klarusu's 2015 Category Challenge

Converses2015 Category Challenge

Afegeix-te a LibraryThing per participar.

klarusu's 2015 Category Challenge

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1klarusu
Editat: març 3, 2015, 8:04 am

Nothing like a good category challenge to kick start my reading in 2015. For many reasons, I've had a lull in reading activity this year and I need a good list and an element of random to put the momentum into 2015 so this was its obvious home.

I've got a really broad cross section of stuff that I want to read in 2015 so I'm going for 15 categories and I want to read at least 5 books in each because I'd like to get back to my comfort zone of 75 books. The categories may change before Jan 1st but for the first time in a long while, I feel like planning reading instead of drifting so I'm here early.

I'm going to update my Current stats in the main post below and we'll see how it goes.

2klarusu
Editat: gen. 1, 2016, 1:41 pm

WHERE AM I NOW: SUMMARY POST

CURRENTLY READING:

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantez (Chunksters, Reading Globally)
Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissenger (Banned & Challenged)
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (Chunksters)
I Think You'll Find it's a Bit More Complicated than That by Ben Goldacre (New Arrivals)
Irrationality by Stuart Sutherland (Authors that are New To Me)
The Peripheral by William Gibson (Resident Tomes)
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb (The Band Played On)
The Developing Genome by David S. Moore (New Arrivals)
The Bat by Jo Nesbo
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Audiobook) by JK Rowling

1. Haruki Murakami: 0/5
2. Authors that are New to Me: 5/5
3. The Band Played On: 5/5
4. Banned & Challenged: 1/5
5. Chunksters: 5/5
6. Thing-ummybobs: 5/5
7. Beautiful Books: 4/5
8. Running Related: 7/5
9. All Things Graphic Novelish: 18/5
10. New Arrivals: 5/5
11. Resident Tomes: 4/5
12. Translated Writing: 1/5
13. SFFFCAT: 4/5
14. HistoryCAT & History: 4/5
15. BingoDOG: 4/5

1001 Books Tracking Post
Reading Globally Tracking Post
AlphaKIT Tracking Post




I should be ahead of this ticker if things are going well!




I have a couple of other, long term, LT lists on the go (What can I say? I like lists!) These are my 'no pressure' lists but I'm going to just track how many books count towards each here.

Reading Globally: 2

1001 Books List: 2

5klarusu
Editat: nov. 22, 2015, 8:47 am

3: The Band Played On (Series reads - ongoing & new)



3.1 Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve (Mortal Engines Prequels 1)
3.2 Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices 2)
3.3 To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer (Riverworld 1)
3.4 Small Favour by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files 10)
3.5 Changeless by Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate 2)

6klarusu
Editat: des. 19, 2015, 7:07 pm

4: Banned & Challenged (Books from the ALA's frequently banned/challenged lists)



4.1 Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5

Planned Reads


Based on the lists on the ALA website

7klarusu
Editat: nov. 22, 2015, 8:48 am

5: Chunksters (For my purposes, over 500 pages)



5.1 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (Audiobook: 23h 57m) (592 pages)
5.2 Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (Audiobook: 24h 21m) (582 pages)
5.3 Battle Royale by Koushun Takami (600 pages)
5.4 The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness (Audiobook: 23h 53m) (561 pages)
5.5 The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (501 pages)

8klarusu
Editat: nov. 22, 2015, 8:48 am

6: Thing-ummybobs (Books I read because LibraryThing made me do it ... I had no choice!)



6.1 Soulless by Gail Carriger
6.2 Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
6.3 The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson
6.4 All Who Go Do Not Return by Shulem Deen
6.5 Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

9klarusu
Editat: des. 12, 2015, 5:57 am

7: Beautiful Books (for whatever reason I consider them so!)



7.1 The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
7.2 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Folio Society edition)
7.3 Dune by James Herbert (Folio Society Edition)
7.4 The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter (Folio Society Edition)
7.5

Planned Reads

  • Emma by Jane Austen (Folio Society edition)
  • The Golem by Gustav Meyrink (Folio Society edition)

10klarusu
Editat: des. 20, 2015, 3:00 am

8: Running Related (including those 'read' en route)



8.1 Endgame by Frank Brady (Audiobook)
8.2 Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe (Audiobook)
8.3 The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer (Audiobook)
8.4 The Way of the Runner by Adharanand Finn
8.5 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Audiobook) by JK Rowling
8.6 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Audiobook) by JK Rowling
8.7 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Audiobook) by JK Rowling

12klarusu
Editat: oct. 11, 2015, 2:30 pm

10: New Arrivals



10.1 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
10.2 The Deeper Genome by John Parrington
10.3 Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole by Allan Ropper
10.4 Complications by Atul Gawande
10.5 Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed

13klarusu
Editat: des. 20, 2015, 3:29 pm

11: Resident Tomes



11.1 North Korea: State of Paranoia by Paul French
11.2 Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
11.3 A Rag, a Bone and a Hank of Hair by Nicholas Fisk
11.4 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore
11.5

Planned Reads

14klarusu
Editat: feb. 23, 2015, 7:24 am

12: Translated Writing



12.1 The Iraqi Christ by Hassan Blasim
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5

Planned Reads

15klarusu
Editat: oct. 11, 2015, 6:35 pm

13: SFFFCAT



13.1 I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
13.2 Ready Player One (Audiobook) by Ernest Cline
13.3 Freakangels: Volume 2 by Warren Ellis
13.4 The Wicked & the Divine: Volume 1 by Kieron Gillen

13.5

Actual Reads

January Other Pasts (Steampunk, Gas Lamp and other historical SFFF)

February The Classics (SFFF Written before 1980):

March It's the End of the World As We Know It (Apocalyptic, Dystopic and Post-Apocalyptic Novels)

October What Was That? (Supernatural, Paranormal and the Just Plain Inexplicable - Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy and Gothic):

Planned Reads and Categories

November Off on a Quest (Heroes, Superheroes, Puzzles and Epic Journeys):

December Under the Influence (Influential and/or Award Winning and Award Nominated SFFF):

SFFF CAT Wiki

16klarusu
Editat: nov. 22, 2015, 8:51 am

14: HistoryCAT & History



14.1 Rasputin: A Short Life by Frances Welch
14.2 Going Clear by Lawrence Wright
14.3 Black Ships by Jo Graham
14.4 Brighton: the Graphic Novel by Various
14.5

Planned Reads

April: 1000 to 1300 Crime & Mysteries
Thomas Becket: Warrior, Priest, Rebel

May: 1300 to 1500 Plagues & Disasters

June: 1500 to 1600 Culture & the Arts

July: 1600 to 1700 Immigration & Migration

August: 1700 to 1800 Medicine & Disease

September: 1800 to 1850 Lifestyles of Ordinary People

October: 1850 to 1900 Science & Technology

November: 1900 to 1945 War & Peace

December: 1945 to 1990 Civil Rights & Equality

History CAT Wiki

17klarusu
Editat: des. 12, 2015, 6:03 am

15: BingoDOG



15.1 The Owl Service by Alan Garner
15.2 The Tiger that Isn't by Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilnot
15.3 Joe: the Only Boy in the World by Michael Blastland
15.4 What If? by Randall Munroe
15.5

Actually Read

Planned Reads & Categories

Read a book about language(s): Empire of the Word or Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
Read a book published in 1915: The Golem

18mamzel
set. 11, 2014, 11:39 am

I'll look forward to your categories and how you fill them! Have fun!

19klarusu
set. 11, 2014, 5:45 pm

Thanks mamzel. I'm in deep cogitation mode. Decisions, decisions.

20DeltaQueen50
set. 11, 2014, 6:41 pm

Welcome to the challenge. I will also be looking forward to the category unveiling.

21_Zoe_
set. 11, 2014, 6:41 pm

I'm looking forward to seeing what the categories are!

22klarusu
set. 11, 2014, 6:47 pm

'Unveiling' makes it seem so grand ;-)

Zoë, I've tracked your thread down already & I'm book stalking :-)

23_Zoe_
set. 11, 2014, 7:07 pm

:D

24-Eva-
Editat: set. 15, 2014, 12:44 am

Looking forward to seeing what you read for this year.

25cyderry
set. 25, 2014, 10:52 pm

looks like fun is in the works for 2015!

27klarusu
Editat: oct. 12, 2015, 5:16 am

Reading Globally: Planned Reads




  1. (COMPLETED) The Iraqi Christ (Iraq)

  2. 2666 (Spain)

  3. Don Quixote (Spain)

  4. Les Miserables (France)

  5. Half of a Yellow Sun (Nigeria)

  6. The Golem (Austria)

  7. (COMPLETED) We Need New Names (Zimbabwe)

28klarusu
Editat: abr. 17, 2015, 5:04 am

AlphaKIT (Planning)





AlphaKIT Wiki

29Tazoh
set. 30, 2014, 10:52 am

OMG - you have lots of books I love on your lists of choices. You're gonna have a great year! Do you know that Murakami has a book that would fit your running category - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running? It's a really cool memoir.

30klarusu
set. 30, 2014, 11:43 am

>29 Tazoh: I do! I've already read it but I was thinking of sliding it in for a re-read. It makes me want to run ridiculously long distances ;-)

31DeltaQueen50
oct. 22, 2014, 1:34 pm

Some great categories and I love your pictures - especially the one for your HistoryCat reading!

32MissWatson
oct. 22, 2014, 3:33 pm

Ooh, there's pictures now! And such cool ones, too. And so many "Yes, I always meant ro read that myself" books. Happy reading!

33rabbitprincess
oct. 22, 2014, 10:10 pm

Hee hee, I like the new arrivals picture!

34mamzel
oct. 23, 2014, 12:05 pm

I love your SFFcat picture and the graphic novel one made me laugh.

35klarusu
oct. 25, 2014, 9:44 am

Thanks guys, I had fun with the pictures. Trouble is, I want to read everything NOW! ;-)

36LittleTaiko
oct. 26, 2014, 9:34 pm

I feel your pain - as soon as I put something in a 2015 category, I feel an urge to read it now. Fortunately, there are plenty of other books to distract me.

37klarusu
Editat: gen. 5, 2015, 6:29 am

I'm being very good and sticking to finishing up as many of my current reads as possible before the end of the year. Nonetheless, I have planned for January already and there are some purchases winging their way to my post box as I type. Here's January's intended list:

JANUARY READS

38klarusu
Editat: des. 17, 2014, 3:58 am

So, I managed to clear down my Kindle reading decks before Yule which means I think I can officially declare that I'm starting on the 2015 Challenge reads. Still going on a couple of physical books and one audio but quite frankly, this is the lowest carry-over from year to year I've had. By year end, I think I'll only have one longer term read on the go (A Long Walk to Freedom, which I'm really enjoying but which I dip into and out of at will so am quite without pressure to finish).

39dudes22
des. 17, 2014, 6:53 am

I'm finally finding time to catch up on everyone's threads before the new year starts. Sounds like you've got some ambitious reading plans and some good books planned. I'm also planning a year-long read of Les Miserables. And I like your pictures.

40Poquette
des. 18, 2014, 2:01 am

Looking forward to following your thread! Quite a few of your planned reads look interesting. I read The Hero with a Thousand Faces many years ago and will be interested in your comments.

41Sonrisadeamapola
des. 18, 2014, 7:15 pm

Looks quite interesting! I've read some of the books on your list, but I need to say that 2666 by Roberto Bolaño is a master piece! (I'm kind of a Bolaño's books fan)
I'll love to follow your thread!

42lkernagh
des. 25, 2014, 10:28 pm

Ha, I can totally see how Soulless fits into your Thing-ummybobs category.... I blame LT for getting me started on the Carriger series, along with a lot of other books! ;-)

I see you have 2666 as one of the books under your 1001 books. If you do read that one, I will be very curious to see what you think of it.

43klarusu
gen. 5, 2015, 6:34 am

>39 dudes22: I'm not sure I'm ready for Les Miserables this early in the year but I do think it's going to take me a large chunk of the year to finish ... unless it catches my imagination!

>40 Poquette: The Hero with a Thousand Faces is a bit different from my usual fare but I'm looking forward to starting it - hopefully it will start me thinking.

>41 Sonrisadeamapola: 2666 is going to be my first Roberto Bolaño read so with that recommendation, I'm quite excited ;-)

>42 lkernagh: I've just ordered the rest of the Parasol Protectorate series ... I may be hooked!

44klarusu
Editat: feb. 2, 2015, 8:27 am

Now 2015 is actually underway, I feel it's time for an updated post for the month.

JANUARY READS
(* = currently reading)

I am aware I read too much ;-)

Also, I can't get the later volumes of Saga to touchstone correctly ... it ended up linking to the Twilight novels (of all things bad and unholy!)

45klarusu
Editat: gen. 5, 2015, 10:15 am

1. Soulless by Gail Carriger



(SFF CAT: January, BingoDOG: with a mythical creature , Thing-ummybobs)
(for enjoyment value)

Gail Carriger had missed my radar until I checked out the discussions on the SFF CAT thread for January's steampunk (etc.) category but I'm glad she has now. This was a thoroughly enjoyable romp that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a plausibly written alternative past for London that includes vampires, werewolves and steampunk science, with humorous, snappy dialogue and a sense that this book has the ability to laugh at itself. I'm not usually a werewolf/vampire fan at all - actually, I avoid vampire books where possible because they are usually, for me, a disappointing experience so it speaks volumes of the downright escapist fun of this book that I enjoyed it so much. I read steampunk-esque books for pure escapism but that doesn't mean I like badly written books. Carriger writes engagingly in a style that suits rather than detracts from the story. Definitely a good read - look forward to reading the rest of the series.

46klarusu
Editat: gen. 5, 2015, 10:14 am

2. Saga: Volume 1 by Brian K Vaughan



(All Things Graphic Novelish)
(for art & story)

Robot-mammal hybrids, star-crossed lovers from warring species, a cross-breed child and a soul-bound ghost guardian teen, cut off at the waist with entrails to boot - what's not to love about Saga? The story really drew me in and the artwork was great. Really great world-building - a great set-up for the next books in the series to develop the story. Looking forward to reading all of them - I hope they hold up to expectation.

47klarusu
Editat: gen. 5, 2015, 10:14 am

3. Rat Queens: Sass and Sorcery by Kurt Wiebe



(All Things Graphic Novelish)
(for art & story)

I loved, loved, loved this. The Rat Queens are a group of kick butt adventurers - Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief - who drink, fight and generally debauch their way around a fantasy-medieval world, with a supporting cast of humans, orcs, trolls and creatures. The story caught me, the artwork was great and I loved the characters. I also loved the diversity - species, body shape, sexuality ... - which gave the comic depth and interest beyond a standard template of personalities. This is the first compilation of comics I've read in a long while that tempted me to go and find the next comics in the series as just that, comics, rather than waiting for Volume 2 to come out ... but wait I will and the excitement will be hard to contain ;-)

48LittleTaiko
gen. 5, 2015, 11:15 am

>43 klarusu: - Good luck with the Les Miserables read this year. I read it last year for my theater book club and really enjoyed it overall. There are definitely some parts that can be skimmed if you start to feel that the book is dragging, especially in the middle during some of the war narrative.

49klarusu
gen. 5, 2015, 11:40 am

>48 LittleTaiko: Thanks for the advice ... there may be some war skimming involved ;-)

50klarusu
gen. 6, 2015, 3:55 am

4. The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami



(Beautiful Books)


This was a strange and wonderful little book. It may not be for everyone - at only 88 pages long, it's a quick bite of a book but on the other hand, it's sumptuous. I am a strong believer that something was lost in book production when we moved on from the old-fashioned hardbacks with beautiful pictorial plates, often covered by tissue paper, to a world of mass-market paperbacks filled with words alone. I attended a lecture a few years back given by Philip Pullman, where he talked about the borderland that we inhabit when we enter the world of a book and how our imagination is stimulated and taken further by the marriage of pictures and words. This is a book that lives in that imaginative borderland - beautifully crafted, greatly imagined, an experience to read. It was such a lovely book that I haven't even counted it in my Murakami category - it definitely sits more firmly in the 'Beautiful Books' category.

51klarusu
gen. 6, 2015, 3:57 am

I'm enjoying my disproportionate number of 5 star reads to start the year. It's a symptom of the big pile of books I've been saving until January that I was really looking forward to.

52lkernagh
gen. 6, 2015, 8:48 pm

I have yet to dip into Murakami, mainly because the reviews I have read for books like 1Q85, Kafka on the Shore and even The Wind up Bird Chronicles - the last one I own a copy of - kind of daunt me. The Strange Library sounds like a wonderful place for me to get a glimpse of Murakami's writing. Sadly my local library doesn't have a copy of The Strange Library.... how strange is that! ;-)

53_Zoe_
gen. 6, 2015, 8:57 pm

I'm glad the year has started out so well for you!

54electrice
Editat: gen. 7, 2015, 9:04 am

>45 klarusu: I read steampunk-esque books for pure escapism but that doesn't mean I like badly written books. I hear ya, sister. Soulless meets beautifully this requirement.

>46 klarusu: I read Saga last year and I hope too that the next ones would be as good.

>47 klarusu: I just bought Rat Queens, I've read good things about it on bookriot, your review is great !

>50 klarusu: I've seen The Strange Library while in London but I didn't know that it was a beautiful book, I love hardback and coffee-table books, so I'll keep this one in mind.

55-Eva-
gen. 8, 2015, 11:59 pm

Wow, you're off to a fantastic start of the year!

56klarusu
Editat: gen. 27, 2015, 6:50 am

5. Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve



(SFF CAT: January, The Band Played On: Mortal Engines Prequels, BingoDOG: Read a CAT)


I was predisposed to like this. Philip Reeve is one of my favourite YA authors. His world-building and characterisation are wonderful and I love the gritty, post-apocalyptic future-past he creates. Fever Crumb didn't disappoint. It's the first of several prequels to the Mortal Engines tetralogy but absolutely stands alone apart from that as the tale of Fever Crumb, a young orphan girl brought up by the Order of Engineers in a future world that has lost all modern technology and reverted to a world where steampunk-ian creations exist and modern technology is relegated to the status of misunderstood relics dug up by the archaeologists of the time. For this reason, despite it being ostensibly a book set in a future or alternate world, I would still class it as a steampunk novel. I can definitely recommend Philip Reeve if this is the kind of book you like to read.

57AHS-Wolfy
gen. 21, 2015, 12:24 pm

>56 klarusu: I've read a few of the Hungry Cities books so it's good to see a positive review for one of the sequels also.

58klarusu
Editat: gen. 27, 2015, 6:51 am

6. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth



(Thing-ummy Bobs, BingoDOG: Outside your comfort zone, Biography Group Read)


I wouldn't have ordinarily chosen this book for myself - this kind of first hand day-to-day social history is not really something I tend to enjoy but, having decided to throw caution to the wind and join in with the BioKIT Quarterly Group Read, I was actually pleasantly surprised. It was a simply written book, in itself not a masterclass in autobiographical style, but this was vastly outweighed by the interest value for me. For those who haven't seen the TV program (I was one of them as this kind of UK Sunday-night fodder doesn't really excite me), this book chronicles the early period of the author's training as a midwife in the East End of London in the post-war years. She is trained by an order of nuns (oddly referred to by a pseudonym in the book, although quite open about their involvement according to a brief Google search) which is dedicated to bringing proper, scientific midwifery to women in these poor neighbourhoods. It was a fascinating window into the abject poverty of these areas of London in the post-war era and an utterly fascinating portrayal of the life of these women, both the practitioners and the patients. It certainly brought to the fore in my mind what a source of liberation proper midwifery was to women over history, but also how far we have come since then. Being structured as a case-based history, I felt frustrated at times that things I wanted to know more about fell through the cracks and I am not entirely sure how reliable a narrator the author is with regards to her own character and history. It felt that there was something always just out of my grasp there. That said, this didn't spoil the book as it served to focus on the patients, the community and the midwifery rather than the author as a focal point. I'd rate this as a solid 3.5 star book and would definitely recommend reading it if you're at all interested in this period. It was a quick, easy read and the short, case-based chapters were ideal for dipping in and out of.

59klarusu
Editat: març 17, 2015, 10:23 am

FEBRUARY READS
(* = currently reading)

60klarusu
feb. 16, 2015, 5:15 am

7. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare



(SFFF CAT: January, The Band Played On: The Infernal Devices)


I don't really know what makes me keep coming back to Cassandra Clare's books. The more I read about her as a person, the less I like her and her writing is pedestrian and kind of juvenile ... but still I come back so there's obviously something. This wasn't a great book at all. I read the first book ages ago and have only just been motivated to pick up the sequel, which says a lot for my engagement with the series. That said, I did pick it up so it wasn't bad enough for me to abandon. It's another Shadowhunter world book - set in an earlier time period to The Mortal Instruments (a series which, to my mind, should have stopped at 3 books and it would have been OK rather than the drawn out series it became). It sounds like I'm putting myself through the wringer just to read them, but I actually quite like the idea of Shadowhunters and the world that Clare creates ... I just wish it could be created better. There's a central premise of a love triangle, which I'm not keen on to be honest. I find it a bit of a lazy plot device - it doesn't take much innovation to create a little bit of dramatic tension between this kind of triad ... and the emphasis here is 'little'. There's a convenient terminal condition though, so I'm guessing it will all turn out for the best in Book 3. Despite sounding so decidedly negative, I actually think it was OK as a completely disposable read - I say that without scorn because that was just what I was looking for when I picked this up. There are enough unresolved questions that I'm pretty sure I'll finish up the 3rd book in the series so I've given it a solid 3 star rating.

61klarusu
feb. 16, 2015, 5:39 am

8. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson



(SFFF CAT: February, BingoDOG: Protagonist of the Opposite Gender)


I read this as a piece of Classic Speculative Fiction for the February SFFF CAT. It's been sitting on my shelf for years and I unjustifiably overlooked it. It's a fine line when approaching classic SFF writing - there's a balance between altered generational attitudes and great stories. I think that everyone's equilibrium point is different here. For me, this fell firmly on the side of story trumping any underlying issues with, for example, sexism, racism or outdated science. The story was well built - just enough information to bring it alive, just enough questions to keep you reading. Matheson created an eerie atmosphere and there's something quite chilling about the idea of a single person living in isolation that is well-conveyed. I dropped half a star for the ending - it wasn't a bad ending but I felt is was rushed. For such a light book, there was definitely space to make the ending a more developed piece of the whole.

62_Zoe_
feb. 16, 2015, 10:28 am

>60 klarusu: I had exactly the same response to Clockwork Prince. Not a huge fan of the author or her writing, and yet somehow the books are just what I need sometimes.

63Chrischi_HH
feb. 17, 2015, 4:56 am

Another thread I had not seen before. Great categories and pictures. You have some really interesting reading planned, I will happily follow along. :)

64klarusu
feb. 17, 2015, 6:18 am

>62 _Zoe_: I make no judgments on myself - sometimes I just need the fluff! ;-)

>63 Chrischi_HH: Thanks! Glad to see you stop by.

65klarusu
feb. 21, 2015, 7:27 am

I just realised it's my 8 Year Thingaversary. I must purchase books at once!

66hailelib
feb. 21, 2015, 7:36 am

Happy Thingaversary!

67rabbitprincess
feb. 21, 2015, 8:59 am

Thingaversary twins! Mine is today too, but it's only my 4th. :)

Enjoy book shopping!

68_Zoe_
feb. 21, 2015, 9:37 am

Happy Thingaversary!

69MissWatson
feb. 21, 2015, 10:01 am

Happy thingaversary!

70lkernagh
feb. 21, 2015, 12:55 pm

Happy Thingaversary!

71DeltaQueen50
feb. 21, 2015, 3:44 pm

Happy Thingaversary, remember to let us know what books you got so we can all applaud and drool! ;)

72-Eva-
feb. 21, 2015, 11:15 pm

Happy Thingaversary - hope your shopping is going well! :)

73Kristelh
feb. 22, 2015, 6:31 am

Happy Thinaversary. Just dropped in and wanted to also say how much I liked your categories and thread in general.

74AHS-Wolfy
feb. 22, 2015, 9:09 am

Happy Thingaversary!

75klarusu
feb. 23, 2015, 7:21 am

Thank you all! I'm waiting until payday this week to treat myself ;-)

76klarusu
Editat: feb. 23, 2015, 7:39 am

9. Endgame by Frank Brady (Audiobook)



(Running Related, BingoDOG: Author Shares Ancestor's Name)


Endgame is the biography of disturbed chess genius Bobby Fischer. Before I started the audiobook, I had a general knowledge of Fischer's life but nowhere near to the extent that this book delves so I found this a really interesting listen. While I knew he was troubled, I had no idea how deep his issues were in later life, nor did I know anything about his staggering antisemitism or his extreme political views. As I was genuinely intrigued by his character, this book carried me along with ease, however, the writing didn't stand out and I'm not sure whether it might be a bit dry if someone was just picking it up at random. All in all, interesting and OK.

77klarusu
feb. 23, 2015, 7:50 am

10. The Iraqi Christ by Hassan Blasim



(BingoDOG: Set In A Country Other Than Your Own, Reading Globally Challenge)


I picked this up whilst browsing in a bookshop at St Pancras' Station. Nothing beats the random, amazing gems that you find when waiting for trains with a bank card and poor impulse control. I really do love well-written short stories - when an author understands that a short story is an art form to be perfected rather than just a shorter piece of fiction writing - and these stories were so well-written. They all have some kind of connection to contemporary Iraq but Blasim writes superbly off-beat stories which lead you somewhere you are surprised to go. When I bought this, I thought that it may represent a collection of tales that form some kind of overt description of the years of war but instead, whilst always present, the conflict-state and the violence are often alluded to in such a subtle and original way that it takes you by surprise. This is a collection that I really will come back to and read for a second time because for me it was exactly that, a collection, a whole entity. Having reached the end, I feel that I need to come back and reread the earlier stories because I know that my perspective and reception of them will now have changed. I can strongly recommend this to anyone with an interest in short fiction or translated writing.

78klarusu
feb. 23, 2015, 8:02 am

11. Outcast: Volume 1 by Robert Kirkman



(All Things Graphic Novelish)


This is a new series by Robert Kirkman of The Walking Dead fame and, as to be expected, it's brutal and graphically violent. The main protagonist is a man with a troubled past involving his abuse as a minor at the hands of a mother possessed by some kind of demon and subsequently his estrangement from his own daughter after attacking her mother, who we are led to believe was also possessed. This sets up the premise for him, along with an ageing priest, to become involved with the exorcism of other possessed individuals and these exorcisms form the skeleton on which the story is hung. While there was more to the story than that, with added layers that leave you wondering exactly who (or what) this man is and why these demons follow him, there was less substance than I usually look for in a really good graphic novel. I will certainly follow this through to Volume 2 at least but it remains to be seen whether Kirkman can step away from the repetitive, somewhat formulaic exorcisms into a more involved storyline. I could be cynical after the success of The Walking Dead, and say that this seems almost made for an hour long episode a week. While I like Kirkman's work, I don't love it and this, whilst delivering a solid piece of graphic fiction, does nothing to over-enthuse me about his latest foray.

79klarusu
Editat: feb. 23, 2015, 8:15 am

12. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Folio Society Edition)



(BingoDOG: Epistolatory, Correspondence or Letters, Beautiful Books)


Elizabeth Bennet, Mr Darcy and a host of humorous supporting characters all bundled up in a beautiful Folio Society edition. What's not to love about this? Apart from the fact that the paper feels gorgeous and the font is just right, I love the fact that the books are bound with smaller divisions between the page sheaves so the book falls open beautifully even though it's a hardback. Add to that the first line embossed on the slipcase and I am quite undone! Hopefully this explains why I've counted this in my Beautiful Books category. These are the only books I don't read in the bath!

80lkernagh
feb. 23, 2015, 2:26 pm

I see some great reading. I really like the P&P cover!

81christina_reads
feb. 24, 2015, 12:58 pm

>79 klarusu: What a GORGEOUS edition of P&P!!!

82japaul22
feb. 24, 2015, 1:08 pm

I love the Folio Society books!!! That one looks beautiful. I love reading a favorite book in a beautiful edition.

83klarusu
feb. 25, 2015, 5:59 am

>81 christina_reads: & >82 japaul22: It is a lovely edition - I just ordered the new companion edition of Emma as well :-)

84klarusu
feb. 25, 2015, 6:05 am

In the spirit of all things Thingaversary, I purchased 8 books to celebrate my 8th:

Emma by Jane Austen (the Folio Society edition)
Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake (the Folio Society edition)

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher (one of my ongoing series reads - a relaxing diversion)

Ready Player One by Ernest Kline (on audiobook - a re-'read' of a book I really liked that I wanted to hear the audio of)

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (wishlist book)
Wild: a Journey from Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed (wishlist book)

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel (A Thing-ummy Bob)
Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (Another Thing-ummy Bob)

Now if I could just take some time off to read them, that would be lovely!

85MissWatson
feb. 25, 2015, 6:51 am

Oh, that looks like you treated yourself to some lovely books. Here's wishing you may also find the time!

86klarusu
feb. 25, 2015, 7:10 am

>85 MissWatson: Ah, it is one of life's cruel ironies that in order to purchase ALL the books, I need to work ... which thus means I have much less time to read ALL the books :-)

87MissWatson
feb. 25, 2015, 8:07 am

>86 klarusu: So true!

88DeltaQueen50
feb. 25, 2015, 4:07 pm

You picked some great books to celebrate your Thingaversary. I loved Ready Player One and have heard that the audio is very good.

89hailelib
feb. 26, 2015, 7:23 am

A nice collection of Thingaversary titles.

90rabbitprincess
feb. 26, 2015, 5:39 pm

Hurray for Thingaversary books! Looks like an interesting selection :D
One of these days I might actually read Station Eleven... it has been getting some very good press around here!

91-Eva-
feb. 27, 2015, 11:56 pm

>84 klarusu:
Those are great picks - a very well celebrated Thingaversary, I think. :)

92klarusu
feb. 28, 2015, 2:30 pm

Thingaversaries Rock! I realised I only have two more to go and I will have been hanging around on LT for a decade. Can't think of a better way to have spent it.

93klarusu
Editat: març 31, 2015, 5:10 pm

MARCH READS
(* = currently reading)

94mamzel
feb. 28, 2015, 9:39 pm

And I thought I was weird reading four books at once!

95klarusu
març 1, 2015, 1:17 am

>94 mamzel: I know! Last year, I stopped reading anything new in November and spent the remaining part of the year clearing up my Currently Reading pile. I only had one long-term read on-the-go in January. I think I may have a reading problem ;-)

96DeltaQueen50
març 1, 2015, 3:44 pm

At least you always have something different to pick up! I usually have two on the go, and even then, I have to ensure that they are quite different from each other so I don't get mixed up.

97lkernagh
març 1, 2015, 5:41 pm

>84 klarusu: - Wonderful Thingaversary purchases!

98klarusu
març 3, 2015, 3:50 am

I'm putting Ringworld away for now. I was trying it on audio for February's SFFF CAT Classics month but it's just not quite working for me at the moment. I don't think it's bad, just that I'm not in the right place to listen to this right now. I'll give it a go later in the year when I'm in a more receptive mood.

99klarusu
març 3, 2015, 4:30 am

13. To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer



(SFFF CAT: February, The Band Played On)


Classic literature of any kind, and science fiction in particular, is a difficult beast to judge reception of. To be clear from the outset, I'm not particularly precious about outdated values and attitudes. In the context of an older work, I can read and enjoy a lot of things that wouldn't necessarily fit well with modern societal attitudes. That doesn't mean I condone the opinions but I can understand they were a product of the era a work was written in. I'm not going to read Austen, for example, and find fault with her portrayal of a woman's place in society. I'm explaining this so that it's clear that when I say I found the misogyny, sexism and racism in this book so overpowering that it ruined the story, this really was a bad offender. The basic premise of the story held so much promise: Richard Burton the great explorer died and was re-incarnated in a world that contained all humans from all times, spread along a seemingly never-ending river. In Riverworld, the reader is introduced to Goering and Tullius, to Alice (Lewis Carroll's child-muse) and to other individuals from all times - famous and non-famous, 'primitive' and 'cultured', human and alien. These people are caught in a constant cycle of reincarnation but the questions remain why and how. On the surface, an ingenious concept which, had it been well-executed, could have been such a good tale. Unfortunately, it just wasn't well written. For raw material that could provide such excitement and depth, instead the writing was laborious and dull. I think this is why the societal/authorial attitudes that fill this book became such a defining factor in my reading of it. The story wasn't written with enough flair to carry me along past the out-dated or unpleasant descriptions or action. I struggled to finish it but even so, I have given it 2 and a half stars for the idea itself because I think it was a very unusual perspective. It was just that the execution was so disappointing. I don't think I will be reading this series any further though.

100klarusu
març 3, 2015, 4:54 am

14. Saga: Volume 2 by Brian K Vaughan



(All Things Graphic Novelish)
(for art & story)

The second of Brian K Vaughan's Saga series and once again this delivers on plot and art work. Still following the child of a family from two sides of a bitter and protracted inter-planetary and inter-species war, Vol 2 uses flashbacks to fill in some of the details of the characters' past history and relationships that wasn't touched on in Vol. 1. This is balanced by the present storyline of the family's flight from bounty hunters and ex-fiancees and a rather uncomfortable first meeting with the in-laws. The story is narrated by the child themselves with an adult voice which has left me itching to move onto the next in the series to see what happens next ... there's obviously much more to come.

101klarusu
Editat: març 3, 2015, 8:40 am

Author Diversity Tracking

I want to have a go at tracking how 'diverse' my reading is (I use the inverted commas because diversity isn't just about gender, sexuality or ethnicity but this is as far as I can manage right now and it's very hard to track other groups such as individuals who are not neurotypical or with physical disabilities, or individuals across socio-economic strata, to name some other areas of diversity).

My aim is to keep the tickers below at 50% - that's half the 'default', most common group and half from other authors. In reality, to be truly diverse, it should be maybe 25% default and 75% other as 'other' is a catch all for many groups but my first aim is a 50% split by the end of the year. Next year, we'll see.

Gender









Sexuality



Race/Ethnicity






I have some work to do to bring these up to 50% it seems! Yet another challenge ;-)

102_Zoe_
març 3, 2015, 4:38 pm

>101 klarusu: I'm glad to see you're doing this! I'm going to figure out some way to incorporate the challenge in next year's schedule, because I'm strangely bothered by the thought of adding a new challenge partway through. Fortunately that gives me plenty of time to figure out what works.

103klarusu
Editat: març 3, 2015, 5:01 pm

>102 _Zoe_: I'm not sure how my approach is going to work out. I managed to get around my own problems with adding a 'challenge' partway through by calling it 'tracking' ;-). I think I'm going to really challenge myself on this next year.

Also, I love the fact that this is still important to you with the wedding so close ;-). Book people are the BEST ;-)

104_Zoe_
març 3, 2015, 5:39 pm

Haha, priorities! :D. And I think we're actually approaching the end of the wedding planning, after a frantic burst of vendor-booking this past week (we have a photographer!). I was beginning to think it would never happen.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who wasn't entirely happy with the idea of starting a challenge mid-year. I wonder if there would be any interest in a 2016 DiversityCAT....

105klarusu
març 3, 2015, 6:16 pm

>104 _Zoe_: I would DEFINTELY be onboard with a Diversity CAT.

So glad you found a photographer. I have no doubt the day will be wonderful. If you can successfully orchestrate repeated LT challenges then a wedding is cake ;-)

106_Zoe_
març 3, 2015, 6:22 pm

>105 klarusu: Hehe, that's an encouraging thought, thank you :)

Meanwhile I re-read my post above and saw "2016" and thought that was surely a typo, but no, that really is next year. Time flies.

107-Eva-
març 7, 2015, 5:48 pm

>100 klarusu:
Such a great series!

>101 klarusu:
That's a great idea. Good luck - looking forward to see how it's going.

>104 _Zoe_:
I'd be supporting a DiversityCAT.

108lkernagh
març 8, 2015, 9:52 am

I am all for DiversityCAT in 2016.

109klarusu
març 12, 2015, 4:58 pm

In memory of Terry Pratchett:

"It's that much heralded thing the quality of life that is important. How you live your life, what you get out of it, what you put into it and what you leave behind after it. We should aim for a good and rich life well lived, and at the end of it, in the comfort of our own home, in the company of those who love us, have a death worth dying for." Terry Pratchett.

I hope the door led to an English garden. Or the library if wet.

110klarusu
Editat: març 30, 2015, 8:27 am

15. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline



(SFFF CAT: March, BingoDOG)

(for narration & story)

This is a re-read for me - I read it the first time on Kindle and decided to 're-read' on audio. I really enjoyed both (I have the Wil Wheaton narration). I can't say this is great writing, necessarily, or particularly deep or innovative - the premise of an all-dominant on-line world in contrast to a dystopic, damaged reality is nothing that hasn't been done before - and it's replete with pop-culture references from the 80s (gaming, films, music - you name it, it's there) which may be difficult to take if that wasn't your decade ... but hey, I grew up in that period and those references were references to the popular culture and burgeoning tech world of my youth so they work for me. The essence of the story, should you not have come across it, is that the great founder of the online world, the OASIS, dies and leaves his fortune and legacy to the person who can solve an elaborate set of clues in the cyber world he built to track down the illusive 'Halliday's Egg'. This gives rise to a breed of individuals, Gunters (from 'Egg Hunters'), who dedicate their existence to tracking down the Egg. They are fighting against the might of an evil corporation that doesn't play by the rules and wants to beat them to the prize and remove the freedoms inherent in the online world they exist in. It's a big guy against the little guy story. Is there a lot wrong with it? Well, I'm sure if I wanted to, I could pick on many things buy you know what, I don't want to because it's fun, light and enjoyable and I like it, even if it lacks subtlety and grace. I gave it 5 stars for pure enjoyment factor.

111klarusu
març 30, 2015, 8:44 am

16. The Owl Service by Alan Garner



(BingoDOG: Reminds you of your Childhood)



I'm revisiting some of the books I read as a child that made an impression, ostensibly to see whether my daughter is likely to enjoy them now, but really just because I want to. I remember reading this at middle school (when I was 9) and being chilled and gripped by it in equal measure. Three youngsters are brought together by circumstance in a remote Welsh valley and begin to be drawn in to an involuntary re-enactment of a brutal Welsh legend that was supposed to have occurred there. This is the catalyst for conflict between and as they remain caught in the valley by the legend itself, this builds to an unusual climax at the novel's end.

Reading it as an adult, I can still see why I found it so chilling as a child ... it's a very eerie tale. There were sub-texts I missed when I was younger, issues with class, nationality, language and family dynamics, which as an older reader add depth to the story. The style and plot building was fairly blunt, something that I didn't pay any attention to at 9 but that now had more of an impact, which is why I dropped a star on rating but all-in-all, an older book that has stood the test of time.

112klarusu
Editat: març 30, 2015, 3:33 pm

17. Rasputin: A Short Life by Frances Welch



(BingoDOG: Major Historical Event)



I approached this book with some shallow knowledge of Rasputin from popular culture or reading but nothing in depth or panoramic. It caught my eye because its aim was to portray a short and palatable description of his life and I hoped that this would give me an all-round picture of someone of whom my knowledge was patchy. It was supposed to be a gateway book for me not an all-encompassing treatment. It completely delivered on this. Welch writes very accessibly, with humour and brevity, and does a very competent job of giving a short portrait of a complex man. I've given it 4 stars for achieving exactly what it set out to. It's written in the tone of a murder suspense, the reader is made aware from the outset that we are building up to the night of Rasputin's assassination. It really is a gateway book though. If you have a reasonable level of knowledge of Rasputin and the Russian royal family, I think that this book will be too light or superficial. If, however, you want a general read that covers all of the major historical points without reams of in depth analysis and discussion, then this is an ideal book to pick.

113lkernagh
març 30, 2015, 9:57 am

Glad to see RPO stands up well on a re-read!

114LittleTaiko
març 30, 2015, 11:10 am

>110 klarusu: & >113 lkernagh: - I read that Steven Spielberg is going to direct the movie version of RPO. Looking forward to it!

115klarusu
març 30, 2015, 3:36 pm

>114 LittleTaiko: I saw that. I'm not a huge Spielberg fan but I hope the fact that they've brought such a big name on board means the film's going to get proper treatment. I'm also looking forward to it ... but cautiously as I already have my own images of everyone in my head!

116klarusu
Editat: abr. 27, 2015, 8:28 am

APRIL READS
(* = currently reading)

117mamzel
març 31, 2015, 10:33 pm

>110 klarusu: Our local bookstore recommended this book at an educator's night a couple of years ago. It was really up my alley. It's hard to recommend it to today's teens who weren't around for the 80s.

118rabbitprincess
abr. 1, 2015, 5:17 pm

Will be interested to hear your thoughts on the Randall Munroe and Ben Goldacre books in particular. I have the Goldacre on request from the library.

119klarusu
abr. 2, 2015, 2:31 am

>118 rabbitprincess: what if? is fun, interesting and an easy read. A good quality science diversion book. Ben Goldacre's latest is predictably great. I spend a large amount of time either angry at the examples of bad reportage or face-palming at society in general. Hope you enjoy it.

120klarusu
Editat: abr. 13, 2015, 9:12 am

18. Small Favour by Jim Butcher



(The Band Played On)


This is the tenth book in the Dresden Files series, so I think that speaks for itself in that I'm still reading. Sure, these aren't the greatest books in the world and Butcher has his flaws as a writer just as Dresden has his flaws as a character, but I like them. This is yet another entertaining, easy-read and I find the story and characters engaging enough to keep me interested. They're really good switch off reads for me. Yes, Dresden is a sexist character but there are strong enough female characters that it doesn't ruin the books for me. It's a series where I like the characters that recur and I'm interested in seeing where the back-story is going.

121klarusu
abr. 13, 2015, 9:07 am

19. The Tiger that Isn't by Michael Blastland & Andrew Dilnot



(BingoDOG: Chosen for You by Someone Else)



An interesting look at why numbers don't always mean what you think they mean. This book was recommended to me by a curriculum manager at work as I'm writing a first year Natural Sciences degree course topic about bad science. It was a well-written, easy take on the traps that people can fall into when interpreting and reporting important numbers (from scientific conclusions to political statements). As a working scientists, there was nothing in this book that was exactly 'new' to me but I was happy to have a gentle reminder not to be caught out by some of the tricks of perception that are used nowadays when discussing important figures and values in our lives. It's a highly relevant book and, if you're not working in a number-related field, there may be things here that open your eyes to what data actually mean rather than what we think they mean. I found this a very quick read but even if you like your figures in smaller doses, this book is well-suited to a pick-up-put-down reading strategy, with each chapter existing as a self-contained example. For anyone interested in becoming more figures-savvy, I would definitely recommend it.

122klarusu
Editat: abr. 13, 2015, 9:38 am

20. Freakangels: Vol 1 and 21. Freakangels: Vol 2 by Warren Ellis




(SFFF CAT: March)

(for artwork & story)

Freakangels is set in a post-apocalyptic England and this graphic novel creates the world within a flooded London, kept safe by a group of telepathic and multi-talented, highly flawed young people who, we come to understand, have some kind of responsibility for the situation the world finds itself in. I am thoroughly enjoying this series - for both the story and the artwork. It's an unusual take on the post-apocalyptic genre and I'm definitely interested in seeing where this series is going. There's a good balance between characters I like and characters I dislike and the pacing of the story works well.

123AHS-Wolfy
abr. 13, 2015, 10:27 am

>122 klarusu: I do have Warren Ellis on my to get to list though probably looking at Transmetropolitan as being my first encounter with his work. Good to know you enjoyed these so much though.

124klarusu
abr. 13, 2015, 10:41 am

>123 AHS-Wolfy: Transmetropolitan is on my list as well. So many good comics, so little time ;-)

125-Eva-
abr. 15, 2015, 12:11 am

>120 klarusu:
I listen to them on audio and they're just perfect for that - ear candy. :)

126klarusu
abr. 15, 2015, 4:29 am

>125 -Eva-: I haven't tried them on audio yet. I tend to stick to the original format I start a series in and I happened to start these on the Kindle. That said, I may 're-read' them at some stage if the audio is entertaining. I'm doing that with a couple of series already.

127klarusu
oct. 11, 2015, 4:01 pm

Poor neglected thread and LT. I've been on life-induced LT hiatus but my head is gradually coming up above the parapet. It was good life stuff - awesome and fulfilling new job as a lecturer, started a Masters course (yes, I though the PhD was going to be the end of my formal study but apparently, I'm hooked - this time it's an MA in Education (Inclusive Practice), which I so interesting because I have a fundamental belief in access to educational opportunities for all and am actually in a position to affect that now so it's study with purpose) and general fun at raising my crazy 8-year old bookworm-scientist-ninja-warrior child ;-)

I'm never going to catch up with the reviews so I'm not going to try but I have been reading! I've updated my challenge categories and will hopefully have just a bit more time now!

128_Zoe_
oct. 11, 2015, 4:42 pm

I'm glad you're back! And I can completely understand deciding to do an MA—I've already started contemplating something like that myself, and I still have another year or so left in the PhD! I'd love to hear more about what you're studying.

129klarusu
oct. 11, 2015, 4:53 pm

I just miss 'selfish' learning - I know there's ongoing career development but I don't think I'm ever going to be able to 'give up' the chance to get my teeth into something that interests me. There are so many interesting things ;-). The course is great - at the moment I'm in the midst of critical theory underpinning addressing equality & difference in educational practices. Trouble is, you think so much about inequality of educational opportunities that you do spend a lot of time rabidly angry.

130klarusu
oct. 11, 2015, 4:59 pm

Hopefully your PhD is going well. UK ones are 3 years with an extra unfunded year to write - how does that compare to your side of the pond? I remember my final year being slightly stressful - experiments not behaving themselves and having my daughter probably had something to do with that ;-) I'm sure you're much better organised!

131_Zoe_
oct. 11, 2015, 5:06 pm

I wish PhDs here were 3/4 years! But instead, we have 3 years of coursework before we even start working on our dissertations. And so I'm now in my *seventh* year and really ready for it to be done. Fortunately for my sanity I managed to get a two-year teaching position at another university for this year and next year, so at least I feel like my career is finally advancing, but of course that means that the writing process could potentially drag on for yet another year. Bleh.

132klarusu
oct. 11, 2015, 5:08 pm

7 years may have killed me ;-) At least you're teaching, which is great. I love writing but I *hated* writing up. You have my empathy!

133klarusu
Editat: nov. 28, 2015, 4:43 am

It's that time of the year again ... I'm being very good and reducing my 'Currently Reading' pile in the hope of carrying none of them over to next year. Trying REALLY hard not to start any new ones although I do need a few to finish up my BingoDOG card ... I'm so close that it'd be a shame not to make a full house this year.

CURRENTLY READING:

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantez (Chunksters, Reading Globally)
Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissenger (Banned & Challenged)
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (Chunksters)
City of God by E.L. Doctorow (Resident Tomes)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore (All Things Graphic Novelish & SFFF CAT)
I Think You'll Find it's a Bit More Complicated than That by Ben Goldacre (New Arrivals)
Irrationality by Stuart Sutherland (Authors that are New To Me)
What If? by Randall Munroe (New Arrivals)
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (Chunksters)
The Peripheral by William Gibson (Resident Tomes)
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb (The Band Played On)
Dune by Frank Herbert (Beautiful Books)
The Developing Genome by David S. Moore (New Arrivals)
The Bat by Jo Nesbo (Running Related)
The Way of the Runner by Adharanand Finn (Running Related)
Blameless by Gail Carriger (New Arrivals)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Brighton: the Graphic Novel by Various
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
The Martian by Andy Weir
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
The Young Atheist's Handbook by Alom Shaha
The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Audiobook) by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Audiobook) by JK Rowling
Always Running by Luis J Rodriguez

Let's see how well I do!

134rabbitprincess
oct. 18, 2015, 9:57 am

Good luck! That looks like a very interesting mix of books.

I'm also reading the Ben Goldacre right now. :)

135lkernagh
oct. 18, 2015, 12:46 pm

Good luck with your currently reading pile! That is quite to selection of books.

136-Eva-
oct. 18, 2015, 4:03 pm

>133 klarusu:
Thank you! I thought my Currently Reading pile was too huge, but I feel much better now. :) Just teasing. Looks like a great batch!

137klarusu
oct. 19, 2015, 5:58 am

It all sort of got out of hand somewhere around August ... I think it was a combination of so many good books waiting on my TBR, poor impulse control and a 6 month period where my job just ate my life (in a good way ... but it meant I was more amenable to chopping and changing between books rather than settling in for the long haul).

I did this last year too and I know that December 31st is a somewhat arbitrary date but it's quite satisfying to aim for a clean deck for the new year - I find it stops me hanging in with lingering books that I should have condemned a long time ago (City of God, I am talking to you now!) ;-)

138klarusu
Editat: oct. 20, 2015, 2:39 am

One down: The Martian by Andy Weir. Not deep but very entertaining read. Kind of made for film so I'm not surprised it got picked up. Quick & easy read - worth dipping into.

139klarusu
Editat: nov. 21, 2015, 5:27 am

Two more down:

Dune by Frank Herbert. An old friend but I bought the lovely Folio Society edition so I got to read one of my favourite books in a wonderful edition.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Recommended by a friend at work. How have I not found this series sooner? I loved this - grown up speculative fiction that devotes the time and page space to building character and plot, knitting together a complex web to form a vibrant whole. Great book.

140klarusu
Editat: nov. 21, 2015, 10:31 am

One more down:

What If? by Randall Munroe of xkcd fame. Thoroughly entertaining stretching of science to the extreme to provide reasoned answers to random questions ... with fun cartoons!

This is what comes of having a day in bed with a cold. If only I could stop starting new books as quickly as I finish the old ones!

141klarusu
nov. 22, 2015, 8:58 am

On a roll:

Brighton: the Graphic Novel by Various. A graphic novel of historical bent comprising collected short stories based around the history & lore of Brighton. Having a family connection there, I found this really engaging and interesting. As always with collected works from a variety of authors, some pieces resonated more than other for me, both with storytelling and artwork, but overall a very worthwhile read.

142AHS-Wolfy
nov. 23, 2015, 6:13 am

>139 klarusu: Glad you enjoyed the first of the Locke Lamora books. If you're continuing the series then you might want to have the 3rd close by when you've completed the 2nd. Although the book is a self-contained story there is still a cliff-hanger of an ending.

143-Eva-
Editat: nov. 23, 2015, 11:06 pm

>141 klarusu:
Ooh, I want to read that! I used to live there (or rather, in Hove) and the city is very close to my heart.

144klarusu
nov. 26, 2015, 3:39 pm

>142 AHS-Wolfy: Good advice ... that's my Christmas break sorted ;-)

>143 -Eva-: I love Hove. I go down to Brighton often to see my brother. I ran the 10K along the seafront & round Hove Lawns a couple of weeks ago. You should definitely check out the graphic novel ... it's a very 'Brighton' book ;-)

145klarusu
nov. 26, 2015, 3:45 pm

I'm flying! (Trying hard not to think about everything that I should be doing instead of reading!)

The Way of the Runner by Adharanand Finn. Finn writes very engaging books about running that examine different cultures associated with running rather than dry training descriptions. This was no exception. Enjoyable, easy to read.

146klarusu
Editat: nov. 28, 2015, 4:46 am

Audible got the Stephen Fry Harry Potter readings so obviously I'm spending my outstanding credits on them.

This week my driving commute has been vastly improved by finishing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I'm just sorry I only have a 15 minute drive to work ;-)

147-Eva-
nov. 28, 2015, 10:36 pm

>146 klarusu:
He is such an amazing reader! I'd listen to him read the phonebook.

148klarusu
Editat: des. 1, 2015, 4:54 pm

More lovely Harry Potter ... I can even forgive Stephen Fry for pronouncing the 'w' in Flitwick (only just though ... living 5 minutes away from Flitwick, the place ('Flittick'!)), it does grate somewhat though.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Audiobook) by JK Rowling

149klarusu
des. 12, 2015, 6:02 am

A re-read of The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter in the most lovely of Folio Society editions. I do love this darkly gothic reworking of fairy tales.

150klarusu
des. 19, 2015, 4:47 pm

Two more under my belt and one abandoned tome:

A Rag, a Bone and a Hank of Hair by Nicholas Fisk

This was a re-read of sorts. I used to absolutely devour Nicholas Fisk books when I was roundabout my daughter's age (8-9) and nostalgia sent me in search of this. As children's speculative fiction, I think this stands up well and I can see why I ate it up as a child. It has a slightly dark edge that appealed to me.

The Young Atheist's Handbook by Alom Shaha

This was one of the best books I've read all year - definitely a highlight. It's not a 'handbook' at all but really a gentle, non-abrasive but intelligent introspective look at non-belief. It's part memoir and part philosophical discussion and doesn't take itself seriously or dictate but it is chock full of common sense and reason.

Abandoned:

City of God by E.L. Doctorow

One of the worst books I've attempted to read. Managed to get over halfway but every reading session was torture. Threw in the towel. The 1001 Books list and I will have to disagree strongly on this one.

151klarusu
des. 21, 2015, 12:08 pm

Harry Potter and the Cursed child casting was announced today ... I think I am literally going to explode with over-excitement before I get to see it in September.

152rabbitprincess
des. 21, 2015, 6:09 pm

>151 klarusu: You got tickets? Amazing! Hope you have a wonderful time (and be sure to report back on how it is)!

153-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 6:59 pm

>151 klarusu:
Looks like it's going to be gooood!

154klarusu
des. 28, 2015, 10:51 am

>152 rabbitprincess: & >153 -Eva-: I really am just silly-excited! I'm taking my daughter (who will be 9 by then) - my husband refused to go because it would be 'torture' ... pish! What does he know ;-)

155klarusu
gen. 1, 2016, 1:11 pm

Just closing out my 2015 thread with stats:

TOTAL BOOKS READ: 72

Fiction: 54
Non-Fiction: 18

Graphic Novels: 23

Kindle: 17
Paper: 45
Audiobook: 10

TOTAL BOOKS PURCHASED/ACQUIRED: 123
Of which read: 51

Remaining Books on 2014 Purchase List TBR: 72

ROOT Books Read: 12

Reading Globally Countries (running total): 13

1001 Books List (running total): 120

See you all in 2016!