Ann's list to attempt 144

[Ann]

I hope a book I started in 2009 and finished on or after January 1 2010 will count (that is usually how I do it for my monthly lists) My best year ever was around 120 books so this will be interesting.

[Donnajo]

Yeah, you made it. 12 books/audios a month. People do it different ways. No rules. So yes you can count it.
I'll be happy if the count is better than this year for next.

[Ann]

Me too, DonnaJo!
Donnajo wrote: "I'll be happy if the count is better than this year for next. "

[Ann]

now actively reading and wondering which will be book number one for 2010 ...
Brisingr Car audio
Under the Dome Kindle
A Darker Domain current library book
Wreck the Halls reading with Mom (in nursing home)

[Donnajo]

Me too, I'm want to try and finish something today hopefully.

[Ann]

My first book of 2010 was Val McDermid's A Darker Domain a real page turner, especially at the end. (at which point the first line takes on an entirely different meaning.
First line: Wednesday 23rd January 1985; Newton of Wemyss
The voice is soft, like the darkness that encloses them. "You ready?"
Last line: "And this is how it ends."

[Donnajo]

Finished second book yesterday. Today so far have read nothing.

[Ann]

I finished another book, this time the audio of Brisingr. With twenty-three CD's it actually stretched from December to January to complete it. Hoping to finish The Lovers in hardback soon to be book three!
Two down and both were quite good. I am sorry to leave Eragon's world of Alagaesia behind, but am re-entering the world of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in The Language of Bees for my next audio book.
...a long way to go for 144 books!

[Donnajo]

You will be catching up to me in no time. Stick a few of the harlequins in and it will help.

[Ann]

That would help DJ, ;) but I doubt I will catch up with you, only a few pages read today so far unfortunately.

Donnajo wrote: "You will be catching up to me in no time. Stick a few of the harlequins in and it will help. "

[Donnajo]

I know. Even your vacation you didn't get much read. Just hope to have more finished than last year. I'll be happy with that myself. I think that was why I was going crazy last night all the books I looked at I knew they would take me longer. And then I was mad at myself because I knew that wasn't how to look or go at it. I still have to fix my listing here but will do that tomorrow. Don't feel like doing with it now. I want to get offline.

[Ann]

John Connolly's eighth Charlie Parker book, The Lovers, is my third book this year, and it was a very good one!
Next up The First Rule

[Donnajo]

And I finished my 11th last night or was it this morning. who knows I'm counting it as last night.

[Ann]

I was having trouble with the car CD player yesterday which caused me to miss a day on that book, The Language of Bees ....grr. and instead of starting The First Rule I read some of Under the Dome

[Donnajo]

Bring it inside this weekend to listen to some of it so it will not put you back too much. Hope your library saturday is good.

[Ann]

The CD player is back working again after the day "off", and I finished another book - four for the month - that leaves me just 140 more to go! ;)

Robert Crais's The First Rule was a very good book. I have enjoyed the Elvis Cole series and it was a treat to have Joe Pike as the protagonist this time; glimpses into his life and his feelings as well as his view of Elvis, his friends and the world round out the character and the books nicely.

[Donnajo]

4 is okay. Hopefully Feb will be better.

[Ann]

Yikes, I am looking more like 48 books for 2010. I have several in progress though and expect it will be better than that count eventually.
January recap
A Darker Domain by Val McDermid
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
The Lovers by John Connolly
The First Rule by Robert Crais
February so far
The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston
Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly
13 1/2 by Nevada Barr (to finish in the next day or so)

[Donnajo]

I thought you finished the one with your mom. I started Beach club yesterday but didn't read the book all day so didn't get that far. Just skimmed other books and finished nothing. Unless I do a fast book today I don't seem to think I'll finish anything else this month.

[LizH]

Ann wrote: "Yikes, I am looking more like 48 books for 2010. I have several in progress though and expect it will be better than that count eventually.
January recap
A Darker Domain by [author:..."

I too am struggling with my totals for the year so far, I think I am on my 17th. Woefully behind! The Olympics didn't help my cause at all, but hopefully I will have more time this summer!!

[Ann]

DJ:
Oops, I did forget that one; thanks for the reminder! I finished reading Wreck the Halls with Mom. And I did already finish 13 1/2 so now my year to date count is nine!

Donnajo wrote: "I thought you finished the one with your mom."

[Ann]

Liz:
Maybe we can do the 144 books Two Year Plan! ;)
I am hoping for some momentum later this year too since my last year total was higher.

LizH wrote: "I too am struggling with my totals for the year so far, I think I am on my 17th. Woefully behind! The Olympics didn't help my cause at all, but hopefully I will have more time this summer!! "

[LizH]

I think I would be happy with 100 for the year...that would be 15 over 2009.

[Ann]

My 2010 List so far!
1) McDermid, Val; A Darker Domain 1/2/2010
2) Paolini, Christopher; Brisingr 1/14/2010
3) Connolly, John; The Lovers 1/22/2010
4) Crais, Robert; The First Rule 1/30/2010
5) King, Laurie R; The Language of Bees 2/6/2010
6) Huston, Charlie; The Mystic Arts of Erasing all Signs of Death 2/15/2010
7) Connelly, Michael; 9 Dragons 2/19/2010
8) Graves, Sarah; Wreck The Halls 2/25/2010
9) Barr, Nevada; 13 1/2 - 2/27/2010

[Donnajo]

See good thing I remembered but if it was any one of the other books I wouldn't have been able to remind you probably. When you slow down some we will have to get our book in at some point. No rush.

[Ann]

Liz:
I have 100 instead of 144 as my more realistic goal for 2010 too, but even that will be a stretch, I read 68 in 2009.

LizH wrote: "I think I would be happy with 100 for the year...that would be 15 over 2009."

[Ann]

Thanks, DJ I appreciate your looking out for my counts! - we do need to schedule another book to read together!
Donnajo wrote: "See good thing I remembered but if it was any one of the other books I wouldn't have been able to remind you probably. When you slow down some we will have to get our book in at some point. No rush..."

[Ann]

My 2010 List so far! I may not make 144 books :) but I am enjoying the ones I have read.
A for Audio, M for my book and L for Library
1 McDermid, Val A Darker Domain 1/2/2010 L
2 Paolini, Christopher Brisingr 1/14/2010 A
3 Connolly, John The Lovers 1/22/2010 L
4 Crais, Robert The First Rule 1/30/2010 L
5 King, Laurie R The Language of Bees 9 2/6/2010 A
6 Huston, Charlie The Mystic Arts of Erasing all Signs of Death 9 2/15/2010 L
7 Connelly, Michael 9 Dragons 9 2/19/2010 A
8 Graves, Sarah Wreck The Halls 8+ 2/20/2010 M
9 Barr, Nevada 13 1/2 9 2/27/2010 A
10 Grahame-Smith, Seth Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 9 3/11/2010 A
11 Bachman, Richard Blaze 9 3/21/2010 M & A
12 Slaughter, Karin Undone 9+ 4/4/2010 L
13 Connelly, Michael The Black Echo 9+ 4/5/2010 A
14 Hamilton, Laurell K. Flirt 8+ 4/6/2010 L
15 Atherton, Nancy Aunt Dimity's Death 9- 4/10/2010 M
16 Parker, Robert B. Split Image 9 4/13/2010 L
17 Koontz, Dean Breathless 9 4/14/2010 M
18 Scottoline, Lisa Think Twice 9+ 4/25/2010 L
19 Stabenow, Dana A Night Too Dark 9++ 5/2/2010 A
20 Atkinson, Kate Case Histories 8+ 5/15/2010 A
21 Hamilton, Steve The Lock Artist 9 5/22/2010 L
22 Wallis, Vlema Two Old Women: An Alaska legend of betrayal courage and survival 8+ 5/22/2010 L
23 Parker, T. Jefferson Iron River 9 5/29/2010 A
24 Hall, James W. Silencer 9 5/30/2010 L
25 Albert, Susan Wittig Holly Blues 9 6/2/2010 L
26 Stiefvater, Maggie Shiver 9 6/9/2010 M
27 Hoffman, Beth Saving CeeCee Honeycutt 9+ 6/11/2010 A
28 King, Laurie R The God of the Hive 9+ 6/20/2010 L
29 Quick, Amanda Burning Lamp 8+ 6/22/2010 L

[Donnajo]

Someone caught up. Now if I could only finish something which I should be doing now. But have to go to Linda's in a minute or so then will come back after whatever I need to do out and will finish or else. It's at the point with the reading I already did this morning (32 pages left to read)that I'm thinking okay be done already. If I storms this afternoon before I go I think I'll scream and you will probably here me down by you. Because there is no way I'll go if we have storms like they expect with hail, thunder, lightening etc.

[Ann]

I hope the weather cooperates for your book group meeting trip! It has been so hot here in Nashville we don't want to go out much at all unless we land somewhere cool quickly.

[Donnajo]

It did. boy do I have to tell you a good story. I'll email

[Ann]

My updated count of books read this year to date vs. last year is 35 to 43. While reading 144 books is not in the cards, I have had a good year so far.
I have listened to twelve audio books (last year 10 to date) and have read five less cozy mysteries this year. After my Mom passed away in April I have not been able to finish the ones we had started or had lined up to read - we loved to read them together. I have enjoyed everything I have read this year and would love to find more time to read.
I find myself reading more books that I haven't finished yet - I seem to flit from book to book depending on my mood and the format. I have several started on my Kindle and I am not sure, but I don't seem to finish Kindle books as fast. I think the end of the book is less apparent so I don't gallop to the finish as easily when it is "in sight". I do still love my Kindle though!

[Donnajo]

You will be able to read the cozies some day in the future when you are ready I'm sure. It's still too soon to go back to them. I need to bring my list up to date here and in the book journal.

[Ann]

Thanks, DJ:
I do expect to be able to read them again someday and have the ones we were reading all lined up.

[Ann]

I am hoping to get my book journal in Excel reunited with my current PC soon so I can update my list a bit easier. My book count is looking less than 60 for the year, maybe 55 or so.

[Donnajo]

Maybe next year do the 50 one and maybe you will get more or do the 100 challenge. I don't want to go lower so I'm doing the 150. I'm hoping to be pushed along

[Ann]

Yes, DonnaJo :) I did consider doing the 100 book challenge. I guess I will re-evaluate it mid year and see how I am doing and then upgrade or stick with 50. You are wise to do the 150 with your counts this year!

[Ann]

My final count was 58 for 2010 (fifty-six plus two re-reads) with twenty-two audio books and the rest a mix of library and my own hardbacks. I started several Kindle books in 2010 but didn't finish many. I will expect to have more Kindle titles, a similar count of audio books and hopefully well over 50 next year. A stretch goal will be 75 and a dream goal 100. It was good to strive for a certain number each month so I guess 20111 is to have at least four books a month and to average two audio books a month. If the four are non-audio books I will easily meet this years total again.