BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011

Subject: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 01:01 PM

I doubt that we'll get everyone to take part but I'd be interested if we could keep a running tally of the number of books we read in 2011. With the number of avid readers we have here at the Mudcat I'm sure the number will be staggering.

I just finished True Grit by Charles Portis. It was better than I remembered it. It's been about 30 years since the last time I picked it up.

So that's one. Who's next?

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: DonMeixner
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 01:21 PM

Unforsaken Hiero by Sterling Lanier

Captain Blood by Ragael Sabatini pub 1902 The Errol Fynn film is quite a good job of the book.

Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brien.

just staring "Ramage" and I know nothing about it yet.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 01:29 PM

Pulp History

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 01:43 PM

You learn something new every day. I didn't know there was a sequel to "Heiro's Journey". Thanks Don. I'll look for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 03:01 PM

If you want to keep searchable track, too, take a look at Library Thing. I've been using it for a year or so, when I remember. It's very easy.

Just finished David Lavender's "One Man's West." Really excellent esp. as it is about the 1920s and 30s area just down the road from us, Telluride and Ouray, Colorado and other close by areas where my folks took us for picnic, etc. The author was born and raised on a ranch, tried his hand at hard-rock mining, did more ranching and in between got a couple of degrees, but this book is about a favourite little patch of Western CO and so, more meaningful.

I've just started on Diana Gabaldon's latest of her Outlander series "An Echo in the Bones."

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 03:38 PM

Just Finished Caleb Carr's Angel of Darkness and started Treason, a rewrite of A Planet Called Treason - a gift from my Secret Santa.
Unusual for me to have two fiction in a row.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 03:44 PM

One, two, three. (You said to "count" 'em, not to name 'em.)

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 04:23 PM

I read most of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 04:45 PM

On my fifth already, with another one part finished.

LTS who can't be arsed to log out.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 04:55 PM

Wesley,

Lanier is rumored to have left parts to a third book as well. I read Hiero's Journey in the early 70's and was blow'd by it. What and exciting read. In many ways like literate Edgar Rice Borroughs.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,Big Norman Voice
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 04:58 PM

Another Mudcat smugness opportunity.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 06:21 PM

"Hands up who's coming to England"

I don't think smug. Knowing how to read is a badge of education. Knowing what to read is just good sense. Thinking what you have read is better than someone else s is pompous perhaps. Sorry Norm, I find nothing smug in this opportunity to share what we have read. I'll enjoy knowing who in England has read what. And is it available over here in the states.

D

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 06:22 PM

Sorry Norman. "Books with Mudcat in the title" is a different thread alltogether. Thanks anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 06:25 PM

And I count 13 books finished so far.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Ron Davies
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 11:35 PM

Why don't we actually talk about the books we read, perhaps with an eye to convincing others to read them?    Yes, another thread also tends in this direction, but often becomes just a listing--as this one seems to actually intend.   If not just a Mudcat version of Facebook "Friend"-counting.

I'm reading an excellent biography (not brand new) of Bing Crosby--early years--1903 to 1940. Title:      Pocketful of Dreams.   Author has a wonderful style.-- including all sorts of stories and pithy observations (e.g. "Prohibition was the government's gift to jazz.")   And when Bing was married the first time, it was "Dixie Lee Marries".   He was cited (in the New York Times) as Murray Crosey for the occasion.

Lots and lots of information on early jazz and early movies--and I'm only up to about 1931.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: quokka
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 12:01 AM

I have just finished the trilogy by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest. Absolutely brilliant!

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Janie
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 01:05 AM

Ha! Painful memories from grade school of never getting a "book worm" pin because I simply was not capable logging everything I read.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 04:24 AM

well, I have 6 novels (mainly murders - police procedurals) waiting to go back to the library, along with 2 novels (fantasies) I read before the New Year.

I'm also currently reading a number of non-fiction books.

sandra

back in the Depression when my father was still at school he got a job with the local Library to chase down overdue books. Probably less threatening to have a school boy on a bicycle asking for overdue books.

He received a few pennies per book & was allowed to borrow one book for every book he returned. He read 2000 books one year.

Dunno whether I'll beat his record - I belong to 2 local council libraries who allow borrowers to take home 20 books at a time, so I usually have up to 40 library books at once! For 3 weeks & often renewed!

One of my libraries allows me to check my borrowing history & I've borrowed 751 books since 2004 - it's amazing that so many have been discarded! They must be those ephemeral paperback murders & fantasies I like!

No, I don't think I'll beat his record.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 08:39 AM

Does a music manuscript count as a book?

What about a CDRom with a year's worth of magazines?
Does it count as a book because it is not interuppted by adverts etc. or does it not count because it is a collection of articles, or not count because it is not a physical book?

Apart from that I'm not getting much reading done at the moment by my standards, only five so far this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Becca72
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 10:26 AM

I belong to goodreads.com and keep track of everything I've read, am currently reading and would like to read there. It even sends updates and reviews to my "friends" from the site.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: theleveller
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 11:17 AM

I've read volumes.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 02:34 PM

Big Norman - look at the titles. Hardly reason for smug. I never keep track of what I have read. This exercise will be helpful.
Especially given the abuse we Yanks have received in the Stupid Thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:45 PM

Don, I hope you enjoy the Ramage series. It is an interesting and somewhat strange collection of books. The one annoyance I have had with it is that many of the books are not readily available here in the US. I makes for a rather ragged, out of sequence, read but it is always worth it.

A few minutes ago, I just finished "21." It is the first 3 chapters of what would have been O'Brian's next chapter in the Aubrey-Maturin saga. As it is clearly an early draft of the book it is not fair to really criticize it for literary quality. There are repetitions and confusing points which I am sure would have been smoothed out in later edits prior to publication. In it, Aubrey gets to hoist his blue pendant as admiral of a squadron which will head for South Africa. Maturin fights another duel with a neighbor who is the nephew of Aubrey's fleet admiral. Aubrey reunites with his son Sam, who is a papal nuncio to Buenos Aires.

There are indications of a summing up of the overall story, almost as though O'Brian knew he was going to die but was not quite prepared when it did happen. For the first 3/4 of the book the printed text is shown opposite O'Brian's raw manuscript. This is followed by several pages of raw manuscript which I chose not too read as his handwriting is pretty difficult. The book would probably have been a good, likely final, chapter in the saga. In its current form, it acts as a prologue to the real story of what this novel would have been.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:04 PM

OK, I'm in, but no religion bashing PLEASE, because my intensive studies this year will include not only several books of the Bible themselves but extensive commentary/study material for each, and I AM gonna count 'em all!

In addition, as I have posted elsewhere, I am back on reading in paper form-- real BOOKS-- with specs that work for the first time in YEARS, instead of all-audiobooks. So there is a parallel burst of intensive fiction-reading going on here as well as a number of nonfiction books I am reviewing (more than skimming) for various other ministry efforts I'm involved in.

So look out!

Then there will be the audiobooks that are bedtime/long trip fare.

Oy! :~)

~Senora la Avida

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:13 PM

By the way, I am too busy reading too many books at a time to count them.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 03:01 PM

I happened to come across volume 23 of the Richard Bolitho series by Alexander Kent [Douglas Reeman]. "Sword of Honor" is a summing up and a new beginning. Bolitho dies during an engagement related to Napoleon's excape from Elba and his Nephew and heir, Adam is given the family sword. As there are several volumes after this one, I presume they about Captain Adam Bolitho's adventures at sea from this point. I look forward to finding and reading them.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 07:00 PM

I've been keeping a books read list since November 1, 1972. So my yearly tally goes from Nov. 1 to Oct. 31. For the past 5 or so years, I've been averaging 125-140 books a year. Plus magazines, trade pubs, newspapers and newsletters (dead tree and electronic), etcet etcet. I'm compulsive. I read to get into the day (I schedule a minimum of a half hour of reading before I get "up", dressed and off to work or whatever) and I read to get out of the day -- requiring at least a half hour's reading time before turning out the light and falling asleep. I keep a book in the car, and (at various times) have kept a book in my lunch bag. (Lately I've been reading the local paper on my lunch break.) I used to read a "bathtub book" while sipping a margarita in a bubble bath, but since I broke my arm three years ago, I'm more or less limited to showers and a shower is NOT conducive to reading a book (or sipping a margarita). But that gives me more post-wake-up and pre-getting dressed time to read.

This morning I finished Angela Thirkell's "Northbridge Rectory" and started Thomas Flanagan's "The Year of the French". Got a book of poetry going in the car. Oh, and Aldous Huxley's book of essays on religion, "Themes and Variations". But I'm frightfully behind on reading Vanity Fair magazine.

I've been making a concerted effort to read some of the books that have been on the "to read" pile (or cleverly shelved) for twenty or thirty years while other books hijack my attention.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 10:56 PM

I'm currently reading "Melting Pot Soldiers" (about "ethnic" units in the American Civil War) and several others. Been multi-reading for years and years.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 06:55 AM

I confess not one, I promised myself I would start reading through all my Harry Potter books during the Christmas break ....or shall I wait until the last of the films?

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: 3refs
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 07:48 PM

Shake Hands with The Devil(second time, Johnny Bower's "China Wall" and about to start Bob Probert's "Tough Guy! My life on the edge.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 10:02 AM

I have just read the "Diary for 2012". Most exciting. I am looking forward to the follow up.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 10:32 AM

Not the first finished, but the first since the thread began:

ANSWERING GOD: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer
Author: Eugene Peterson
Paperback

===

This review is from: Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer (Paperback)
I have to agree with the reviewer of August 7, 2001's enthusiasm for this book. I first read "Answering God: The Psalms As Tools for Prayer" when I checked it out of a local library. The book so moved and changed me that I had to stop midway, turn the book back in at the library, and order a copy.

"Answering God" is the kind of book that helps the reader open doors that have always be locked to them. In my case, it has revolutionized the way I pray while giving the Psalms greater meaning to me.

It is a small book of great depth. It looks at the Psalms--warts and all. It digs deep into the topics it discusses. It looks at the basic questions of what a Psalm consists of. It then teaches what prayer is and how it affects those who pray. It follows this by teaching the reader how to pray the Psalms.

This book is full of practical advice and direction. Eugene Peterson is the perfect person to write this book. He is an expert in the field of prayer...not because of any degree he holds but because he is a deep person of prayer (this will be crystal clear to anyone who reads the book). Peterson is a trusted guide for the sometimes unforgiving terrain of the Psalms.

I give "Answering God" my most heartfelt recommendation. I urge you to get a copy today.

===

I agree. Marvelous little book. Got it because, in another assigned text, the author mentions this one. Thought it would help, and it did.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 11:23 AM

The Country Beyond, by James Oliver Curwood

The Country Beyond, subtitled A Romance In the Wilderness, is a story of "Jolly" Roger McKay, an outcast on the run from the law; Nada, the girl he falls in love with; and Peter, the devoted mixed-breed dog who links the two together as no human could, as action, adventure, and romance take them through the Northwest Canadian wilderness in search of The Country Beyond.

http://librivox.org/the-country-beyond-by-james-oliver-curwood/

===

The next Curwood I just started ("The Golden Snare) is about an adventure featuring intermixed-race people in Canada-- which is very interesting because it relates to the Anti-Racism work I am doing and the interest Hardi and I have in hockey.

====

Will finish tomorrow so listing it now:

Quicksand, by Nella Larsen (1891-1964)

Quicksand ... focuses on Helga Crane, a mixed-race woman who is a schoolteacher in the American south. As the novel opens, she suddenly decides to give up her teaching position and go north, back to her roots in Chicago. Helga's restless search for identity is semi-autobiographical, inspired by Larsen's own struggles to reconcile her mixed heritage with the racism of 1920s America. Although this novel was published after 1923, the copyright was never renewed and is therefore in the public domain.

http://librivox.org/quicksand-by-nella-larsen/

===

The BIG one:

EfM (Education for Ministry), Year One - Old Testament

# Overview of the History of Israel - Introduction to the Critical Study of the Scriptures
# The Book of Genesis - The Themes of Creation, Sin, Judgment and Redemption - Beginning the Study of Theology, Ethics and Liturgics
# The Exodus-Sinai Event and the Establishment of the Tribal Confederacy in Canaan - The Covenant of God with His People - The Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, and 1 Samuel
# The Rise of the Monarchy - The Books of 2 Samuel, 2 Kings, Deuteronomy, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah of Jerusalem, Jeremiah and Ezekiel
# Exilic and Post-Exilic Judaism - Judaism at the Beginning of Christianity
# Second Isaiah - Ezra - Nehemiah - The Chronicler - The Psalter
# The Wisdom Literature
# The Maccabean Revolt
# Judaism and the World of Jesus

http://www.eastcarolinaefm.com/id14.html and http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/index.htm

Later I will list the OT books/commentaries also read-- have to think back and look ahead so will post them in a bunch.

===

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 11:44 AM

The Crime Writer by Gregg Hurwitz (very good)

Bizarre Superstitions - the world's wackiest proverbs, rituals and beliefs by Christopher Cooper (interesting read)

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 12:13 PM

Ummm...

Do them pickture magazines count? The ones on the top shelf at the variety store? I have read several of them, eh?

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 12:15 PM

Shane,
You sure "read" is the word you want here, bud?

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 12:20 PM

Sorry! I shoulda said "red", right?

Or "readed"?

Whatever.

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 12:29 PM

Shane,
As long as you are reading, how you spell it doesn't matter. Comic books count. I am convinced that if high started getting kids to read what they want instead of what some out of date curriculum requires, they would want to read.
I supplemented my son's school reading list with a heal;thy dose of comic books, fan magazine and Michael Jackson biographies.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 12:48 PM

I think a more accurate statement would be that you "Looked at" those picture magazines on the top shelf. :-) Unless, of course, you "read" what Miss January's turn offs and turn ons were...

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 06:10 PM

Jeez! Yer kids are lucky, SINSULL. I wisht the flippin' skools in Blind River had yer kind of common sense.

Becca, I know all there is to know about what turns on and turns off hot babes. Trust me. I can tell you the the color of a girl's   underware just by lookin' at her eyes, eh?

What I am really waitin' to read is Don Cherry's next book when he gets arownd to writin' one. The man is a flippin' geenyus. He makes Obamma look like a skinny Black guy! Too bad for youse that he is not an American or you could, like, elect him Prezident for life! He would END terrerism once and fer all. Trust me.

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: J-boy
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 12:32 AM

The Killer Angels yet again. I demand that Ye Mudcatters read it! I also just finished the third in a graphic novel (comic book) series called "Scalped" that takes place in an all too believable Indian reservation. Very violent and not for the squeamish.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 11:23 AM

The Golden Snare by James Oliver Curwood

With but two years of service in the RNMP, Philip Raine finds himself somewhat unwillingly on the trail of Bram Johnson, wanted for murder and a wild, untamed and savage man who commands a pack of wolves as his brethren.

But most peculiar of all is the snare which Bram had had in his possession and had somehow lost. It was a golden snare intricately woven out of the finest, most delicate flaxen hair of a woman. But what could possibly be the relationship between this half-human murderer and a woman who could have borne a crown of such beauty and elegance? The mystery of Bram Johnson and his wolves, and the golden snare, becomes one which Raine feels compelled to unravel even as he pursues the wild man and his pack among his own territory of the Canadian barren lands.

http://librivox.org/the-golden-snare-by-james-oliver-curwood/

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 01:56 PM

Vocab from the above:

Chasse-galere.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,lefthanded guitar
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 03:20 PM

I read a beautiful story called Blue Roses by a writer new to me; Frances Hwang. But I read an entire collection of short stories by her and EVERY ONE was a disappointment. Sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 03:25 PM

Just finished Winter Ghosts.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 10:49 PM

Recently read Anne Tyler's Digging to America, Faye Kellerman's Hangman, Marcia Muller's Coming Back, and have almost finished Sara Paretsky's Body Work.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: scouse
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 04:57 PM

Oh Dear, I must confess to being a Sci-Fi addict just read the latest from Ian M. Banks... Super. but just started readin' the Millennium trilogy.. a complete change and I love it..

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 05:12 PM

I've just re-read Colin(Angry Young Man)Wilson's autobiography. It's very entertaining.
Btw, It occurred to me today that I never see anybody reading a book on the local bus these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 06:52 PM

Neither do I! But then...I'm never on the local bus....

Subject: RE: BS: Lets count the books we read in 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 09:59 PM

The Harvester, by Gene (Eugenia) Stratton-Porter (1863-1924)

The Harvester is one of Gene Stratton-Porter's romantic novels which combine a love of nature, high moral ideals and a good plot. This is the story of a young man who lives in the country side with his dog and other animals and grows herbs to sell to medical drug supply houses. One evening, he has a vision of his Dream Girl and this is the story of his search for her and what happens when he finds her.

http://librivox.org/the-harvester-by-gene-stratton-porter/

~Susan