Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion
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100 books per year, 300 pages per book = 30,000 pages365 days = 82 pages per day
I can read about 35-40 pages per hour
so need 2-2.5hrs per day
which I find quite doable compared to the amount of time some people spend surfing/social-media-ing/gaming/watching tv etc
When you break it down like that, Darren, I should be able to read far more books than I do!
Thank you very much for the warm welcome and some great advice, everyone! I am very excited to try out your tips in practice and use my free time more productively :)
Anna wrote: "Hi everyone! My name is Anna, I am from Russia but currently live in California (got tired of all the cold!) I'm 26 and recently married. I love animals with all my heart, enjoy studying foreign la..."Hi Anna, I lived in California for years but thought I would try Florida. I LOVED California, but the beaches in Florida are swimmable all year long and are Carribean turquoise. I've lived in Chicago, and like you couldn't take the cold. Congrats on your recent marriage, all the best. I never married, was terrible at dating, and really I'd rather read, that's my favorite thing. And I like to read a little of everything.
Pink wrote: "Welcome to the group Anna, I'm glad you've joined us :) As for reading so many books, that's something I've increased over the years I've been on Goodreads. I used to read just a few books a year..."
Hi Pink, I never watch television either (except for Survivior) so that gives me at least four hours a day over the average TV watcher. But if one loves TV as much as I love reading, great! And yes, sense I joined goodreads, I read more and more. I've been introduced to authors I've never even heard of. And I love a good discussion with lots of varying opinions. I've been known to change a book rating after taking others input.
Hi everyone, I love goodreads and it is the only media site of which I am a member. I like to read a little of everything, as I think one should. I'm reading Proust now and just finished his fourth "Time" volume, just finished Knausgaard's fourth volume of his "Struggle" series. BUT, I've read Fifty Shades, Twilight, Hunger Games, even Sweet Dirty Boy! Recently discovered Penelope Fitzgerald, I think she's fabulous. And my very favorite author of all time is Agatha Christie, as I taught myself to read on her books and she is my go-to-comfort read.My goal this year is to read 150 books, as I read at least that many last year. I do not understand people who say they don't read. That makes no sense to me.
Darren wrote: "100 books per year, 300 pages per book = 30,000 pages365 days = 82 pages per day
I can read about 35-40 pages per hour
so need 2-2.5hrs per day
which I find quite doable compared to the amount of ..."
I LOVE this breakdown!! What reading does for the mind and soul is pure magic.
Maria wrote: "Hi, I'm Maria and I love reading classics, I'm new at Goodreads and wanted to give a try to one of the groups to be able to share thoughts with others, and of course to try to catch up with so man..."
Welcome to the Group Maria! This is best group I have been a member of. Truly, everyone is so warm and welcoming and this group has great discussions going on at all times. I do you hope you enjoy being a member and enjoy being a part of GR.
I find that if I'm in a reading rut I pick an easy reading book-- even if it's a short story, novella, or book of poetry. I take the time to read it, then I'll count and review it. Consequently I am on pace to read close to 200 books this year but not all of them are the 300 or more page variety that Darren suggests. Before being in this group though I never knew what to read and the idea of reading 100 books a year seemed beyond my reach. Now I get so many suggestions I can't keep up with them. All of you new members, I hope you enjoy it here.
Hi Greg, thanks for introducing yourself. I really need to read some Agatha Christie one day, as I always hear such good things. No matter how much I read, there's always so much more to catch up on!
Hi everyoneMy name is Inge and I live in Pensacola, FL. I joined this group because I love classics and there are so many I have yet to read. I guess that is a good thing because I will not run out of reading materiel anytime soon. Many of the books are public domain too and that makes them so much more affordable. I hope to discover some books via this group that I have yet to encounter.
Mod
Ashley wrote: "Darren wrote: "100 books per year, 300 pages per book = 30,000 pages365 days = 82 pages per day
I can read about 35-40 pages per hour
so need 2-2.5hrs per day
which I find quite doable compared to..."
Thanks Ashley! :o)
I was afraid it might sound a bit cold/chore-like, but 80 pages per day never seems like hard work - I usually have 5-6 books on the go at once, so I will do a biggish block of 40-50 pages on one book, and then a couple of 20 page bursts on a couple of others - quite often I find I can do 120 pages without really noticing - and other days I'll do less - if I miss the odd day during the week I can easily make up at weekend!
just did a quick calculation of total pages of books finished in 2017 and I'm averaging 97 pages per day, and I honestly thought I'd been lollygagging!
Welcome to the group Inge, I'm glad you've joined us :)
Hello everyone! I'm Ana, from Lisbon - Portugal. I always enjoyed reading, to acquire knowledge and because it's a stimulating source of entertainment. I'm fond of Classics, among other genres. Sometimes schedules don't allow me to read as much as i'd like to, but i always find the time to jump into my story. I'm new in Book Clubs, but so far i find them motivating :)
Welcome Ana. Glad to you picked this group to start reading classics. It is definitely a great group to get yourself reading more and I hope that you enjoy it here.
Hello Brina! :) I read some Classics before, when i was younger. I haven't read them all, of course. Hopefully the group will inspire me and here i'll find good recommendations :)
Welcome Ana, I hope you enjoy it here and find the motivation to read some more classics with us :)
Darren wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Darren wrote: "100 books per year, 300 pages per book = 30,000 pages365 days = 82 pages per day
I can read about 35-40 pages per hour
so need 2-2.5hrs per day
which I find quite doa..."
Do you by any chance take notes on what you read? I'd love to hear some thoughts about good note-taking.
er, no! I prefer to spend my time actually reading!having said that, there are a few books that, when I come to re-read them, I intend to take more slowly, and maybe even take a few notes then!
(also, I do make use of the Highlighting feature in Kindle, but I read a lot of physical books where obviously I can't do that - and I NEVER write in my books, not even in pencil)
Pink wrote: "Hi Greg, thanks for introducing yourself. I really need to read some Agatha Christie one day, as I always hear such good things. No matter how much I read, there's always so much more to catch up on!"Hi Pink, my pleasure to meet all of you. Some say Christie is old-fashioned, and that's true, all the violence is "off-screen" as is the sex, but nobody has ever written better plots, and better plot twist. And yes, my list of to-read books gets longer by the month.
Darren wrote: "100 books per year, 300 pages per book = 30,000 pages365 days = 82 pages per day
I can read about 35-40 pages per hour
so need 2-2.5hrs per day
which I find quite doable compared to the amount of ..."
Darren, great analysis! The average American, I think, watches four hours of TV a day. So using your numbers, 150 books a year is doable, and I read at least that many last year.
Sarah wrote: "Darren wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Darren wrote: "100 books per year, 300 pages per book = 30,000 pages365 days = 82 pages per day
I can read about 35-40 pages per hour
so need 2-2.5hrs per day
which I..."
Hi Sarah, I use those small post-it notes because I certainly don't want to make notes in a library book or turn down pages. (if the book is mine, and one I'm going to keep, I might make a note or two in the margins, but even then I feel like that is almost sacrilegious.) I often make notes on the post-its and use the notes for reviews, and especially as talking points for book clubs or goodreads club reads.
Mod
Ana wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm Ana, from Lisbon - Portugal. I always enjoyed reading, to acquire knowledge and because it's a stimulating source of entertainment. I'm fond of Classics, among other genres. So..."
Hi Ana, one of the things I love about goodreads is meeting people from all over the world. I use to travel to many countries while working, and I still do take world vacations, but it is so wonderful to read a book then come across a review of that book written by someone else halfway around the world! I live in Florida, USA, so we are practically neighbors!
Katy wrote: "Welcome to the group Anna, Greg, & Inge. So nice to have you all join us."Thanks Katy.
Brina wrote: "Welcome Ana. Glad to you picked this group to start reading classics. It is definitely a great group to get yourself reading more and I hope that you enjoy it here."Hi Brina, nice to run into you here as well as other places.
Hi, Greg. So glad you joined. Keep those comments coming. That stat of 4 hrs of tv is alarming. I think I spend that much reading and I will get close to 200 books this year a new record. The only tv I watch is live sports and that's not even every day. Reading is much more relaxing.
Brina wrote: "Hi, Greg. So glad you joined. Keep those comments coming. That stat of 4 hrs of tv is alarming. I think I spend that much reading and I will get close to 200 books this year a new record. The only ..."Actually, Brina, I do like to watch international futbol sometimes. But for me, it's not the television shows that bother me, it's the commercials. Most of the news is nothing I want to know, you just know it's going to be bad and that isn't relaxing at all. And some TV shows are just too violent, I don't allow those kinds of images into my home, that's not relaxing either. Reading about violence isn't as horrible as seeing it. If I go to a theatre, say a Tarantino film, I know what I'm getting into. But to just be scrolling through on TV and having something horribly gruesome pop out (during "family hours" even) and into my home isn't for me. And I never bring home from the library any kind of movie or TV show that has violence. But I am hooked on "Survivor"! And yes, reading is, overall, as good as it gets as far as relaxation. Even intense stuff is relaxing, the images are unseen and don't seem to stay scanned into my brain. I will get off my soapbox now.
Hi everyone! I'm new to Goodreads and the group, but looking forward to discussing classics with you all. I just finished grad school, so I am excited that I finally have some time for non-academic reading!
Welcome, Carol. This is a great group to start with on Goodreads. Congrats on finishing grad school and getting to read more books that are enjoyable for you.
Brina wrote: "Welcome, Carol. This is a great group to start with on Goodreads. Congrats on finishing grad school and getting to read more books that are enjoyable for you."Thanks...it will definitely be nice to have time to read fiction again!
Mod
Hi Carol, I'm glad you've joined us and hope you'll find time for some personal reading now you've finished your studies :)
Carol wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm new to Goodreads and the group, but looking forward to discussing classics with you all. I just finished grad school, so I am excited that I finally have some time for non-academic..."Congrats, Carol. I know the feeling. After finishing grad school, I had time to read, for fun! Then, I retired, and have time for even more fun/reading! But I'm glad I sacrificed those years for grad school: had I not, I would probably still be working in corporate America (even though I do miss the social/fun/parties).
Hi Greg! I would love to visit Florida one day, especially after your colorful description. As of never marrying, I think that if you haven't met someone with whom you feel comfortable, you just saved yourself from several bad marriages :) I'm looking forward to reading your input in monthly discussions, especially since you read enormous amount of books!
Greg wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Darren wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Darren wrote: "100 books per year, 300 pages per book = 30,000 pages365 days = 82 pages per day
I can read about 35-40 pages per hour
so need 2-2.5hrs p..."
Alright, thank you.
Greg wrote: "I use those small post-it notes because I certainly don't want to make notes in a library book or turn down pages..."oooh! small Post-Its sound like a veeeeery good idea - Thanks!
Anna wrote: "Hi Greg! I would love to visit Florida one day, especially after your colorful description. As of never marrying, I think that if you haven't met someone with whom you feel comfortable, you just sa..."Hi Anna, some people should just stay single. What's wrong with that? More time to read!
Darren wrote: "Greg wrote: "I use those small post-it notes because I certainly don't want to make notes in a library book or turn down pages..."oooh! small Post-Its sound like a veeeeery good idea - Thanks!"]
Thanks Darren, and to save money, I buy the generic post-it notes.
Hi everyone.I'm Karen from the UK. I love classics but feel I have not read enough in recent years. My favourite is Wuthering Heights.
I am hoping to read more books that aren't by British-American-French authors as these seem to dominate my "read" list.
Mod
Welcome to the group Karen! I think most of us get sucked into reading too many classics by British and American authors, there's just so many books to choose from. A few people here concentrate on other regions of the world and hopefully we can encourage you to find some other classics to love as well.
Hi Karen and welcome. You're sure to find what you want here. It's certainly given my reading a jolt after getting bored with tv box sets. Now enjoying reading the classics and watching the films they stimulate.
Welcome Julie, I'm glad you've joined our group. I love this community of book lovers, where I can find inspiration and discuss books that I love. I look forward to getting to know you :)
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Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)
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As for reading so many books, that's something I've increased over the years I've been on Goodreads. I used to read just a few books a year, but once I started joining group reads and adding more books to my list, I started to gradually increase that. I also read several books at once, so I fit different things in at different times, plus I listen to audiobooks and I don't watch television. It doesn't matter how many books you read though, do what works for you without it becoming a chore and enjoy the process :)