50 Book Challenge

[ghostwes]

I decided at the beginning of 2007 to see if I could complete the 50 book challenge that many other people have been doing. I have always been a voracious reader, but I do not read very quickly, at least compared to many people I know. In addition, I have an insane number of unread books sitting on my shelves -- an enormous source of stress for me

Comments

[jackshoegazer]

Excellent list! What was the other name change? Obviously the Potter book was one.

I would definitely recommend the rest of the Ender Quartet; Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide & Children of the Mind.

[thebookpile]

I would only recommend Speaker for the Dead. Then move to the Bean series (Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon).

[ghostwes]

I read Speaker for the Dead back when it was first printed (along with Ender's Game, which was one of the few re-reads in the list).

Although both books are good, his politics bother me enough that I refuse to read anything else he's written. Rather disturbing right-wing whackjobbery, beyond the usual whackjobbery.

In fact, the only reason I re-read Ender's Game was because I couldn't believe that one of my favourite books growing up was written by such an awful human being.

You might find this analysis of Ender's Game interesting.

[likethebeer]

OSC does have a disturbing logic to his writing. It seems so pat and tight. In this week's column, "A Stand Up President", he tells us that, of course the problem w/Nicaragua was that the US govt stopped funding the Contras, not that Reagan "dishonorably" (not impeachably) went behind everyone's back to fund them, in contradiction to the law. Of course the problem w/GWB in the White House is that the Democrats in Congress aren't interested in compromise (!!!). In fact, GWB is honorable and has never lied, something that the crazy Left insists on, but can never prove.

I was going to write more, but I think I'll just do this: =0
And then try to forget what I just read.

[spasmsproject]

With CM Kornbluth, Ted Sturgeon and Frederik Pohl on your list, you can't go wrong. Nice picks!

Also, what did you think of The God Delusion? I liked it a lot.

[ghostwes]

I thought Dawkins made some great arguments, though I wasn't really in need of convincing. I've seen him speak, and I have to say that he's not quite as, hmm, aggressive in writing as he is speaking. While I personally don't mind an aggressive debating style, I don't think that works in his favour, and seems to turn a lot of people off. Shame, really.

I was very impressed by More Than Human. Good stuff!

[clevortrevor]

I know one of the name changes - Northern Lights became The Golden Compass. I read that one (and the play based on it) in NZ, so I was confused when the film came out over here.

Also, I know like, nothing on your list except the Adams, Pullman, and Rowling books. But congratulations! Quite an accomplishment!

[ghostwes]

DING! DING!

Now, let's see if anyone can guess the third one.

HINT: The US title bugs the hell out of me.

Northern Lights

[likethebeer]

Oh, of course! I was sitting here thinking, "Oh, gosh, he's written another book. I wonder what that's all about."

Re: Northern Lights

[ghostwes]

Maybe that's what the US publisher wants you to think.

Actually, wikipedia explains it.

[kmarkhoover]

Well, I didn't know about this, but I've been thinking of keeping track of all the books I read in a year and writing about it. It's easily over 50, I'm sure, and has been for several years running....

[ghostwes]

I think some people try to do 25 fiction and 25 non-fiction. I go through phases where I read only non-fiction, but 2007 was not one of them.

[binro33]

Do comic books count?

[ghostwes]

If they do, I'll push the number up by about ten!