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2011 BYO New Year's Resolutions Challenge
message 102:
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UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant
(last edited Dec 31, 2010 02:02PM)
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You're worried about the ones you chose for me? Oh, if that's the case, don't be!! I find something to enjoy in almost every book I read, and many of the ones you suggested were ones I'd been seriously considering. As you said, I might be more forgiving than you are, but that only means I'll probably love them even more than you did! I'm looking forward to it.I think that in general, I'm a liberal, generous rater. As I said, I really do enjoy most everything I read, but I have started thinking that maybe I need to have some other criteria besides just how the book made me feel. Should I grade on grammatical errors and editing issues? I usually leave those things go unless they detract from the story.
One thing I've learned on Goodreads is that "one woman's trash is another woman's treasure" is especially true when it comes to rating books. I try to stay consistent, that way people who follow my reviews and have read and liked, or disliked, something I've recommended, will know whether to take them with a grain of salt or seriously. Does that make sense?
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "You're worried about the ones you chose for me? Oh, if that's the case, don't be!! I find something to enjoy in almost every book I read, and many of the ones you suggested were ones I'd been serio..."Yep- for me grading is just a personal reflection- I try to be consistent but I know that something I may rate as 5 stars now may not be consistent with my rating had I read it a few years ago. 4 stars is I really liked it but to get an "I loved it" I have to end it with a big grin on my face and I tend to reflect on it quite a lot afterwards. I have been reflecting on the Sherry Thomas book which suggests I probably need to move it to a 5 star.
According to good reads I rate 5 stars about 12 percent of the time (actually overall it's probably less than that but I've uploaded a load of old favourites onto my list- I've read so much rubbish over the years that there's no way I'm going to upload all of my failures). I rate 3 and 4 stars about 40% of the time each which is logical as like most people I preselect stuff I hope I'm going to like! 8% of books at 1 & 2 stars are failures for me but any of you may love 'em and good for you! I'm curious when people love or hate a book that I felt the opposite about though.
I have found good reads to be a great way of finding books that I actually enjoy than browsing in the bookshop and choosing books by the blurb on the back cover. I am reading far more now than I was eighteen months ago because there are now so many books out there that I want to try.
message 104:
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UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant
(last edited Dec 31, 2010 02:35PM)
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Mshj wrote: "I have found good reads to be a great way of finding books that I actually enjoy than browsing in the bookshop and choosing books by the blurb on the back cover. I am reading far more now than I was eighteen months ago because there are no so many books out there that I want to try."This is absolutely true for me, too!!!
Initially, I thought it would be a great way to save my wallet some misery because I'd not be buying books just based on the cover, and end up not liking them. But still, while my wallet is in greater misery than ever before, at least I'm enjoying what I read! LOL
I don't know what my percentage of 5 stars are. If I rate a book 4.5 stars, I round up to 5 GR stars. If it's more like a 4.25 stars, then I round down to the 4 GR stars. The same is true of each star rating. The rounding up and down thing is how we were taught in elementary school, so that's why I do it that way.
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Mshj wrote: "I have found good reads to be a great way of finding books that I actually enjoy than browsing in the bookshop and choosing books by the blurb on the back cover. I am reading far more ..."Here is your average grading (copy and pasted from your profile- just click on the average rating figure in it). You are either generous or really loving your books!
5 38% 157
4 37% 153
3 20% 83
2 2% 10
1 0% 3
message 107:
by
UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant
(last edited Dec 31, 2010 03:26PM)
(new)
Mshj wrote: "5 38% 157
4 37% 153
3 20% 83
2 2% 10
1 0% 3 "
Like I said, I generally really enjoy what I read. Thankfully! LOL
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Never too late, Robin!!! I'm adding you now :)"Thank you
message 109:
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny
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I have a lot of Heyer books in my tbr pile. I read These Old Shades and I loved it. BJ, I love your resolutions.I agree with you about not feeling guilty for buying books. Things have been pretty rough for me lately, and I rewarded myself by buying some books today.
We need to be nice to ourselves!
I agree with you, Danielle! Buying books is one of the least problematic addictions I can think of. My problem is that I went overboard with being nice to myself and ended up nearly gluttonous! LOL
message 111:
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny
(last edited Dec 31, 2010 05:08PM)
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Oh, I certainly don't fault anyone who is cutting down on their buying. We all know what we need to work on. My biggest issues are worrying about everything and feeling over-burdened. Books are my pressure valve, so that's why I don't restrict my book buying if I can afford it.
Makes all the sense in the world!!!!
I've also read a few of G. Heyer's books. And...I can't wait for 2011
I really Really REALLY want to start on my challenges. And it's less than four hours now (Eastern time)!!!!!
CAN'T WAIT!!!
Happy New Year Everyone!!!Dhestiny, Can you please change my goal total to 40 the total on my "definite buy" shelf, which includes 2011 releases that fit in my Resolution, plus my "need to finish" shelf and rounding up to the nearest whole number. Thank you
You got it, Robin!!
Sorry about that Robin, I don't know how I came up with 20.
I'm 38 I believe Dhes!
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Sorry about that Robin, I don't know how I came up with 20."I have a Definite Buy shelf which until I reorganized and reevaluated a few shelves had 20 books on it so I'm thinking that might be where the 20 came from. Anyway, no worries.
I have a question, if someone gives me three audio books that don't necessarily fit into my book resolutions and I accept them have I already lost for the year? I'm thinking no because I haven't bought them and my goal is to not buy any unless they are by a fave author or part of a series I'm working on or have already.
Bekah wrote: "I'm 38 I believe Dhes!"38 books or 38 years old? LOL
message 120:
by
UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant
(last edited Jan 01, 2011 11:20AM)
(new)
Robin wrote: "I have a question, if someone gives me three audio books that don't necessarily fit into my book resolutions and I accept them have I already lost for the year? I'm thinking no because I haven't bought them and my goal is to not buy any unless they are by a fave author or part of a series I'm working on or have already."If your goal is to not buy any books, then books given as gifts or loaned from the library, or free from amazon, etc., do not count as breaking your resolutions. Now, if your resolution is to obtain no new books, then yes, that's a deal breaker.
I can get library books if I need to for challenges and stuff, but no buying except in April or for series I already follow.
See, way back when I originally decided on this resolution, I was going to allow books from Friends of the Library sales, as long as they were under .50 cents. But I really want to whittle away at my "already own" shelf, so I removed that part of my challenge.
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Robin wrote: "I have a question, if someone gives me three audio books that don't necessarily fit into my book resolutions and I accept them have I already lost for the year? I'm thinking no becaus..."Thank you, my resolutions are still intact!!
I plan to read a total of 200 books for the year, and follow my guidelines from my 2011 self-challenge which is to limit my book buying, use the library more often, read at least 1 Lisa Kleypas book a month, and finish some of the series I have started. Holy CRAP, hope I can keep all my rules right:)
1.
2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 1/2
2/200
I'm going into this challenge with the greatest intention to honor it, but the chance is very slim.Here's my 2011 New Year Resolutions:
-Buy one book a month, excluding purchases that are continuation of a series I'm reading or already have and purchases at Library book sales.
-Read all the books in my 2011 Must Read shelve
You can do it, Yen!!!
A lot of us have New Years Resolution Challenges that can't be counted. But I hope you'll still keep us updated on your progress, whatever your resolution might be!
W♥LK - 2011 NYR Challenge - Part 2:Duration: Jan 1st - Feb. 28th
"Reduce my TBR by 15 books so I can get my Nook" Challenge
A. # Books as of Jan 1st: 85
B. # Books Read: 2
C. # Books Acquired:
Grand Total (A+B-C): 83
Okay, so I would like to be more specific on the books I would read for my New Years Resolution but couldn't be that specific. So here are my resolutions.I want to read 200 books this year and I want to read all Lisa Kleypas books. I have read most of them but I would like to finish the back list and re-read the ones I already own.
So far this year I have read
and
.14/200
Great challenge, Jane!!!
Thanks Dhes! I think you have a great challenge too. It will be tough but I'm sure you can do it. I'll be rooting for you!
Thank you! :) I love the group of ladies we have who participate in these challenges. Everyone is so supportive and helpful!
Grrrrr...I'm so tempted to buy a couple of books!
Hang in there, D.G.! Don't let temptation win. :)BTW, what books are you tempted to buy?
My Bookshelf Cleaning Time Clock.January - At least 1 hour ---- Done
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
July -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December -
I just want to take advantage of the Amazon Prime trial membership! :p
I haven't read any of those books, but I've heard great things about Warrior. BTW, do you know that you can get the whole series in Kindle by $9.99? It's way cheaper than getting each book separately. :)
I plan to read a total of 200 books for the year, and follow my guidelines from my 2011 self-challenge which is to limit my book buying, use the library more often, read at least 1 Lisa Kleypas book a month, and finish some of the series I have started. Holy CRAP, hope I can keep all my rules right:)
1.
2.
3.
4.
3/200
Becky, do you plan to read 200 or 300 books? You have one number in the first line of your comment and another in the last.
I think she's saying that she read 3 of 200.
Dina wrote: "I haven't read any of those books, but I've heard great things about Warrior. BTW, do you know that you can get the whole series in Kindle by $9.99? It's way cheaper than getting eac..."OMG! Now I'm really tempted! I don't own a Kindle but I'm planning to buy an iPad when Apple comes out with the 2nd generation (I figured that would give me the greatest flexibility.)
message 141:
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny
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My sister has an iPad. She loves it. It's too complicated for me, but she loves a computer challenge. She uses various ereading programs on it, and does other stuff. She bought it shortly after they came out.
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "I think she's saying that she read 3 of 200."Yes, she is! Sorry, Becky! I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote my comment above. :)
D.G., you don't have to own a Kindle to by Kindle ebooks. Amazon has all sorts of free (yay!) apps that allow you to read their books in your PC, your iPhone, your iPad, etc.
Dina wrote: "I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote my comment above. :)"That happens to me more than I want to admit. Don't believe me? Pull up just about any one of my posts and you'll see for yourself.
Dina wrote: "D.G., you don't have to own a Kindle to by Kindle ebooks. Amazon has all sorts of free (yay!) apps that allow you to read their books in your PC, your iPhone, your iPad, etc."I know. I have an iPod Touch and have the Kindle app but I don't really like it because it doesn't have many options to customize how the text looks and the ones they have now really bug me in the small screen.
A coworker has an iPad and the settings don't bother me much in the bigger screen although I really hope Amazon makes some updates to the app that allow people to change how the text looks! The Nook app has even themes so you can customize the background color, text, and even screen brightness.
Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "My sister has an iPad. She loves it. It's too complicated for me, but she loves a computer challenge. She uses various ereading programs on it, and does other stuff. She bought it shortly after ..."The iPad is basically a big iPod Touch and I'm used to that. :) I have like a gazillion book apps in there and just love it...but the screen is too small and the settings change from app to app which doesn't make it ideal.
Dina wrote: "UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "I think she's saying that she read 3 of 200."Yes, she is! Sorry, Becky! I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote my comment above. :)"
No problem:)
New Year's Resolution ChallengeGoal: To read at least 6 books in each of five categories listed; each time I read 5 books I already own, I am allowed to buy up to 4 books.
4/30
√ Mid TBR: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean - Jan 6
√ New TBR: To Catch a Bride by Anne Gracie - Jan 2
√ New TBR: The Accidental Wedding by Anne Gracie - Jan 3
√ New TBR: Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare - Jan 4
Wow! Everyone has such great ideas for this challenge. So here is mine..
250 books total for the year. That is about what I have on my TBR shelf. I am sure I will add more, but hopefully will cut it way down. The problem is that I read a lot of series and usually only put the next one on the TBR..
So out of that 250, I want to finish up some of the series I have started
Series to finish:
Hathaways
Bridgertons
Pennyroyal Green
Knights Miscellany
Outlander
Dark (Feehan)
At least 10 of the In Death series
I know there are a few more I started, but can't think of them off hand.
There are also a few I want to start, but maybe one of my resolutions should be no new series till I finish the one I started. Well except for the In Death series. Someone gave me all of them and I only have the first 2 read. I would burn out on them quickly if I had to read all of them.
We Love Lisa Kleypas
Books mentioned in this topic
Edge of Survival (other topics)The Falcon at the Portal (other topics)
Summer by the Sea (other topics)
Interlude in Death (other topics)
Betrayal in Death (other topics)
More...
I'm chewing my nails slightly now-have I chosen the right ones?
I have already begun my first recommendation from KarenH- Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage and I'm enjoying it. It's likely to be a 4 star read for me- it's suffering very slightly in comparison with Sherry Thomas' "Not Quite a Husband". This was the previous book I read that I also thought was a 4 but now I'm thinking it was more of a 4 and a half and wondering whether just to go the whole hog and put it down as a five.
[book:Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage|7070067]
Not Quite a Husband