Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion
Archived Chit Chat & All That
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How many have you read? (Reading the books on our group bookshelf)

That is truly awesome."
I've been a dedicated member of this group for several years - that means taking the time to read the group choices as well as trying to read some of the books read prior to me joining the group :)

12/2017 - 89/208 = 42.78%
3/2018 - 98/214 = 45.79%
7/2018 - 106/227 = 46.69%
Strange, the Listopia only has 224 books, but the bookshelf has 227. Going by 227, I'm only at 46.69%, but still better than my average in March.
Julie wrote: "I'm currently at 90 % - hopefully I'll get to read some of the july and august picks during my summer holidays :)"
90% is very impressive!
90% is very impressive!

Strange, the Listopia only has 224 books, but the bookshelf has 227. ....."
I think this has been noted before and the explanation was that the bookshelf also includes future months' reads that have been picked while the Listopia does not.

Oh, duh, that makes sense, I don't know why I didn't catch that. Thank you!
And I'm hoping to read a couple of the group reads this month, so should make more progress!



I've read 177 of 225, giving me 79%.
There are 7 books on the list that I do not intend to ever read. If I calculate only the 218 I intend to read, I'm at 82%.
There are 7 books on the list that I do not intend to ever read. If I calculate only the 218 I intend to read, I'm at 82%.

As my life gets shorter, I have stopped making myself do things like that, BAM. I have permission not to finish a book I'm not enjoying and not to read any book that I'm not interested in just to satisfy my crazy addiction to lists. :o)

I feel the same - I read these sorts of books because I like them, not because of an obligation. If I were planning on taking more college literature classes I might feel differently. :)
I do enjoy thinking about books deeply, but there's no one to make me do that with books I don't like. That being said, there are very few classics I end up disliking - I can only think of one or two at the moment.
I never make a conscious decision to quit a book, even if I don't like it very much. Since I am usually reading several books at a time, I just focus on the ones I like the most. One day I will notice that I haven't actually read anything in a particular book in months, so I move it back to the to-read category. I totally understand not reading some of the books on the group bookshelf. I think it's a very rational thing to do. There are quite a few I will probably never get to that I would like to, and others that I don't really care that much about. But already I've read 4 books/short stories I never would have without the group.
Sara wrote: "As my life gets shorter, I have stopped making myself do things like that, BAM. I have permission not to finish a book I'm not enjoying and not to read any book that I'm not interested in just to s..."
It’s curious and a little depressing, thinking about the future. Especially for those of us who don’t have as many years ahead of us when compared to the number already behind. If God grants me 20 more years of good reading, and I continue to average 60 books a year, I have about 1200 more books in my life. Somehow that seems like an appallingly small number. It makes me envious of the people who can read 100+ books each year. But even reading 100+, like the number of years ahead, there just aren’t many books left. I wish I could do a better job of selecting truly good reads and was able to give up on the bad. Very few times in my life have I quit a book once I open the cover and start reading.
It’s curious and a little depressing, thinking about the future. Especially for those of us who don’t have as many years ahead of us when compared to the number already behind. If God grants me 20 more years of good reading, and I continue to average 60 books a year, I have about 1200 more books in my life. Somehow that seems like an appallingly small number. It makes me envious of the people who can read 100+ books each year. But even reading 100+, like the number of years ahead, there just aren’t many books left. I wish I could do a better job of selecting truly good reads and was able to give up on the bad. Very few times in my life have I quit a book once I open the cover and start reading.


As far as this group goes, if Faulkner wins this month, I'll be up to 19 books from this groups book shelves that I've either tried and didn't like or refuse to even attempt to read.
I try not to worry about the books I won't get a chance to read...kind of like the countries I was planning to visit when I was young and realize, now that I am far from young, that I won't ever make it to. I also want to make every read count, Bob, and I hope I die with a good book on my nightstand.
I have finally realized that unless the 1000 book list is of my own making, it will contain books I don't want to read and shouldn't spend my time with. I have read enough books now to know what I enjoy and what I don't. I don't need to read 50 Shades of Grey to know it is not the book for me. I'm not planning to read it just because it made the Great American Read. I am constantly trying to cull the TBR as well. It gets completely out of control. Right now it has over 2000 books on it. Uh, no way it could ever get cleared in my lifetime.
I have finally realized that unless the 1000 book list is of my own making, it will contain books I don't want to read and shouldn't spend my time with. I have read enough books now to know what I enjoy and what I don't. I don't need to read 50 Shades of Grey to know it is not the book for me. I'm not planning to read it just because it made the Great American Read. I am constantly trying to cull the TBR as well. It gets completely out of control. Right now it has over 2000 books on it. Uh, no way it could ever get cleared in my lifetime.

I'm the same way Bob! It pains me not to finish a book because I keep thinking that it may improve and then once I'm so close I just finish it. There aren't many books that I've really hated. I usually find something of value.
Of course I see nothing wrong with people not finishing when they don't like something. I wish I could be like that but it's just not in me yet.




There are some books from book lists that I will never read, especially since many books I consider essential books are not on them.
Terris wrote: "I'm at 196 out of 227 at 86% with a few more on the list that I'd like to pick up -- but not all of them. Some I just don't want to read! :)"
That's an awesome figure, Terri.
That's an awesome figure, Terri.
Rosemarie wrote: "When you get to be 60+, it is much easier to decide to stop reading a book you don't like, especially when there are so many other great books waiting to be read.
There are some books from book li..."
Exactly where I am Rosemarie.
There are some books from book li..."
Exactly where I am Rosemarie.


I feel the same way, Bob, and it is terrifying to think about. So I think we should take the books the way we take the days--one at a time--and just enjoy each one. :-)


no way could I ever figure out a temporal measurement


Aug 2017 86 out of 192 = 43.54 %
Oct 2017 88 out of 198. = 44.4%.
Nov 2017 92 out of 201 = 45.7%
Dec 2017 93 out of 205 = 45.3%
Feb 2018 96 out of 208 = 46.1%
March 2018 98 out of 211 = 46.4%
April 2018 100 out of 214 = 46.7%
May 2018 105 out of 218 = 48.2%
June 2018 109 out of 222 = 49.1%
July 2018 110 out of 227 = 48.5%
Aug 2018 112 out of 230 = 48.7%
Lovely to make such steady progress, Blueflower. I seem to carve away at the list rather willy-nilly.

Just two books per month will - very slowly - lead upward to a 60%.

Yu, I would definitely recommend The Green Carnation, which is meant to parody Wilde's paradoxical style, but is really very close to the original.
Wilde had to publish a letter in the newspaper disclaiming authorship.
Currently Aug. 18. 2018 70/230 books read = 30.4%. You have to read quickly to keep the percentage from dropping! In July it was 67/227 = 29.5%
Chrissy wrote: "I just went through the list, and I’m at 73/230, or about 32%."
Great. There are a lot of good books to choose from on the shelf.
Great. There are a lot of good books to choose from on the shelf.
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Julie, I am awed that you have a 90% rate. My goodness!