Buddy Reads Requests

[Jojo]

I read upwards of 450 one year, I was unemployed and read 2 a day for 8 months as I had nothing better to do. Now, it's hard sometimes, I know with some books I'll stay up all night but that's not the best thing to do when I'm working!!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Wow Joanne! Even with nothing to do I could never read that many books. I've never finished even one book in a day.

[Susan]

Congrats Joanne!

The only books I've been able to finish in a day are Agatha Cristie's mysteries. They're very short, so it's kind of like cheating.

Actually, I read The Dinner, in about a day and a half...

[Sarah]

Susan wrote: "Congrats Joanne!

The only books I've been able to finish in a day are Agatha Cristie's mysteries. They're very short, so it's kind of like cheating.

Actually, I read The Dinner, in about a day ..."

OK Joanne - I am not going to be reading nearly that many. That is a ton of books - wow. If I was able to I would actually be close to completing my tbr list.

[Jojo]

I'm constantly adding to my tbr list, so it's never going to be empty! I love to read and if I'm into a book I will put everything else on hold. Sometimes other worlds are better than mine. This weekend is going to be a reading one, 4 days and absolutely no plans!

[Susan]

The A-Z challenge is like a spring cleaning of my TBR list, ha.

[Jojo]

I did take most from TBR, but I know that another Chapters trip and it'll be bigger than ever!

[Anima]

Wow, Joanne, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of the books you've read, but on the other hand, I would do exactly the same thing with my spare time. Actually, I do it all the time :D. Unfortunately, I didn't add most of the books from my TBR to the challenge, instead I found some new. Brilliant, taking into consideration, that I already have like 100 books to read, plus challenges, buddy reads and so on... LOL

[Brightness]

Susan wrote: "The A-Z challenge is like a spring cleaning of my TBR list, ha."

Mine too!

[Karen ⊰✿]

Wow Joanne.
There is someone I know in another group doing a group challenge with me who reads 1000 books per year. I checked her books and alot of them seem to be around 160-200 pages so I could see how it was (just) possible..lol
But if you were reading 2 books a day that is pretty amazing! I have never read so much in my life as I do at the moment, but that is because I am on maternity leave so I have an hour or so a day when bub is asleep that I dedicate to reading. I get through 2 books every 2-3 days as one is an audio book. (I hate daytime TV so use audiobooks!)
I probably need to concentrate more on my TBR. The problem is I fill up my month with bookclub and GR suggested books! I already have 6 books committed for June too :)

[Karen ⊰✿]

If you like fantasy & sci-fi this is a cool flow chart about how to choose your next book :)
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2011...

[Susan]

@Karen - that's awesome!

[Jojo]

Karen wrote: "Wow Joanne.
There is someone I know in another group doing a group challenge with me who reads 1000 books per year. I checked her books and alot of them seem to be around 160-200 pages so I could s..."

I'm not generally a short story person, I think most books I read that year were around 350 - 550 pages. I have always been a fast reader, and being unemployed in a new country meant I had plenty of time on my hands!

[Karen ⊰✿]

@Joanne - same here. I find short stories quite dissatisfying usually!
Have you read the Casual Vacancy? That's my typical book. Lots of character development, complex relationships (and lot of pages...lol)

[Jojo]

Karen wrote: "@Joanne - same here. I find short stories quite dissatisfying usually!
Have you read the Casual Vacancy? That's my typical book. Lots of character development, complex relationships (and lot of pag..."

I couldn't get in to it. I may go back and try again one day, but it wasn't for me.

[Karen ⊰✿]

Fair enough. There seems to be pretty polarised views on it!

[Jojo]

I wanted to like it, but I think because it jumped so quickly from character to character, I never felt a connection with any of them, or particularly liked any of them. Which didn't help to keep my attention.

[Karen ⊰✿]

It does have ALOT of characters. It takes a while to get them all lined up in your mind. And none of them are likeable..lol

[Brightness]

Karen wrote: "If you like fantasy & sci-fi this is a cool flow chart about how to choose your next book :)
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2011..."

Karen that's awesome!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Karen - Thanks for the link! I was looking at the site and found that they have made it into an interactive chart as well. It's kind of fun to play with.

http://www.sfsignal.com/interactive/n...

[Cathie]

It's kool isn't it Kristie :-). I think they are pretty spot on to with recommendations, and it's fun to see all the possibilities. I was laughing going through this many times thinking in my head yep, read that one, that's on my tbr list, etc. It's a great fun way to find out what kind of science fiction or fantasy books you like.

[Karen ⊰✿]

Yes, I like the interactive one. It does give me a bit of a laugh sometimes too Cathie. Although I'm trying not to play with it too much as I already have alot of books I'm committed to over the next few months! ;)

[Cathie]

Awww, come on Karen, what's a few hundred more books on your TBR shelf?
(laughing really hard)

[Karen ⊰✿]

hahahaha. Yes, I just looked at your TBR... 400+! lol!
I tried to keep mine under a 100... I don't know what happened! lol

[Cathie]

I know; I said I would stop when it was at 250 in early January after being here on Goodreads for 5 months...you can see how well that worked out.

...so stop it people, stop finding reads I want to read because obviously I lack all willpower over books :-) (just joking, don't stop :-)

[Cathie]

just saw your TBR shelf Karen...your stacking up rather nicely yourself, lol

[Karen ⊰✿]

lol
yes, I just decided to get rid of the oldest ones this year. That is my mission now! :)

[Cathie]

Get rid of them, as in delete them from your shelf or as in read them?

[Karen ⊰✿]

Read them, although deleting would be quicker.... hahaha ;)

[Cathie]

but not nearly as enjoyable Karen :-)

[Karen ⊰✿]

Well hopefully! Depends on the book I guess ;)
I decided that if I have already read 46 books this year, surely I can knock off atleast 10 of the oldest ones on my list. I'm going to have to get some of them as audiobooks to be able to squeeze them in I think!

[Cathie]

Did you always love reading as much or is this a result of Goodreads?

[Karen ⊰✿]

I always loved reading. But the reason I read so much is because of Goodreads!! I am a part of two book-clubs (the actual type where you meet up and read books!), and I guess GR became an extension of that as now I read BOMs and Buddy reads. It is great, I love it!

[Susan]

@Karen - I'm the same way! I decided in January to join a book club and ended up joining three. I don't have quite the impressive TBR list though. One day!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Susan - Your TBR list sneaks up on you. One day you'll look at it and be shocked at how long it is.

[Kristie, Moderator]

So excited! I just got two more of my buddy read books in the mail today. (Unwind and The Fifth Wave) looking forward to them both!

[Cathie]

Woohoo!! Love getting books in the mail; my postman is my friend :-)

[Lynn, Moderator]

Gosh Kristie, you're being very forward planning (Unwind isn't until November!) or do you just not want another 'Gone Girl situation'? ;o)

[Tracey]

Cathie wrote: "Woohoo!! Love getting books in the mail; my postman is my friend :-)"

me too lol getting out of hand though!! postie is buckling at the knees ;O)

[Cathie]

lol, Tracey. Mine too. Use to be a cute little blonde woman about 5'4"tall that would deliver my books but the last couple of times they sent a man with muscles in a truck ~ I kid you not. (I'm not complaining, mind you ;-)

[Tracey]

Cathie wrote: "lol, Tracey. Mine too. Use to be a cute little blonde woman about 5'4"tall that would deliver my books but the last couple of times they sent a man with muscles in a truck ~ I kid you not. (I'm ..."

lol Cathie mine change all the time think they re off with bad backs ha ha

[Kristie, Moderator]

@ Cathie - Me too. I always get excited when the books come in.

@ Lynn - Usually I order the books right away once I decide to join a read. If I wait until it gets closer, I might forget to do it and not have the book in time to start. Some books I don't plan to buy and those are the ones that end up like Gone Girl. Usually I buy the series reads though, so I can go back and look things up if I forget a detail or something. (Apparently, some of my book buying is just based on forgetfulness!)

[Karen ⊰✿]

I only buy books when I absolutely have to... And then I donate them back to the library ;) Honestly, don't know how much money I'd spend if it wasn't for the library!! :)

[Lynn, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: " (Apparently, some of my book buying is just based on forgetfulness!) "

Love it! :D

[Cathie]

Karen wrote: "I only buy books when I absolutely have to... And then I donate them back to the library ;) Honestly, don't know how much money I'd spend if it wasn't for the library!! :)"

Awesome!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Karen wrote: "I only buy books when I absolutely have to... And then I donate them back to the library ;) Honestly, don't know how much money I'd spend if it wasn't for the library!! :)"

I've started getting a lot of books from the library again, but there is often a waiting list for many of the titles that I want and sometimes they come in before or after I plan to read them. A lot of times it is just easier to purchase them and be ready to go.

[Karen ⊰✿]

I think I'm a bit lucky Kristie in that where I live is in the middle of 3 council areas and so I am a member of all 3. And then all those 3 have several branches. So between them I have access to most books and they don't charge to reserve books at the main one I go to (one of them charges $1.50 per book! meh!). They also have a "fast reads" section so really popular books (e.g. casual vacancy, gone girl) there are heaps of copies, and no reserves, but you can only have it for a week without extension. It is a great idea I think as you're not waiting months for a book to be available.
I also have access to audiobooks with them through an app on my phone. It's awesome.
Ok I really need to stop talking, I never thought I'd be a library spokesperson...lol

[Kristie, Moderator]

That's great! I'm not really a fast enough reader for the quick reads usually. I know other people on here get books from their library quickly as well.

Just for an example for me - At my library we have 6 copies of Gone Girl. Two of the copies are quick read copies. Our consortium has 196 copies in total. I was #599 on the wait list when I started. I think I put my name on the list March 8th?? and I am #68 now, but my copy is available. (I must be #1 for my hometown library.) So, it took me about 2 1/2 months to get the book. That's not bad at all considering I was # 599 to start with! My problem is that there is no way to tell when it will be available. If this was a scheduled read I couldn't plan properly.

With that said, I still love the library and almost always have at least one book checked out lately. Right now I have three!

[Karen ⊰✿]

ahhh.. that works a bit differently to ours then. They just transfer books between branches, so if you are 68 then you are *really* 68. In saying that, I've never see a book with more than 50 reserves.
;)

[Kristie, Moderator]

I know it's so strange! The first time it happened I thought I had a month or so left (just guessing based on the numbers) and the book became available. I was so confused. But now I'm kind of used to it. I was also #1 for a book that my hometown library did not have a copy of, but my consortium has about 12, and I was waiting for about 2 weeks when I ended up buying it. There's just no planning for it! I think I like the way your library does it better. At least you really know where you stand.