Books on the Nightstand discussion

WhoHoo! I'm now 11 books away from completing the +11 in '11 Challenge! I've read 92/103 titles! If I can finish by 9/11, that would be awesome!

I'm 2 books ahead of my goal for 2011 as of Sept 3. Not working fulltime probably has something to do with that. My TBR lists grows and grows, thanks to all the good recommendations/reviews here on BOTN!

I'm 5 books ahead. I can't believe I finally got ahead!

Time for an update:
As a recap - my challenge this year was to whittle down the number of books I have on my BOTNS recommendation shelf. I have books recommended by Ann and Michael that have been on my TBR shelf since 2009 so I decided just to read off the shelf of books mentioned on BOTNS. I also wanted to read 11 books published in 2011.

I have now read 48 books and what a fantastic reading year I have had so far. Some of these have definitely made it to my favorites of all time list - Any Human Heart, The Sparrow, The Virgin Suicides, The Invisible Bridge, Cutting for Stone, and Domestic Violets. I also read my first graphic novels - Revolver, Pride of Baghdad, and Stitches and read my first Ian McEwan novel - On Chesil Beach (which I loved by the way). And too many other great books to mention individually - just to reiterate again that between all the great recommendations on BOTNs and all the books from the retreat challenge, the last 9 months have been spent in a kind of literary paradise :)

In the interest of full disclosure - I did happen to read a book that wasn't mentioned - I inadvertently shelved it under BOTNs, but when I went back to find the podcast it was mentioned, it wasn't there - so out of the 48, 47 were actual recommendations. Not a bad thing, however, the book was Awakening which was very good and now I have all her books on my wishlist.

So although I have knocked out more than 40 of Ann and Michael's recommendations - why isn't my list getting any shorter??

Shona wrote: "Time for an update:
As a recap - my challenge this year was to whittle down the number of books I have on my BOTNS recommendation shelf. I have books recommended by Ann and Michael that have been..."

I just finished a library copy of Howards End is on the Landing and, like you, that was very inspiring to me to read the books already at home on my To Read Shelf. However, I also want to read all the books that were in HER home. And I want to buy my own copy of the book.

There is no end...

I guess that's a good thing?

Shona wrote: "Time for an update:
As a recap - my challenge this year was to whittle down the number of books I have on my BOTNS recommendation shelf. I have books recommended by Ann and Michael that have been..."

I have such a huge grin on my face right now Shona... Thank you so much!!

I am 3 books behind as of today, but that isn't too bad! I had a spell this summer (an unprecedented spell) where I didn't read a single book for almost 5 weeks. Wow! I am tearing through The HUnger Games right now and have 4 books waiting in the Nook wings for reading. I can do this!

Sadly I'm about 9 books behind my goal of 50 books. But every book I have selected has been amazing except for The Room by Emma Donoghue.

YAY! I hit my target last night! I've read 103/103 titles!

Next up challenge-wise, I want to have completed a set of 11 novels written by BOTNS Reading Retreat Authors. I've read nine titles so far:

Secrets of Eden (by Chris Bohjalian)
Double Black (by Wendy Clinch)
Unexpectedly, Milo (by Matthew Dicks)
The Bee-Loud Glade (by Steve Himmer)
House Arrest (by Ellen Meeropol)
The Reservoir (by John Milliken Thompson)
Revenge of the Radioactive Lady (by Elizabeth Stuckey-French)
Finn (by Jon Clinch)
The Improper Life of Bezillia Grove (by Susan Gregg Gilmore)

The two left on my stack are:

Kingdoms of the Earth (by Jon Clinch) and;
Skeletons at the Feast (by Chris Bohjalian)

I hope to have these read by the next time I check in on 10/11

BTW, even though the NFL season is intact, I canceled my NFL Sunday ticket and I've adopted a No-Twitter Zone on Sundays. These are the two most consistent and biggest distractions to my reading time. Also, Angry Birds :-/

I'm two books ahead and I keep trying to make it three.
BOTNS and Goodreads have certainly helped me double my
reading since last year. Thank you.

Tanya wrote: "YAY! I hit my target last night! I've read 103/103 titles!

Next up challenge-wise, I want to have completed a set of 11 novels written by BOTNS Reading Retreat Authors. I've read nine titles so fa..."

Wow - cancelled the NFL Sunday ticket! That's dedication. Explains why you have read 103 books and I have read 14! Although my goal is only 25 - no clue how many I read last year - very few.

I would not be able to give up watching the Pats, even for reading. Your dedication is admirable!

I am currently 12 books ahead of schedule, according to goodreads... I've read 58 of 66 for the year, next year I'm going to shoot for 100.

I'm still behind on the challenge ... I've read 26 out of 50 books so far and am on my 27th (Girls in White Dresses) ... right now. I'm behind but thinking I will catch up soon as I have a whole stack of books from the library (all my reserves came in at once including the new Charles Todd mystery) and my husband will be away for 2 weeks at the end of the month which means more reading and knitting time for me ...

I'm 8 books ahead of my goal (68 out of 85). My very first book of the year was The Invisible Bridge. Can't imagine a better way to begin the 2011 Reader's Challenge! Thanks for the recommendation, Ann.

BOTNS is responsible for so many of my book selections this year and for turning me into a devoted follower of "The Morning News" yearly Tournament of Books! Enjoyed last year's book bracket so much that I've added books on their Watch List to this year's reading.

So far, I've read the following books on their Watch List:










Currently reading .

Those on my nightstand and the Watch List are:





and
.

Enjoying the 2011 Reader Challenge but I'm unlikely to increase the number of books read in future challenges. Think this is the maximum number of books I can read in a year and not get too stressed out about not making my goal! Will continue to select books recommended by BOTNS, Tournament of Books and BOTNS member comments.

Good luck to everyone on achieving their goal!

I'm 5 books ahead right now (33 out of 40), so I'm thinking that I'm going to up my goal next year to 60. The audiobooks from my library via Overdrive are definitely a helper for getting through more books. For those who are reaching their ceiling of what they can read in a year, you might think of taking on some of the challenges on types of books to read for the year. This blog has several: http://www.pilethemon.blogspot.com/. I'm taking on the 52 version of the A-to-Z challenge and the What's in a Name? challenge next year.

I'm reading the 40th out of the 51 I set out to read. Out of those 11 were going to be ones published this year. I have only read 5 of those so far, but think I have a contender for my favorite book of this year in my current readThe Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason.

I'm so psyched. I only have one book to finish and I have completed my challenge! I vowed to read 70 books this year. I NEVER thought I could do it! I told my husband that I was about to complete my challenge. He said, "Does that mean you can quit reading then?" Well of course not! Spoken like a teacher in these times, he says, "Well it's like the state assessments-you don't want to over do it so that you can meet your goal next year!"

Heather in KS

I only read 18 books last year (SRS - slow reader syndrome) but I'm 60 pages away from finishing my 18th book this year - so I've got a shot.

I'm 6 books ahead of schedule, en route to 70 books. I thought 70 was going to be a very long stretch, but I should have no trouble doing it. I'd really like to get to 100 someday... but as long as I'm still working on my MBA at night, I think that is impossible.

Wow!! Congrats everyone... you're all doing so well!

I'm just thrilled to still be right on track. I'm reading a bunch of comics now (monthly floppies), so I won't make much progress over the next week.

I am 6 books ahead on 100 but only about 46 of them are prose novels. The rest are comic trades. However I have already met my +11 goal of 11 more regular books this year.

I've read 119 books toward my goal of 142 books, or 83%, and 11% ahead of schedule. It's not an awesome as Goodreads claims since a number of the books were very short; but I've read a few 1,000 page doorstoppers too.

When it comes to books, size does not matter! I've read some amazing short stories, novellas and, graphic novels this year which have enriched my reading life, so I'm counting them all without apology!

Tanya wrote: "When it comes to books, size does not matter! I've read some amazing short stories, novellas and, graphic novels this year which have enriched my reading life, so I'm counting them all without apol..."

Agreed! I've had a few comics trades in there too, and will probably have more before the year is out!

Just finished #9 of my 11-in-11 reading list: Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. I was rather daunted by the thickness of this book (625 pages), so decided to read it a quarter at a time, with another book between each quarter. That worked until I was halfway through, then I just kept going. I found it to be one of those books that put together events and people that I was vaguely aware of or totally unaware of at the time. Mandela comes across as a very warm and personable man, amazingly dedicated to his beliefs.

Two more to go!

I'm still on track but just barely! I'm so impressed (and kind of jealous) of those of you who are ahead or finished the challenge already. I think that I will reach my goal (55 books) but I might have to disconnect my TiVo in order to do it.

I hit my goal of reading 150 books during the year this morning.
Favorites included:
Best Classic:
Jane Eyre
Best History:
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Best Historical Fiction:
Heartstone
Best Young Adult:
Revolution
Best Book About Books:
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader
Best Literature:
Sarah's Key and
The Help
Best Mysteries:
Steve Hamilton series starting with A Cold Day In Paradise
The Traitor's Emblem
The Crossing Places
Blood Harvest
Grave Goods
Ghost Story
A Red Herring Without Mustard
Longest Book:
War and Peace
Best Travel Book:
A Year in Provence

Kevin wrote: "I hit my goal of reading 150 books during the year this morning."

Wow, 150 books, including War and Peace?! Congrats Kevin!!

Thanks Michael...I read that one first. :)

Just realized I passed my goal of 50 books (now at 52.5). I wonder how high I will get, I have 4 library books on my nightstand and 1 on my iPad right now to finish in the next 3 weeks.

I just finished #10 of the 11 oldest books on my reading list: On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner. (Finished it this morning by candlelight as our power was out.) I found it to be a thoughtful and humourous inquiry into what makes a novelist: personality traits, training and behaviour. Interesting for readers and writers alike. It dovetailed nicely with an online creative writing course that I am taking through UBC.

Joanne wrote: "I just finished #10 of the 11 oldest books on my reading list: On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner. (Finished it this morning by candlelight as our power was out.) I found it to be ..."

Joanne- I think I'm going to take your approach to my list next year, it's such a good idea!

Callie wrote: "Joanne- I think I'm going to take your approach to my list next year, it's such a good idea!"

Thanks, Callie. I wanted to participate in this reading challenge (my first), but didn't want the goal of increasing the number of books I read. I already read as many as I can and didn't want to try and read more (and I have enough "homework" with my book club, though I enjoy most of the books and all of the discussions).

What I found my approach did was to clear out the books that hang around on my list for a long time. I ended up deleting many books as I tried them and decided not to read them after all. Often I forget why I put the oldest books on my list in the first place! I tend to avoid non-fiction, and was glad to get to finally get around to reading some of them.

Last one to go: Embers by Sandor Marai.

Amazingly, I am still on track, despite 10 days of camping when I didn't even skim a magazine let alone read a real book.

I'm super excited that The Night Circus is waiting for me at the library so I hope to read that this weekend!

Hey all! I've read 56 out of a goal of 75. This puts me at 74% done and 4 books behind. I just joined Goodreads in August when I discovered BOTNS, so I feel pretty good about my total. I tried to remember all the books I've read, but couldn't possibly remember them all. I'm probably already at 75, but don't want to guess how many I read before the summer. Next year I'll definitely have to set a higher goal for the whole year. Great job everyone! I am fascinated by the different challenges people are taking up and want to try some of these in 2012. Maybe I'll dedicate a certain amount of reading to classics? And non-fiction, as I don't typically read a lot of it! :)

I met my +11 challenge and am still knocking off books so I'm happy with my challenge results.

Joann -- Embers is one of my all-time favorite books. I do hope you enjoy it!

I am amazed at the numbers of books some of you have read -- I struggled to finish my challenge and am finding it difficult finishing some of the books I've had started for a long while. Great work everyone.

I am 24/25, so I will make my challenge! And I've probably read 1/2 of those since August! I don't think I will set a higher goal next year - not enough time really.

(I really wasn't in the +11 since I had no idea how many I had read last year.)

I am at what I read for last year (about 35 books), but am about 11% what I want to read for the year. Still have about 2 months and likely won't make it, but will get close.

*Cue Rocky Music* Yay! I finished my final one last night, so I am feeling good. I'm going to use the rest of the year to polish off my "STRAA" pile: started to read and abandoned. Most of them were promising, but I just got distracted. I'm also going to steal Kevin's idea-

Best Classic: Middlemarch (doing a read-along with a friend, so not done yet, but it's excellent)
Best History: In the Garden of Beasts
Best Nonfiction: The Big Short and The Disappearing Spoon
Best Young Adult: When You Reach Me
Best Book About Books: An Experiment in Criticism
Best Literature: The Illumination and The Help
Best Mystery: A Pocket Full of Rye
Geekiest Book: Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks
Funniest Book: Bossypants
Best Memoir: My Life in France

Congratulations Frankie! Nicely done!

Wow Frankie, I'm really impressed at the variety of books you are reading; it's good inspiration for me to spread my wings beyond my standard reading lists of about 10% non-fiction and 90% literary fiction. I'm curious ... do you have a favorite genre?

I am at 51/64 and the widget says I am one behind. I have read all the retreat authors except for Jon Clinch, so I want to fit in Kings of the Earth before the end of the year.

Thanks, Kevin! Though my goal was only fractionally as impressive as yours and you still beat me to the finish line ;)

Pamela, I try to mix it up so that I never get bored. What a great question about genre, though! Thought provoking - I guess I would say I like literary, well plotted fiction or nonfiction. I'm equally unimpressed with people who languish in the beauty of their own prose without having anything happen and people who are basically just writing a screenplay, so something that can give me beautiful writing and interesting characters/action is right in my wheelhouse. I would lump My Life in France, all Agatha Christie, The Illumination, The Help, Middlemarch, The Big Short, and In the Garden of Beasts into that type of reading, though they span genre and fiction vs. nonfiction.

How about you - favorite genre?

Hi Frankie – I guess I’d have to say I read about 90% literary fiction - - recent books that I loved included “The Invisible Bridge”, “The Night Circus”, “The Lonely Polygamist”, “Caleb’s Crossing”, etc. I am usually reading non-fiction as well, but never seem to finish an entire book. I’m currently browsing through “The Big Shift” by Marc Freedman, “The Emporer of Maladies” by Siddhartha Mukherjee, “Join the Club” by Tina Rosenberg, etc. I don’t read much of any other genre - - some memoir, very little mystery, no sci-fi, no fantasy, etc. but I feel like I should!

I’m going to the Int’l Miami Book Fair next month - - super excited to see what they have; maybe I’ll broaden my interest in various genres there. Thanks for sharing.

Hi! I'm hopelessly behind my goal (I'm at 43%) - My eyes were obviously bigger than my..um..reading speed:) - but I have not been including audio books in my total. I don't really know why - I feel like its cheating or something. Maybe because I'm usually doing something else while listening (walking the dogs, driving) so I feel like it shouldn't count? Where does everyone else stand on this? Am I the only crazy one?

Stephanie wrote: "Hi! I'm hopelessly behind my goal (I'm at 43%) - My eyes were obviously bigger than my..um..reading speed:) - but I have not been including audio books in my total. I don't really know why - I feel..."

1) Audiobooks count. You're taking in the story without decoding symbols on a page; but you are also exercising other portions of your brain like spatial relationships and memory that most print readers do not utilize;

2) Cheating at what? Like if you admit that you listen to audiobooks the ghost of Gutenburg is going to smite you down? Revoke your library card? What?

3) If this were a a challenge involving how many miles you were driving in your car, would you not count the miles because you were also listening to an audiobook while driving?

Tanya/dog eared copy wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Hi! I'm hopelessly behind my goal (I'm at 43%) - My eyes were obviously bigger than my..um..reading speed:) - but I have not been including audio books in my total. I don't really..."

Good points all Tanya! Not sure my "reasons" are at all logical:) Thanks!

Stephanie wrote: "Tanya/dog eared copy wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Hi! I'm hopelessly behind my goal (I'm at 43%) - My eyes were obviously bigger than my..um..reading speed:) - but I have not been including audio book..."

I know how you feel - but the Bossypants and The Help ABs officially removed my audio guilt, because I think that they are actually better than the word-on-the-page experiences. You can add yours to your count with pride - Come out of the audio closet! This is a safe space! :)

I have been using the challenge as a way to slog through my 'to read' list. I just finished The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and LOVED it. It has been on my To Read for at least 3 years! I am thankful for the challenge even if I don't reach my goal as it has focused my reading efforts.

Stephanie wrote: "Hi! I'm hopelessly behind my goal (I'm at 43%) - My eyes were obviously bigger than my..um..reading speed:) - but I have not been including audio books in my total. I don't really know why - I feel..."

I'm glad you brought this up as I hadn't been counting audio books either (? due to less effort required?) but after reading the responses to your post, I'll count them on my list! Thanks :)