The Day I Read 7 Books

Last month there was a day that I decided that I was going to read from dawn until dusk. It worked pretty well but, by 4 in the afternoon I lost my concentration. The cool part was that I did read 7 books in one day. I wonder if there are any other challenges that I want to try before I am finished with this crazy experiment. I think that I have read books from a very wide variety of genres. I have read books from genres I didn't even know existed like the Redneck Dictionary or 50 Jobs Worse than Yours.

I have also become more of a picky reader but, at the same time less picky of a reader. I will read almost anything and I at least like, almost anything that I read but, at the same time I am very critical of the quality of the writing. I rarely abandon a book anymore. My challenge next year will be to find the best books to read and not read the 3 star kind of books.

Challenge to anyone reading this: Find a book in a genre that you don't normally read and read it!

The Lost Hero

Rick Riordan has done it again. I don't really know how he does it but he writes compelling stories every time. He released the first in the Kane Chronicles in May, a book that is over 500 pages, and then he released The Lost Hero, the first book in the Heroes of Olympus series, also over 500 pages in October. He is planning on releasing one in each of those series each year. That's amazing.

The Lost Hero was a book that I didn't want to put down and I'm so grateful that my nephew suggested it to his mom as a birthday present for me. I can't wait for the next installment. One of the things that I like about it is that it has three main characters and follows them through their adventure in a unique way. Every two chapters it changes who the chapters are about, rotating between the three main characters. It is amazing how he moves the story forward but, changes between the characters.

Can't wait for May when the Kane Chronicles 2 comes out!

65 to go

It's hard to explain where I am mentally right now with this goal. When I started I only thought a little about what it would be like to have read 300 books. This afternoon I finished my 3 hundredth book. I have been tinkering with the idea of stopping at 300 books because I have gotten busier this school year and it is harder to find time to read. I am applying to some PhD programs and I get to reflect on what I have learned about learning over the past ten months. I realize now that sometimes it is not the goal that is important but, what happens along the way. I will probably never read 365 books again in a year but, I will read a lot more than I did before. I already have some long books lined up for next year. If anyone has any suggestions for one of my final 63 I'd love to hear it.

Only 100 Books to Go

There are 94 days left in 2010 and I have 100 books to go. Lucky for me I have a week vacation coming up in two weeks and I plan on doing a lot of reading. I can almost taste the finish line.

Last night I read a book called 50 Jobs Worse than Yours by Justin Racz. I counted that I have had 6 of the jobs on his list. What I found reassuring is that my currect job isn't on there. It gives you a new perspective when you compare your job to a larvae wrangler or a rat catcher. The book had some funny parts but, overall got a 2 star rating.

My Shelf

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Still on pace!!!

That's right, boys and girls, Rachel is still on pace, having read 232 books in 231 days of 2010. Look at that list to the left. Amazing. I keep Rachel's list on a Microsoft Word document, and with double spacing, the document is now 10 pages long.

Her most recent favorite is 'Making a Good Brain Great' by Daniel Amen. You can check out its sysnopsis and details at Amazon.com. One quick hint: eat lots of blueberries.

Rachel sent me this via email, and I thought I would share it.

"I got a little daunted the other day about the thought of reading 140 more books. Then I was reading about marathon runners and how when they are running they don't think about 26 miles they just take it in small steps. That is what I am doing now; I am just looking at it one week at a time. I have stopped thinking about the finish line and I am focusing on smaller goals."

Yeah! Keep going!

Favorite authors and most thought-provoking books

Favorite Authors
5. Tony Buzan (books about the mind)
4. Rick Riordan (fantasy/adventure)
3. Dan & Chip Heath (business)
2. Cornelia Funke (fantasy)
1. Seth Godin (self realization)

Most Thought-Provoking Books
6. 'The Woman Who Can't Forget' by Jill Price & Bart Davis
5. 'The Drunkard's Walk' by Leonard Mlodinow
4. 'The Art of Learning' by Josh Waitzkin
3. 'My Stoke of Insight' by Jill Bolte Taylor
2. 'Creativity'
1. 'Mindset' by Carol Dweck