I just joined LibraryThing a few days ago, and this 50 book challenge sounded like a great idea. I'm already well on my way since December.

Books Already Read:

Dec 2008
1. Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex, by Judith Levine

Jan 2009
2.Endgame (Battletech), by Loren L. Coleman

Feb 2009
3. The New Space Opera, edited by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan

March 2009
4. Sister Alice, by Robert Reed
5. Circles in the Stream (Avalon: Web of Magic #1), by Rachel Roberts
6. Cyberabad Days, by Ian McDonald

April 2009
7. The Robot's Twilight Companion, by Tony Daniel
8. Supermen: Tales of the Posthuman Future, edited by Gardner Dozois
9. All That Glitters (Avalon: Web of Magic #2), by Rachel Roberts
10. Terror in the Name of God, by Jessica Stern

May 2009
11. Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld
12. Thrilling Wonder Stories, Vol 1, edited by Winston Engle
13. Pretties, by Scott Westerfeld
14. The Last Hawk, by Catherine Asaro
15. Otaku: Japan's Database Animals, by Hiroki Azuma

June 2009
16. Zoe's Tale, by John Scalzi
17. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America, by David Hajdu
18. Sun of Suns, by Karl Schroeder
19. The Child Garden, by Geoff Ryman
20. Eclipse 2: New Science Fiction and Fantasy, edited by Jonathan Strahan

After this batch, I'll start doing nice little descriptions and thoughts on the books I've read. Right now it's mostly science-fiction or non-fiction, but I hope to branch out and try different genres this year.

As you can see, in March, my amount of books read-per-month shot up quite dramatically. It was then I instituted a "no Internet or TV an hour before bed" rule, to get to sleep better. I turned that books to fill up that time, which spread more and more to the daylight hours as well.

Message edited by its author, Jul 7, 2009, 8:09pm.

21. Queen of Candesce, by Karl Schroeder

I really loved the first book in the Virga series (Sun of Suns), and since general opinion seemed to be that Queen of Candesce was even better, I was looking forward to this. To be honest, I feel that Sun of Suns is better. The immobility of this volume left it without the same adventure feel. It also felt too much like an episodic aside. Venera Fanning's character was still quite interesting, though, and I'll be moving onto Pirate Sun soon.

Message edited by its author, Jul 11, 2009, 11:04pm.

22. What is Your Dangerous Idea?, edited by John Brockman

I loved this book because it basically handled like one of those beloved "Uncle John's Bathroom Readers," but more intellectual. Lots of interesting, short 1-3 page articles on provocative points, easy to read a few in each sit down. I read most of this book while on the toilet.

It could also be seen as a much more respectable, academic version of Adam Parfrey's Apocalypse Culture.

23. A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Such a wonderfully charming little book. The copy I read was a library copy, so now I'd definitely like to acquire one for my own collection, though navigating through the different editions of illustration and abridgement for my ideal edition may be tough.

24. The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama

Birthday present from my mom. Being a political science major, some of it was a bit basic, but the little stories and candid tone made it interesting. It's good that it's been translated into so many languages, because to foreigners, I think it would make a good general intro to American politics and the current defining issues...sort of the "American perspective."

25. Pirate Sun, by Karl Schroeder
26. Beyond Singularity, edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
27. Herland, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman