75 Books...More or Less! discussion

I am truly just shooting to read 65 pre-selected books from my TBR shelf this year. If I get those done then I will keep on striving towards 75, but in all honesty I don't think I will make the goal this year. But we'll see! Good luck everyone! And remember even if we don't get to 75 to make this challenge, if you read at least ONE book this year that made you go "That was amazing!" or Just ONE book that took you away from the here and now and gave you a break from life, then you have reached your goal, because reading is all about the adventure! And if a book has taken you on an amazing adventure and introduced you to some great friends in it's characters, then the adventure has been completed!! If you enjoyed the books you read while striving to get to #75, even if you don't make it, you have met the challenge!

Books I hope to read off my TBR shelf this year:

1.Ask Me again Later (3/21)
2.Three Fates (2/28)
3.Of Mice and Men (1/27)
4.Girls Night In (3/20)
5.The Romance Reader Book Club(1/9)
6.A Nostalgic Noel (3/12)
7.Summer Breeze (4/26)
8.The Summer House (5/1)
9.The Appeal (4/2)
10.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (1/11)
11.Sammy’s Hill
12.Mansfield Park (4/21)
13.Waiting to Exhale (3/26)
14.Every Breath You Take (3/6)
15.Season of Love
16.Christmas Threads
17.Sea Glass
18.The White Queen
19.I is for Innocent(5/30)
20. J is for Judgement (5/31)
21. JD Robb “In Death #1
22. JD Robb “In death #2
23.JD Robb “In death #3
24. Sir Apropos of Nothing (5/29)
25. The Woad to Wuin (Sir Apropos #2) (11/16)
26. Tong Lashing (Sir Apropos #3)
27.Dragonlance Chronicles #1 (1/6)
28.Dragonlance Chronicles #2 (2/5)
29.Dragonlance Chronicles #3 (2/17)
30.Angels and Demons
31.The Da Vinci Code
32.The Lost Symbol
33.To Kill a Mockingbird
34.The Secret Garden (2/7)
35.Don Quixote
36.Mary Higgins Clark 3 in 1
37. The Pact
38. Grace Livingston Hill #1
39. GLH #2
40. GLH #3
41. Tom Sawyer
42.Huckleberry Fin
43.The Mayor of Castorbridge
44. Turn of the Screw
45. At First Sight
46. The Deep End of the Ocean
47. Cocaine Wars
48. Forbidden Fruit
49. Ape House
50. Changes
51. Dragonlance Legends #1
52. DL Legends #2
53. DL Legends #3
54. DL Chronicles #4
55. Joy In the Morning
56. The Stand
57. The Green Mile
58. Atlas Shrugged
59. People of the Fire
60. People of the Earth
61. People of the River
62. blood of the fold
63. Temple of the Winds
64. High Five
65.Hot Six

If I have time:

66.K is for Killer
67. The Marriage Plot
68. Snowflower and the Secret Fan
69. Salem Falls
70. Nineteen Minutes
71. The Plot Against America

(spontaneous reads/library)
72. The Strawberry Shortcake Murder (1/25)
73. The confessions of Max Tivoli
74. Shanghai Girls
75. Dreams of Joy

Wow talk about organized!! you already know which books you want to read, I could never know that far ahead. Nice! Good Luck with your challenge Joy! Hope you read some GREAT books!! =)

Angie wrote: "Wow talk about organized!! you already know which books you want to read, I could never know that far ahead. Nice! Good Luck with your challenge Joy! Hope you read some GREAT books!! =)"

Thanks! I only know because they have been on my TBR shelf for soooo long, and I really wanna start reading more off the shelf! =) I like working off lists, marking things off, makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something! =)

YAY YAY YAY!!!! I LOVE your idea!!! I am doing something similar. I am reading all the books I have in the room I live in right now. Its not 65, but its a lot and I am totally OUT of room. THEN, I am going to finish by reading only library books. I probably will still buy books, but this is to help me CURB that little obsession some. :-) I think I know which 5 I am reading first. I don't think I could pick ALL 75 at once. Then again, maybe I could. :-)

Actually just read through your list. Don Quixote is the first book I am reading in 2012. To Kill a Mockingbird is in the top 5 of my ALL-TIME favorite books, I happen to LOVE Grace Livingston Hill, The Secret Garden is lovely, The Green Mile is MAGNIFICENT. Stephen King at his very best (imho). Snowflower and the Secret Fan should be moved HIGHER on your list..you will NEVER forget this book and Nineteen Minutes will make you question a MILLION things!!! :-)

Joy wrote: "Angie wrote: "Wow talk about organized!! you already know which books you want to read, I could never know that far ahead. Nice! Good Luck with your challenge Joy! Hope you read some GREAT books!! ..."

Oh I know what you mean! I have books that I have added from when I first started goodreads (2008) that I haven't read and tons of books that I own are still just sitting there on the shelf. This year I'm going to try and get some older books read...I just don't know all 75 books that I'm going to read.. more like maybe 30..=)

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Actually just read through your list. Don Quixote is the first book I am reading in 2012. To Kill a Mockingbird is in the top 5 of my ALL-TIME favorite books, I happen to LOVE Grace Livingston Hill..."

Those Grace Linvingston Hill books? I got them when I was still in High school, and I graduated in 96! Yeah they have been adorning my TBR shelf for what's that? over 15 years! So, yeah it's time to get them off there! I seriously DO NOT have room for any new stuff right now, I just keep buying and not reading what I have! I DO but not as fast as I buy...Like last year i bought 45 new ones (i say bought I guess I should say "Acquired, as some were gifts) and I only read 37 off my TBR shelf. This year I really wanna thin it out!

My Mom introduced me to GLH. A L O N G time ago. When I was in HS I think (and I graduated in 86!!! She has some and I have some and we have read a bunch of them. I only kept the ones I really loved, which was about 6 of them. Let me know what you think. :-)
Because my life circumstances changed dramatically last year, my book-buying has diminished dramatically. But I am still going to library sales and of course hit the B&N.com sale right after Christmas (the most expensive book I picked up was $2.99!!). But I need to weed out what I have here. There just isn't enough room for the books AND me. And right now, I am not willing to give up my bed!! LOL

Acquired...that reminded me of a "funny" story. I didn't get ANY books this year for Christmas (which is HIGHLY unusual). So when I was at WM I bought 2. Didn't need them (obviously), but felt "cheated". I think I need "book therapy". ;-)

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Acquired...that reminded me of a "funny" story. I didn't get ANY books this year for Christmas (which is HIGHLY unusual). So when I was at WM I bought 2. Didn't need them (obviously), but felt "che..."

i didn't get any for Christmas either...although I got over a dozen for my birthday (in Nov.) I did however get a Wii Fit, and the P90X workout system...I think my hubby shoulda just said, "Hey Fatty! stop reading and go run around the block!" LOL...I actually asked for them a few years ago, but now I have a baby, so who knows when I will find time to do them? I think that is why I have decided to not try for 75 this year!

I have a Wii fit, but not the other torturous thing you mentioned (I am WAY to faint of heart to try that). But alas, my Wii is in storage and will stay there until I finally get my own place. And SOON, your baby will be walking/running and you won't NEED anything else for exercise!!! :-)

I set my goal at 75 this year because this fatty pants is really going to be spending more time at the gym and less time reading!...lol

Andrea wrote: "I set my goal at 75 this year because this fatty pants is really going to be spending more time at the gym and less time reading!...lol"

Yay! Me too! =) We can do it Andrea!!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I have a Wii fit, but not the other torturous thing you mentioned (I am WAY to faint of heart to try that). But alas, my Wii is in storage and will stay there until I finally get my own place. And ..."

This is so true!!! lol

#1-

My review can be found Here

Burning calories and reading Joy or just reading so far?...lol

Andrea wrote: "Burning calories and reading Joy or just reading so far?...lol"

Both...omg! My arms are so sore, and my abs too!! And my P90X hasn't even come in yet. I did Jillian Michaels kickbox yesterday! If I'm this sore now, I dread when my P90X gets here! but I'm gonna look good! =) What about you? Are you getting lots of reading and/or exercising in?

I haven't done much with exercising since the new year. I wanted to use it as a recommitment to my goals, but the idea of the Y being so crowded with "the January people" as my husband is calling them has made me reluctant to get back there. I've used my Wii Fit a couple times this week, but not every day like I should be. Good luck to you ladies!

Joy wrote: "#1-

My review can be found Here"

These are books my husband has encouraged me to read as well. He is much bigger into fantasy than I am and he loves Weis/Hickman. I have read another series by them (The Death Gate Cycle) which is separate from the Dragonlance books, I thought it was pretty good. It was a really interesting world they created. I will probably read some of the Dragonlance books eventually.

Was all set to start going to the gym with a friend (we are also doing a sugar fast together) and I have done something serious to my knee. If it doesn't get better its back to the Dr. I go. Sigh. But I have like 4 books read already!!! ;-)

I'm reading a lot of Wedding magazines and working out a lot...lol Tomorrow I have a planned lazy day including lots of reading books and maybe one trip to the gym...lol This year I promised myself that I was going to really work hard at working out and do less reading. So far so good!

Charleen wrote: "I haven't done much with exercising since the new year. I wanted to use it as a recommitment to my goals, but the idea of the Y being so crowded with "the January people" as my husband is calling ..."

Good luck to you too!!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Was all set to start going to the gym with a friend (we are also doing a sugar fast together) and I have done something serious to my knee. If it doesn't get better its back to the Dr. I go. Sigh. ..."

Oh no!! I hate when stuff like that gets in the way of your goals! because it is so hot and humid here I get heat rash really bad when I work out hard so then I have to take a few days away from it then it's so hard to get back on track! Hope your knee is feeling better soon!

Andrea wrote: "I'm reading a lot of Wedding magazines and working out a lot...lol Tomorrow I have a planned lazy day including lots of reading books and maybe one trip to the gym...lol This year I promised myself..."

Wedding mags, huh? Am I missing something? =) Is there a date set? Glad to hear you are doing well with your goals!! I'm doing alright. This past weekend I was very sore from workouts on thurs and friday now the pain is gone and it's Monday tomorrow, so time to pick it back up again...going on vacation to the mainland next week, I don't know if I will be able to keep up with the work outs...it's always something in my way! oh yeah and before anyone says "Have a great vacation"...it's to go see the inlaws...nuff said! =/ wish me luck!

#2-The Romance Readers' Book Club

#3-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Joy wrote: "Books I hope to read off my TBR shelf this year:

1.Ask Me again Later
2.Three Fates
3.Of Mice and Men
4.Girls Night In
5.The Romance Reader Book Club
6.A Nostalgic Noel
7.Season of Love
8.Christma..."

This is what I am trying to do too! I have over fifty books to be read in my room this very minute(and we are not even going to talk about what is still at my parent's house, ugh) and THIS is the year I read them. I have pulled them all off my previously overcrowded bookshelf and stacked them on my floor.

Maybe I should type them all out in a list as well? Good luck!

Joy wrote: "#3-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"

I've had this on my shelf FOREVER! I've heard good things about it just have never picked it up to read it.

Highjump wrote: "Joy wrote: "Books I hope to read off my TBR shelf this year:

1.Ask Me again Later
2.Three Fates
3.Of Mice and Men
4.Girls Night In
5.The Romance Reader Book Club
6.A Nostalgic Noel
7.Season of Lov..."

Good luck to you too!!! =) I just have soooo many on my TBR shelf (over 400) and I just wanted to have a "plan"...so hopefully this works! I think it may help me not buy so many books this year too! =) Since I already have my plan set out, why buy more that won't fit into the plan kinda thing? lol...the mind games I play to keep from feeding my addictions! LOL

Angie wrote: "Joy wrote: "#3-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"

I've had this on my shelf FOREVER! I've heard good things about it just have never picked it up to read it."

It IS pretty good! I read it in a coupla days. It basically reads like an autistic boy's journal....It goes really fast!

Joy, I'm keeping on the FB downlow...lol We got engaged on Christmas Eve! We wanted to tell Brian's parents in person and I felt it only right that they know before I post on FB...lol

Did you enjoy your mainland vacation? How were the in-laws? :)

I loved The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time! The perspective was just such a great way to tell the story!

I'll also be doing a lot of reading from my own piles this year, it's one of my top goals. It's fun that somany people in our group are also trying to do the same thing.

Andrea wrote: "Joy, I'm keeping on the FB downlow...lol We got engaged on Christmas Eve! We wanted to tell Brian's parents in person and I felt it only right that they know before I post on FB...lol

Did you en..."

Congrats!!! I am so happy for you!!! =) We are still on the mainland, we just got back from a 5 day road trip! It was pretty fun!

Wow! It's already the 22nd of Jan and I have read a whole whoppin' 3 books? Yeeeah, I rock....ha! LOL...

That's not bad at all. Besides, it's a leap year! That extra day makes all the difference!

Thanks Joy :)

It sounds like you are having a nice trip and some good family time!

Joy wrote: "Wow! It's already the 22nd of Jan and I have read a whole whoppin' 3 books? Yeeeah, I rock....ha! LOL..."

But they are all from your selected TBR list... so, you could say that 22 days into the year and you still going strong on your resolution. WTG!!! (seriously, good job! I think I lasted less than a week before I broke down and read something not from my TBR pile...)

Joy wrote: "Wow! It's already the 22nd of Jan and I have read a whole whoppin' 3 books? Yeeeah, I rock....ha! LOL..."

Its called being a mom!!! I go back to work this week and I'm pretty sure my reading will be cut in half.
Your doing great! and like others have said you are sticking to your TBR list goal so that is awesome!

Right now since I'm not at home, I am reading stuff off my kindle, two that are not on my TBR list...naughty me! Oh well. Maybe I will get one or two more done before months end!

#4-Strawberry Shortcake Murder


Not on my list of 65 TBR for the year, but was on vacation with my Kindle and so read this.

I really love this series. They are on my list to be read as they are also in my room. Taking up space. ;-)

#5-Of Mice and Men

Oh how I love Of Mice and Men. Such a great, sad, story. Its way better than Don Quixote. I really don't think I am going to make it through that book. Seriously!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Oh how I love Of Mice and Men. Such a great, sad, story. Its way better than Don Quixote. I really don't think I am going to make it through that book. Seriously!"

DQ is on my list for this year! I am keeping fingers crossed I can finish it! lol

#6- Dragons of Winter Night

Awww, man.... the Dragonlance Chronicles are old friends of mine ;) Makes me want to re-read them!

Stacie wrote: "Awww, man.... the Dragonlance Chronicles are old friends of mine ;) Makes me want to re-read them!"

My hubby kept telling me I should read them, so we are reading them together. this is my first time, but he's read them several times before. I am enjoying them so far! =)

#7-The Secret Garden

#8-Dragons of Spring Dawning