My thoughts on this year's group:

- I really liked the growth from the 2008 group. Yeah, I know things got a bit chaotic at times, but it's nice to see such a wide variety of readers!

- The group reads and the Halloween reading list that we shared were great! I'm glad we experimented with those ideas this year and I think it's something we should keep for next year.

I'm planning to start the 2010 Challenge Group in mid- to late-December. This assumes folks are interested in doing this again next year! Please use this thread to let me know your interest and (especially!) what you think we could do better and any good ideas for next year.

I'm in.

Count me in.

I'll be back

I will be here.

It's not even Thanksgiving yet! *sigh* Of course, Burger King is now playing Christmas carols, so I can't fault you...

A thought...not necessarily a recommendation since I'm still weighing the pros and cons. What about taking the "75 Challenge" aspect out of it and letting people decide what their focus will be?

We lost some friends from last year's group to other groups this year because they didn't like the "counting" or "challenge" aspect of the group. It's also likely that some people who would contribute nicely to the book discussions don't think they'll read 75, so they don't show up.

The point of this forum...at least, as I see it...is the book discussions, not a bunch of people who just want a checklist of 75 titles and no other participation.

Perhaps "The Book Group formerly known as The 75 Challenge". ;-)

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 7:08am.

We'll I guess it can't hurt to try once more. Who knows, maybe 2010 will finally be my year for reading all the books I plan to and then some. Of course I don't think it could get much worse in 2010 than it was for me this year. And at least I still have a chance to finish on a much higher note and maybe even possibly finish at least 30 books for 2009.

Maybe I just need to pace myself and try to read as many books a week as I possibly can this way if I can get a good head start there might just be the possibility I could finish everything on my reading lists and then some. From the amount of books other people read in a year I know they finish two and three books in a single week each and every week, so why can't I also average at least two books read a week too?

I realize that in order for me to average at least two books read a week each and every week I'm going to have dedicate a lot more time to just reading than I do at the moment.

Beatles1964

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 7:51am.

I'll join in again, too.

I think there's some great discussion in this group, and the group reads have been good; ISTM that those aspects are much more significant in the group than the 75 challenge aspect. As someone for whom the 75-book target was pretty irrelevant, I think there's a lot to be said for taking that part out. OTOH, I guess the 75 book target is a draw for some people. I'm open-minded on that issue.

What about taking the "75 Challenge" aspect out of it and letting people decide what their focus will be?

I understand that point. But I also like being challenged to read more, and for me 75 is a good number for that -- enough to keep me reading steadily, but not totally overwhelming. No one group can be all things to all people.

I think we have enough grace here stating that "it's not just about the numbers" so that I feel challenged, but not pressured that I have to drop out if I get hopelessly behind and can't make it to 75.

(Although I did like TadAD's suggestion for a new group name if we did away with the 75 deal! ;-)

ETA to fix typo

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 7:52am.

Well I like the idea of being able to challenge myself each and every year to try and read more than I did the previous year. Even though I failed again to complete the 50, 75, Paranormal or even the 999 Paranormal Challenges this year I didn't drop out of any of those groups. I just didn't contribute as often as I would've liked to have been able to since I was so far behind everyone's paces in those group challenges. It's OK with me if the vast majority of people here votes to keep the word Challenge in the group name.

Beatles1964

I'll be here! I'm so glad I found this group this year - reading suggestions have been great, and the comp any isn't bad either. ;)

I'm on the 50 book challenge this year and was thinking of signing up to the 75 for next year; there are some great people and great book suggestions here. I like to think that it is not just about the numbers but having a shared goal and place we can hang out and talk about the books. Reaching the target doesn't matter; it's not a competition:)

Assuming most people here want to change the word Challenge in the group to something completely different I went to a copy of Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus and found the list of following words we could possibly substitute for Challenge:

Dare Rally
Venture Arouse
Struggle Cartel
Strive
Cartel
Double-Dog Dare
Front
Call
Claim
Postulate
Banter
Outdare
Question
By-Pass
Remonstrance
Stump
Demanding
Exacting
Remonstration
Defiance
Insistence
Require
Try
Banter
Protest
Difficulty
Rally
Stir
Arouse
Objection
Protest
Stump
Insistence
Awaken
Bestir
Waken
Whet
Kindle
Require
Requisition
Solicit
Demur
Demurral
Demurer
Demanding
Objection
Protest
Stir
Defy
Defi

Of course most of these words in this list all have negative meanings but there are some real good choices here too like:

Dare
Venture
Double-Dog Dare
Banter
Postulate
Rally
Arouse
Whet
Solicit even though this word brings up some negative meanings too. In England a Solicitor is a member of the Legal Profession but one who isn't a Barrister. So our new name could possibly be something with the word Solicitors or Double-Dog Dares.

Struggle is the word from the list that describes me best since I struggle to read as many books as I possibly can.

Beatles1964

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 8:44am.

drneutron, let me congratulate you on a very successful 2009 group. It was the most posted to group for the year. The vast majority of posters were civil. The range of books mentioned covered every literary niche out there. Good discussions were had. Ya did good!

I'll definitely be back next year.

I personally like the challenge aspect; even when I fail, it encourages me to read more. I wouldn't particularly object to "The Group Formerly Known as the 75 Book Challenge", though.

I agree that group reads and Halloween reads are good. One thing I would change is to make it easier to participate in only part of it, or participate after the fact, by splitting the thread into separate threads for the different books. I missed the start of the Halloween reads, and I felt like it was too late to join in afterwards because the thread was so massive. The general category threads (YA, non-fiction, etc.) could also benefit by being restarted more frequently--I was often interested in reading them, but fell too far behind to catch up.

Overall, though, I think the group is great exactly the way it is!

I like the idea of keeping it the 75 Book Challenge just the way it is.

Those people who want to read more can move up to the 100 Book Challenge or even the 250 Book Challenge (!). Or they can move to the 25 or 50 Book Challenge or the 1010 Challenge or the Technical Books Challenge or the Paranormal Challenge or the Club Read Challenge, the Alphabet Challenge or the 8-9-10 Challenge, etc., etc. ...... you get the idea.

The 75 Book Challenge suits my needs perfectly. I exceed it, but will probably not get 100 books read this year. I don't want the stress of having to try to read 100 books.

Just my two cents.

I've had so much fun on this that I'm definitely in for 2010 as well. My main challenge really was making sure I wasn't spending all my time reading the really interesting threads in the Challenges and running out of time to actually read my books so I can move my Challenge marker along.

So darling sweetie-pie LTers --- please make your posts a little less interesting so I can tear myself away from my 'puter and pick up my books more often? I'm weak .. I admit it, weak, weak weak.

Edit: You know, never mind...I've removed what I wrote. I'll just leave it that I'm opposed to anything that encourages people to move to other challenges based upon book counts. It's contrary to what we said when moving from 2008 to 2009, and it should be contrary when moving to 2010.

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 9:08am.

I think Zoe's point about the general category threads is a good one. Next year I'll try to be more diligent with splitting off continuation threads when the post count gets high.

One of the things I struggled with this year is the issue of spoilers in the more general threads. On the one hand, I wanted to talk about some of the books in the Halloween thread - especially The Face. On the other hand, any real discussion would have given away plot points that would have seriously ruined the story for those who haven't read the book. Over in the Green Dragon, group reads use two threads, one spoiler and one spoiler-free. I think that would work for the group reads here, but the Halloween read would get really cumbersome since it's multiple books. Perhaps a single non-spoiler thread similar to the one we had this year and individual discussion threads that could include spoilers for each book is the way to go.

BTW, I'm not opposed to other themed reads if folks are interested. The Halloween list came from blackdogbooks' reading list that some of us jumped on. If others want to do something similar throughout the year, I'm for it. I'd like the group to continue to be very participatory - if you want to start something like that, feel free to jump in!

I'm definitely interested in being a part of the group again, even though I haven't had much time this year to join the discussions (but I've been lurking). Great group, lots of fun!

1. Challenge: it's a personal challenge, so I like that it gave me a focal point but that it's also ok if I don't make it (which I haven't, yet)(life, you know...).
2. Size of the group: someone above mentioned spending a lot of time reading posts - I had to star a handful of regulars because I couldn't read everyone because of the size of the group. Couldn't handle it, otherwise. I know I will have missed some good threads.
3. I think the "Spoiler", "Non-spoiler" split would work for those who participate in such discussions, Doc.
4. Have loved the thoughtful, thought-provoking, funny, heart-wrenching reviews of fellow readers.
5. Now have about 400 books sitting there TBR, largely as a result of this thread.
6. I'd like to see a straightforward Message thread, clearly marked Message I, Message II, etc., for JUST messages, not comment. The kitchen is fine for chit chat but somewhere more clear and crisp would be good, where it was understood that commentary isn't necessary. It would keep the size down.
7. It's a personal preference that I don't receive those sparkle gif thingummies. If anyone else feels this way, you can right click on the gif and block any of them from that site.

DrN, if you build it, we will come.

>21: I think The Kitchen got a little transmogrified this year, Tui. I like your idea of having a Message thread and moving a lot of the messaging and advertising to it.

#21 Tui has summed up my feelings very well on all those points. I will continue to count and number my reads for my own sake, no matter what you call the Group, but please don't make changes that will steer people away. I like the composition of the group, and I know where to find the readers I like to follow.

The first year I kept track of my reading on LT, I had no idea how many books I read in a year. It turned out to be 72. The next year, I read exactly 75 books. So I joined the 75 Book Challenge for 2009. Either my pace has just naturally increased, or I'm reading shorter books, or something. I hit 75 the other day, but this is still the group where I seem to "fit". (Maybe I just naturally exceed my own expectations?)

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 10:24am.

I like the idea of spoiler and non-spoiler threads.

Well, I'll be back next year irrelevant of the title and even though I was planning of setting a higher target number of books...

I also like tiffin's suggestion for the different message threads (in fact, I think there are one or two already buried in there somewhere) - they can always be linked to from the Kitchen thread...

I'm here and I hope that I will continue to read above and beyond the 75 but thats due to personal choice.

I wouldn't want to leave this group for one aiming for higher numbers, even though I'm looking at about 130 for the year because I like so many of the people here and I'd be worried about losing them.

Personally, I have found that starring threads just doesn't work for me so if I want to follow someone, I post there. Again, I have probably missed out on a lot of interesting books and people but I haven't got the time and commitment to follow everyone.

The one drawback to this group is that it is soooooo BIG! The year before I read every thread - and the group seemed so friendly and cozy (not that this one isn't friendly). I miss that. This year it's been a matter of starring threads and even then - a few days away and my favorite starred threads seemed to grow so hugely that it's been very daunting to have to read through a hundred posts in order to catch up.
That said, I will probably join up again in order to keep up with my friends and favorites and I definitely like "challenge" being in the name (can't ever resist a challlenge), but I wonder if I wouldn't enjoy a smaller homebase - like say, Club Read - as well or better. I dunno..... I'm in a quandry. Help me!!!!

I love this group. I'm in for next year.

I like the name, and for me it's never been about the numbers. If we wanted to change, perhaps the 75 book "support group"?

>27: LOL, I'm like the Goldilocks and the Three Bears when it comes to Club Read and this forum.

Here, the volume is overwhelming, particularly the non-book stuff. There, I keep waiting for someone to say something!! I don't think "just right" exists. ;-)

But, you're right about the coziness of last year versus the bigness of this. A number of us having been chatting about this general topic in PM for a a few months now and we agree it's just the price of success. You simply can't sustain coziness when you're one of the most active groups in LT. I read everything last year, but now I've switched to starring, with the occasional browse through non-starred threads. The book conversations here are worth it, imo.

ETA: I think things along the lines of what Tui suggests will help. It will allow people to pick what they want to read a bit more.

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 1:48pm.

Or maybe something like the 75 Books Anonymous Support group, 75 Anonymous Bookers, 75 Books R Us group.

Beatles1964

I've always thought of "The Kitchen" as the place where members gather 'round the kitchen table with their drinks of choice to shoot the breeze, talk about each other, bring up our accomplishments. I think I'm misunderstanding what, then, a "Message" thread would be that's different.

Side note: When I started bringing Hot Reviews by group members up in the Kitchen, I got nine PMs from those aggrieved that I failed to mention their hot reviews. One person wondered in a public thread what they'd done to offend me, which I admired for its directness and lack of sneak. Truth is I didn't know that person was a 75er.

So...perhaps next year there can be a Hot Reviews thread, since this amazing and active group is pretty much guaranteed to generate a lot of 'em next year too? And it's everyone in the group's privilege to announce the Hot Reviews of their friends and threadies?

Richard, what I had in mind with "messages" was something like "there's a lovely snarky review of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol in the Guardian...here's the link". Or, "I'm tagging penguins in Antarctica. Back in a month." More point form and factual, with no response required. If someone badly wanted a penguin, they could leave a pm or a message on the person's thread, rather than clutter up the message board.

Agree that the Kitchen Table has that gestalt of being, well, a kitchen table. Good idea about Hot Reviews.

I saw this thread last night when Jim first posted it, but needed to think about responding. I'm glad I did, because a lot of you have pinpointed exactly what I wanted to say. I like the 75 Challenge part of it, simply because it gives me a solid goal. Doesn't matter if I make it or exceed it, it's just comforting to know it's there. I debated at one point this year about moving to Club Read, because the threads were becoming frighteningly long, and after a few days off, I was overwhelmed when I returned. That part bothered me more than the 75 challenge part! I'd like to read everyone's threads, and I'd like everyone to read mine, but like Tad says, we've got this group (too much), Club Read (too little), and no "Just right."
I think it's lovely that Richard mentions the Hot Reviews from the group (since I don't usually read them on my home page), but there is the problem of who gets missed. It's like the old days with Valentine's cards--you have to bring them for the whole class or someone gets miffed. Another consequence of a large group.

All that being said, please count me in for next year. And yes, I have thoroughly enjoyed the group reads and the Halloween reads!

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 3, 2009, 4:49pm.

I don't know, I don't really think it's a big problem when some Hot Reviews get noticed and others don't. I think the people who get recognized as members of the group are the ones who participate in it most actively (I don't know how Linda and Stasia manage to read and comment on all the threads!), and I don't really see what's wrong with that. I don't see it as a privilege to have a Hot Review recognized; the one time a couple of group members did notice and comment on one of mine, it came as a pleasant surprise. I hope positive comments aren't discouraged in the name of equality.

>34 Zoe, that's exactly what I imagine a Hot Reviews thread would do! Everyone sees it, it's not part of the gossipy kitchen table (which I adore) and no one can possibly feel left out since the purpose of the thread is to announce them...announce your own, no one can see it as unwarranted self-puffery!

>33 Hi Terri!

>32 Tui...ah! I get it. Can I come tag penguins with you?

I like being a part of this group and I will continue with it, even if the name changes in some way.

If I read more or less than 75, I would still want to stay here. How about "75 Books - More or Less - Challenge"? :) Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue though.

Thank you everyone for making this a special place for book lovers.

I do not care what anyone calls it, I am in. I love the idea of the 'Hot Reviews' and 'General Messages' threads. I definitely think we should keep the 'Kitchen' thread and I also enjoyed the genre threads we had this year - nonfiction, fantasy/sci fi, etc. and would like to see those continued next year.

Count me in! I am honored to be a part of this loving, caring, supportive, friendly, well read and kind group!

Richard, I hear you loud and clear re. hot reviews. I don't always have the time to notice them and try to be aware of not hurting feelings. I really like the idea of a hot review thread...as a means of supporting one another...not as a means of competition.

Tui...I'm guilty of the glitter graphic thing a ma bobs and will limit their use next year.

Whisp, I don't want to spoil anyone else's pleasure or fun about them...they play havoc with my graduated lenses and make me feel like I need a gravol.

I'm in yet again, regardless. This is the group for me. I have not been able to keep up with all the threads with the increase in size this year, and my biggest regret is all the good book talk and reviews I KNOW I'm missing, but I have over 150 threads starred and browse the others as I can.

I forgot to say that I LOVE the group reads!!

Me too - even though I almost never manage to join in on time!

Also, there was a suggestion on someone's thread earlier today that a thread is made for people to list their top reads of the month - I thought that sounded like a great idea...

This group made me very, very happy this year... I've often gushed to my husband about how great everyone was, and all the fantastic books I've read because of it. I regret having 'fallen off the wagon' the last couple of months -- life got in the way, and continues to do so -- but I can't wait to start fresh next year. I've been one of those people who scans ALL the threads... time-consuming, but the sense of community from this group is really quite astounding.

>35 Hello Richard! Enjoying your novel! By the way, I had a Hot Review the other day that you missed. *Sniff*

(kidding! about the *sniff*, I mean)

*sulphrous muttering* How dare she, I just said I don't look at all the reviews, why just imagine the noive *another look*

Oh! heeheeha, Terri! I get it! Ha! ;->

I'm really glad you're liking "Death in Blue&White" so far...it's the raw, unedited version, so imagine the improvement an actual editor could give it...wish me luck finding such a person....

I am so in. Go ahead change the name, don't change the name, add threads, take away threads. Matters not one whit to me. This is my LT Home, and I'm staying put.

It's been interesting reading this thread - which I found by sheer fluke, as owing to the size of the group and extreme shortness of time, I haven't checked anything other than 'my posts' and 'starred' for several months... it just so happened that I've been doing various tidying-up things with my LT account, and when I came back to Talk it had reverted to the 'everything' view!

This thread is filled with posts from the people whose reading I enjoy following (and even sometimes managing to comment on). If the only way to keep following & commenting is to join whatever this becomes next year, then I'll be joining it.

I think, given the size of LT members, everyone is going to find something that they don't particularly like, so it'll be an exercise towards insanity to try and put together threads that will meet with the approval of everyone.

In addition, I've noticed that LTers tend towards the garrulous (no names mentioned but you know who you are.....richard.. haha..), and it would take away some of the fun I get out of reading the postings, if they were confined solely to the topic at hand. I do enjoy some the chit-chat and animal graphics in the threads .... they add personality to the various threads I read. Since we're all remote, I think these make it feel more like I'm sitting in a cosy living room with my best friends, chatting away .... and less like I'm in my sloppy pjs, munching on fried lard and mainlining beer at my computer in the basement of an abandoned building.

So here's the thing - nobody is forced to read every single post. You can skip what you find inane, annoying or just plain uninteresting, and just read the ones that actually mention the books reviewed.

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 4, 2009, 5:06pm.

Yeah, what cameling said, with an additional helpful suggestion: Use the pony Tim gave me! The "Block This Member" button on everyone's profiles now blocks you, the blocker, from seeing the blockee's posts! In any forum! Unless you click on the handy-dandy "unblock this post" dingus, that is.

As an example, I will be toddling off to cameling's profile to block her from view since she *clearly* has no appreciation for my humour, and it therefore isn't necessary for me to read her posts anymore! So slick, no?

I would like to do the challenge again next year too. This year was my first challenge and I chose 75 because I wanted to read more than I did last year. Due to the great book reviews and discussions, I not only read more books this year, but I also added about 200 books to my wishlist.

I'm not always a frequent poster on other threads, but I do lurk. I had to star some threads that I found were similar to my reading tastes because I could not keep up with all of the threads. I know I missed some great threads, but I did want to get to some books too! :) It was sometimes overwhelming to try to keep up with even just the starred ones - especially lately when life gets busy. I only caught this thread because it was in "hot topics"

I find the friendliness, suggestions, and discussion make this group one of the groups I have to check almost daily. Great ideas for next year!

I'm in for next year too! I like the idea of continuing the genre threads next year. Since I can't get to everyone's thread, I like keeping up with all of the classics or non-fiction that everyone is reading. I also like the idea of more group reads too - although my follow-through hasn't been great this year.

In short, even when I can't get to everyone's threads, I can count on finding great recommendations everytime I click into this group! That's the key for me (although not great for my bank account).

My suggesstion is that for those group reads that will take place(I have no doubt), they be posted not in a separate thread but in a separate group. The separate thread can direct the readers to the group where the reader can then see all the topics under discussion for the book. Part of the problem with a group read in one thread is there are so many items under discussion and confusion occurs because there aren't separate threads for each question/discussion topic. So if there is a group read for Alice in Wonderland there can then be a separate thread for the cheschire cat, the mad hatter, the white rabbit, etc. Also then the readers could also join other groups that are reading the same book or other members might find the 75 challenge through a group read of a particular book.

ETA ::
The 1010Challenge group actually has a group tandem thread where members match up with books that they want to read in a group, decide when they want to read it, and then the group will setup a subgroup for that group read. Maybe 75 challenge could do the same thing.

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 4, 2009, 9:14pm.

I'd personally prefer multiple threads in the main group to a whole separate group; it's a lot harder to miss a discussion when it takes place somewhere you're already looking. Not a dealbreaker either way, though. And I like the idea of a match-up thread.

Forgot to add my seconding for the genre threads - I've really enjoyed watching those this year, picking up some interesting titles from people who I don't necessarily follow (and finding new people to follow, which is a blessing when the room's this crowded!)

There are so many threads that it can be difficult to pick out the group read threads so maybe DrNeutron could be asked to put the links to the separate group reads on the group home page (as he did for some this year).

I like the idea of changing the name/concept of the group to remove the '75' and/or 'challenge' connotations. Perhaps something more generic such as 'The 2010 Readinq Quest' would be a better fit? Then, as members start their new thread they could declare whether they have a numerical goal (of 25, 50, 75 etc.) or simply want to use their thread to list what they have read as the year progresses.

I like the idea of a 'Reading Quest', digi!

I like #52 cyderry's suggestion - I'm always losing track of people's threads, let alone the group reads, but #55 calm's suggestion of having links to the separate groups at the top is also a good one, then, as _Zoe_ says, you're less likely to miss the discussion... although, of course, that would mean that poor DrNeutron would have to keep an eye on everything.

Maybe a single thread within the group where people can post all links to the group reads?

I don't mind putting info in the group description. Links or whatever folks want to announce. This year, Stasia PM'ed me when a group read was started and I added a link to that thread. The same could be done for the genre threads, Kitchen or a message board thread.

If everyone could put a link to their challenge threads on their profile page - this makes it so much easier to track down a new thread to follow.
When we start a group read / what we are reading genre / kitchen thread / what we are watching etc etc general thread maybe put several asterisks in front so they easily catch the eye when you are scrolling down the page.

asterisks or +++ (Standing for more than one reader) stands like a good idea

What if we have the threads something like this:

* Kitchen Threads
** Genre Threads (with the specific genres)
*** Group Reads (with the specific titles)
**** for whatever else we can come up with :)

BTW: For those who are not aware, we have planned group reads for Anna Karenina and Moby Dick beginning in January 2010 and the Abhorsen trilogy for June-August 2010.

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 15, 2009, 5:05am.

I'll be back next year in whatever guise the group takes, otherwise I might eliminate my tbr pile.

I've read more than I can ever remember reading this year thanks to this group. I'm definitely in for next year. I did drop out of most of the threads, but I still lurk/participate in a few. Thanks to all for making this so enjoyable!

There are already a few group reads setting up for the 1010 Challenge and all readers are welcome to join in. The group description will have links to the group reads - I know of three that I am doing ... The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Brutal Telling, and The Three Musketeers.

I wonder if we should incliude a link there too?

I think I'm in for next year, for the time too. Thank Madeline and Bonnie for that. I plan on doing a Half 75 Challenge and trying to complete 37.5 books in 2010. Not that my opinion should carry any weight yet, but I like leaving the group name as the 75 Book Challenge.

Also, since I just enjoyed reading this whole thread, I'm going to throw out an idea I had for ya'll about the group reads threads getting lost in all the posts and wanting to have more than one thread per group read at times. A separate "75 Book Challenge - Group Reads" group could be made for all the group reads to go in. That way they don't get lost in all the threads in the main group and multiple threads could be posted per book since the amount of threads would still be relatively low but there would only be one other group for group reads so people wouldn't have to keep checking different groups for each group read. The list of group reads could still be posted in the heading for the main group with a link to the group reads group. I hope that makes sense to read. I feel like I used the word group way too many times.

I like that idea.

I'm in, though i will be nowhere near 75 books...probably not for years...but i like the people...let me stay...please....

..i like the "Half 75" idea..myself. i was thinking of starting a 25 Book challenge...because i am so slow...but then i'd lose my friends here..eh!

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 17, 2009, 11:58am.

jdthloue you could count on me to join your 25 Book Challenge if you ever decided to start one. As of right now I've only finished reading 24 books myself plus I'm reading at least another six books all at the same time. So it definitely looks like I'll finish reading 25 or more books for the second straight year. So IF I was already in your group I would be on the cusp of meeting the challenge and then some.

Beatles1964

#68, 69 Well, if "Half 75" is ok, then "One Third 75" should be OK too. It's an accommodating group.

But Half 75 is 37.5 so you would call the group The 37.5 Book Challenge or just round it up to The 38 Book Challenge group? Just thought I'd ask.

Beatles1964

Don't you ever finish the year in the middle of a book? Anyway, I thought the point was to keep it HERE...hence using the "75" in the title. Not a new group, just a way of naming your thread to "keep it legal" in THIS group. Eh?

I want to be in the '6 times 75' group myself, lol.

I do not care what we call next year's group as long as everyone is made to feel welcome!

Wouldn't that be The 450 Book Challenge group? If anyone was able to finish reading an average of 2 books per day for an entire 365 day year, not including Leap Years of course which has 366 days in them they would wind up reading a total of 730 books and probably being the only member in the 365 X 2 or 730 Book Club. In a Leap Year that number would be increased by 2 books for a Grand Total of 732 books read.

Beatles1964

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, lis 17, 2009, 2:17pm.

I already past 450, but no way am I aspiring to 730!

Wow, I'm thoroughly impressed alcottacre that so far you've read past 450 books so far this year. Just out of curiousity I'm wondering how many books a day you average reading, what the average page number of the books you read are & also, how are you able to find so much time reading books? What is your personal record for number of books read in a single year? How many books do you think you'll finish reading for 2009? What is the Goal for the number of books you'll read in 2010?

Beatles1964

I guess I average about a book a day. I do not know as I have never calculated. I read anywhere from 15-20 books concurrently. I read a lot in the middle of the night when others are sleeping.

As far as the record number of books in a year, I have no idea. I have averaged about 500 a year for as many as I can remember, although I only hit 480 last year. My goal for this year is 500. I think I will end up with around 520 or so. I am not setting a numeric goal at all for next year.

75 is likely to be unattainable for me this year so is the list of books on my TBR tag (about 900), so what! I love reading what everyone thinks about reading. I will be back in 2010. Keep up the good work everyone :@) Just tell me what your name will be, i'll be there.

I'd like to be in again next year even though I'm probably not going to hit 75. I enjoy the banter. If I picked some short books I might make it but right now I'm reading Wolf Hall which is dense by any standard so I'll be on it for awhile.

brenzi

I'm delighted that you are returning -- and glad that you joined us in 2009! You are a wonderful addition to our group.

Doc, will you send up a HUGE flare when you post the new group? Please and thanks? There are so many posts here, I just know I wouldn't find it otherwise.

Ditto 81, please.

Double ditto 81. I had forgotten this was a "2009" group and was expecting to see everyone's 2010 threads popping up over the next few weeks. I'm fine with setting up a new group, I just want to know when that's been done so I can rush madly to join it !!

Well, i hate to say i will be leaving this group..because i set up a 25 Book Challenge for those of us Slowpokes..we are proud but...jeesh.....75 books in a year..no way...anywho, here's the link:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/25boo...

i'll be posting my Reads..and the group already has two peeps besides me...what have i started???

;-}

Yep, I plan to send up a huge flare. My current plan is to start a new thread describing it with link attached, put a notice in the Kitchen thread and the two threads discussing this year's/next year's groups, and put a link on the 2009 Group page. Also, it'll show up on the Group tab as a new group.

Sounds good!

Humbly moving back to the familiar neighborhood (if you'll have me!) -- trying to show off with 100+ books turned out to be not such a good idea!

Welcome back Terri. You have been missed and it will be wonderful to have you back!

Linda

I'm quite fond of the challenge aspect of this group. I plan on attempting to read more than 75 next year, to push myself a little, so I guess I won't miss the title too much. I do like the idea of being able to set our own goals, though. I think it would be fun to see how everyone challenges him/herself individually :)

Would you count me in to this group for 2010? I'm new to LT - and this looks like my kind of place.

You are absolutely welcome to join us in 2010. Heck, you could join us now if you want for the 2009 challenge.

Keep an eye out for the announcement that I've made the new group. When you see it, click over to the 2010 group page and on the right side, click on "Join This Group". Then make a new thread for your challenge tracking and you're ready to go! Technically, you don't even have to join the group to make a thread, but it'll make it easier if you view threads by group in Talk.

welcome aboard ffortsa!

#87: Welcome back, Terri! I tried watching your thread over on the 100 books challenge group, but did not do a very good job of it. Now that you will be joining us again, maybe I can keep up with it better.

Welcome ffortsa. I'm fairly new myself and I have to say these folks are g-r-r-r-reat. I'm having great fun and although I'm not going to make 75, I've read more books this year than I ever have.

I'm actually actively aiming to read fewer than 75 books next year - I have a personal project in mind that I really need the time for - but one of the lovely things about the 75ers is that the '75' is an aspiration rather than a stick to beat ourselves with. Some exceed it (some REALLY exceed it, cough, Stasia), some modestly overtake it, some don't quite make it, but we all enjoy talking to each other.

So although it feels a bit weird, I'm going to join up again for 2010. If I hit even 70, please tell me to go back and re-read more Brontës.

Glad to have you with us, ffortsa. I second brenzi's remarks ... the folks in the challenge group are alot of fun and I'm inspired by so many of them.

#90: Welcome, ffortsa!

#95: Are you trying to give me some kind of cold, Rachael, coughing in my direction?

#90 ffortsa, this is a very friendly, talkative group - enjoy and welcome! It's definitely not about how many books you read...

#95 Rachael, I take it that the Brontës are the project? ...or are they a means of slowing yourself down?!

#97 Stasia, would a cold slow down your reading pace? ;)

I'm getting itchy feet for the 2010 challenge already...

#98: Somehow, I do not think so, lol.

Well, I've been eagerly waiting for the New Year to officially join this group, so of course I want everything to stay the same! :-)

>97/>98 yeah, I should know better than to cough at Stasia, actually - give you an excuse to take to your bed, aa, and no doubt the reading rate would double!!

>98 the Brontës are part of it but not all of it. Actually, I'm quite excited because I spent my lunch break reading publishers' catalogues - Penguin are bringing out Charlotte Brontë's Tales of Angria in their Classics series. Looks from LibraryThing as if it's been out for a while but the catalogue says March next year. Fun!

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, gru 10, 2009, 7:20pm.

Ooo, more Bronte! I just looked up Tales of Angria (which has a publication date of 2007 on Amazon - maybe they're putting out a new edition?), and found several more Bronte novels to add to my list. How exciting! Thanks for inspiring that search!

Just popping in to say that I definitely want to be part of the 2010 75 (or whatever it is called) group. I will see you there!!
--BJ

I had posted on this thread earlier, then lost it for a long time because I forgot to star it . . .

Just caught up here (sort of).

I liked chrine's suggestion (#66) of a special group for all of our challenge's group reads. More organized than just throwing them "out there" as separate groups; allows for multiple threads within the group reads to discuss specific topics. A win-win strategy, IMHO.

Re: the whole things about message and hot review threads . . . The free-wheeling nature of this group is one of the things I love. I didn't feel like I had to lurk for six months before I felt safe posting here. I hope we don't get like some groups (not sure about LT, but I've seen it elsewhere), where there's a "post police" mentality by some members regarding "post etiquette" -- how to post, what belongs where and what doesn't. (I'm not talkinga bout taking personal offence about something and being forthright in saying it. That's just honesty.)

And I hope it won't keep people from popping in on each other's threads to congratulate on a Hot Review, or leave a message that might be of interest. I love when people stop by my thread with almost anything to say.

Wiadomość zmieniona przez autora, gru 12, 2009, 12:50pm.

I'm in!

2010 Group is up and running

http://www.librarything.com/groups/75boo...

Yay, drneutron! I'm heading over there right now to sign up.

Ha! I was the fourth member to join the group. Very cool :)

I was the 10th member in 2010!

Ok, that is cooler. Way to go!

Thanks Dr Neutron:)
Signed up; starred a few threads; will come back to start my thread later!

#106 Woo! Just went over there to sign up and star and am severely disturbed by just how much I've got to catch up on after just one weekend for next year's thread! ;)

#112 I'm with you, Fliss. Too much activity there!! Wait until the 1st, folks!!!!

Oh my, I have been on LT for over two years now and I never realized you could sort threads in a group. Thank you, 75 Challenge for 2010. I have already learned something from you.

Just been over to the new group and want to use several v. rude acronyms. That's scary. IT IS STILL 2009, ISN'T IT??

Meh, calendars are mere suggestions...8^}

Seriously, last year I waited until the beginning of December to start the new group and we had a flood of activity for a month before 2009 started. This year I waited until the middle of December and you can see the result. Apparently I need to wait until New Year's Eve next time! 8^}