Comfort Reads discussion

Hey!! I wanted to start this up since Ashley started up the 2010 Book Count and I wanted to know how many books you have read so far in 2011! So far, I have read 36 books this year.

Have fun, everybody. I don't count. I read a mix of books, including many children's picture books so number count is not a good challenge or record keeping activity for me.

Oh, that's alright Lisa! I just usually have a shelf on my bookshelf for books that I read in 2011 so that way I can keep track of how many books I've read for each year. Last year, I didn't put a shelf to count the books that I've read for last year and it was such a hassle to count all those books I've read that I just gave up counting how many books I had! LOL!!

Ronyell, Yes, I've noticed that many members have shelves for years/annual shelves.

Oh. :D

You know you don't really need separate shelves! Go to your profile. At the bottom right corner of all your shelves you will see the word "stats". Click on it. You will see what I mean. You might have to make a few changes but the info is there. You have to have filled in the dates when you have begun and finished a book.

OH! Thanks Chrissie! I'll check on that!

You do have to make sure that there are no duplicates and that dates are correct. Some people say it is not 100% accurate, but I don't use it myself, so I don't know much. Probably the inaccuracy is due to our filling in dates incorrectly....... And what about unfinished books. How are they managed? I do not know.

Yep, I use a shelf because of things like the stats being based on the finish date - if I read most of a book in December, bur finish in January, I want to count it in the previous year. Also that way I can exclude things that I don't consider 'count' (e.g. recipe books that I've 'read' less than half of). All I need to do is remember to put the book on the year shelf when I finish reading them!! So far I have 16 that I consider I've read in 2011, whereas the automatically generated stats for the reading challenge shows 19.

Chrissie wrote: "How are they managed? I do not know. "

As Darkpool says, it's by the finish date. So, if you start a book on December 10 and finish on January 1, it's counted as the year January 1 is in, even though you've read most of the book the previous year.

Lisa, for me this is logical..... It isn't read until it is finished! Heavens, who cares how many books you read?! I am more interested in the hours of enjoyment and what I have learned. But we are all created differently. Some people who have a hard time reading might get a real sense of accomplishment from the number of books they have suceeded to read.

Chrissie, Oh, it's fine with me too. But, I don't count the number of books I read per year, per month, per anything. For those who do count, I was thinking it might make a difference to them.

Lisa, yes, that is why I first explained how to do it in message 6. Not for me, but definitely for others.

Lisa wrote: "Chrissie, Oh, it's fine with me too. But, I don't count the number of books I read per year, per month, per anything. For those who do count, I was thinking it might make a difference to them."

I never count the number of books I read. Like Chrissie and Lisa, what is important for me is the act of reading itself, enjoying a book, critiquing a book, never the amount of books I have read or will be reading. However, for those of you who do count the number of books read, have fun!!

Numbers are my thing. A few years ago I was totally obsessed with trying to see 52 movies at the theatre in the course of the year - averaging one per week was the motivation. Probably all just part of my undiagnosed personality disorder... ;-)

Darkpool, I love that GR makes the numbers so easily accessible and think that Gundula so perfectly captured the happiness they can bring whatever the cause!

Darkpool wrote: Probably all just part of my undiagnosed personality disorder... ;-)

"

That made me laugh so hard that my eyes won't stop tearing. You are a hoot!

Chrissie wrote: "You know you don't really need separate shelves! Go to your profile. At the bottom right corner of all your shelves you will see the word "stats". Click on it. You will see what I mean. You might h..."

I didn't know about that, Chrissie. However, when I clicked on stats, it didn't have anywhere near the accurate information. I read 100 books last year, and it only has 58 listed. I do know the reason for it now. This year, I learned that in order to have the book counted, you have to be sure and fill in the date when you finish a book on the review page. I'm doing that now. It looks like I haven't read that many books over the past few years, and I have. I'm going to see if I can delete the figures for the years before this one.

Kathy, You can't delete the figures but if you can remember the year you read books, or the approximate year, you can add the dates to your books. If you put in just the year it will show as 1/1. If you put in just month and year it will show as the 1st of that month. It won't be 100% accurate but you'll have more data info than you have now.

Lisa wrote: "Kathy, You can't delete the figures but if you can remember the year you read books, or the approximate year, you can add the dates to your books. If you put in just the year it will show as 1/1. I..."

Thanks, Lisa. I might try and do that. I do keep a record each year. However, it will be a lot of books to add, so I'm not sure when I might get to it.

Kathy, I add mine as I remember them. I never kept records before Goodreads. But, I remember when I read most of my books, by school year or within a year or two as adulthood. The only ones I'm sure I've failed miserably at adding (other than the thousands in my apt. not yet added and many from my early years I don't remember until I see them on others' shelves, etc.) are my [author:Agatha Christie|123715 book. I read so many in high school and college but can't remember them all and think I remember incorrectly which ones I read when, even though I think I read most of the ones Ive read within a certain age range.

Adding the books I added with dates didn't take that much time, but I do understand your hesitation. I'm sure I have at least 5,000 books at home, over 90% read, that I haven't added, mostly because I don't feel like rating them, or having my reviewed percentage go down so drastically.

This reading challenge is stressing me out (I am laughing at myself here). Whenever I log onto the site I see this reminder that I'm behind, yikes! I never do well at challenges because I read so much based on mood.

Christine wrote: "This reading challenge is stressing me out (I am laughing at myself here). Whenever I log onto the site I see this reminder that I'm behind, yikes! I never do well at challenges because I read so m..."

Me too, and I am a slow reader, and some books take longer than others, especially if I am reading or having to read secondary sources or in a foreign language, or non-fiction etc. etc. That is one of the main reasons I do not count books read or join in book challenges. Also, in my opinion, challenges really only work if you are only reading a few different "types" of books, with my eclectic reading schedule and reading tastes, it just would not work.

Yes, I should quit, but I have challenged myself to stop quitting challenges. I should be challenging myself to stop joining challenges that I have to challenge myself not to quit.

hahahahaha

Sounds good, whatever you just said, Christine. 8D

Christine, I love challenges but I would not do well with one that repeatedly told me I was falling behind. That is just mean. You already know it, right! Find a fun one that doesn't do that and gives you options to read the books you want to read and then have fun with it. And if you really don't like doing them, don't. I think there are more people who do not do them than those that do.

Christine wrote: "Yes, I should quit, but I have challenged myself to stop quitting challenges. I should be challenging myself to stop joining challenges that I have to challenge myself not to quit."

LOL! So funny, Christine!

Christine wrote: "Yes, I should quit, but I have challenged myself to stop quitting challenges. I should be challenging myself to stop joining challenges that I have to challenge myself not to quit."

You should write a Dr. Seuss style children's book, Christine. ;-)

How about the "Eat a Cupcake Every Time I Finish a Book" Challenge. That would certainly raise my yearly book total! ;p

Christine wrote: "This reading challenge is stressing me out (I am laughing at myself here). Whenever I log onto the site I see this reminder that I'm behind, yikes! I never do well at challenges because I read so m..."

The same thing happened to me also Christine! Sometimes I get annoyed whenever Goodreads keeps telling me that I am behind in my reading goal, but I tend to read at a slow pace, so I'm trying my best! :D

The other day it said I was behind right as I was ready to enter a book, which I did and suddenly I was "right on track". Yay! I was on track! The next day I logged on and I was behind again, lol!

Christine wrote: "The other day it said I was behind right as I was ready to enter a book, which I did and suddenly I was "right on track". Yay! I was on track! The next day I logged on and I was behind again, lol!"

I don't need some anonymous website telling me I'm behind with my reading, ha, ha, ha. I'm a slow reader anyhow, so being reminded of that fact would be like a personal slap in the face. No thanks :-)

I just changed my goal on my reading challenge, I think I had it set a little to high. If I meet it then I can up it some more. But I didn't care for the red and green words that did seem a little disheartening to look at.

Just go to edit shelves when you open up your book....change it to TBR or could not finish or whatever you want! :)

Susan wrote: "Just go to edit shelves when you open up your book....change it to TBR or could not finish or whatever you want! :)"

And after that, you can just delete from your bookshelves if you don't want it to appear there.

If the book is on your to-read shelf, just go to "my books" and then "to-read" and all the books will be listed. There is an "x" on the far right, after each book. That's the delete button.

Julia wrote: "Thank you, Jeannette.
The book is now gone.

Is there a user's manual for Goodreads?"

I don't think so, although that would be a very good idea.

Julia wrote: "Thank you, Jeannette.
The book is now gone.

Is there a user's manual for Goodreads?"

I think you are reading it, right now, Julia. ;)

Goodreads does offer quite a lot of help -- just click on "help" at the bottom right on this page. Or ask your goodreads buddies.

So far, I have read 43 books for this year, but more is coming along!

Kathy, I am glad Lisa could help you out. Sorry I didn't answer sooner. Last two weeks have been computer free...... oh but we have had beaches instead!

Chrissie wrote: "Kathy, I am glad Lisa could help you out. Sorry I didn't answer sooner. Last two weeks have been computer free...... oh but we have had beaches instead!"

Well, if I had to choose between computers and beaches, I would choose beaches, as long as I could have books and reading while enjoying the beaches. I hope you had a good time :-)

Ah, yes, beaches trump computers!

Me and Oscar agree!!!!!! And yup I had my Kindle, as all the reviews show! I think I read only one DTB (dead tree book) :0)

Sorry for the thread diversion.......

I have no idea how many I read in 2011, but I'll keep track for 2012, so far I've read 2.

Connie wrote: "I have no idea how many I read in 2011, but I'll keep track for 2012, so far I've read 2."

Connie, You or any member can start a 2012 book count in the chit chat folder, if there isn't one there already. If you'd like to do that.

OK I will, as soon as I can find the chit chat folder :) LOL

I've read 120 books in 2011!

Found it and I created a 2012 folder :)

Ronyell wrote: "I've read 120 books in 2011!" Holy Cow, way to go!