101 Books to Read Before You Die discussion

I just realized we don't have a thread just to talk about whatever. How else will we get to know one another? I apologize that I've been rather absent the last week or so but I've had computer issues and it's hard to do a lot just through the app.

How are things in your world? New job, New baby? Doing some world traveling? Starring that new school year? Let us know!

One more day to go for a four day weekend. I so need a mental timeout.

We need a A Clockwork Orange thread. The book is confusing a first but quite horrorshow!

Sorry I've been so MIA lately...computer cord died and haven't been able to get on much.

Diane, I'm jealous! I want a four day weekend!

O, I am sorry to read that Clockwork Orange is confusing. I am in the middle of One Hundred Years of Solitude and am very confused. I don't need multiple bouts of confusion in the same month.

I haven't read that one Irene but it's been on my list forever (haha, for 100 years, I guess).

I love that it's turning into fall now. We've had such beautiful weather! I'm not excited for the snows to start, though. What's it like where you live?

October is starting out with amazing weather. We have had a wetter than usual amount of rain this year (which is saying something for this area) and a cooler than average September. But, temps have soared into the 70s this week and we have had some nice sunshine. Someone told me that October is predicted to be warmer than average and November colder than normal around here. Our air is wonderfully fragrent with the smell of grapes ready for harvest. YUM!

we had our first full day of completely below 50 today. chilly! had wind too.

Wow, I don't know about you guys but this month has been BUSY for me! Hardly time to read anything, let alone participate in discussions. Sorry I haven't been super active on this month's threads.

Everyone else pretty busy since the fall schedule has started?

Fall is always busy, isn't it?

I gave in and turned on my baseboard heaters today. Had something like 5 blankets on me last night before I finally got warm :(

I have my local book group meeting tonight. Looking forward to it.

yeah, what are you reading?

We read "Evensong" by Gail Godwin. Nearly no one liked it all that much. An unusually high number of those who attended had not even read it, or had abandoned it. The member who had recommended it was not there to help us to see the value in it, so our conversation was not particularly stellar.

well sometimes it's fun to bash a book too :-)

That is true, if everyone likes the book there tends to be less discussion about the book itself. Love discussions where someone really dislikes a book.

Our discussion last night lacked anyone who really loved the book. The person who recommended it, was absent. About 2/3 of the group had not read it. So, only a few of us could discuss it and we started feeling guilty because the rest were watching us. So, we let the conversation move to other topics quickly.

Sometimes I'll nominate a book and have no clue about it, so they might not have liked it, either, you never no. It's hard to read something you have to force yourself through, though :(. I can only do that with classics, because at least I'll have bragging rights at the end, if nothing else :)

The member had read the book and had been singing its praises for months.

Nice to see a good turnout for the November read!

Indeed! I think September and October are just busy months for people. I know they were for me this year!

After reading Coraline and enjoying it so much I think I'll definitely have to check out some more of Neil Gaiman's books!

I have not read them myself yet, but I'm thinking of getting my niece the first couple books in The Chronicles of Narnia series. I see on Goodreads that the book marked as 1st was actually written 6th? So it was a prequel I guess? Would it be best to start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Or should I start with The Magician's Nephew first?

When I was a kid, I started with the Lion, Witch and Woredrobe and it flowed very well for me. I think it is a great starting point for the story.

publication order was Lion Witch and Wardrobe then Magicians Nephew was done 7th. but chronologically it takes place first. it's the creation story.

I think it's neat reading them in publication order, because when you get to Magician, you kind of go "Oh!"

Thanks! I'll start her with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe then. Hope she likes them. Maybe I'll get myself the set too!

Read them back when my daughter was younger and I remember she loved them. There are some really awesome children;s books out there.

I hope everyone has a joyous and peaceful holiday season. For those who celebrate Christmas, may your holy day be blessed. Does anyone have any fun plans? I fly out to visit my mother this afternoon. There won't be much reading time until I return; she is jealous of the limited time I am able to visit with her.

Have a Merry Christmas Irene! I hope you have a good time with your mother. Over here we always get two of each holiday. So 2 Christmases for us and the kids. One with hubby's family and another with mine. So we'll be busy this week too.

I actually got to go home this year, so hanging out with my family (and watching The Hobbit) is fun.

Quite a horse race in January's adult poll... Merry Christmas folks.

Have a wonderful and safe Christmas everyone.

I hope everyone had a terrific holiday and are still enjoying as they prepare for New Year.

Wishing everyone a blessed 2014 filled with good health, good friends, loved ones and, of course, terrific books. Any resolutions? reading goals? reading challenges?

I want to read more for fun this year, not just what others have suggested. Yes, I want to get my classics and such, but I'm not going to be so devoted to some of the other books that people put on my radar, that are probably good books, but just not the ones I've wanted to read for forever and not gotten around to. Want to knock out some of those "dusty" books :)

I got in 84 books this year, averaging 7 per month which is one per month more than I had anticipated. I think I will set a goal of 75 for this year. This way, I can avoid too much pressure to "achieve". I want my reading to remain enjoyable, not some task I feel obligated to get to. I want to continue to read long books when they come up on my shelf rather than putting them aside in favor of some shorter thing just to reach a number. As for recommended books, I have been pleasantly surprised by a number of those I read because it was selected by a group I belonged to. I want to continue to have a mix of those I choose just because it looks interesting and those that are part of a group recommendation.

You said pretty much my thoughts, Irene. I lowered my goal this year for the same reasons. I still may read just as many, but without the pressure I put on myself. And I agree, I have ended up with some good books by suggestion. But sometimes I like to knock out some I've been wanting to get to for ages, and just keep getting put aside because of other suggestions.

I think I'm going to step it up this year! My goal was 60 last year and I ended up reading 71. Instead of moving it up 5 a year, as I have the past couple years, I'm going to push to do 70. I figure if I could do it this year, I should be able to do it next year! Fingers crossed!

Last year my goal was 150 (and based on the year before, that would have been a stretch but not a crazy one) but I came in at 69 (though part of the problem is that I have about 5 very large books that I read part of and didn't finish, so they were a lot of reading time but not part of the total.)

I might just put the same goal even if it probably won't be achieved. I can aim high and it won't kill me to not reach the total.

Oh, and since I've read both of January's selections, I think I'll try and go back and read some of the books the group has read that I haven't. Granted, I have to finish a huge history book and the fiction book I'm reading already first, so who knows!

I've read them both, too, but I'm looking forward to re-reading them, as it's been YEARS. But yes, it's nice to have a break month to catch up, too. :)

Think I am going to read The Giver, which I have not read. Read Anne Frank before so I too am good there.

I read Anne Frank in high school, but, for reasons best left unsaid, don't recall much about high school years. So, I plan to read that one again. Just not into children's books. I did read the Giver a number of years ago, however.

How is everyone's weather? We are getting dumped on. In the past two days we have had about 14 inches of snow and another foot is predicted for today and tomorrow. I am SOOOO sic of snow and the season is just beginning.

Anyone got a long weekend for the MLK holiday? Any plans?

Irene wrote: "Anyone got a long weekend for the MLK holiday? Any plans?"

No holiday in Canada, so I will be working. I will be continuing to read

Light in August if that counts...

My work is not off for MLK day so no long weekend for me! However, it's the first time in ages I've had no Saturday plans so it's to be a heavy day of house cleaning for me. My reward is getting to watch both games on Sunday. Go Broncos! Go 'Hawks! :-)

Yep with you on the football Alana, Go Broncos for sure. Errand running for me today and a little cleaning. Do have a three day weekend, so on Monday I hope to have a day of rest. Think I may be coming down with something, woke up this morning with a scratchy throat, hope it is just the dryness.

Diane, I hope you are able to head off whatever you think might be coming on.

Alana and Mike, no long weekend for me either. Cold weather is headed this way again. Tuesday's high is 11 without wind chills. I am dreaming of spring.

Another 4 1/2 inches of snow here and now we are headed for another arctic blast. Three days in a row in single digits. This has been a tough winter. Feeling a little better and I did get a flu shot, but someone I work with came in sick, despite all the signs everywhere telling sick people to stay home. Anyway, I do believe all my muscle aches are a sign of an approaching virus, have started downing green tea and zinc.