You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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How Many Books Will You Read in Your Lifetime?
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I do! I have almost 8,000 books on my tbr list right now. I read about 250 books a year now so if I keep that up, I'll read another 12,500 books on top of the 1,000+ that I've already read in 50 years but of course I worry about the amount of books I might never read, there's just too many good books out there.
Wow, 1000 books! I think I've read perhaps 500 up to December 31, 2010. Now it's probably about 720. I'll catch you up yet! XDHow old are you, if you don't mind my asking?
I reckon I manage about 200 or so books a year so I should manage about another 10,000 assuming I manage to survive another 50 years (I'm coming up to my 28th birthday in May).I don't tend to worry about books I wont get a chance to read since I've decided that my afterlife will be in a library with a lovely little cafe with views over glorious mountainous Welsh countryside :-)
With a little over 3,200 on my shelf already, this question sobers me up a bit!I shouldn't just be giddily adding books "that sound interesting". If I want to read “the good ones”, I better start being more selective.
Now, how to harvest "the good ones"?☻
Almeta wrote: "With a little over 3,200 on my shelf already, this question sobers me up a bit!I shouldn't just be giddily adding books "that sound interesting". If I want to read “the good ones”, I better st..."
I've got a cunning way I've used a few times when I found my 'ooo that sounds good' list got a little out of hand. I used my shelf on GR and if I couldn't remember what the book was about from the title and the cover then it came off. Harsh I know but sometimes these things need to be done. Good luck with the harvesting though :-)
Sam wrote: "AlI've got a cunning way I've used a few times when I found my 'ooo that sounds good' list got a little out of hand. I used my shelf on GR and if I couldn't remember what the book was about from the title and the cover then it came off. Harsh I know but sometimes these things need to be done. ..."How about starting by weeding out books that are not in my favored genre.
Of course if I had stuck just to this, I would not have read The Help (Historical Fiction), Like Water for Chocolate (Romance), Watership Down (Classic), Baby (Fantasy), Jitterbug Perfume(Humor), Tales of the City (LGBT), The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (SciFi), Holes (YA), The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher (Biology)...Ack!
I'm starting to like your method!
I probably have time for about 15K books in the rest of my life. I read in most genres and from many eras so I can't eliminate swathes. Here's what I'm doing to try to make sure I get to read the best of the best:1. Working harder at being healthy so I can maximize my time avl.
2. Only adding long books if they look *really really* special.
3. Only adding books that I can't get at the library if they look *really really* special.
4. Being willing to stop reading if a book is one I'm not enjoying (and haven't read people say 'stick with it; it gets better).
And one that I'm not doing on purpose, but only because it suits me to do so, and yet it does help - avoiding series, trilogies, etc. Often I do read the first book, if reviewers have said that it 'stands alone' - but since the 'world-building' is my favorite part of those kinds of books, and it's generally done getting built by the end of the first book, I stop there. For example I won't keep going with the next books after Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat because I'm satisfied with that one.
I don't remember a lot of the books that I've read. I've picked up a book only to think, "Hmmm, this sounds familiar. I think I've read this before." I even quit reading for a while. At the most, I was reading maybe 10 books a year. So, it's really hard for me to figure out what I've read in the past let alone what I'll read in the future.I'm striving to read 70 books this year.
Sam: ... you are so right. Mine will probably look exactly like that, now I think of it, except that the café will be some place with very comfy armchairs and a plethora of different views. And your culling method is fantastic. Of course I'll probably not use it because there are some books, like Poor Folk, about which I know nothing, and am still determined to read them because... well, it's by Dostoevsky! Or it's a classic! Or other such things. Thanks, Judy! I've been thinking on it for a while now... 5000 books seems like such a huge number, and then I realize that the number of actual books is about 10000 times that. It's quite sobering.
Cheryl: I wouldn't be able to eliminate long books. I love them too much, even if they take up aeons of time more than they should. Thank goodness I can read quickly, eh?
Good luck, Janice!
It's amazing how much better I remember books since writing reviews here on goodreads. I used to be like you, Janice, and there are whole years in my history when I can't remember what I was reading. Now, I'm just voracious. Love this site!
Janice wrote: "I don't remember a lot of the books that I've read. I've picked up a book only to think, "Hmmm, this sounds familiar. I think I've read this before." I even quit reading for a while. At the most..."Good Luck Janice :) You can do it :D
You're right, Cheryl! At one point I read Around the World in 80 Days 2-3 times, or perhaps none at all, but now it's on GoodReads and no one can ever say I haven't read it. XD
Maria wrote: "Sam: ... you are so right. Mine will probably look exactly like that, now I think of it, except that the café will be some place with very comfy armchairs and a plethora of different views. And you..."Oh yes there must be comfy chairs, that is a must!
And of course the method can be adapted to allow the keeping of favoured authors (I've kept a few on that basis myself).
And Judy, I find it works best in small doses or when feeling particularly ruthless ;-)
I think I'll be ruthless when text pages load in half a second again. XD I'm looking forward to a great deal of purging and organizing in February 2013. *rubs hands gleefully*
Sam wrote: "I reckon I manage about 200 or so books a year so I should manage about another 10,000 assuming I manage to survive another 50 years (I'm coming up to my 28th birthday in May).I don't tend
I don't tend to w..."to worry about books I wont get a chance to read since I've decided that my afterlife will be in a library with a lovely little cafe with views over glorious mountainous Welsh countryside :-) ''
Sam, your afterlife view sounds wonderful!
I don't worry about the books that I may never get to read nor do I really think about how many books I have read in the past. A few years ago I kinda kept track of what I was reading (on another site) but then life got in the way and I got away from it. I mainly just read for pleasure and I like to see what everyone else is reading. I have a large TBR that grows everyday. I don't worry about whether I will ever read all those books nor do I worry about what new books are being published. I probably won't waste the time weeding out my TBR lol I might delete a book if I am on that page but other than that some of them may sit there unread til doom's day lol My goal is just to read what I can or want to read and enjoy them, STRESS FREE : )
Robin, you are a very, very special person, and I hope you appreciate it. Stress free sounds fantastic.Unfortunately for me, I kind of like the lists and the deadlines and the stress that comes with it. Ah well. ^_-
And I like lists etc. because it helps me be less stressed because I know things are laid out and organized so I don't have to fret about them.Isn't it interesting how different from each other we all are... :)
Exactly, Cheryl. I still agonize about the lists because I think it's a subconscious procrastination method (I must organize even if there's nothing to organize because organization will somehow be inherently better than just doing it), but while I do carry it overboard, organization helps me. A lot. I tend to waste time if I don't have a to-do list.It is! One of the most annoying and fascinating things about humans is their differences.
Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "And I like lists etc. because it helps me be less stressed because I know things are laid out and organized so I don't have to fret about them.Isn't it interesting how different from each other w..."
The differences make us very interesting :)
Maria wrote: "Robin, you are a very, very special person, and I hope you appreciate it. Stress free sounds fantastic.Unfortunately for me, I kind of like the lists and the deadlines and the stress that comes w..."
Well thank you : ) I figure I have enough stress with life in general that I am not going to let one of my guilty pleasures put even more stress on me lol.
I sometimes make lists so I don't forget things but then I some how manage to forget my list lol Defeating my purpose of making a list : ) But somehow I still manage to be very organized. According to my kids and my SO I am too organized and it drives them crazy lol
I must agree with you all about human differences. What boring lives we would all have if we were exactly the same : )
You're joking. (Sorry, can't comprehend your being 'too' organized but not organizing books). I organize everything that's in my control. Almost compulsively, at times.
I'm the same Maria, I love organising things and making lists and lists of lists and so on but I don't get stressed about it. I actually find making lists rather calming and love nothing better (other than a good read obviously) than ticking things off my lists or reorganising or rewriting lists, be it to read ot to buy lists or even simple to do lists.But then again stress isn't really a big thing in my life anyway, I've got far too many other things to be doing than wasting my precious reading/list making/sewing/baking energy on stress. I do run and cycle a lot too so maybe that helps a little...
I think I get stressed about it because after I form the plan/list, whatever, and I'm technically ready to start, I just keep planning, because I'm actually not in the mood to do the actual work. Stress then occurs because I know I have something better to do than planning that which is already planned enough. If I actually got to work instead of planning incessantly, I'd experience a lot less stress.Another possible stress factor is that my life is now the most unstable life ever. XD (Traveling. Is. Not. Conducive. To. Stability.) Seriously, you people with your homes and your routines have no idea how lucky you are to always wake up in your own bed.
Of course, I can't complain much any more, because there are more books than I ever would have thought of in these book exchanges. ^_^
Oh I definitely agree about the routines and waking up in your own bed. With the work I do I'm travelling around a lot and basically only see my home on weekends from about mid April to October and it is such a relief when I get home.
I envy you your weekends, Sam, though I think that it's perhaps better to get through this 'upheaval' now and never worry about it until I'm off to college.Flow is a hard thing to master. Good luck to all us organizers!
Question, though: Do you ever find that, despite everything you organize, everything is a mess?
Maria wrote: "You're joking. (Sorry, can't comprehend your being 'too' organized but not organizing books). I organize everything that's in my control. Almost compulsively, at times."Nope I am not joking lol Pretty much everything in my house has a place and is kept in it's place. I am a very organized person but as far as books and my hobbies, that's what it is. I don't waste what time I get on my hobbies/interests by continually organizing them. By the time I would get them organized I have run out of time to do them. My books and craft supplies are organized to a point, just not as organized as everything else in my house. Don't get me wrong, I do minimal planning/organizing my reads for the month but I'm not going to stress myself with it. I want my hobbies/interests to be as stress free as possible because there are other stressors in my life and my hobbies are the relievers of STRESS. As long as I know where my books are (and I do) and can get to them (and I can) I am a happy camper : )
Judy wrote: "Sounds like you have good priorities, Robin."Thanks Judy : ) Life is just too fast paced these days and our time for fun things tends to be very limited. I came to the conclusion years ago that if my house,kids,bills, and all the other important necessities of life and survival are organized and taken care of then I can slack a little on the fun things and just enjoy them.
I agree with Judy. What kind of crafts do you do?
Maria wrote: "I agree with Judy. What kind of crafts do you do?"I dibble and dabble in a lot lol Floral arrangements & wreaths,cross-stitch,crochet,plastic canvas,ceramics,stenciling on glass,my SO woodworks so I paint stuff for him, bowmaking,general crafts (just making stuff with clay pots,styrofoam rings/balls/cones),some beading/jewelry, embroidery, decoupage,scrapbooking,candy making (with molds),cardmaking, rubber stamps and there are probably a few I'm forgetting to mention lol. At one time I was into painting wood pieces (shelves, birdhouses, old window frames) and crackling them. That was fun. Some of them I haven't done in a long time but if the mood strikes me I will lol I have a room that is called "the craft room/office" lol. My avatar pic is of some angels that I crocheted at Christmas. I changed it to another picture and Kimberly got a little disturbed so I put it back up LOLOLOL She likes that picture : )
... whoa. How'd you get into all of that? It sounds fantastic. I love the angels!
Robin I think you might just have become my go to gal for craft tips :) It's nice to have another person who does beading/plastic canvas :)I wish I had my stuff organized, but I seem to like the idea of organized chaos. I have plans of alphabetizing my books but I already no where they are even if their buried 3 books deep I somehow remember where the ones I want are.
TY Maria...It's a lot of fun making stuff. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 7 years old. My mom and her two sisters crocheted a little off and on. One of my Aunts (mom's sister) worked in a flower shop when I was younger, so that is how I sorta got started with that. My aunt (dad's sister) owned a ceramic shop so I got to make and paint all the ceramics I wanted. My cousin got me involved with the crackling and a friend got me started on plastic canvas. The rest I just picked up on my own lol.: ) Kimberly. I love doing crafts. I have just as much craft stuff/yarn as I do books. That's why I have a room dedicated for all that "stuff" lol It would be my pleasure to help you if I can.
It sounds fantastic... I start knitting and then I get bored of it after a week or so, but I can always try again!
Maria wrote: "Wow, 1000 books! I think I've read perhaps 500 up to December 31, 2010. Now it's probably about 720. I'll catch you up yet! XDHow old are you, if you don't mind my asking?"
Maria, I believe that was a typo on Kimberly's part. She meant 21 years. She will be 22 this year.
How many books do you think you'll be able to read in your lifetime? - Hopefully atleast 5000.How many books do you think you've read so far? Around 500, I think.
And which books are you afraid you might never get to read because they're being swamped in the books that are being published and shoved in front of your face? I think a lot of non-fiction books may not ever make it to my reading list.
I like your conciseness, Pragya. I really do. You only have 90% of your books to go, then!
Ah, yes, the nonfiction. It's a bit sad it gets pushed aside-- I've just started a fascinating Aboriginal memoir... but I probably never would have started it were it not the only thing I could have possibly read at the time.
Ah, 90% more, that seems HUGE! Do let me know how you like the Aboriginal memoir.
I have just bought a couple of biographies from Amazon and hope to read them sometime.
Maria wrote: "Wow, 1000 books! I think I've read perhaps 500 up to December 31, 2010. Now it's probably about 720. I'll catch you up yet! XDHow old are you, if you don't mind my asking?"
Oops sorry for missing your response Maria!
I turn 22 on May 31st :)
I have no idea, I know I've always read, and can only hope to still be reading/listening to books until the day I die! So I'd have to say I'll read more books than I can ever imagine, and that I won't waste any time reading things that don't interest me.
It was interesting, Pragya. There's not a single bit of info on it (except title and author and one review) on GR, but I'm writing (or have written?) my own, and I'll be posting it soon. I liked it enough to hike 2km for it, but I'm not sure if I loved it. It was a lovely, easy book to get in and out of.It's fine, Kim!
That's a fantastic principle, jaxnsmom!
Oh, thank you for letting me know, Maria. I will go add it to my TBR, hope to get and read it soon.
Maria, can you let me know the link for the book please? Thanks.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Poor Folk (other topics)Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat (other topics)
Jitterbug Perfume (other topics)
Like Water for Chocolate (other topics)
Tales of the City (other topics)
More...
If I read 100 books a year for the next fifty years (and I should be able to do that... at my current speed I might actually hit 300 this year, double last year's), I should be able to read 5000 books.
But there are 50,000 books being published each year in the USA alone...
Does anyone else get paranoid about the amount of books they might never get to read?