The Fifty Book Challenge: 2007

[jackshoegazer]

I failed miserably.  Thirty-four books.  Granted, I started a job this year (in February) that does not allow me to read while working (for obvious reasons,) and I started school this fall, and most of the summer I was reading Harpers and The New Yorker all the time.  I also read the entire Y: The Last Man series (so far.)  There are also quite a few more re-reads this year than in the past.  I'm calling them comfort reads.  Anyway, here is The List For 2007.  And for mere posterity, here is The List For 2006.

EDIT: The Breakdown

TOP FIVE BOOKS OF 2007
1) The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
2) The Eden Express by Mark Vonnegut
3) Supernatural by Graham Hancock
4) The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
5) The Road by Cormac McCarthy

HONOURABLE MENTION: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

AUTHOR BY GENDER
23% female
77% male

AUTHOR BY NATION
59% U.S.A.
41% U.K.

TRUTHINESS
12% non-fiction
88% fiction

REPETITION
65% first-time
35% re-reads

Comments

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

I read Sex, Drugs, & Cocoa Puffs this year too. Some of the essays were really interesting, others were okay, and there were a few that didn't impress me very much. I think a B would be my grade, too. Possibly a B-.

I need to attempt the challenge again this year. Especially since I got a lot of books for Christmas. :)

That reminds me: I should give The Remains of the Day another attempt. I had to read it for Academic Decathlon back in high school (hooray nerdery!) and was really really bored with it. But, then, I was in ninth grade at the time. My tastes have obviously changed since then. :)

[feather.livejournal.com]

Well I think you've had a few things on your plate this year...

Good list. I think I'll write a few of those down and keep my eyes open for them when I go to the library... I'm always looking for new books, and we seem to have similarish taste. :)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

If you go to the actual list, the re-reads have a red * next to them.

I read The Corrections first and loved it, and read All Families Are Psychotic a few months later, which was good, but I didn't like quite as much, though I definitely see the similarities. Mark Haddon's Spot of Bother is very much like both of them. You'd probably like it.

The Road was my first Cormac McCarthy book. I think I'll definitely read more of him, especially after seeing the film version of No Country for Old Men, which was quite excellent.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I want to read Chuck Klosterman IV. I don't always agree with him, but he's damned entertaining at least.

I don't really strive for fifty books, but more just enjoy chronicling my reading habits. I hate forgetting when I read a book :P

The Remains of the Day was amazingly good. I read a bunch of Ishiguro and all his books are amazing so far. He is really King of the First-Person Narrative.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Methinks you are right. I kind of miss the days when I read closer to eighty books a year, of course, long before I kept track :P

[explodingalice.livejournal.com]

I like the break-down stats you've created here. I haven't done the 50 book challenge in a few years - I used to, but then just stopped. I was planning on at least tracking which books I read this year, even if I don't actually aim for a challenge. Mind if I steal your stats idea?

You've got some really great reads on there, some of my definite favorites - especially The Corrections. I have to say, Bookcrossing and the many friends I have made there have definitely opened me up to writers and genres that I might otherwise not have come across!

[decemberthirty.livejournal.com]

I love three of the five books on your top five list: The Corrections, The Remains of the Day, and The Road--what great books! I'll have to check out the other two, since we obviously have similar taste.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

The Eden Express, in case you didn't know, is Kurt Vonnegut's son, Mark's, memoir of his time with schizophrenia. It is amazing and amazingly lucid. Some books are sad books and make you feel sad; some are happy and make you feel happy. This is the only book I've ever read about insanity that made me feel insane.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Steal away! I stole it from someone else, I'm sure. I don't expect to hit 50 books while I'm in school, but I do like to know wheat and when I'm reading something. I look at last year's list and say, "Oh yeah! I *did* read that!"

[la-originelle.livejournal.com]

Monsieur Shoegazer! I got your nudge a couple of weeks back but have been way too busy to reply. How are things? I actually hit 51 books for 2007 and it was my first time ever doing it! Really happy about that and I will update later tonight (hopefully!) with my 50 for you to peruse. I'm definitely going to snag your stats idea too 'cause it's really cool.

Hope all's going well with you! In my update post later I will tell you and everyone all about my new photoblog that you should check out now that I've kind of abandoned my poor LJ...

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Sweet, I look forward to your triumphant return :D