Introduce yourself and state your reading goal for 2011

[Sheila]

Welcome Tamra. Ooh you are reading the Book Thief. I gave it ★★★★★'s. It was great on audiobook. I recommend this to everyone and it is considered YA.

[Natalie]

Sheila wrote: "Glad you are here Books4Me (love your name BTW), very creative."

Thanks Sheila.

[Missy]

Welcome everyone... ( I always hear the voice from the guy on Fantasy Island when I type that.. Ricardo something "smiles everyone smiles")

I did get some reading done at the girl's basketball game this weekend but I am going to have to kick up a bunch if I am going to hit my goal this year...LOL

[I'm Sandra Dee]

Sheila wrote: "Welcome Tamra. Ooh you are reading the Book Thief. I gave it ★★★★★'s. It was great on audiobook. I recommend this to everyone and it is considered YA."

Hello Sheila - I am training for the Sedona Marathon (running the 5K - maybe half - I may walk the other half) - audio books ?? How does that work - the larger books I would love to listen to during training - running/walking - can I download audiobooks - I am new to the reading media but I am so interested - Thanks

[Sheila]

Hi Sandra,

I get the audiobooks on cd from the library and use windows media player to rip/copy the tracks on them to my computer then I load the book folder that I copied the tracks to into iTunes and from there on to my iPod. It is a lot easier than it sounds.

I am very fortunate that I can access my library online and search for things and the library shares with about 100 different libraries in a two state area so that I get books/audiobooks from libraries that I have never even heard of the cities. These are delivered to my local libary (2 blocks away) and I can return them locally also. I am vision impaired so need large print or audio and libraries meet all my needs.

Good luck Sandra, let me know if you need further help with this. I probably have 100 audiobooks copied to my computer right now just waiting to be loaded in to my iPod. The Harry Potter books were wonderful narrated by Jim Dale. It is always surprising to see who is narrating an audiobook. The one I am listening to right now is narrated by Tom Wopat who was one of the original Dukes of Hazard guys.

[I'm Sandra Dee]

Thanks - I love it - a new world just opened up on my computer - the Internet is a wonderful place - Thank YOU for sharing this information - Honestly I should know this - I am a volunteer at the school library - but my focuse is repairing the books - Thanks again I am off to discover a whole new world of reading

[Sandra]

Thought i would join the challenge, myself and a girlfriend have challenged ourselved to read 150 books this years. Which knowing us we can do it. My first book read in 2011 is On the Edge, almost done Altar of Eden,my next book will beFired Up

[Seresa]

I use our Kansas State Library online for my Audio books . . not sure what state you are in but you can basically check out books and download them to your mp3 or some you can burn to disc. My mp3 is full. You can also download ebooks . . I've read many on the computer haven't yet put them on my kindle . . that's next . . hahaha

Good Luck!!!

[Sheila]

I just changed the name of my tracker from 100 books to 150 books. I never realized how much I read until I started keeping track. Wow I really DO need to get a life.

[Sheila]

Missy, could we start just a general discussions folder to interact more with one another and not clog up the introductions folder?

[Lisa P]

Hi all...my name is Lisa. I would love to join your 2011 Reading Challenge. I think I will stick to a goal of 50 books for the year and see how it goes.

[Lisa S]

Hi Lisa! My name is Lisa also. I feel like I'm saying hi to myself. LOL

[Missy]

Lorraine, unless I get to reading and very soon I might have to change mine from 50 to 5. My start of the year has been very busy. I am going to read today if it kills me!

Welcome and glad to have you !

[Kaitie]

Missy wrote: "Lorraine, unless I get to reading and very soon I might have to change mine from 50 to 5. My start of the year has been very busy. I am going to read today if it kills me!

Haha,I know how that is. I see other people flying through books while I have to squeeze in a few minutes of reading here and there when I can.

[Lisa S]

Lorraine, I've already read 17 books this month. I do have a full time job, and a family, but my youngest child is 17. He doesn't need me that much. LOL
I do a lot of audio-books, so that helps.

[Dar B]

I don't work BUT I go to college and raise 3 very busy school age boys, while my husband travels for work. I have to cut into my sleep (or study) time to read. I go through stages, sometimes I will go without my rest to read 2 to 3 books per week but then it catches up and I don't read for a few weeks. I can't concentrate on audio books (or much of anything else) ..... I guess that I am more visual.
I have a hard time understanding the large quantities, too. I like to ponder the stories before I move to the next.

[Kaitie]

Darla, I'm the same way where I'll be on a big reading kick for a couple weeks, usually when I've read a number of particularly good books, but then will hit a dry spell where I have to struggle to get through one or two. I think that makes me enjoy it more though when I get to a good book after not reading for a little while. It always reminds me of why I love reading in the first place.

[Yusra]

Hi, I'm Desert Rose
My goal was to read 75 books this year, since I've passed the 50 books for the past two years and thought to challenge myself this year..

I have reached 70 before so I'll try to push myself more.. although I'm very late starting.. I haven't finished a single book since the beginning of the year and almost a month has passed..

I'll set my goal to 50 so I don't get depressed!
I have to catch up :)

[Loni]

Hi! I'm Loni.

My goal is to read 50 books this year. Since having my two boys it's been difficult to find the time to read. My husband bought me the Nook Color for Christmas and I LOVE it!!! I have already read so many books. I read when I am putting my youngest down for his nap and bedtime and then whenever I can sneak it in. LOL

[Brooke]

I have read 3,746 pages and my goal was to read 2,500. I have read 15 books so far. I would like to set another goal...if that's okay. My new goal is to read 8,000 pages before June 7th. Not counting the pages I have already read...

[Seresa]

I have a stupid question . . can I flip this feed so the newest message is at the top? I hate having to scroll pages to get to the newest . . I've looked and looked and can't find anywhere to change it but if someone knows how I sure would appreciate some help.

Hope everyone is enjoying the books they are reading. .

[Lisa S]

Yep Seresa. If you look at the top of the comments at the very top where it says date, with a little arrow beside it, click on the arrow and it will flip it.

[Seresa]

Can I get it to stay that way . . I got that but it won't stay that way as my default . . hahaha

[Lisa S]

I don't know if it will stay or not. I never tried.

[Keara]

I'm Keara. ^_^ I've compiled a list of 100 books, but I'm hoping to just get a minimum of 50. You can see the list, the reviews, etc. here: http://centurybooks.tumblr.com

[Wanda]

Hi my name is Wanda and my daughter suggested I try this group she is a teacher and joined recently. I am still working and hope to retire in the next year. I have only put 30 books as my goal but hope to exceed that number by at least 10.Reading is my favorite pastime. I got a Nookbook for Christmas and am enjoying it very much.

[Missy]

Welcome Keara and Wanda! Glad you could join us! I have set my goal for 50 but here we are in February and I have not finished one book yet but I am in the middle of 3 of them right now. I am going on vacation with my mom to sewing school so I plan on reading in the room at night without any interruptions from my responsibilities at home. LOL Wanda I have a nook and my two oldest daughters got one for Christmas. We love it. I did find it harder to find books for my 9 yr old. The only problem is I have no trouble finding books for myself and I am loaded up on them.

I love this site. I started this group for my daughter. She loves to read and I thought this would be an encouraging way to keep her interested in reading and give her an opportunity to share her accomplishments and opinions about what she is reading. It also allows her to connect with others who love to read.

So I better get back to reading....and laundry boo hiss...

[Jason]

Hi everyone!! I'm Jason and new to the site :D. I'm hoping to read 50 books this year. I've never really tallied the number of books I read for a year, so this is quite exciting for me. Hope I'm not too late in joining the party :D

4 books in so far for the year. Still on target!

[Missy]

never too late!!! welcome to our group!!

[Ivy]

I just discovered this group so I am a bit late in joining but I have been reading all year. I am Ivy and I have been married to the same guy for 38 years come April 7. I have two grown children and two grandsons. I read mostly mysteries but have been known to pick up other genre every so often. I am challenging myself to read 100 books this year and to try to read 10,000 pages. So far I have read 22 books. I have also attempted to read 9 other books that I started but didn't finish. I am counting the pages of the unfinished books as pages I have read since I did spend time reading them.

[Lisa S]

Hi and welcome Ivy!

[Alejandra]

hi my name is alejandra and my goal is to read 75 books or more from april to december... hope i can make it =)

[Alejandra]

so far i´ve read Twilight and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

[Antonia]

Hi everyone!!I'm Antonia and i challenge myself to read 55 books this year.But i'm falling behind because i've read only 5 books so far...I have to hurry up!!!! :)

[Missy]

Welcome Alejandra and Antonia!!! Never too late to join in.....

[Emma]

My name is Emma and my mom is Missy and my sister is Brooke and we all joined goodreads.My goal is to read 50 books in 2011.

[Lisa S]

Good luck Emma!

[Lisamoorehead]

Hi! I am Lisa, also. My kids were on the softball team Missy coached last year! (Love her and Robert!) I am a high school English teacher and LOVE to read. I have been married for 12 years this June to an AMAZING man! I have 3 children (7, 6, and 4). My 7 year old loves to read as much as I do. She finishes more books in a week than I can in a month (of course she has more time than me too...lol). She received a kindle for Christmas and I really started using it more than her. So, Chad and the kids got me my own for Mother's Day! ;) I have never really counted my books, so this will be different. (Two years ago over Christmas, I read 20 books but life seems much more hectic right now. I will not aim very high.) My goal is to read 35 books before the end of the year...starting now. Hopefully the summer will give me time to knock out most of my reading. However, we are trying to sell our house and get another one built, so that may hamper my goals. We'll see! I am excited to be part of a "book club." I have never done this before. Thanks Missy! (I am so excited to have your girls coming up... I always look forward to those students who love to read.)

By the way Missy, we took our top two readers from each grade 9-12 out to eat last night -- all expenses paid -- to a restaurant of their choice. They chose the Olive Garden! Appetizers, specialty drinks (non-alcoholic, of course), any entree they wanted, desserts, coffee... It was great! They loved it! When they were trying to decide what to order, I heard them talking about sharing their appetizer. Mrs. Smith and I said, "No. Order your own. Spend whatever you want. Don't worry about the cost." It was great! (We had worked concessions to raise money so that the school could pay for it!) It was fabulous. Maybe one day I will get to take your girls!

I look forward to this group....now, I must go clean. We are showing the house today! YEA!

Lisa (Hi to the two other Lisas)

[Missy]

A free meal? Yea my kids will be all over that!! That is great to reward kids for reading. Brooke really started reading more this year in Mr. Caldwell's class and loves logging in her books in her reading journal. She rereads alot of her books though. I can't reread my books because I have such a long list of books that I want to read. I am looking forward to the summer reading too. Have fun cleaning. Saturdays are our cleaning days here.

[Lisa P]

Hi Lisa, Welcome to the group. I think you will really enjoy your new kindle. I have had mine for over a year now and love it. I have always been a reader...but definitely read much more now with my kindle. Amazon offers a lot of free kindle books. Also, kindle book library lending is going to begin soon...definitely looking forward to that. Good luck with your reading challenge...I have twin 10 year old boys and know what it is like trying to squeeze in some quiet reading time. I hope to get more in this summer as well.

[Seresa]

Welcome to all the New members . . Lisa I teach MS/HS computers and am looking forward to my summer break for more reading time. The last 6 weeks have been so busy for me I haven't read much at all.

What a neat thing to do for your Top readers. Is this a book club or just the English classes?

Hope everyone has a great weekend, it's Graduation here today so just another busy day . . fun fun

[Lisamoorehead]

Seresa wrote: "Welcome to all the New members . . Lisa I teach MS/HS computers and am looking forward to my summer break for more reading time. The last 6 weeks have been so busy for me I haven't read much at al..."

Seresa,

The dinner is open to any student in grades 9-12. Our school uses AR, so we reward the top two from each grade level with the most AR points. We also reward the top 20 from my classes and the top 20 from another teacher's classes with a field trip to the theater in Nashville. They usually love the theater, but this past year's production was The Glass Menagerie---not an up-beat play. Comedies or musicals are always better for the high school kids.

[Jamie]

Hi I'm Jamie. I'm starting this challenge late but I want to read 17 books before the year is over. That is one book a week. I work full time and go to grad school so one book a week is usually all that I can manage. I am making myself read one business related book and then one book I want to read for fun...I am new in my career and I think this will help me in the future.

[Tricia]

Hello all. My name is Tricia. Like Jamie (who posted above me) I am a bit late joining the group. My goal for this year is 50 books, I have not set a goal for number of pages read but do rather enjoy seeing the number of pages on my stats page go up. I only recenlty joined goodreads but did my best to include as many books I've read as possible in my lists. This year I have read 47 books (that I can verify) and look forward to meeting my goal soon.

So a little more about me. I am 30 years old, have been married for seven years, have a four-year-old son, and twins on the way. I work at a small family owned bakery not far from where I live and attend school on-line full-time. I will have earned an associeates degree in Healthcare Administration with a minor in Pharmacy next month. Becuase I am going on bed-rest soon I figure I will continue on to my bachelor's degree to give myself something to do other than read.

I enjoy reading almost any genre of book, from classics, to YA, mysteries, romances, and horror. If it is in print I will likely peruse the cover and maybe give it a shot. I also enjoy crochet, fishing, baking for my family, cooking, and learning.

Best of luck to everyone in achieving their reading goals this year, and I look forward to some interesting discussions!