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January 2008 Book Challenge

post #1 of 287
1/1/08 at 5:36am
Thread Starter 
HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY ::::
(2008 get it?)

It's a new year ... it's a new challenge.

Rules stay the same:

Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaBug View Post
So the rules are the same, keep a tally, set a goal or just come and let us know what your reading and if you liked it, a synopsis is nice as well.

I did 88 in 2007, 12 short of my goal. Let's see if I can do 100 in 2008?

And with that, off we are into the new year!
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post #2 of 287
1/1/08 at 3:44pm
It's weird to be back at #1, isn't it?

#1 Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope by Brian D. McLaren

Quote:
...invites us to imagine what would happen
  • if people of faith moved beyond political polarization and a few hot-button issues to the deeper questions nobody is asking.
  • if the world's leading nations spent less on weapons and more on peace-making, poverty-alleviation, and creation-care.
  • if a renewed understanding of Jesus and his message sparked a profound spiritual awakening in a global movement of faith, hope, and love.
  • if we believed that God's will really could be done on earth and not just in heaven.
Good stuff. In some ways, it's all so obvious, but it's really not being said in many circles...
post #3 of 287
1/1/08 at 4:26pm
I think a 100 or even 88 is definitely too ambitious for me. I'm going to read a minimum of 30 books.

#1 is

Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief by Bill Mason - a cat burglar remembers his daring robberies of the rich (Phyllis Diller, Armand Hammer). Mason is egocentric, blames everyone else for his lack of morals, and is not the least bit ashamed of what he's done. I felt some parts of the book didn't ring true. I would consider this a work of fiction.

I'm going to track down Badge 149 -Shots Fired!, the book written by the police officer who arrested Bill Mason.
post #4 of 287
1/1/08 at 4:41pm
Hey everybody!
post #5 of 287
1/1/08 at 4:41pm
My goal is 100 Considering I currently have 10 out of the library and 1 of my own under way that it will not be too hard. How many of you have several books ont he go at once? I am reading 4 right now, little bits of each depnding on my mood.

#1 is The Good Guy by Dean Koontz
post #6 of 287
1/1/08 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by swellmomma View Post
How many of you have several books ont he go at once? I am reading 4 right now, little bits of each depnding on my mood
I usually do, but that's because I have 4-5 lit classes in my schedule.
post #7 of 287
1/1/08 at 6:10pm
I'm going to aim for 50 books this year too.

On the agenda:

To finish reading Once Upon a Country, A Palestinian Life by Sari Nussiebeh &

The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein

To Start:

The Mighty Heart by Mariane Pearl

The White Family by Maggie Gee

Purple Hibiscus by Adichie

The Earth has a Soul: The Nature Writings of C.G Jung

Add to that: Interventions by Noam Chomsky

Dreams from my Father by Barak Obama
post #8 of 287
1/1/08 at 9:23pm
This sounds interesting ... I'll have to read more (about the book challenge), but I think I'll tentatively join.

I have no idea how many books I will read in a year, but I usually have a few going at a time. I'm starting my year with Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, translated by John Rutherford) though. I'm also technically making my way through The History of the Ancient World (Susan Wise Bauer) and finishing up The Underground History of American Education (John Taylor Gatto).
post #9 of 287
1/1/08 at 10:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders View Post
I'm starting my year with Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, translated by John Rutherford)
One of the 8th graders I work with is reading this (unabridged) for the classical lit unit. He's not the best student (or reader) in the world, so I had a long talk with him about the book and he decided to read it anyway ... and is loving it. It's been years since I've read DQ ... maybe I need to pick it up this year ...
post #10 of 287
1/1/08 at 10:54pm
subbing.

Not sure what my goal will be this year. I'm working away at my own novel. Right now I'm reading the Alchemist again. I'm really enjoying it.
post #11 of 287
1/1/08 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewCrunchyDaddy View Post
One of the 8th graders I work with is reading this (unabridged) for the classical lit unit. He's not the best student (or reader) in the world, so I had a long talk with him about the book and he decided to read it anyway ... and is loving it. It's been years since I've read DQ ... maybe I need to pick it up this year ...
How awesome for him! I have never read it before. : I have no idea how I got through AP English, not to mention college without having to ever read it. Though, it's probably better this way ... I'm *choosing* to read it instead of having it assigned.
post #12 of 287
1/1/08 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blooming View Post
subbing.

Not sure what my goal will be this year. I'm working away at my own novel. Right now I'm reading the Alchemist again. I'm really enjoying it.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Alchemist! Actually, I'm adding it to my list.
post #13 of 287
1/1/08 at 11:41pm
Hi everyone!

Going to set my goal at 50 again.
post #14 of 287
1/1/08 at 11:58pm
Okay, this sounds like it's right up my alley. I've forced myself into gear to read several pregnancy/birth books in the last month, so now I'm actually ready to *gasp* read for enjoyment again!!!

I'm going to set my goal at 50.
post #15 of 287
1/2/08 at 12:17am
Much lower goal for me this year since I totally blew it last year.

I'm going to go with 18 books for 2008. I'd have to go back to see how many I actually read in 2007 - I think 10, maybe 11.
post #16 of 287
1/2/08 at 1:09am
Hey, I'm so excited to have found this thread! Since pregnancy, birth and post-partum, I had a period where all I was reading was non-fiction, and I've been on a fiction kick lately. I'd love to join. I'd like to make my goal for 2008 to be 20 books. It might not seem to big, but I think it'll be a good start for me, and in 2009, I can maybe up it a bit. Right now I'm reading Milk, Money and Madness: The Culture and Politics of Breastfeeding and Middlesex
post #17 of 287
1/2/08 at 1:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blooming View Post
subbing.

Not sure what my goal will be this year. I'm working away at my own novel. Right now I'm reading the Alchemist again. I'm really enjoying it.
I really enoyed the alchemist. I read it in one sitting when I had to spend the day in the hospital back in september
post #18 of 287
1/2/08 at 1:20am
Happy New Year everyone!

It is weird to be back at *#1*

My goal is 50 again, I read 35 last year.

Blessings,
post #19 of 287
1/2/08 at 1:24am
new here...
I am going to aim for 100. My new plan (beginning tomorrow) is to stay upstairs when I put the kids to bed and do homework, read, write, journal, and (maybe clean). This should give me at least one-two hours nightly.
I plan to focus on non-fiction this year, reading at least 25. I have always used reading as an escape, but now I want to use it as a tool for learning and growing.

#1 Living Simply with Children

#2 The Amateur Marriage, Anne Tyler Fiction
post #20 of 287
1/2/08 at 1:37am
I have never counted the number of books I have read before but I'll go for 30 in 2008. Hmm. I don't know what to start with.
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