Welcome new members!

[Elliot]

I guess I hadn't anticipated getting members that I didn't know ... but I'm so glad we did!

I welcome all new members to use this thread to post anything they want about themselves (within reason :) ... why did you join? what do you normally like to read? what are you looking to read in 2016 that's different from your usual go-to genres?

I'll start - I'm Elliot, live all my life in Brooklyn. I probably read more than I should (if that's a think) and don't have any genres that I stick to - I'm open to a lot - though I do have some that I avoid (sci-fi/fantasy, history & historical fiction, poetry, mystery). I suppose I mainly read 75% non-fiction.

I started off this year by trying to expand my knowledge base - reading A Little History of Science as a launching pad for more science reading in 2016. Also, on the recommendation of my little boy, I'm reading Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events series! I'm the one who bought him the books but he insisted that I'd like them ... and so far they're great!

[Aisha]

Hi! I'm Aisha, I am from Vancouver, Canada.

I have been trying to up my reading count for the last couple years with the Goodreads challenge. As I have a TON of books and I need to try and get through more of them. I was looking around at the different reading challenge groups in order to help me feel motivated to read even more this year. I really liked how creative this book challenge was! Plus it will give me a chance to hopefully see if I can get into some new genres that I don't normally read.

I am usually into sci-fi/fantasy books, but sometimes delve into others when I find something else that seems interesting. I have also been trying to go and read more classics for years, though I have purchased the books but have yet to read them. With this challenge I am hoping to knock a couple of my list such as The Epic of Gilgamesh and Ulysses.

[[deleted user]]

I'm Amy in Texas. I basically read everything I get my hands on, but my weaknesses are music biographies and books that compile personal letters (my favorites are letters between two writers/artists).

For a few years, I listened to a lot of classics on Librivox and hope to start that again this year. There's really no other way to get through things like The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (which is really funny imo but I wouldn't want to have read it with my eyes).

Love that this reading challenge doesn't list specific books, so we're free to pick whatever we want within those topics. Thanks for the invite Elliot!

[Elliot]

Aisha wrote: "Hi! I'm Aisha, I am from Vancouver, Canada.

I have been trying to up my reading count for the last couple years with the Goodreads challenge. As I have a TON of books and I need to try and get th..."

Hi Aisha! Welcome to the group. It's great to have a fan of sci-fi/fantasy books - hopefully you can post some good books in that genre and we can give you good ideas to expand your interests.

Haven't read either of the classics you mentioned, but I've been trying to read some classics myself. I found that the easiest to go back to was Oscar Wilde - so witty, so easy to read - but over the past few years I've "graduated" as far as Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Crime and Punishment is easily one of the best books I've ever read.

[Elliot]

Amy wrote: "I'm Amy in Texas. I basically read everything I get my hands on, but my weaknesses are music biographies and books that compile personal letters (my favorites are letters between two writers/artist..."

Hi Amy, welcome! Well, you and I both read WAY too many music biographies, lol, but I hope you've read Girl in a Band. Finished it a few weeks ago and it's fantastic.

I'd be really interested in books that compile personal letters. I like to read that kind of back of forth online but haven't seen a book like that which interested me (unless you count Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Any suggestions?

[[deleted user]]

Hi! I am so sorry it took ages for me (half a year!) to get back to this. Life got crazy. Thank you fro the recommendation! I've been reading the new book on The Replacements and the one about Vic Chesnutt. Recommend both so far!

My favorite book of letters is A Literate Passion: Letters of Anais Nin & Henry Miller.

I'm going to see if I can even dream of catching up here!