Mount TBR 2015 discussion
Level 2: Mount Blanc (24 Books)
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Iselin's way to Mount Blanc
Mod
It's really hard not to get sidetracked by the new releases, books at the library, and used books stores....
Hehe, I should lock myself up with my books and nothing else. But then, how am I to post on GR?
Good luck with your first climb! Bev has a great idea about a set of blinders so you won't see those new shiny books, lol!
All the best, Iselin! I will be joining you and of course, cheering you on...
#1 Sämtliche Bildergeschichten by Wilhelm Busch (996 pp.)
I love Buschs' rhyme, but sure not his racism. Phew. But some of his verses are still common knowledge, and it was great finding them in the stories where they belong.
Great going Iselin...im just about finishing my first book for the year too!
#2 Wo ist Carlos Montúfar? by Daniel Kehlmann
Can one fall for an authors' mind, for their thoughts? I might just have. But then, I'm writing my thesis on Kehlmann. Want an extremely well read contemporary author raving about The Simpsons or Tolkien? There you go. I loved this book to bits. BTW it's a collection of essays on several authors and on writing.
#3 Amphitryon by Molière
I knew the story before from the version by Heinrich von Kleist. The piece is written in verse and ends with a deus ex machina. Today is Molière's birthday, so I won't blame him for being a bit lame here! (I loved Le Malade Imaginaire though.)
#4 Digitale Fotografie: Grundlagen und Fotopraxis by Jacqueline Esen
I got this for my birthday last year because I had complained about my photo skills. This is a book for beginners, but it's stuffed with info and photos to illustrate how to, and how not to, take good pics even if all you have is a compact digital cam. Inspiring and informative, although I wonder how many of the readers actually use an Adobe product to manipulate their holiday fotos, since the author gives an intro to one?
#5 Alexis Sorbas by Nikos Kazantzakis
DNF - It may be due to the old translation, but this just wasn't for me. I really tried.
#6 The Remains Of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
It took me quite a while to get into this, but the second half was so enjoyable. All in all a work of genius that needs to be read between the lines. It had me in tears by the end. Okay, I also wanted to punch Stevens for his stubbornness.
#7 Morgantina, die Hexe der Königin by Lois Gould
What the - ? This was a strange novel. You could never be sure what happened, what's real, or where the whole thing was going. Quite frustrating, even more because the language and perspective were so unusual. I wanted to like it. Morgantine, the dwarf, was the most interesting character, but then, there weren't that many: Henry, the king, Diane, his lover, Catharina, the queen, and Cornelius, a magician, who remains somehow colourless.
...And this is as far as I will get this month. I'm currently reading a couple of books from the library, a part of them for my thesis. As this will continue in February, I expect to climb at a very slow pace next month, maybe three books if I'm lucky. But I'm satisfied with the outcome of January, especially since I haven't acquired any new books!
Great job on not acquiring any new ones yet!
Jessika wrote: "Great job on not acquiring any new ones yet!"It sounds more like an achievement when you don't know that I haven't had much opportunity to buy any books since I'm working on my thesis :)
Nonetheless I'm terribly happy with that side effect.
Mod
Good job not acquiring any new ones...unfortunately, I can't say the same. This year, I'm being smart and keeping new purchases in a separate stack (or stacks...knowing me). So far...six new and ten read. So, I guess, I've really only knocked four off of the TBR stacks. LOL.
Bev wrote: "Iselin wrote: "...And this is as far as I will get this month. I'm currently reading a couple of books from the library, a part of them for my thesis. As this will continue in February, I expect to...":)
Four sounds good to me. And you've had the fun of bringing new and shiny books to your home. For me this always works like a mood lifter (I never took pills, but I imagine it must be like this light feeling in the stomach you get from buying books). I might buy one or two in February to fight the winter blues (why must I live in this climate zone, why?!).
Mod
Yes, book therapy is always a good idea to drive the blues (of any sort) away!
Haha, Iselin, I too had to buy some books to fight my winter blues - and it was much worse when I was living in Luxembourg! So I do understand you!
Marina wrote: "Haha, Iselin, I too had to buy some books to fight my winter blues - and it was much worse when I was living in Luxembourg! So I do understand you!"I'm living "next door" to Luxembourg, in Trier. I wish I was in Italy too! The book stores in Luxembourg City would be my doom too, there is one with beautiful BDs and Non Fiction books that I always visit when I'm there. Luckily my French isn't that good anymore, so I never buy anything.
Oh really? I used to visit Trier sometimes when I lived in Luxembourg. I really love your city! Also, many of my colleagues were from there or did live there.
I came here for university. Overall it's a little tranquil here, but it got much better in the last years, with more cultural events and a growing alternative scene. But since nomad blood flows in my veins, I still look forward to leaving Trier for a new, exciting place this summer. Hopefully Bonn, but we haven't settled that.
We seem to have quite a lot in common! I too tend to move house and city a lot, and I've always said that I'm a bit of a nomad :-) I'm moving this summer as well, though not going very far, just to another city in South-Central Italy.
Marina wrote: "We seem to have quite a lot in common! I too tend to move house and city a lot, and I've always said that I'm a bit of a nomad :-) I'm moving this summer as well, though not going very far, just to...";) I hope everything will go smoothly, moving can be so stressful. Especially when others drag and carry your favourite furniture around; I always fear they are handled carelessly. But I love the feeling of a fresh start. And the first morning in your new home, when most of the helpers are still there and you have a big breakfast. Oh my, there I'm reminiscing... I really need to move.
I got three new books for my birthday. Why am I so not feeling guilty ;)One is a beautiful new German edition of Stardust by Neil Gaiman, the others are A Tale for the Time Being and Geek Love. They are all hardcovers and look gorgeous!
So I own 149 unread books now.
Iselin wrote: "I got three new books for my birthday. Why am I so not feeling guilty ;)One is a beautiful new German edition of Stardust by Neil Gaiman, the others are [book:A Tale for the Time Bei..."
That's wonderful....love those hardbacks! And happy birthday (late), Iselin!
Zaara wrote: "Iselin wrote: "I got three new books for my birthday. Why am I so not feeling guilty ;)One is a beautiful new German edition of Stardust by Neil Gaiman, the others are [book:A Tale f..."
Thanks, Zaara!
Happy birthday! Never feel guilty about birthday gifts!
Jessika, thank you. I wouldn't dream of it!
Mod
Thank you, Bev! It would be a shame if they weren't. In fact I made my better half buy me the books so I wouldn't have to do it ;)
Mod
Yes...I often make my better half buy the online ones as well (through ebay or whatever appropriate site) just so I can plead innocence. :-)
I just remembered new books aren't allowed for this challenge *sigh*So, as a reminder for myself: Here is the list of books to choose from. Nothing else.
#8
I just finished Euclid's Window: The Story of Geometry from Parallel Lines to Hyperspace! Fantastic Non Fiction book that got me interested in one of the most hated fields of science: Mathematics. Okay, I didn't get most of the last few chapters of String Theory, but since it's a still being under construction, I'm content. I now even begin to grasp relativity. Highly enjoyable read thanks to an enjoyable writing style.
I also must report another two new books I got from my neighbour today (he has a habit to gift me his old books): A novella by Per Olov Enquist, and a signed copy of Vatertage by Günter Grass. I couldn't say no ;)
#9
Twelve Short Masterpieces contains 12 short stories that were really enjoyable, but it ended with a most wonderful story by Katherine Mansfield, my favourite short story author so far.
I own this book since around 1999! Back then I had only just begun to learn English. I was ten or eleven and already thirsty for new stories. It was the first time I voluntarily tried to read a book in English.
Wow, Iselin, you're doing great! At this rate, you'll reach the peak of Mount Blanc in no time, then maybe you can join me on Mount Ararat. =) Keep up the good reading!
You are whizzing on..I'm only on 3...!
Lisa wrote: "Wow, Iselin, you're doing great! At this rate, you'll reach the peak of Mount Blanc in no time, then maybe you can join me on Mount Ararat. =) Keep up the good reading!"Thanks! I secretly hope to eventually set foot on Mt. Kilimanjaro! I just didn't know what my pace would be, so I started low. So, yeah, I'm content :D
I purged some books today, reducing my tbr down to 143 books. It's become a habit to reevaluate my interest in the books I own. Many of them were gifts from a neighbour; they are very old and used. Not the kind of books you see and want to read. There are some lesser known classics among them, but I'm not that interested in owning them. If I ever feel like reading one of them, I'll just do it online or borrow the audio.I also ditched one book I got for free at my library and one book I actually bought, read the first twenty pages, and didn't enjoy it.
Two or three of them do look new. I'll put them on a swap platform I use and see if I can make someone else happy.
Do you purge books? And what do you end up doing with them?
Mod
I go through maybe once a year and get rid of some that I've decided I probably will never read, usually only 5 or so get cut. I either sell them, donate them to Goodwill or donate them to my new favorite, Little Free Library
Jessika wrote: "I go through maybe once a year and get rid of some that I've decided I probably will never read, usually only 5 or so get cut. I either sell them, donate them to Goodwill or donate them to my new ..."Oh, I didn't know Little Free Library! Adorable. How do you donate a book, Jessika? I would be interested in trying this.
I also can report a late birthday gift arrived today: Der König ist nackt by Sylvie Germain. Luckily I made some room in my bookcase before :)
Germain was a discovery for me when I picked up her Book of Nights over ten years ago, a mesmerizing fairy tale like family saga. Germain's not well known and it's not too easy to collect her books, but now I own four of them. Yes, this was a gift to myself, and I pat myself on the shoulder for the excellent choice ;)
I have gone through some purges, often when the occasion of moving comes up. I have relied on donating to various libraries as my go to place, and on rare occasion a used bookstore. Recently I've started a giveaway with my family at our annual summer BBQ, I just bring a box of books and let them choose what they may like. Since I'm the major reader in the family I'm always the go-to person for a good book, and now I just share the ones I've read and don't think I'll read again or want to keep on my bookshelves.
Iselin wrote: "Oh, I didn't know Little Free Library! Adorable. How do you donate a book, Jessika? I would be interested in trying this."Go to their website littlefreelibrary.org and look at their map to see if there are any LFLs near you. Literally all you do is drop off a book there, and take one with you if you'd like. If it's a good book and you want to keep it, it's fine! As it say on their website, you can't steal something if it's free! A good way to get to know neighbors, too.
Jessika wrote: "Iselin wrote: "Oh, I didn't know Little Free Library! Adorable. How do you donate a book, Jessika? I would be interested in trying this."Go to their website littlefreelibrary.org and look at thei..."
Alright, that was kind of obvious I guess :) The word "donate" somehow got me sidetracked. Mh, the next LFL is still a bit far-off. I'll keep it in mind, maybe for when I visit somewhere or I move closer to one.
Iselin wrote: "Alright, that was kind of obvious I guess :) The word "donate" somehow got me sidetracked. Mh, the next LFL is still a bit far-off."Keep checking back, there are new ones popping up all the time!
Jessika wrote: "Iselin wrote: "Alright, that was kind of obvious I guess :) The word "donate" somehow got me sidetracked. Mh, the next LFL is still a bit far-off."Keep checking back, there are new ones popping u..."
I will! I'd love to build one of those myself. So cute! Alas, no front garden.
#10
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
I love Dickens. The language of this historical fiction was a bit beyond my abilities at times, for I read it in English, but I warmed up to its' soap opera feel.
Mount TBR 2015
Books mentioned in this topic
Bridge to Terabithia (other topics)Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth (other topics)
Geek Love (other topics)
Billy Budd, Sailor (other topics)
Stardust (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Patricia A. McKillip (other topics)Ernest Hemingway (other topics)
Herman Melville (other topics)
Kazuo Ishiguro (other topics)
Nikos Kazantzakis (other topics)
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This will be my first climb. I chose this level to find out how far I get; hopefully I'll be able to upgrade and get more books out the way.
Apart from reading more of my own books, I want to try not to buy more books than I read. Let's see how this works out! Any tips for a newbie?
Checkpoint #1: 139 books on my TBR