Cover to Cover Challenge discussion

Photojim wrote: "My point is don't fall into this trap! If you have books on your shelves/on piles/in boxes that you haven't picked up in more than five years, get rid of them NOW! "

I do get rid of the books I'm not going to re-read, and I still have many stored around the house. Many (as in: my shelves are full and I've started stacking double rows... and fitting more in that little space between the top of the row of books and the bottom of the next shelf!). In fact, the only room that doesn't have books in it is the bathroom (Steam+books= Sad Stacie) and I've started looking into wall mounted shelving that I can adjust the spacing on and can go from ceiling to floor ;p

Magpie67 wrote: "I find myself filled with glee when I walk around and see books everywhere in my house. :-)

I want a room solid to look like a library period.

"

i second that

I am doing challenges in another group : ) So those will go on this list. I am using 2010 to get current or say goodbye to series. I LOVE series, but I start them, find a new one, then another new one and then before I know it I am into twenty series and none are current : ( I am just going to aim for 12 for January and if I surpass that then less to read the following month until I am done. I will get more reading done in summer ( 2 playing baseball, 2 swim lessons and swim) since I can rack up 4 hrs a reading a day that way. SO I won't sweat the numbers until next fall LOL

Jim, I used to have problems with getting rid of books (I still do, but I am more selective about what I keep than I used to be.) Have you checked out Bookcrossing? This is a great way to get rid of your books, while still being able to keep track of where they go.

Darcy wrote: "Ann I don't think that makes you an addict. LOL Just prepared. I find whenever I leave the house I make sure to have a book with me. You never know when you will get stuck and have some time to..."
I agree Darcy! I find myself..grabbing a few minutes to read, before I go into the grocery store to shop ( reading calms me..) lol

No, I haven't checked out Bookcrossing. I've been doing better at getting rid of books. But I've also been having people give me books to read left and right lately. I walked through the house and picked up the spare paperbacks that I had set down randomly that have not made it elsewhere yesterday. 16 full size paperbacks made the trip up to my current dumping grounds. That was nearly two and a half feet added to the pile of I'll get there's along the one bedroom wall. I can't give them away if I don't read them first!

Donna wrote: "I started a list which is good because although I keep a notebook of books to read or might read, I tend to write new titles/authors on slips of paper and forget where they are. This will help me b..."

Donna sounds like you need a little notebook! although I am guilty of the same - invariably when I clean out my purse there are random scribblings, sometimes even just the ISBN number! *LOL* Sad but true..I have a blackberry and frequently I just stick post it notes to the back of it. I am not a technophobe but sometimes pen and paper is just easier! :)

I am in Lakewood so we are practically neighbors by the way :)

Ann wrote: "I'm not making a list. For one thing, I never know what is going to appeal at a certain time. (Decembers are hard for me--too much to do, and its the month that my Dad died.) On the other hand--..."

I am so sorry for your loss, Ann- my mother also passed away at Christmastime so I know how difficult it can be. Hoping this December will be a little easier for you.

I'm looking forward to it. I'm slowly getting my list together and once I've finished I'll post it!

I'm not putting together a full list either. I'm doing a challenge, so those books will be on a list, but otherwise I'll just see what sounds good. I have so many books on my shelves that I want to read, then there's the new ones I see on other people's shelves here, or that I come across in the store or someone recommends.

I'm doubtful I can make 144, but I would like to read more then I'll have read this year, so that's my primary goal. If I can make 144, then I'll be that much happier!

I feel the same way, Teresa. I seriously doubt that I will achieve the goal, but it will be fun trying. The important thing is not reaching 144, but increasing the amount you read. Good luck!

I like have a 3 shelf reminder of my TBR books. #1 TBR [like this month:] #2 for swaps or other #3 recent buys/swaps that I would like to get to before buying more books.

I hardly make solid lists for reading. But having a system has helped my reading =D. reading yall's posting shows me I am in the right place.

Last week I thought I'd have no problem making 144 books in MMX. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your POV), I have picked up another gig as a photographer in a second studio yesterday. It may only be for a few months or it may be longterm.

I also agreed to a PaD challenge for 2010. A PaD or picture a day project is one where you take an original photo, process it and post it to the web in an agreed location EVERY SINGLE DAY for a year. It works out to about an hour or more a day.

Looks like a re-dedication to photography year rather than a read-a-thon year. But the nice thing about having five jobs (the main one being the general partner in a wedding photography business) is that it is always something new and interesting. (and trust me when I say you don't want to do my taxes)

But I'm not dropping out only because the task appears more daunting. Maybe I'll just read shorter books.

Im hoping to read alot more books next year! I have been thinking of my list ~ I know that I also ( like others have mentioned ) work thru my to be read stack.
In that stack, there are several Debbie Macomber books, other Romance books, some cozy mystery books, and some Love Inspired books.
I think its a fun challenge!

lol, Jim. Just becareful. Just because a book has fewer pages doesn't mean its shorter. I'm finding that out with older books that are being re-released. The old book will have 150-200 pages, the new one will have 300-350 pages. I went in and did a comparison to try to figure out WHY--and discovered that the type used in the past was smaller than that used presently. It was like a size 6 or 8, and now they use 10 or 12. I did a "page" challenge once, and lost it because all the books I was reading were the older ones with the smaller type. So I've decided to either stay away from Page challenges altogether--or else to just read recent releases.

I'm with you there Magpie. I can't see myself parting with my books.

I have a huge To-Read shelf on 카지노싸이트 so I went and made a smaller one for books I think I'll get to in 2010, some are new releases of series I really like or of authors I read. Some are books by authors I've never read.

Photojim wrote: "Last week I thought I'd have no problem making 144 books in MMX. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your POV), I have picked up another gig as a photographer in a second studio yesterday. ..."

love the photo a day project! I have done that for 30 days at a time, just as a 'slice of life' type thing - am not a professional photographer, just an avid scrapbooker. Would you mind linking to where your pictures are going to be up so we can see?

Teresa in Ohio wrote: "I am doing challenges in another group : ) So those will go on this list. I am using 2010 to get current or say goodbye to series. I LOVE series, but I start them, find a new one, then another new..."

I love finding a new great series and not having to wait for the author to write another book - it's so awesome to have it ready to go when you are! I understand what you mean - must be the libra in me, I see both sides :)

Jery wrote: "love the photo a day project! I have done that for 30 days at a time, just as a 'slice of life' type thing - am not a professional photographer, just an avid scrapbooker. Would you mind linking to where your pictures are going to be up so we can see? "

I have no problem with that at all. I just don't know yet where I'll be posting. I have a pBase account, a Flickr account, a PhotoBucket account, and five different web sites that I own and run outright. I guess at this point it depends on which of my comrades in arms are going to join me in the challenge.
is a link to the first time I did a PaD project. I see so many of these old shots and think, 'I certainly can do much better than that now.'

The only list I make before the end of the year for the next year is my DL list which is Determination list of books which has been 17 books for the last few years. Only one year I came close to reading all the books on the list. At the end of each year I might change some of the books if they haven't been read getting rid of some I decided not to try after all. I add other books. Don't know why they usually don't get read or finished. At times I think maybe in my mind it's like the older days of doing homework with having to do it. I mostly hated reading back then. I buy books faster than I read what I have which will probably never be all read in a lifetime but that doesn't change things with buying them. The longer I stay away from bookstores the worst I get when I go. But it's something that I have to cut down some. I used to keep all my read books too but haven't since I moved. Don't have the room. I only keep certain ones. i pass on to friends, family, salvation army, libraries, etc. There isn't any ubs in my area anymore but are at the shore but when I go down there I never think to take books to bring and I never know when I can get to one down there. But when I have a Determination list of 17 I'll be happy to post it.

Well, I made a tentative list for 2010. I'll mark them off as I go. I never stick to my lists so it is just a small source of ideas, mostly for the library. I'm hoping to knock out some of the books off my shelf so I can pass them on to others.

I would think The first person to finish a book in 2010 and thus start the total should post the details here and we will all cheer!!!

I'm so excited to start!!! It's so soon! :)

I'm up to #147 for 2009 so it shouldn't be too much of a problem - hopefully ;P

I have joined several challenges that should help me acheve the target and have become unemployed as of yesterday so will have more time!!!

I just got three awesome books for Christmas which will definitely be among my 2010 reads. The Shack, Have A Little Faith and Say You're one of Them.

Also got a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate and just ordered 6 more books.

Life is VERY GOOD this Christmas.


Afsana wrote: "This is a thread set up so we can discuss how we are doing, difficulties we are having and how we are achieving our goals

We can also use this thread to encourage each other when we are feeling ..."

Kelly_shannon wrote: "I just got three awesome books for Christmas which will definitely be among my 2010 reads. The Shack, Have A Little Faith and Say You're one of Them.

Also got a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate a..."

thats good

Tell us what you ordered?

Sorry about losing your job Afsana. Timing could have been better. That's one of my many fears - losing my job.

thanks Rayni

hate job hunting

I know, me too. January is a bad time to be out looking for a job, at least in northern climates.

I ordered:

White Oleander, by Janet Fitch
While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky
While I was Gone by Sue Miller
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Unholy Messenger ~ the Life and Crimes of BTK by Stephen Singular

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

My reading list is very eclectic. I am going to be traveling a lot in 2010 so I will have TONS of time to read.

Kelly_shannon wrote: "I ordered:

White Oleander, by Janet Fitch
While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky
While I was Gone by Sue Miller
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Unholy Messenger ~ the Life and Crimes of BTK b..."

Travelling for pleasure or work?

I love traveling. Sometimes I wish it was more often by myself so I could read more.

I love to travel alone also. I LOVE riding the train. I don't even mind if there are delays ... just means I can read more!

I HATE travelling--but that's more because I suffer from motion sickness. I can't read in cars, trains, or ships. I AM able to read on planes, so if possible I prefer to fly anywhere I travel. Plus there are all those hours spent sitting in airports. . .

I took my first cruise in March. I did okay on the boat, but I had motion sickness for a week afterwards! It was the weirdest thing!

Catherine wrote: "I took my first cruise in March. I did okay on the boat, but I had motion sickness for a week afterwards! It was the weirdest thing!"

Makes sense in a way - consider how many summers you spent floating on the water at the beach, and as soon as you stand up you're hit with that weird vertigo, like you're still being rocked on the waves... I guess your cruise could be the same thing; you got so used to floating on water... am I making sense?

Yes, that's exactly how it felt. Like I was still on a moving boat. It was just a really weird feeling. I finally got some motion sickness pills and only had to take them once and it went away.

I'm still trying to figure out what ones I want to read. I'm in another GR group and it keeps me busy with books, so that will help. I also am trying to finish up some books in a series that I have and want to read. I look at others books and stuff to find new ideas to read also. I can't wait until my husband puts my book shelves up above my desk so that I can see what I have and what I want to read.

I've got several books lined up and ready to go. On my new nook. That I got for Christmas (still twitching with joy here).

I just posted my January book list!! I cant wait to begin!

Woohoo. I just joined and I'm excited. I just learned about 카지노싸이트 a few days ago, and I've spent all my reading time making lists on this thing! This is my first group and my first challenge. I'm having difficulites figuring out some of the acronyms!

This is the first time I'm going to keep track of how many books I read. I'm sure I'll make it. I homeschool my children and I read aloud to them twice a day and we usually end up completing a book a week - not "children's books". I also read all the books that they "have" to read so we can discuss them. I also teach History and read all the books my students "have" to read. And I have 22 of my own books coming in the mail any day now.

Hmmm. I think by the end of this I might actually feel guilty about how much time I spend reading.

I have a question....I have a number of "started" books, probably 8-10. I may finish one or two before Jan 1st. Will those I have started in 2009 count as "read" when I finish them in 2010? I would think so, but just want to be sure.

It's best to keep it simple - I've always gone with with date I finish a book, simply because I never take the time to log the date that I start a book. (Well I do tentatively on my logs) but realistically it is just easier to log a book when it is completed.

I'm sure that Crystal is more concerned that we have fun and enjoy ourselves, than to worry ourselves silly over technicalities... That is a brave assumption and I hope that I am close to correct.

Thank you Ms. Erin! I was assuming this would be the way...but didn't want to disregard the correct way we are keeping a record.


Ms. Erin wrote: "It's best to keep it simple - I've always gone with with date I finish a book, simply because I never take the time to log the date that I start a book. (Well I do tentatively on my logs) but real..."

i agree with mrs erin

Thanks, Afsana...sounds like we are all on the same, uh, well, page!

Gah--if the First doesn't get here soon I might have drown in books. I've been stacking them up, getting ready for the start of all my challenges. :o) With the number of OTHER challenges I'm in, this one should (note the word SHOULD) be a piece of cake. Now, having said that, watch something come up and me not get to do ANY reading at all.

Ms. Erin wrote: "It's best to keep it simple - I've always gone with with date I finish a book, simply because I never take the time to log the date that I start a book. (Well I do tentatively on my logs) but real..."

Same here. And the 144 books are meant to be a goal, not a contest, so I would think that it's your own personal call on how comfortable you feel about claiming when you read it. I, personally, have always gone with the day I complete the book, so that's what I will go on for this challenge. And books I am still reading on December 31, 2010, but haven't finished yet, will be 2011 books.