75 Books...More or Less! discussion

I'm hoping to increase my reading even more from last year, I made a dramatic improvement from 2009 to 2010, hope this group helps.

Starting off with two books:

1. 2.

I read 35 the year before last, so moving from 58 to 75 seems reasonable. I barely read at all in the fall and still made the total.

3. 4. 5.

Karen, I just red Gold Boy, Emerald Girl and it was pretty interesting. I like short stories so that may be why I liked it more than some other people I have talked to who thought it was just weird.

The first story is grabbing me - very sad. I've been reading more short stories recently and a couple of online friends have liked it also.

6. 7. 8. . 9. 10.

11. 12.

Hi, Karen - nice to hear from you!

Thanks, Kay. Slow reading so far this year, but getting a little better.

13. 14.

Karen, 13 is still a great number considering it's only May. At this pace you will easily hit 25 books for the year. While that may not seem like a huge amount think of people who never even take the time to open one book in a year. Sometime I think readers have years where they just can't stop and other years where each book is a struggle. I think it also depends on how much time you have. I know I read more in the winter because it's too cold to do stuff outside and I read more in the summer because of vacations, less good shows on TV, and reading by the beach/pool. Either way you are doing great and should be proud of your 13!

Thanks for the encouragement, Andrea. I know you're right, and my television watching is about to decrease a lot. I was comparing this year to last and I guess I shouldn't do that.

I'm with Andrea!! You are doing great!!! It is hard sometimes to find time for reading in the midst of life things!! I am having that struggle right now, as I am a new mommy, trying to juggle my time is just kinda a new thing for me. Last year at this time I was already to #32, and this year I just made it to #29, and let me tell you, I'm fudgin' on a few of them by adding the tiny little baby books I have been reading to my daughter...I even have a word search book in there!! (hey! it has an ISBN! LOL) I'm totally grasping at straws here this year!! If truth be told and I only count the "Grown up books" that I read only for me, I'm only on #22! =( Life happens, and challenges are fun, just do what you can do, we're all here for the fun!!

Thanks to you too, Joy. And 22 is a lot, especially being a new mom.

15.

Karen wrote: "Thanks to you too, Joy. And 22 is a lot, especially being a new mom."

You're welcome! Just plug away at it, no pressures!! And look, you're already on 15 now!! =)

karen, did you like Family History? A lot of people in one of my other book groups really love Shapiro.

I do love Shapiro in general. I had a couple of problems with the ending but I love her language and her characterizations.

Good to know, someday I'll get to one of her books!

16. 17. ) 18. 19.

Karen wrote: "16. 17. ) 18. (currently reading"

How did you like without a doubt? I've seen her on numerous TV shows talking about the crime of the day, but never thought much about her time in the spotlight when she was on the OJ trial.

I really liked it. She came and spoke to another book forum I'm on. I learned a lot about the trial I hadn't known. She's writing a mystery series now. I think she did an honorable job in the O.J. trial and was unfairly maligned.

20. 21. 22. 23.

Karen, I read A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon. It was before I was noting any type of review though. I gave it three stars and I remeber it was fairly good.

I love the Brunetti character and it's Venice so how can you go wrong? I'm reading them all in order.

That is where I went wrong, I didn't know it was a series!

24.. 25. 26.

27.

Cannot believe I haven't read this. It's on my twelve-book challenge in another thread, also.

28. 29. 30. 31. 32.

33. 34. 35. 36. 37.

38. 39. 40.

Karen, I always like to see what you have going :)

Lookin' good! You're pickin' up the pace now!!! You can do it!!!

Thanks, guys. At one time this year I felt the goal was beyond me. I now have some hope!

41. 42. 43.

Karen wrote: "Thanks, guys. At one time this year I felt the goal was beyond me. I now have some hope!"

I felt the same way but somehow all of a sudden I'm already past #50 and on the downhill slide now! I think we can make it!!!

44. 45. 46. 47.

48. 49. 50. 51.

52. 53. 54. 55. 56.

Karen, what did you think of Case histories? I really liked it and how the stories connected. I gave it to my sister though and she hated it.

Oh, I loved it, Andrea. I can't wait to read the next one.

Oh yay, I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone!

57. 58.

Karen wrote: "Oh, I loved it, Andrea. I can't wait to read the next one."

Did you see the PBS Masterpiece Theater production of Case Histories this month? I loved it, thought it was excellent. If you missed it, it's available online until 11/29

Thanks for reminding me, Jan. I've been meaning to watch that.

Thanks Jan! I didn't know anything about this! I'm going to share the link if anyone else is interested.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/c...

59. 60. 61.

Karen, I'm curious about what you thought of The Time Machine. I've only read one H.G. Wells (War of the Worlds) and had kind of a hard time getting through it given the writing style.

Kay, stylistically, he's certainly not the best but I thought the story was pretty strong and he certainly had some original ideas. It's a pretty quick read also, just 115 pages.

62. 63. 64. 65,