The Sword and Laser discussion
What are your 2015 bookish resolutions?
I went from reading non-fiction almost exclusively for the last 20 years to reading almost all fiction last year. Somehow I need to work non-fiction back in, but given the reading list I already have mapped out for fiction new releases in 2014, it will be a bit of a challenge.My other goal, related to reading more non-fiction, is to become a more critical reader. My starting point is here:
http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/how-t...
and How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
Need to go through my bookcases and stacks of books to see what can be donated. I'm not looking forward to when I have to move :/Read the Wheel of Time to get to Sanderson and The Malazan from Eriksen.
And that's basically it. Will probably set my goal around 125 since I beat last year's.
Oh and if I get a release date on Lynch and Rothfuss' new ones, I'll most certainly re-read those two
I just want to read what I feel like reading and enjoy the books. Likely won't read too many club picks unless it's already on my TBR pile.
To read as many books as possible! :D
MarieJane wrote: "Anja wrote: "Basically, shrink down my queue of already bought books and catch up on S+L and VF! : )
I'll be alternating:
S+L
Already bought kindle book
VF
Already bought physical book"
I also wa..."
The great thing about your goal being 6 is that you can ignore them! : D
I'll be alternating:
S+L
Already bought kindle book
VF
Already bought physical book"
I also wa..."
The great thing about your goal being 6 is that you can ignore them! : D
My resolution is to write a review for every book I start in 2015. Also finish books on my "must read but don't want to finish because it is too long until the next book" list. And I think I'll have 80 books for my Goodreads goal for 2015 (I think I'll end up about there for this year anyway).
Buy less and read more of what I own. Read ever S&L book
To read more short fiction and novellas, end the tyranny of the novel!
Dara wrote: "I just want to read what I feel like reading and enjoy the books. Likely won't read too many club picks unless it's already on my TBR pile."Same here.
Eleanor wrote: "Buy less and read more of what I own"Eleanor, I would like to do the same. Can we hold each other to a pact? I am addicted to buying more than I can read. I may need counselling!
Phil
Brendan wrote: "To read more short fiction and novellas, end the tyranny of the novel!"
Amen, brother.
I think 2015 is going to be the year of the short story for me. But I also need to catch up on my non-fiction.
And read more new fiction
And catch up on my series because I just started the Expanse and I haven't caught up on ASOIAF & the Demon Cycle & the Powder Mage & DRESDEN!, sigh.
And read more classics because PK Dick
...ermahgerd I need a clone... and a way to sync up our brains. This is why I hate goals.
Amen, brother.
I think 2015 is going to be the year of the short story for me. But I also need to catch up on my non-fiction.
And read more new fiction
And catch up on my series because I just started the Expanse and I haven't caught up on ASOIAF & the Demon Cycle & the Powder Mage & DRESDEN!, sigh.
And read more classics because PK Dick
...ermahgerd I need a clone... and a way to sync up our brains. This is why I hate goals.
Re- read Lord of the Rings. I also plan to find and read some new fantasy authors/ series.
Dara wrote: "I just want to read what I feel like reading and enjoy the books. Likely won't read too many club picks unless it's already on my TBR pile."
You're much more mature than I, Dara. xD
You're much more mature than I, Dara. xD
Read at least 104 books.Read at least two Agatha Christie (there will be a day when I will say that I've read them all).
Read at least one Sherlock Holmes story per month.
Finish all the fantasy series that I'm in the middle of.
Read at least from 1 to 31 on my TBR goodreads list.
Re-Discover authors who I have loved in the past (e.g. R.A. Salvatore, Raymond Feist, Tad Williams) by reading at least one of their books.
And of course - to have fun reading, whatever I want, whenever I want.
I envyhate all of you with the ability to read into triple digits on your book counts.
I will try reading at least 6 sword and laser picks.Furthermore i will try reading more science fiction classics.
My overall goal will be 36 books.
Mod
I only manage it because of audio books. I'm a really slow reader and would be lucky to hit 40 otherwise.
I regret not doing them sooner as they've more than doubled how many books I do in a year (I did 135 with books, graphic novels and audio). Of course not everyone likes audio books though.
I know some folks around here break 100 just reading, but that will never be a reality for me.
I agree with Rob's comment on Audio books - I have a 60 minute commute time each day and spend it listening to audiobooks - I enjoy about 25 books a year this way.A lot of my non-fantasy/sci fi reading happens this way (my local libraries do not carry a lot of fantasy or sci-fi in audio book format)
I wonder if "fixing my bookshelf" counts? :P It kind of gave up lately from the amount of books I put on it...other than that I've got the same "make your unread book pile smaller" resolution because I simply can't stop buying both paperbacks and ebooks (maybe I should make resolution in this direction, but I know it would fail)
I wish I liked audio books. I just *cannot* pay attention in that format, no matter what I'm doing. (Granted, my commute is a fifteen minute walk, wherein I frequently bump into people I know, so it's not ideal for listening, but I also can't pay attention while folding laundry, bumbling around the house, doing nothing, etc.)As for resolutions, I haven't made my mind up yet! I think I'm going to scale my goal down from 100, just to give myself some breathing room. And otherwise, I want to work on my TBR list and also physical books given to me as gifts - I always feel guilty when I haven't read those!
Robyn wrote: "Robyn | 51 comments I wish I liked audio books. I just *cannot* pay attention in that format, no matter what I'm doing. (Granted, my commute is a fifteen minute walk, wherein I frequently bump into people I know, so it's not ideal for listening, but I also can't pay attention while folding laundry, bumbling around the house, doing nothing, etc.)"Same for me, Robyn (minus the walk). I've tried multiple times to listen to audibooks and I just can't do it.
Dara wrote: "Robyn wrote: "Robyn | 51 comments I wish I liked audio books. I just *cannot* pay attention in that format, no matter what I'm doing. (Granted, my commute is a fifteen minute walk, wherein I freque..."
I am hindered by the fact that my mobile device doesn't work with audible. Podcasts for me then.
I am hindered by the fact that my mobile device doesn't work with audible. Podcasts for me then.
Mod
I know you said something about a french library and using ebooks, but in theory you should be able to borrow audio books on cd and rip them to play on your phone if you can play podcasts on it. So long as you delete the files once you're done with them. Of course that's more work, but it's also free.
For me since my local branch doesn't have a great SFF selection on audio, when I do want to borrow something (I mostly listen to audible or review copies of books), I go to the next county over, or use Inter library loan.
Also, audible allows you to download straight MP3s from their website.
Mod
They do? I thought with the DRM the best you can do is download an image to burn to CD..but I haven't looked in awhile and when tried to look now it's prompting me to download some app to manage it..
Rob wrote: "Sky wrote: "Also, audible allows you to download straight MP3s from their website."
They do? I thought with the DRM the best you can do is download an image to burn to CD..but I haven't looked in ..."
I've definitely been borrowing audiobooks from libraries. Audiobook just hasn't become a habit for me since it seemed pretty complicated with my mobile device. I'd have to use sneaky measures which I don't want to. I have a Blackberry. :)
Hm. You can? When I tried working with audible, it gave me a hard time. But maybe I'll try again.....
They do? I thought with the DRM the best you can do is download an image to burn to CD..but I haven't looked in ..."
I've definitely been borrowing audiobooks from libraries. Audiobook just hasn't become a habit for me since it seemed pretty complicated with my mobile device. I'd have to use sneaky measures which I don't want to. I have a Blackberry. :)
Hm. You can? When I tried working with audible, it gave me a hard time. But maybe I'll try again.....
The Audible app is available for iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, Android, and I THINK Windiws phone. Using it, you can download books right to your device, no internet connection needed to play once downloaded.You can also download files to your computer that can be played on a multitude of devices as audio files, or download smaller files that can be burned to disc. I've only ever done it with iPod and other i-devices, so not sure how well it works with other devices...but I know that at one point, my dad had audiobooks on an SD card that he could play on his Garmin GPS so if THAT device could do it...
My resolutions, as I posted somewhere, are to read all the S&L picks as well as reading more things from the list of titles I've already bought but not gotten to yet (over 200 books deep by now, I bet, though haven't rectified the list yet). I am not setting a hard "number" requirement this year but would like to emphasize some series I've wanted to get to for awhile such as Michael J. Sullivan's Theft of Swords books and Jim Butcher's Dresden books.
Rob wrote: "They do? I thought with the DRM the best you can do is download an image to burn to CD..but I haven't looked in ..."Huh...I could have sworn you used to be able to do it, but i dont see the option now. In any case you can convert .aa files to wav/mp3 using free software called GoldWave, so you can skip the burn to/rip from CD step.
Mod
I'm hoping to read more books by diverse authors, especially about diverse characters. For that purpose, I'm hoping to read some of the Tipree Award Winners and the Carl Brandon Award Winners. I'm still hoping to finish up some series after I switched from a system of breaking them up to reading them one after another (too big a gap in between, with the size of my to-read list). I have reason to believe that my all time high of 210 books this year was a fluke, so I'm not setting my number of books higher than 100. If I read more, whatever. (it's the number of waiting rooms, I'm afraid)
Thanks for trying to help me get started on audibooks. :) I won't give up and I'll try some of these advices.
My resolution is to read fewer books in 2015. But that's because I want to give myself the room to tackle some of the longer ones that have been sitting on my (literal or metaphorical) shelf for the past couple of years just kind of staring me down -- yes, I'm looking at YOU, Messires Martin and Erikson, amongst others ...
My resolution is to read more diversely across gender, sexuality, race, genre and other axes - both of viewpoint characters and author. I was pretty happy checking that of the 24 or so books I rated 5 star this year around 13 were female authors - although there are some books by same authors on both sides. My caveat is that particularly some stuff works much better when I'm reading when the insomnia fairy visits - lots of YA writing. But I'd like to look back on my 4 and 5 star ratings and see that reflected.
I will read more short form (short story, novella) - classic and new - my various magazine subscriptions should cover that. I should track them also.
I'll try read more diversely across time - more books before 1950. I will read one ancient/classic/mythic epic (likely in translation) that I haven't read.
I'll read at least 3 poems.
I will try get through Gravity's Rainbow and finally read Ulysses.
Sort of related.I'm going to make art every day in 2015. I'll put said art into a book when it's all said and done.
Oh, and I'll read some stuff, too.
I'm going to read and review more independent fantasy authors for 2015. I have reviews quite a few books on my website and I would like to promote upcoming fantasy authors. My goal is to read 12-15 independent fantasy authors for 2015.
Marion
Mod
I can't stick to book reading goals and envy all of you that do.
I will read, re-read or have read all the 2015 Sword & Laser picks by years end. I suppose that is a goal I can stick to.
Apart from those I will read anywhere from 10 to 100 books this year.
Tassie Dave wrote: "I can't stick to book reading goals and envy all of you that do."Have you noticed how mine are nice and vague?
If your 2015 plans include "to read more female authors" then come on over to the Goodreads Group 2015: The Year of Reading Women. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...In this group I will attempt to lead my first group discussion on one of my favorite authors, Leslie Marmon Silko, and her challenging but outstanding novel Almanac of the Dead. This will happen towards the end of the year.
I never got around to reading the last two Malazan novels so in 2015 I would like to read the entire series.
My other goal will be to read at least one of the "classics" I have sitting on my bookshelf, but I can't decide which one. Suggestions are appreciated. :)
The Brothers Karamazov
Crime and Punishment
Anna Karenina
Moby Dick
The Metamorphoses of Ovid
The Oddyssey
The Aeneid
Dharmakirti wrote: "If your 2015 plans include "to read more female authors" then come on over to the Goodreads Group 2015: The Year of Reading Women. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...In this group I will..."
I actually liked Moby Dick when I read it in college; you just have to kind of bull your way through the occasional chapter about whale junk.
And someday I really need to read Iliad, Odyssey and Aeneid -- I even have a lovely illustrated Aeneid from Donald M. Grant.
Joseph wrote: "Dharmakirti wrote: "If your 2015 plans include "to read more female authors" then come on over to the Goodreads Group 2015: The Year of Reading Women. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/......"
Moby Dick is something I've been wanting to read for years but keep putting it off. I've started it a few times but never got very far (maybe 40 or 50 pages). I get too easily distra...oh, what's that, something new?
Dharmakirti wrote: "If your 2015 plans include "to read more female authors" then come on over to the Goodreads Group 2015: The Year of Reading Women. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...In this group I will..."
I really liked Crime and Punishment. It's probably one of the more accessible books in this list. I'm pretty sure it was the inspiration behind the Columbo TV series, too!
I listened to Moby Dick on audio and really enjoyed it that way. I can't remember who read it, but he did a great job with characterization. Not sure if I would have enjoyed reading it as much as I did listening to it, but I think that there's a good chance I would have; it's a good story.
I also listened to The Iliad and The Odyssey on audio (cassette!), and enjoyed them. I tried reading The Aeneid in college but I don't think I made it all the way through.
Joseph wrote: "Dharmakirti wrote: "If your 2015 plans include "to read more female authors" then come on over to the Goodreads Group 2015: The Year of Reading Women. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/......"
I got through Moby Dick in college with the help of cliff notes. I would read the interesting parts in the book, and the rest was read in cliff notes. I probably read about half of the actual book. I enjoyed the story, but the 'whale junk' put me to sleep.
I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea a year or two back and just skimmed over the lengthy sea descriptions. I think back when those books were written the "travelogue" bits were part of the appeal.
Mike wrote: "I got through Moby Dick in college with the help of cliff notes. I would read the interesting parts in the book, and the rest was read in cliff notes. I probably read about half of the actual book. I enjoyed the story, but the 'whale junk' put me to sleep.I did enjoy it but it was one of those where I finished the book at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and had to write an 8-10 page paper to be turned in at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. On my typewriter -- no computer back in those days. Good times, good times.
I hope I can read 65 books this year, including all of the S&L picks (if I haven't already read them, that is). I plan to make a dent in my to read book pile, especially since I'm not buying as many "dead tree" books now.
After reading a couple dozen pages from Moby Dick, Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, I've decided to read The Brothers Karamazov first. I hope to read Moby Dick this year, too.
I'm trying to read some of the YA books that I keep seeing around, the first being the Bartimaeus Trilogy.
I hope to read all S&L, picks. And to knock down my to-read list. All in all, that will be around 40 books
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
Palimpsest (other topics)Lord of the Flies (other topics)
Shadow Scale (other topics)
Ancillary Sword (other topics)
The Bone Clocks (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Catherynne M. Valente (other topics)Leslie Marmon Silko (other topics)
I'll be alternating:
S+L
Already bought kindle book
VF
Already bought physical book