Books on the Nightstand discussion

Callie wrote: "I'm also going to try to visit 12 indie bookstores that I've never been to in 2012, including RiverRun's new location in Portsmouth, NH."

So what stores are on your list? Would love to know.

I learned in 2011 that I don't like to have rules telling me what books I HAVE to read. Everytime I agreed to read book for a book club, I missed the deadline and either never finished or finished way after I was supposed to. So, I don't want to mess up my plans for 2012 with a lot of categories and rules.

So...in 2011 I read 58 books so I decided to increase that just a smidge to 60 books which is a neat 5 per month.

A loose plan will be to read all the authors who will be at the Vermont Booktopia and I think my best bet for five books a month is something like this: one YA books, one chick-lit book, one non-fiction and two "regular" books.

Also, since Dickens is a big theme in 2012 I might try to read something of his. I've done my duty by skimming the Cliffs Notes while a kid so I know some of the basic plots but I would like to give Dickens a real chance. I'm just not sure which one I'm going to pick up.

Valerie wrote: So what stores are on your list? Would love to know."

Bartleby's in Vermont (which I will hopefully hit on the way to the retreat in April), Gibson's in Concord, NH... and after that I'm not sure! I'd love suggestions (southern to mid-NH, and north-central MA especially!)!

Well it's officially 2012 here and while I wait for goodreads to update the "date started" field to include 2012 I have had a think about the 12 book challenge for this year. Along with many others I plan on reading 12 classics (starting with the Great Gatsby which is currently sitting on my coffee table staring at me) and 12 books I already own. In addition I will also read 12 books to review (I review books for our local newspaper) and 12 books I have borrowed (as I have about 12 books from friends currently sitting on my shelf which I need to return).

Callie wrote: "I'm also going to try to visit 12 indie bookstores that I've never been to in 2012, including RiverRun's new location in Portsmouth, NH."

I LOVE this interpretation of 12 in '12. Go Callie!!

I am going to give 12 books I gave up on a second chance. I have audiobooks that I gave up on several years ago, still on my Audible account and it nags on me that, they are wasted money. I already finished one that I had given up on and am on the second. Karen

I'm going to go a bit overboard and set 12 goals (but I'm going to allow a book to count for more then one goal at a time). The overall challenge is to seriously reduce my back log of books to read. I've only tracked my reading here, and have my full to read list on LibraryThing.

1. Read 12 more books then 2011 (so 55 books)
2. Read 12 Hugh winners
3. Read 12 Nebula winners
4. Read 12 books written before 1970 (at the suggestion of a friend)
5. Read 12 books by Tanith Lee
6. Read 12 books by Harlan Ellison
7. Read 12 graphic novels (I'm sure I own that many, but I know most aren't cataloged as "to read" on LT)
8. Read 12 short story collections
9. Read 12 Emperor Norton books (fiction and non-fiction)
10. Read 12 books selected by committee (anyone can vote for books from my "to read" list, just have to figure out how to set it up). Often friends will be dismayed that I've not read a book sitting on my shelf, so this is their chance to fix that :)

The last two are not reading challenges:

11. Remove 12 books from my "to read" collection (with over 800 to read, I'll never get to all of them, may as well let some go to new homes without reading them)

12. Buy no more then 12 books (new or used, but doesn't count gifts) and read no more then 12 books not on my "to read" list) This will probably be the hardest one to meet.

Mike - I think some of your goals might tie in to my 2012 unclutter plans! I should compare my physical bookshelves to your To Read List.

Callie wrote: "I'm also going to try to visit 12 indie bookstores that I've never been to in 2012, including RiverRun's new location in Portsmouth, NH."

What a great idea! I wonder if I could find 12 independent book stores.

Twelve on my shelves at home and twelve classics I haven't read.

Helen wrote: "Mike - I think some of your goals might tie in to my 2012 unclutter plans! I should compare my physical bookshelves to your To Read List."

Sadly my To Read list is on my physical bookshelves. (That is, all the books on my to read list are ones I already own).

Callie wrote: "Valerie wrote: So what stores are on your list? Would love to know."

Bartleby's in Vermont (which I will hopefully hit on the way to the retreat in April), Gibson's in Concord, NH... and after tha..."

Callie, if you want to go further north than Manchester, I have a couple to add to your list! :-) Does this mean one book bought at each store as well? I wouldn't be able to help myself! :-)

Chris wrote: "Callie wrote: "Valerie wrote: So what stores are on your list? Would love to know."

Bartleby's in Vermont (which I will hopefully hit on the way to the retreat in April), Gibson's in Concord, NH....."

I would love suggestions! I will be buying one book at each store, I always do when I visit an indie (or at least try to)!

I think that is a really cool idea you have! :-)) In Middlebury, there is the Vermont Book Shop. In Essex, there is the Phoenix (I went there for the first time last week, it was great!). In Burlington, the Crow Bookshop (used and new). And in Montpelier, two: Bear Pond Books (probably my all-time favorite shop. While it's now in a different location, that's where I took $1.95 to buy my first book purchase with my own money, "Little House in the Big Woods!") and Rivendell. Both are owned by the same people, although Rivendell sells mostly used books, it's actually in the old location of Bear Pond! There is also a really cool one in Portsmouth, and I don't think it is River Run. This one was tucked away in a brick building. It's been a few years since I've been there, I'll see if I can figure out the name! I adored going to the Northshire, and they have such great events and book clubs. Unfortunately, they are about 2 hours away, not easy on a work night.

The 2011 challenge encouraged me to read more and I loved doing it..So I'm going to do the boring, predictable thing here..and try to
add 12 more books in 2012. Just finished #1, The Marriage Plot.

So many possible 12's floating around here!

- 12 oldest TBRs either virtual or real shelf
- 12 recently published books of interest
- 12 books by favorite author/s
- 12 classics
- 12 non-fiction

Not planning to read as much, not planning to read more, not planning to plan very much regarding the reading but hitting some of these 12's with or without overlap seems fairly doable to me.

Visiting new bookstores & libraries sounds like a great reading challenge for 2012 but don't know if I can make it to 12, perhaps I'll have to do "virtual visits" too.

As far as reading goes I was surprised when I counted for 2011, I'd read 60 books, thanks for making me figure it out! I'll stick with 60 but try to include twelve NEW authors. My books come primarily from the library though when I buy its only from Indies!

After stumbling onto the BOTNS podcast, I realized that I really need to read more new releases! I read 80 books this year and MAYBE I'll try for 12 more, but I'm going to dedicate myself to reading 12 releases from '12.

Callie wrote: "I'm also going to try to visit 12 indie bookstores that I've never been to in 2012, including RiverRun's new location in Portsmouth, NH."

What a great idea.

12 Classics
12 Award Winners (Booker, Nobel, etc.)
12 Oldest from my TBR list
12 Non Fiction / Biography
12 Re-Reads
Each book only counts for 1 category, no overlap.
A little less than I read last year, but I'm sure that Ann and Michael will expand my list.

12 books from my book discussion
12 spiritual books
12 books from my tbr list
12 books from my home stacks
12 books recommended by BOTNS

Total 60 books

AND no one book can be in more than one list - I have to commit it to one category.

Taliah wrote: "I'm starting with these 12 in '12

1. Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War
2. [book:Brothers (and Me): A Memoir of Loving and Giving|12256..."

I loved Mighty Be Our Powers. Let us know what you think of it.

I'm sticking with the 12s theme ... last year I squeaked in to hit my goal of 50 books but I'm still going to up it this year to 60 books (last year we had a few life changing events that made focusing on reading hard) and see if I can do it ... so my plan is:
12 fiction books from my shelves
12 nonfiction books from my shelves
12 bookclub books
24 other (library; audible; borrowed; other book club; kindle; etc)
Of the books from my shelves I think I'm going to read the ones I've been hoarding first ...

My goal is to read 12 books in German and 12 books in Dutch on top of my normal reading. I really want to improve in both languages.

Last year I made my goal of reading 126 books so I upped it to 140. I going to tackle the books in my book clubs and "TBR" list first.

I am going to read 12 more "books from home" than I did in 2011, so that goal is 22 books I already own. I will also read 12 books that have either been loaned or highly recommended to me (mostly adventure books by my hubbie) and those two goals can/will overlap.

I am not setting a total number goal this year, but I did have fun keeping track in 2011, so will continue counting.

I have loved reading everyone's take on the 12 in 12 challenge.

I plan on reading 12 novels from 12 different decades. Starting in 1900 and move forward in time. I'm open to suggestions!

I will add 12 books to what I completed last year.... 9. 21 for me in 12! That is very ambitious for me!

I hope it's not considered 'cheating' if I include two that I started on last year and will be finishing up shortly. One of them was in my 'pile' for quite some time, The Mermaid Chair. I hope to include more that I've had for awhile, but I mostly select a book based on what my reading mood is at the moment.

I set my little reading challenge widget to 144 since that's 12x12 but since I read 192 last year I'm not so concerned about number as quality. So, I've decided to read at least 12 books I've been avoiding, either because they seem intimidating or because they couldn't possibly be as good as I've heard :). Only problem is that as I've gone through my list searching for them, most I've avoided are really long (The Count of Monte Cristo, Infinite Jest, War and Peace...). If I read even a couple I think that'll be an accomplishment. I did start one of the shorter ones on the list last night and am enjoying it (The Handmaid's Tale). Not sure why I've been avoiding it, but I'd had it out of the library at least 5 times and didn't read it, so I was....

Chris wrote: "I think that is a really cool idea you have! :-)) In Middlebury, there is ..."

Callie, I have a NH suggestion for you - The Toadstool in Peterborough, NH. It was my local indie growing up and my daughter and I both have to stop in there every time we visit my parents.

Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "I set my little reading challenge widget to 144 since that's 12x12 but since I read 192 last year I'm not so concerned about number as quality. So, I've decided to read at least 12 books I've been ..."

I started The Count of Monte Cristo right around Christmas and am nearly halfway through. War & Peace, however, took me most of last year. They're close to the same number of pages. Apparently one is more compelling to me!

I always liked the Mr. Magoo version of The Count of Monte Cristo. Does that count?

Magoo, to me, IS Edmond Dantes.

I thought Magoo was Scrooge!

His greatest roles were Dantes, Scrooge, Cyrano De Bergerac, and Victor Frankenstein.

Seriously, I've always wanted to play Cyrano because of Magoo. It's on my bucket list.

I'm following Amy's lead and trying for 12 books released in 2012, about one per month. I ended up reading a few 2011 books toward the end of the year and enjoyed them (Ready Player One, The Night Circus, now working on The Last Werewolf), but I wish I could have been a part of the discussion when they were more current.

Meg wrote: "Chris wrote: "I think that is a really cool idea you have! :-)) In Middlebury, there is ..."

Callie, I have a NH suggestion for you - The Toadstool in Peterborough, NH. It was my local indie gr..."

I love the Toadstool! My mom is from Peterborough, and I make sure to stop by when I visit my Grammy... However! I've never been to the Toadstool in Milford, so that is definitely going on the list. thanks for the idea!

Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "I set my little reading challenge widget to 144 since that's 12x12 but since I read 192 last year I'm not so concerned about number as quality. So, I've decided to read at least 12 books I've been ..."

Cory, I've read The Count of Monte Cristo and LOVED it! Once you get started in that one, you won't want to put it down.

As to War and Peace, I originally signed up with a group to read it during 2011 which I didn't get very far on, so...
I've decided to do it myself this year. If you want to join me...

There are 365 chapters so that means 1 chapter a day all year. I started a little late so I'm only on page 45 - Chapter 7 and I actually decided to try to do 2 chapters a day to finish at the end of June.

What do ya' say? Maybe Ann would like to jump onto this one since...I won't tell, Ann.

Eric wrote: "His greatest roles were Dantes, Scrooge, Cyrano De Bergerac, and Victor Frankenstein.

Seriously, I've always wanted to play Cyrano because of Magoo. It's on my bucket list."

Magoo! What an actor ;)

PS: I have a book character crush on Edmond Dantes.

Eric wrote: "His greatest roles were Dantes, Scrooge, Cyrano De Bergerac, and Victor Frankenstein.

Seriously, I've always wanted to play Cyrano because of Magoo. It's on my bucket list."

I want to be there when you get to do Cyrano, Eric.

Jana wrote: "Eric wrote: "His greatest roles were Dantes, Scrooge, Cyrano De Bergerac, and Victor Frankenstein.

Seriously, I've always wanted to play Cyrano because of Magoo. It's on my bucket list."

Magoo! W..."

I actually read an illustrated classic of The Count when I was a kid and have been madly in love with Edmond Dantes ever since. Shhh! Don't tell my husband. He thinks it's only George Clooney that I'll leave him for.

You all are an intimidating group with the number of books you are able to get through...the best I could commit to is twelve books in 2012...

I am amending my 2012 challenge. It was originally to read 12 books that I own. I am adding 12 e-books and 12 audiobooks, and 12 library books.

Linda wrote: "Eric wrote: "His greatest roles were Dantes, Scrooge, Cyrano De Bergerac, and Victor Frankenstein.

Seriously, I've always wanted to play Cyrano because of Magoo. It's on my bucket list."

I want t..."
I want to see Eric play Cyrano, too!!!

Amy wrote: "You all are an intimidating group with the number of books you are able to get through...the best I could commit to is twelve books in 2012..."

I think Goodreads is great because it encourages people to read more, whether that is 12 more or 112 more.

Linda wrote: "Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "I set my little reading challenge widget to 144 since that's 12x12 but since I read 192 last year I'm not so concerned about number as quality. So, I've decided to rea..."

Linda, I'd be up for that. It's always easier to do something in a group. I like the idea of only reading a chapter or two a day... I don't tend to do that with fiction, but maybe I could. That way I won't feel stuck reading it instead of something else... It will just be in addition to!

I think Ann SHOULD join us... Better late than never!

Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "Linda wrote: "Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "I set my little reading challenge widget to 144 since that's 12x12 but since I read 192 last year I'm not so concerned about number as quality. So, I've ..."

About to read chapters 10 - 12. Ann, are you with us?

What do ya' say? Maybe Ann would like to jump onto this one since...I won't tell, Ann.
"

Noooooooooooooooooooo.

But, I will be a great cheerleader!

Linda wrote: "Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "I set my little reading challenge widget to 144 since that's 12x12 but since I read 192 last year I'm not so concerned about number as quality. So, I've decided to rea..."

I did the W&P read-along last year and took almost all of 2011 to read it. I think you are wise to bump it up a bit and finish in June. I would read the goal amount and then go on to a million other things. When I came back to it, I couldn't remember Pierre from Andrei or War from Peace. It took awhile to get back in the groove.

Jana wrote: "Linda wrote: "Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "I set my little reading challenge widget to 144 since that's 12x12 but since I read 192 last year I'm not so concerned about number as quality. So, I've ..."

I was supposed to be part of that group, Jana, but didn't last very long. Since I've already read (and enjoyed) the book that they are doing this year , I decided to get this one done.

It seems that most of the chapters aren't that long, so, I thought I'd kick it up a notch.