I Read Therefore I Am discussion

I challenged myself to read 200 books this year ( as I managed to beat my target in 2013 which was 150) so here goes....

200?! *faints*

When my brain functions properly I'm a pretty fast reader lol - I made it to 178 last year so thought why not try for an even number?

I'm impressed, I just can't fit that many in! :(

A lot of the fantasy and scary type novels that I like to read are also a lot quicker to get through than proper literary fiction so I think that helps ;) Plus I very rarely switch the telly on either!

Epic effort Laurel!!! 200 books is amazing, good on you!

Congratulations ! And good luck!

Good luck, what a challenge to set yourself!

It's not a challenge if it's easy ;)

1. Brandon Sanderson - The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)

I've just read this after starting my own thread; I'm only 188 behind you!! You must be averaging 3-4 books a week!

Depends on the week to be honest - I didn't do this many last year but I did get to 178 so I just went for a nice round number!

2. HG Wells - The Island of Doctor Moreau
3. Margaret Atwood - Alias Grace

Did you enjoy these Laurel? I love both of them. The Wells in particular has really stayed with me over the years. I found it quite disturbing.

Yeah it was pretty disturbing but I really enjoyed it. Alias Grace was also very interesting - did she do it or didn't she? hmmmm

She did! she did!

I think she did, but I choose to believe that she was "possessed" / schizophrenic

I had my suspicions that Jeremiah/Dr DuPont told her to say that so that her sentence would get commuted, very intriguing book definitely!

You know something. Whilst I read Alias Grace a few years ago, I can't remember any of it and I haven't a clue what you're all talking about - which feels rather odd!!

I wouldn't worry about it Tracey, I've read many books that I haven't a clue about now!

I haven't yet read any Margaret Atwood but she will definitely make my reading list this year. I tried a Wells audio book and I couldn't get on board :( Hopefully I encounter him again in more favourable circumstances!

I've read a lot of Mgt Atwood and they can be a bit unusual but interesting nonetheless. Handmaids Tale is her most famous and probably a good place start. I also recall I particularly liked Robber Bride but can't for the life of me remember what that was about either! I think I've come of an age where I must break with tradition and go back and read some of these books again!

Thanks for the recommendation - I am going to add it to the TBR! I am the same though Tracey. I'll discuss a book with someone and when they mention a certain character/event my mind goes blank!

It's like that quote by Maya Angelou: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maybe that's how it is with books too :)

@Laurel - What are your thoughts on HG Wells?

I have enjoyed everything I've read by Wells but my absolute favourite is The Time Machine - I read this when I was about 11 or 12 and absolutely loved it! But haven't read it as an adult so might need to re-visit it soon to see what I think now (hope it's still as good). Which audio book of his did you try Angela?

4. Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

5. Rosamond Lehrmann – Dusty Answer
6. AS Byatt – The Childrens Book
7. Michael McBride – Snowblind
8. Thomas Peacock – Nightmare Abbey

I had The Time Machine but the beginning seemed heavy and hard to follow - maybe I should just go for the paper version next time as I do think I'd like it :)

How did you end up liking The Childrens Book Laurel? After failing to warm to 'Possession', I've been wondering whether I should try AS Byatt again, or just surrender to the fact that her writing style may not be for me.

Jenny wrote: "How did you end up liking The Childrens Book Laurel? After failing to warm to 'Possession', I've been wondering whether I should try AS Byatt again, or just surrender to the fact that her writing s..."

I did enjoy it although this was my second try at reading it - some bits more than others as at times it did drag a bit but I really liked the bits about stories and storytelling and also the puppets. It's a very interesting book in terms of the themes - like how all the children are affected by the things their parents do, and the impact of the arts and crafts movement etc - apparently it grew out of her research into the children of artistic families and how they are often dysfunctional - but her writing style isn't easy and it feels like information overload sometimes.

The topic sounds really interesting. If I find myself feeling in the mood for some Byatt again, I will give this one a try I think. Thanks Laurel.

Yeah, what she writes about is interesting, but her writing style is difficult. I enjoyed her short stories better: Little Black Book of Stories - found these to be much better written

9. Brandon Sanderson - Steelheart
10. WG Sebald - Austerlitz

11. Jane Austen - Persuasion

12. Lloyd Jones - Mister Pip
13. Graham Joyce - Some Kind of Fairy-Tale

14. China Mieville - Iron Council
15. Neil Gaiman - Sandman Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

16. Cassandra Clare - City of Bones
17. Bernardo Atxaga - Obabakoak
18. Steven Erikson - Gardens of the Moon
19. Sean Martin - The Cathars

I'm very interested in learning more about the Cathars, was that a novel or a non fiction.

It was non-fiction, I got it cheap on the kindle. Good as an introduction but it was quite short so I felt it wanted a bit more detail on some stuff. The first chapter was all about the development of Catharism and where the ideas had come from and that was fascinating.

Thanks Laurel, I think I'll give it a go.

I haven't updated this for a bit so...
20. Robert Holdstock - Mythago Wood
21. NK Jemisin - the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
22. Boris Akhunin - The Winter Queen
23. Marisha Pessl - Night Film

24. George Eliot - Daniel Deronda

25. Susan Hill - Howard's End is on the Landing. A Year of Reading from Home
26. Jasper Fforde - The Eyre Affair
27. Rachel Kushner - The Flamethrowers
28. Carson McCullers - The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories
29. Nelson Algren - The Man With the Golden Arm

Wow Laurel, you are doing so well! :)

That Susan hill book has an interesting title, Laurel. What's it about.

It's basically just her random musings on various books and authors, she decides to try not to buy any new books for a year and instead read the ones she already owns but hasn't read and reconnecting with old favourites. It's very interesting but just her opinions and she did name drop a bit at times.

30. Lorrie Moore - A Gate at the Stairs
31. Rick Bragg - All Over But the Shoutin'
32. Anna Akhmatova - Evening: Poetry of Anna Akhmatova

33. Ruth Ozeki - A Tale for the Time Being

What did you think of it, Laurel?

I liked it, wasn't quite what I expected but a sweet story at the end, although Nao goes through some pretty horrible stuff at times. I didn't love it so I wouldn't say it should be winning any awards but it is a good read.

34. ML Stedman - The Light Between Oceans
35. Katherine Mansfield -Bliss And Other Stories