The Technodrome Forums - 50 Book Challenge

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50 Book Challenge

In the world today it is hard to keep up with reading. In fact, the average person reads very little other than what is required of them for work/school.

I'm a member of another site that takes reading very seriously and we discovered the site: http://www.shelfari.com/

You create your own virtual shelf of books you've read, plan to read, and are reading. It's a wonderful way to share with your friends what you think of a book and which books your recommend.

Shelfari has many user groups commited to the '50 Books Challenge'. The challenge itself is to read 50 books in 365 days. That's about a book a week. There are no restrictions as to the size or genre of the book. Short stories, poems, childrens books, comic books, graphic novels, and e-books are welcomed. The point is to READ.

50 Book Challenge! Group is probably the largest Shelfari group for the challenge.

Quote:

Steve Jobs said: "The fact is that people don't read anymore..."

Shelfari's 50 Book Challenge said: "Fie! Steve Jobs," (We say Fie because we read a lot and we know a lot of words.) "Fie! Steve Jobs! We read 16,892 books in 2008."

To elaborate: When asked about the new Amazon Kindle product, Steve Jobs CEO of Apple computer had this to say:

“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore,” he said. “Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.”

Welcome to the the 50 Book Challenge, where we fly in the face of Steve Jobs.

Basically .... the challenge is to read 50 books in one year. OR ... establish a goal for yourself more or less, it's up to you, just because we say 50 books doesn't mean that has to be your goal too.

Start a thread, WITH YOUR NAME IN THE SUBJECT OF YOUR ORIGINAL POST, and log your books. It is a very good idea to bookmark (when in your post, add it to your internet browser's favorites) your post for easy location for future updates. Things move quickly around here.

If you haven't been keeping track of the books you've read, start when you join.

Thanks for being here and have fun.

So I ask you all, join in the challenge. Post your list in this thread and add to it as you go. I started mine last month:

February:

1.) The Amateur Cracksman
2.) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1
3.) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 2
4.) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910
5.) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier
6.) Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted

March:

7.) **** the Foreplay (e-book)
8.) The Beast (e-book)
9.) Dragons Don't Dream (e-book)

Currently Reading:

The Black Mask by E.W. Hornung

I read quite alot, as soon as I finish one book I go onto the next. But in all honesty, planning the next books in such a way as this doesn't appeal to me at all. I've got maybe a dozen books kicking around that i've still to read, and part of the fun for me is picking out from the pile what comes next. And i'm afraid I also don't like the idea of trying to get in a book a week - it normally takes me at least three weeks to a month to finish a book i'd reckon. It's all about enjoying myself, and rushing through a book like so also doesn't appeal...

You don't plan out what books you're going to read (I honestly have no clue). The point is to read. The list is just a way to let people know what you've read and what you recommend to others. The 50 Book Challenge is just a goal (some do 10 books and some do 100). I don't think I'll hit 50, but I do hope to get to 25.

The whole thing was set up just as a way to get people to read. I know some people that have planned out what books they are going to read, but most people just pick a random book that is laying around their house or at the library. There is no planning involved.

The challenge doesn't ask people to rush through a book, but instead to read at your own pace.

So it's sort of like Backloggery for books?

Cool. I read some. Pretty much things that come in to the local newpaper to review. The lady over their library has a taste similar to mine so she gets some cool stuff in at times. So far my favorites have been John Meaney's Bone Song and Black Blood. Such a good story, but it doesn't fit in one genre so it's hard to tag what it is! :)