathryn Lacey]

Yes. That's absolutely fine. By list, I meant the post in which you would log all of the books that you have read/are reading/will read because that's the post to which I link in the first post of this thread. ^^_^^

Oh, I just wanted to remind you that if you finish all fifty books ahead of schedule, you may choose to either lengthen the number of books for your year, or you can completely start again with a new date as the start of your year. ^^_^^

[Sighlent]

Yeah I'll probably just keep a log of them on here so I'll just add on. XD
I read...A LOT. I just got through reading a the first two of a series of books and plan on reading the 3rd one soon whenever I get the money to go and buy it. Which will probably be after the 15th of next month because I'm otherwise broke until then. In the meantime I'll be borrowing books from my mom. XD

[Kathryn Lacey]

Well, there are also libraries that happen to be a great source of literature. That's where I get most of my books to read, but my best friend also has a nice collection of books that I intend to borrow in the future. XD

[Sighlent]

Yeah I nave multiple Library cards and I always seem to forget to turn the books back in. Besides I tend to re-read all of the books I read and sometimes I'll re-read it to the point of disarray.

-Cough-

Mortal Instruments

-Cough-

I'm actually about to add a few books to my list that I intend on reading. They're actually books that I bought before I was supposed to move but ended up packing away. I know that sounds odd but the thing is we never got to move our stuff up to Virginia so it's all still here in my mom's spare room. XD

[Sunwolf007]

Hurray! Just completed my first book. My reward? Paper due next week! I get to look forward to the same thing when I get done with Plato's Republic. Yay reading for college classes!

[Loki]

Can I start my count with the books that I had read at the end of November or do I have to start from present on? That was when I started the Dresden Files series and that makes up a huge portion of the reading that I have done.

[Kathryn Lacey]

Well, if you start your count with the books you read in November, your 365 days would have started in November.

If you want to start your year now, then you'll start with a clean slate.


Congratulations, Sun!

[Loki]

I can work with that.

1. Storm Front by Jim Butcher 322 pages 11/28
2. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher 400 pages 12/12
3. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher 384 pages 12/17
4. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher 384 pages 12/21
5. Death Masks by Jim Butcher 334 pages12/24
6. Blood Rites by Jim Butcher 372 pages 12/27
7. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher 424 pages 12/30
8. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher 496 pages 1/4
9. White Knight by Jim Butcher 455 pages 1/7
10. Small Favor by Jim Butcher 541 pages 1/11
11. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher 432 pages 1/16
12. Furies of Culderon by Jim Butcher 504 pages 2/21
13. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 244 pages
14. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams 256 pages
15. Live, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams 240 pages
16. So Long and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams 224 pages
17. Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams 240 pages
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Key
Bold means I’m currently reading a book.
If it has a slash through it, I’ve completed it.
* means I am rereading a book.

Benchmarks
- I have read twelve out of fifty books so far.
- Began: Thursday, November 26th, 2009
- Reached 5 Books: 12.24.09
- Reached 10 books: 1.11.09
- Reached 25 books:
- Reached 35 books:
- Reached 50 books:
- Pages Read: 4621[/quote]

[Kathryn Lacey]

All right! Your information has been added. ^^_^^

[Ryona Noel]

I've read two books!!

I'm not going to complain at the small number, for if it weren't for this contest I have no doubt in my mind that I would have read zero.

[Kathryn Lacey]

Good! I'm glad! I agree with you that it doesn't really matter if one has read fifteen books or one. I started this challenge as a way to help people become motivated to read. Meeting the goal of anywhere from twelve books on up isn't as important as just reading in general.

Reading is a really good way to expand the mind and to get good ideas about how to write things or just creative ideas that one may want to integrate into role playing.

I've often gotten good ideas about wording and such from books I've read. I read a book by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and she used the word "pebbled" to describe how someone got goosebumps/gooseflesh, and I've used it ever since because it's a really good way to describe that particular thing.

Anyway, because I was a little ahead of the game, I haven't been reading as much lately ((that and my interest in Emoria has kept me from reading)). However, I'm hoping to get ahead of the game once before I visit Misery in March and again in April so I can spend time with him rather than worrying about reaching my page quota when I should be spending time with my lover.

[Blackrock]

Finally completed my first book, I'm quite happy that I now have enough time to read at least once a day. I've started reading another Strugatsky novel, quite short but it's definitely rich on ideas.

[Kathryn Lacey]

Sweet! Great job, Blackrock. I'll update the first post with the change.

[Gunneh]

Finished my second book! It wasn't even on my list to begin with, but now it is and it's done! I'm focusing my attentions on the one right after it on the list as well.

[Psychotic Flesh]

I think this is an absolutely fantastic idea, and I would love to join.

However, I am currently reading a book, and I didn't know if it could count as my first for the list, or if it would be classed as cheating as I've read over half of it? I could wait until I've finished it, and then start officially, but I'm impatient.
=P

[Kathryn Lacey]

Well, to give you a better idea, I actually started reading the first book on my list in December when I was on a plane to visit my lover in Utah. However, I didn't start reading it again until I returned home and started this challenge.

Also, Gunneh counted his starting date as the day that he finished his first book.

This challenge is for you, not for us. If you want to have your start date as today despite the fact that you've already read a great deal of your book, that's fine with me.

Go ahead and post your list, and I'll link it to the first post as I have with the others' lists.

[Psychotic Flesh]

Okay, thank you Kathryn. I'm going to include the book I'm currently reading, and have actually nearly finished.

1. The Last Battle of the Icemark by Stuart Hill 517 pages
2. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger 391 pages
3. The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell
4. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
5. Priestess of the White by Trudi Canavan
6. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
7. The Fall by Garth Nix
8. Blood Debt by Tanya Huff
9. Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix
10. Connie's Courage by Annie Groves
11. The Shining by Stephan King
12. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
13. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
14. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
15. Cat by Freya North
16. Something Borrowed by Martina Reilly
17. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
18. He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt
19. Marley and Me by John Grogan
20. The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
21. The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
22. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
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Key
Bold means I’m currently reading a book.
If it has a slash through it, I’ve completed it.
* means I am rereading a book.

Benchmarks
- I have read two out of fifty books so far.
- Began: Monday February 8th 2010
- Reached 5 Books:
- Reached 10 books:
- Reached 25 books:
- Reached 35 books:
- Reached 50 books:
- Pages Read: 908

[Kathryn Lacey]

You've been added to the list in the first post. Good luck with your challenge!

[Blackrock]

Meh, just my luck. As I was reading, I flip to the fateful page 128, I read through it, things are getting very interesting and intense. I shift my gaze to page 129, but notice that's there's lack of logical connection between the last page's sentence and this page's first one. I look at the page number and notice 162 >.<

Great and the store doesn't work on Sunday *sighs*