How many of the 1001 books have you read? Showing 1,101-1,150 of 1,912

[Deanne]

Easier to say that I've got 173 books left to read from the combined lists.

[Wendy]

I just hit my 150 book milestone! Feeling proud...yet overwhelmed that I've barely made a dent yet.

[Stephanie "Jedigal"]

Wendy, that's great! Definitely be proud!

Deanne, OMG, wow! That's awesome.

[Kat]

I just downloaded the list and it looks like I'm starting off at 73 read from the combined list. So that's only 1,200ish to go then (argh!)

I think I'll aim for 250 first. Everyone on here is doing so well!

[Alice]

I've only recently decided to do the list. I went through it and my starting number is... 10. I feel pretty pathetic right now!

Onwards and upwards I guess. I'm 23, so I have a good few years left. (I hope!)

[Sandi]

Alice wrote: "I've only recently decided to do the list. I went through it and my starting number is... 10. I feel pretty pathetic right now!"

You don't have to feel bad about that number! I started in late 2010 with only 10 books read as well, and now I'm at 115. I know I'm not as fast as some others, but I'm slowly getting there :)

[[deleted user]]

Sandi wrote: "Alice wrote: "I've only recently decided to do the list. I went through it and my starting number is... 10. I feel pretty pathetic right now!"

You don't have to feel bad about that number! I start..."

I'm too slow as both of you...

[Hugo]

I've read 85 of the books mentioned on the list, and have already bought at least 10 others who are also here mentioned and that I intend to read soon. Most of the books mentioned are great, but there are some that I certainly won't bother myself with...

[Shriya]

On my 46th

[Mani]

I've only read 26 so far. Lot more to do. Hope to catch up :)

[[deleted user]]

On my counting of the combined lists I've made yesterday I've read at the present time,56 books..I'm on the way through and I have several own-books ahead to read next..

[Diane]

Hit another landmark with 275 on the combined lists.

[Linda]

Diane wrote: "Hit another landmark with 275 on the combined lists."

Awesome! I wonder how old I will be when I finally hit that mark. I only just reached #43 last week.

[Ellinor]

Just completed my 200th book from the combined lists! Feels good!

[Ian]

Ellinor wrote: "Just completed my 200th book from the combined lists! Feels good!"
Congratulations!

[Linda]

Ellinor wrote: "Just completed my 200th book from the combined lists! Feels good!"

Woohoo!! Good job! (I think I'm only around 43 or so...)

[Luke]

Ellinor wrote: "Just completed my 200th book from the combined lists! Feels good!"

I just did as well!

[Ian]

Aubrey wrote: "Ellinor wrote: "Just completed my 200th book from the combined lists! Feels good!"

I just did as well!"
Congratulations to you too!

[Deanne]

Read 992 from the original list, would love to finish but there are at least two books written in Korean, have to wait for a translation.

[Sandi]

Deanne wrote: "Read 992 from the original list, would love to finish but there are at least two books written in Korean, have to wait for a translation."

Land has been translated into English through the now defunct UNESCO translation program. You can purchase it through their website, but you have to pay with a credit card. It's about 30 €.

http://publishing.unesco.org/details....

There's also a kindle version on amazon, currently "on sale" for £88:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Park-ebo...

You can read the first 4 chapters for free through amazon's Look Inside feature.

[Amanda]

Read 139 books from combined lists, have the next book right here to hit 140. Deanne, I'm rooting for you!!

[J_BlueFlower]

Deanne wrote: "Read 992 from the original list, ..."

Wow! Wow!! So impressive.

It seems that the wast majority of us have read about 30-80 books. But a few exceeds 200 and even way beyond that. Maybe you could tells us a bit more about how you did it? How many had you read when you discovered the list? How many years did it take? How much do you read? In books month or year or pages per day? Do you know your reading speed? What is your preferred medium (book, kindle, ipad, audiobook)? Did you READ all the books or are you counting movies too?

(the questions goes to anyone with say... more than 200 books read,... or anyone who like to answer ;-))

[Jonpaul]

I will pass the 300 mark by year's end and I started consciously pursuing the goal of reading the combined lists in early 2012. At the time I started, I'd read between 150 and 180 on the combined lists (I don't remember the exact number). My rate is about 60-65 list books a year and I combine quite a few methods.

During the 2012 and early 2013, I listened to a lot of audiobooks I picked up from the library because I had a long commute. I would listen to a longer book (e.g. "Against The Day", etc.) over a week or two of commuting while simultaneously tearing through a couple of shorter selections. (Notes on audiobooks:
1. I've found that the way I pay attention is different but I actually remember more details more clearly from audiobooks.
2. Be careful to ensure an audiobook is unabridged.)

I've also focused on reading a lot of the shorter books on the list (e.g. "The Little Prince", "The 13 Clocks", etc.). The progress is immediate and noticeable. At the same time, I continue to read longer novels on the list because I don't want to be 500 books into the list and only have long novels left to read.

In 2013, I focused on increasing my reading speed. There are many techniques available for free online and in the library. They're all essentially the same but they do all require practice; you're changing the way you read. I've found that it does work but, for me, works best with dialogue saturated books and books where the writing is less complex. I can now read an Elmore Leonard novel at about three to four times the speed that I used to but Virginia Woolf still takes about the same amount of time.

Movies don't count. The "...Must Read" portion of the list title literally spells out that bit.

I also still read other things. I run a book club where I try to shoehorn in a list read every once in a while but the selections tend to be contemporary novels which aren't and won't be on the list. I also participate in another book club, read suggestions from other people, and pick up books I just want to check out. Over the past two months my progress has slowed because I've been pretty hooked on the mammoth "A Song of Ice and Fire" books by George R.R. Martin, but I've also been reading one volume of "A Dance to the Music of Time" every month.

After almost three years of the list, here's my final thought of how best to approach it: it's for you, treat it as such. For me, it's a joy to read and to pursue reading books which are considered essentials. My knowledge of literature has increased (verified by lots of trivia participation) both from the reading itself and just paying attention to the list. I've been surprised by what I like that I would probably have otherwise skipped (I salute you, dear "Wuthering Heights" and bow to you, gallant "Brideshead Revisited"). If you're reading something you hate ("Midnight's Children" for me) but you're a completist, skim the thing. No matter what you do, this will take years. Have fun with it. Take breaks. Set small goals and reasonable expectations. Cherish it and try to find someone with whom to share all or parts of it.

I hope this answers some of the questions.

Also, for 992, "Taebak Mountains" is supposed to be available in English translation soon.

[Deanne]

I started on 28 in 2006, and at first I actively sought out books on the list. I belonged to the library which enabled me to pick up the more popular entries on the list.
Some of the books have been great some are not so great,
There are some which have been a real struggle but I've discovered a love of a few authors and books that I would not have picked up. Now I find I tend to go off the list more.
I do read a lot and I generally have at least two books on the go. I do find myself wondering how some books made it on to the list. Some that I've hated have been loved by others.

[Mekki]

nice post and tips, jonpaul

[J_BlueFlower]

Thank you Jonpaul. That was very inspiring. I have never listened to audiobooks. Will give them a try.

I started a new tread for the discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Deanne]

Wayne, I usually go to my local library and ask them to search the UK, have been surprised a couple of times to discover the book has come from the state's.

[[deleted user]]

46 books in my shelf..I have several books that aren't list-books.That's the cause I have so much books and most of them aren't on the book-list..

[Maartje]

I just finished my 100th list book! :)

[Ada]

@Maartje: congrats on the 100 books, it's impressive! :)

I have read 39 books of the list.. my favorite so far are Independent People by Halldór Laxness, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf :)

[Diane]

J wrote: "Deanne wrote: "Read 992 from the original list, ..."

Wow! Wow!! So impressive.

It seems that the wast majority of us have read about 30-80 books. But a few exceeds 200 and even way beyond that. ..."

Currently @ 285 or so 1001 books.

I started actively reading from the list sometime in 2010. At that time I had about 80 books that I had already read. I have tried to read 50-75 1001 books per year since than. Like JonPaul, I try to tackle the both the shortest and the longest books first (i.e. currently reading A Suitable Boy and just finished Matigari). I also try to mix up formats between regular books, Kindle, Nook, & other e-books (open library, etc.) and audiobooks (I like all formats!). I do probably tend to read faster than the average person and read about 250 books per year. Movies definitely do not count! I also force myself to finish, even if I don't like it, so I will be able to count it.

[Lisa]

I'm at 192 from all of the combined lists...

[[deleted user]]

Ada wrote: "@Maartje: congrats on the 100 books, it's impressive! :)

I have read 39 books of the list.. my favorite so far are Independent People by Halldór Laxness, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and Mrs Dallo..."

@Good Luck,Ada!!

[Christina]

203 ...but I am working on any of the 1305 from all lists.

[J_BlueFlower]

76 now from the combined list.

[Lynecia]

47! I'm working from the combined list as well!

[Chris]

I hit a milestone today I am quite proud of.

Today I finished my 333rd book for the combined lists. I am a third of the way finished!

I have decided that I am not going to read all 1305 novels, but read 1001 books from all the combined lists.

There have been too many highlights to count and I know there will be more to come!

Wish me luck...

[[deleted user]]

49 books on my 1001-books- shelf list!Too long way to come..

[Diane]

Luís wrote: "49 books on my 1001-books- shelf list!Too long way to come.."

Good luck and happy reading, Luís!

[[deleted user]]

Diane wrote: "Luís wrote: "49 books on my 1001-books- shelf list!Too long way to come.."

Good luck and happy reading, Luís!"


Thx Diane.I'll give you a real hug!

[Inder]

Depending on the list you use, between 95 and 115. I've really been diving into the 1,001 books this year, so that number is likely to go up a bit soon. I have been working on the "Essential List" (if you have the app), which is the books that haven't changed through all of the versions. Seems just a TINY bit more manageable!

So, only 900 books to go ... Awesome! ;-)

[[deleted user]]

I recounting my 1001-read-list book shelf and I read,until now,56 books on the list..That's a small victory,after my last message!!

[Nina]

I've just joined this group, and was surprised to find that I've already read 37 books, am currently reading 2 others, and have 65 further books either already on my Kindle or on my Amazon wish list. I've also read Disney's children's versions of 4 of them, but I am not counting those.

I am planning to read a further two this week, as they are part of the syllabus for an online literature course I'm taking, so all in all, that's really not that bad!

I also downloaded the app for my iPhone, which assures me that I'll be able to finish the list by the time I'm 52 - so just 14 years to go, then! ;-)

[Marie Claude]

I have read 41 from the combined list... but I have just started marking and trying to read them, so about 38 of the 41 were books I have read along the way, just because... ;o) I will probably read 3-4 of them in August

[Deanne]

Finished The Public Burning, 993 from the original list.

[Diane]

Hit another milestone today with 300 books from the combined lists. I thought I reached this milestone a couple of weeks ago, but found that I had a few non-list books on my personal list that I had to purge.

[Amanda]

Just hit a milestone today of 150 from the combined list!

[Nadine]

My problem is with the books I have read a long time ago. My father had a very nice collection of books, a lot of the classics that are on the list. There is a lot that I have read and remember very well. But some I am not so sure. Since most are part of our culture, with adaptations, reference, the stories are well knowned. So, knowing the story doesn't mean I actually read it.
Some I remember starting and not finishing. Might be interesting to see if I would find them interesting with a more mature mind.
More puzzling is a book I was sure I read (I remember the cover, who recommended it to me) but when I read a summary, I didn't not recognized the story!
It's hard enough to find the time to read 1000 books, not if I have to go and read some of them again!

[Alice]

Finally got around to reading the Hobbit, bringing my grand total to... 11. ;)

[Mia]

I've read 94 and I'm using the combined list.