UK Book Club discussion
The Goodreads Reading Challenge
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RoboPete's List
Excellent idea! I ought to do something like this because (as I was saying in another discussion) I've counted about 60 books that I have at home but have not yet read! So.... where are you going to start?
Glad I'm not alone in this. So we're nearly at the end of April and I have read 1 book that was on my bookshelf at the start of the year. I've read new books, library books and books I've been loaned by friends/family but only 1 that I already owned.That's it, I'm going to make a concerted effort uhhhh.... just as soon as I've read my three library books...
I'm exactly the same as you two on this one - everytime I see something I like the look of or read a review in the papers or something I say to myself "I'd better just get that or I'll forget about it." And so the list continues to grow.No longer though! This is me taking affirmative action and it starts immediately!
Do what I do shut your eyes, go along the bookcase and take one out! Just be brave!
408!! Blimey Fiona, that's ummmmmm.... impressive!
Robo wrote: "I'm exactly the same as you two on this one - everytime I see something I like the look of or read a review in the papers or something I say to myself "I'd better just get that or I'll forget about..."I used to do that a lot, now I carry around a small notebook and I write down all the books I want to read or get. That way I've managed to reduce the huge number of books I had at home to read and have reduced the number I buy (I've re-discovered the joys of the library).
Mod
408 is an epic mountain of to be reads Fiona! Have you considered opening your own library?Sam, I feel really bad that I've fallen out of the way of using my local library...I should try and become a more regular user - perhaps I'll adopt the notebook technique too.
And Liz - I am a mega hoarder! It's probably something I need to get under control before too much longer otherwise I'll end up living amongst towering stacks of books and newspapers crammed into every corner. The trouble is I can never quite commit to "never going to read again" I always find myself thinking, "I might want to read that again sometime."
Fiona wrote: "I should open a shop, I might make some money hehe."Could well be taking this thread off on a tangent but oh how I would love to open a bookshop!
Mod
Sam, I feel really bad that I've fallen out of the way of using my local library...I should try and bec..."
On the hoarding discussion: My parents were the biggest hoarders I have ever come across. Books were only part of it. There were newspapers piled up behind the kitchen door and if you opened it too suddenly, you'd be deluged by literally hundreds of them and possibly trapped until some family member heard your screams and came to the rescue!
Whenever I'm tempted to keep things that have outgrown their usefullness/purpose I bring up a memory of my parents' house and that stops me in my tracks.... (Shudder!)
Fiona wrote: "Any good? Rand always put me off for looking boring."It was actually pretty good...although perhaps more thought provoking than enjoyable. Rand clearly has an agenda and I think this was an exploration of an ideology more than a story. Although it is a story too - 1984 taken to extremes perhaps.
I'd definitely recommend it but with the above caveats. Also, it's very short so is probably a good place to start with Rand
Liz wrote: "Robo wrote: "408 is an epic mountain of to be reads Fiona! Have you considered opening your own library?Sam, I feel really bad that I've fallen out of the way of using my local library...I sho..."
Oh my gosh, that would definitely be me! I have a strange compulsion about keeping newspapers and newspaper supplements
I must be really bad at collecting books to read! I have 812 on my bookcases! Yes they are all physically there sitting in front of me now as I write! And two more arrived about an hour ago, a swap and the new John Connolly, The Whisperers.
I have over 700 odd in my bedroom on 6 bookcases lol x
Hope the floor is re-inforced Lol! Yes I have lots of bookcases too, a big one in my library and 4 more in other rooms.
Fiona, I've got piles of books all over my bedroom floor but I've managed to keep it to book shelves elsewhere in the house! My solution as not so good at giving books I loved (or even just liked) away is.... more book shelves!
Hahaha, your Mum's the decorative type! So, I think books, magazines etc give a room personality - I love to see them in my own house and whenever I visit anyone else my eye is drawn to book shelves and CD collections.One of my friends is the minimalist type - the first time I went to her house I was amazed - "Where are your books? your music? your DVDs?" Crazy girl, doesn't ever read!
That's just reminded me of a guy I was friends with at Sixth Form, his parents owned a bookshop and their house was top to bottom books, even the bathroom! If you ever get your own place - you could do that...
Robo wrote: "408 is an epic mountain of to be reads Fiona! Have you considered opening your own library?Sam, I feel really bad that I've fallen out of the way of using my local library...I should try and bec..."
I find it works well for me and I get all smug when I can cross some off. And I've found I can actually afford to buy the books I really want and that I'm going to read again rather than buying one and not enjoying it as much as I would've liked to (and I like to con myself saying that I'm saving money focusing my spending on specific books but really I'm probably just as bad lol).
Mod
You're making me miss my old house in Bath... We had a very steep, tight, twisting staircase with a couple of half landings lined with books. One of my favourite places to sit was there on the stairs, pulling books off the shelves and reading - sigh!
I think I'm going to create a new group and formally invite everyone on this thread to join - Book Hoarders & Accompanying Storage Solutions Anonymous! There's an epidemic!
But admitting you have a problem is the first step right?
Ha! Fiona, you'll never be rehabilitated at this rate... to be honest, I don't have high hopes for the rest of you either...
I've come to the conclusion I don't have a problem at all - I'm just living out a librarian/archivist fantasy. All I need to do now is catalogue everything into the Dewey system and the illusion will be complete...
Em wrote: "Hahaha, your Mum's the decorative type! So, I think books, magazines etc give a room personality - I love to see them in my own house and whenever I visit anyone else my eye is drawn to book shelv..."I have books in my downstairs loo! I always snoop on peoples bookcases when I am doing a night duty, I have got some very good recomendations from my patients and families. I love some of the old books I see on the shelves so always write a few down to look for on manybooks.net
Mod
The Dewey system, at home???? And my husband teases me just for organising my books in height order....
(Would you have a little rubber date stamp to use when you lent them to friends? Or is that too 20th century?) ;)
Book number two scored off the list! Really enjoyed it too...finished it this morning and then quickly read Lovecraft's short story, Call of Cthulhu this afternoon. Will definitely be reading more Lovecraft - but only after I've shortened the above list someonwhat (bearing in mind I still have another 25 to add to it!)
Liz wrote: "Robo wrote: "I've come to the conclusion I don't have a problem at all - I'm just living out a librarian/archivist fantasy. All I need to do now is catalogue everything into the Dewey system and t..."I might just go the whole way and list everything on a database in my computer so I can see what's loaned out at a glance!
Although I probably won't...I do like to be organised but for some reason my bookcase is the one thing that isn't - I should post a photo of it! I actually really like the way the spines look shelved at random: horizontally, vertically and diagonally crammed into every available space - it's chaos I tell you, chaos!
Ha - Pete probably sounds a lot less silly than Robo. I just tend to use Robopete as my username but then I was flummoxed by Goodreads asking for a first and second name (almost like real life!). So yes, Pete is fine.I may start on The Stand - I actually started in once a year or so ago when my boss at the time loaned it to me but then I changed jobs and returned it to her. Only made it a few chapters in but she always said it was one of the best books ever in terms of characterisation and story.
I have to confess that I actually haven't ever read anything by King even though I tend to enjoy films based on his works (The Shining, Secret Window). Have you read any of his Dark Tower books? I'm strangely attracted to them for some reason...Also, his latest sounds quite attractive too.
And yes, me too regarding The Blind Assassin - I've heard nothing but good things about it!
Good effort reading the HP Lovecraft. I used to read his books at school/university but haven't re-visited for a long time. Back in the day I used to play a role-playing game based on the Cthulhu Mythos (called Call of Cthulhu funnily enough). It was great fun with an atmospheric 20's setting and the insanity and the dread. :) Still got the rule books kicking about somewhere.
Well, I quickly read through Dark Entries in bed on Sunday night but have now embarked upon The Stand.Fiona you are correct, I'd forgotten how much of a fatty it is! I remembered it being big but gosh! Anyways, I'm about sixty pages in now and enjoying it very much so far...
Peter wrote: "Good effort reading the HP Lovecraft. I used to read his books at school/university but haven't re-visited for a long time. Back in the day I used to play a role-playing game based on the Cthulhu M..."I was definitely pleasantly surprised and will be reading more when I get the chance - looking into The Shadow Over Innsmouth and The Dunwich Horror as I'm attracted to the whole small, creepy villiage under an evil thrall motif.
A Lovecraft RPG sounds awesome actually! Perhaps we could get an online group together and do a literary, e-mail version...
Jo wrote: "Pete, i plan to read the Dark Tower series soon. Look forward to you thoughts on it."Excellent - would be good to discuss it although I think it'll be somewhat of an epic project...it's a seven book series, isn't it?
The Haunter of the Dark is a good short story by Lovecraft. I remember I had an audio book of it on a cassette... used to listen to it on my walkman. Arrgh, feeling old. :)
Peter wrote: "The Haunter of the Dark is a good short story by Lovecraft. I remember I had an audio book of it on a cassette... used to listen to it on my walkman. Arrgh, feeling old. :)"I'll need to keep an eye out and see if I can pick that up somewhere - think he's an author it's quite good to have recommendations for.
I wouldn't feel too old - I've, on occassion, gotten a funny look from younger kids who've never encountered a CD! "How does that go in an iPod?" they'll ask incredulously
Just finished The Stand! Feeling completely overwhelmed and also quite sad that my time with it is over. Will definitely be returning to this wonderful book over time.Having crossed it off my list I'm not sure what to read now - any suggestions would be most welcome as I'm afeared that whatever I choose is going to fall short!
Maybe something slim like Animal Farm? But I am someone who goes for a clunking change of gear after every book and I think one doorstop deserves two books with less than 200 pages!
That seems like a very good plan. I'm definitely the same - can't go from one huge book to another, I get too invested and need to recharge in between.
I felt the same after The Stand I loved it! I think I read it twice in as many months! It just blew me away and it still does! I now have a copy on my e reader to take with me and nibble on it in my favourite coffee shop!
Ebook definitely more portable than the brick-sized (and weight) physical edition! I had cramp in my hands at some points - although I did tend to grip it quite ferociously at tense and exciting parts!I mentioned in another thread that I'd started reading The Stand at a really bad time at work etc. which is why it took me a month or so to read it but the amazing thing was that I never once lost the thread or forgot who characters were or anything like that. Really felt that the book was living on in the back of my head during those times I wasn't actively reading it - so I think it would be the perfect book actually (after that first reading) to just dip in and out of, reading over an extended period in a companionable way.
Robo, you never forget the characters in The Stand, they live with you all the time! I have been reading the book on and off for about 30 years or so!
Mod
Ok, it's confession time: I have never read a Stephen King novel. In the past, I dismissed him as pulp, an 'airport bookshop' writer - I know, I know, it's judgemental and snobbish of me - I admit it. BUT I think you guys have convinced me to put my prejudices aside and give him a go. Looks like The Stand might be the place to start....
Go for it Liz, its a great read! I have read all his books and have loved them all!
Aaah King *loves* His son (Joe Hill) is also rather magnificent ;)Enjoy!!
The Shining is very good. I haven't read The Stand.
You should definitely give it a go Liz - The Stand is the first King I've read too, but I'll absolutely be reading more now.
Mod
The Shining, the book, is a lot different from the film. The book is much more of a ghost story whereas the film is more focused on 'cabin fever' ... 'put the bat down Wendy'. Both are excellent but one is not a gauge for the other. I read that Stephen King hates the film version.
UK Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Stand (other topics)Animal Farm (other topics)
1. Perdido Street Station - China Mieville
2.
The Stand- Stephen King3. The Postman - David Brin
4. Animal Farm - George Orwell
5. The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood
6. Consider Phlebas - Iain M. Banks
7. The Children of Men - PD James
8. Titus Groan - Mervyn Peake
9. Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates
10. The Drowned World - JG Ballard
11.
Lolita- Vladimir Nabokov12. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
13. London Fields - Martin Amis
14. The Craftsman - Richard Sennet
15. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
16. Death In Venice - Thomas Mann
17. The Idiot - Dostoevsky
18.
At The Mountains of Madness- HP Lovecraft19. The Name of The Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
20.
Unseen Academicals- Terry Pratchett21.
Dark Entries- Ian Rankin22. Delta of Venus - Anais Nin
23.
Spook Country- William Gibson24.
The Ghost Map- Seven Johnson25.
Anthem- Ayn Rand26.
27.
Twilight- Stephenie Meyer28.
Dr Who and The Green Death- Malcolm Hulke29.
Cry of the Newborn- James Barclay30.
Shout for the Dead- James Barclay31.
The Nymphos of Rocky Flats- Marcio Acevedo32.
The Infernal City- Greg Keyes33.
Geek Mafia- Rick Dakan34.
Geek Mafia: Mile Zero- Rick Dakan35.
A Partial Indulgence- Stephanie TheobaldFinally managed to come back to my list and start to update the second part with everything else I've read so far this year. There's still a few more things to add on for immediate crossing off. Then I'll definitelywork through more of the To Read part of the list. Then I'll finish off by adding on titles from my wishlist which should take me up to 50. Whether I make it to 50 read or not is starting to look a bit dubious - the year is galloping past!