Anlina's 150 book challenge

I was just going to track this in my profile, since my goal isn't actually 50 books, but it looks like other people are doing larger challenges, and I thought it'd be nice to keep track in the community.

Here's what I have so far for 2007. I've been adding books to the list as I start them, rather than as I finish them, so that I don't forget to add something to the list if I finish it while I'm away from the internet.

Anlina's read list for 2007:

January 16 books, 6508 pages
1. The Stand; Stephen King (1141p)
2. King of Torts; John Grisham (472p)
3. The Street Lawyer; John Grisham (451p)
4. The Pelican Brief; John Grisham (436p)
5. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Douglas Adams (187p)
6. A Stranger in the Mirror; Sidney Sheldon (319p)
7. CSI: Cold Burn; Max Allan Collins (308p)
8. The Client; John Grisham (566p)
9. Sabriel; Garth Nix (491p)
10. Lirael; Garth Nix(464p)
11. Abhorsen; Garth Nix (518p)
12. Danny the Champion of the World; Roald Dahl (214p)
13. The Witches; Roald Dahl (201p)
14. Esio Trot; Roald Dahl (57p)
15. The Beach house; James Patterson & Peter De Jong (372p)
16. The Lake House; James Patterson (311p)

February 13 books, 4616 pages
17. This Alien Shore; C. S. Friedman (565p)
18. Reign in Hell; William Diehl (465p)
19. His Majesty's Dragon; Naomi Novik (356p)
20. Across The Wall; Garth Nix (415p)
21. The Ragwitch; Garth Nix (312p)
22. George's Marvellous Medicine; Roald Dahl (104p)
23. Airframe; Michael Crichton (431p)
24. Factoring Humanity; Robert J. Sawyer (350p)
25. Gothic! Ten original dark tales; Deborah Noyes, ed. (241p)
26. Queen of Sorcery; David Eddings (327p)
27. Magician's Gambit; David Eddings (305p)
28. Castle of Wizardry; David Eddings (373p)
29. Enchanters' End Game; David Eddings (372p)

March 16 books, 4067 pages
30. Kiss Kiss; Roald Dahl (229p)
31. The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn; John Bellairs (180p)
32. Skipping Christmas; John Grisham (227p)
33. End of an Era; Robert J. Sawyer (247p)
34. The Journey Prize Anthology 9; Various (168p)
35. Green Girls; Michael Kimball (366p)
36. Illegal Alien; Robert J. Sawyer (304p)
37. The Left Hand of Darkness; Ursula K. LeGuin (304p)
38. The Mansion in the Mist; John Bellairs (170p)
39. The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death; Daniel Pinkwater (151p)
40. Freak Show; Bruce Jones & Bernie Wrightson (52p)
41. Even Cowgirls Get The Blues; Tom Robbins (416p)
42. The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull; John Bellairs (170p)
43. The Specter from the Magician's Museum; Brad Strickland (149p)
44. Shade's Children; Garth Nix (345p)
45. Song of the River; Sue Harrison (589p)

April 11 books, 3397 pages
46. The Road to Science Fiction volume 3: From Heinlein to Here; James Gunn, ed. (656p)
47. Mother Earth, Father Sky; Sue Harrison (313p)
48. My Sister the Moon; Sue Harrison (402p)
49. Eastern Standard Tribe; Cory Doctorow (223p)
50. Over Sea, Under Stone; Susan Cooper (196p)
51. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency; Alexander McCall Smith (235p)
52. Throne of Jade; Naomi Novik (398p)
53. Black Powder War; Naomi Novik (365p)
54. The Chessmen of Doom; John Bellairs (155p)
55. Tears of the Giraffe; Alexander McCall Smith (227p)
56. Morality for Beautiful Girls; Alexander McCall Smith (227p)

May 7 books, 4097 pages
57. Wolves of the Calla; Stephen King (714p)
58. Song of Susannah; Stephen King (544p)
59. The Dark Tower; Stephen King (1045p)
60. Four Past Midnight; Stephen King (744p)
61. Reversible Errors; Scott Turow (553p)
62. The Kalahari Typing School for Men, Alexander McCall Smith (185p)
63. The Girl Who Played Go; Shan Sa (312p)
64. Vet In A Spin; James Herriot (224p)
65. Skinny Legs and All; Tom Robbins (479p)

June 7 books, 2176 pages
66. The Dark is Rising; Susan Cooper (244p)
67. The Terminal Man; Michael Crichton (268p)
68. Congo; Michael Crichton (316p)
69. Rising Sun; Michael Crichton (399p)
70. The Andromeda Strain; Michael Crichton (272p)
71. Eaters of the Dead; Michael Crichton (278p)
72. Jurassic Park; Michael Crichton (399p)

July 5 books, 1862 pages
73. The Talisman; Stephen King & Peter Straub (735p)
74. The Great Train Robbery; Michael Crichton (300p)
75. Pretty Face (Vol 1); Yasushiro Kano (192p)
76. Jitterbug Perfume; Tom Robbins (388p)
77. The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul; Douglas Adams (247p)

August 8 books, 3016 pages
78. The Lost World; Michael Crichton (430p)
79. The Cripple and His Talismans; Anosh Irani (252p)
80. Disclosure; Michael Crichton (494p)
81. Pegeen and the Pilgrim; Lyn Cook (278p)
82. Something Like A House; Sid Smith (227p)
83. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; J.K. Rowling (607p)
84. Conrad's Fate; Diana Wynne Jones (393p)
85. Star Trek Voyager: String Theory, Book 1 : Cohesion; Jeffrey Lang (362p)

September 6 books, 2176 pages
86. The Empty Chair; Jeffrey Deaver (479p)
87. The Hundered Secret Senses; Amy Tan (406p)
88. I, Nuligak; Nuligak & Maurice Metayer, ed. (197p)
89. Star Trek Voyager: String Theory, Book 2 : Fusion; Kirsten Beyer (400p)
90. Star Trek Voyager: String Theory, Book 3 : Evolution; Heather Jarman (400p)
91. Manhattan Is My Beat; Jeffrey Deaver (294p)

October 3 books, 719 pages
92. The Bell, the Book and the Spellbinder; Brad Strickland (149p)
93. Cat Owner's Manual; Dr. Bruce Fogle (287p)
94. Mackerel Sky; Natalee Caple (283p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 94
Percent complete: 63%
Total pages: 33338

anlina: How much time do you spend reading each day?

WOW! I am in awe!!!!

amandameale > I'm really not sure. I usually read for a couple of hours before bed, but I also have my book with me at all times and sneak in reading whenever I have a spare minute - waiting in lines, waiting for websites it load, waiting for files to save, during commercials while watching TV, in the bathroom. It all adds up but it's in such small chunks there's no way I'd ever be able to keep track.

I do read fairly fast (though I don't speed read - I actually say each word in my head.) For an average book that is an easy read I can usually do between 60-100 pages an hour, a little less if I'm tired. Technical stuff or books with dense or harder to absorb language takes me a lot longer.

----

12. Danny the Champion of the World; Roald Dahl
13. The Witches; Roald Dahl

Goal: 150
Books Read: 13
Percent complete: 9%
Total pages: 5756

I have been thinking about picking up the Abhorsen series, what did you think about it. I have read a few reviews that were not to favorable.

I really enjoyed the Abhorsen series. I'm not a terribly picky reader, and not much for reviewing books, so if you are more selective then perhaps it won't be to your taste, but I enjoyed the fairly unique setting of the story and I thought the characters and plot were quite well developed. I will definitely be picking up Across The Wall - I like the world that Nix has created.

14. Esio Trot; Roald Dahl
15. The Beach house; James Patterson & Peter De Jong

Goal: 150
Books Read: 15
Percent complete: 10%
Total pages: 6169

Woo! 10% done.

I'm not sure what I should read next... I actually don't have a specific book lined up to start for once, or even anything really in mind.

16. The Lake House; James Patterson
17. This Alien Shore; C.S. Friedman

Goal: 150
Books Read: 17
Percent complete: 11%
Total pages: 7044

Just finished the Lake House, just started This Alien Shore.

I think I probably would have enjoyed The Lake House more if I'd read the first book, since a lot of background for the characters was missing, but even disregarding that, the book was a total disappointment. Very interesting premise, the book was going great and then at the end it just totally deflated and got really disjointed and half-assed. It felt like the author lost all his momentum and just sort of slapped something together so the book would end... or like he couldn't figure out how to end it and resolve all the plot lines.

Took me till Feb 1 to finish This Alien Shore, which is longer than anticipated, but it was an excellent read.

I'm about half way through Reign in Hell by William Diehl which is shaping up to be pretty good - I enjoyed his other Martin Vail stories.

That'll put me at 18 books and 7509 pages - 12% of the way done.

February
17. This Alien Shore; C.S. Friedman
18. Reign in Hell; William Diehl
19. His Majesty's Dragon; Naomi Novik
20. Across The Wall; Garth Nix

Goal: 150
Books Read: 20
Percent complete: 13%
Total pages: 8280

I'm still slogging through The Ragwitch by Garth Nix, and I do mean slogging. It's not a difficult read, just not a very good one. I was so thoroughly impressed with his Abhorsen trilogy, I was really looking forward to reading some of his other work, but I'd have never even guess that this was by the same author, it is so far from being up to par.

The story has potential, but the execution is poor and the whole thing seems a little wooden and predictable.

I will grant it that this was his first published work, and authors' first works generally aren't as good as their later stuff, so knowing that I'm not as disappointed as I might have been but I was still hoping for a much more engrossing read.

Thank god I'm done with The Ragwitch. It literally took me till the last 50 pages or so before I finally felt like any of the writing was actually engaging me. D:

Breezed through George's Marvellous Medicine last night and this morning in about a half hour, and started on Airframe today.

22. George's Marvellous Medicine; Roald Dahl
23. Airframe; Michael Crichton

Goal: 150
Books Read: 23
Percent complete: 15%
Total pages: 9127

24. Factoring Humanity; Robert J. Sawyer
25. Gothic! Ten original dark tales; Deborah Noyles, ed.
26. Queen of Sorcery; David Eddings

Goal: 150
Books Read: 26
Percent complete: 17%
Total pages: 10047

27. Magician's Gambit; David Eddings
28. Castle of Wizardry; David Eddings
29. Enchanters' End Game; David Eddings
30. Kiss Kiss; Roald Dahl

Goal: 150
Books Read: 30
Percent complete: 20%
Total pages: 11326

Dammit, load touchstones, load!

31. The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn; John Bellairs
32. Skipping Christmas; John Grisham
33. End of an Era; Robert J. Sawyer
34. The Journey Prize Anthology 9; Various

Goal: 150
Books Read: 34
Percent complete: 23%
Total pages: 12148

35. Green Girls; Michael Kimball
36. Illegal Alien; Robert J. Sawyer
37. The Left Hand of Darkness; Ursula K. LeGuin
38. The Mansion in the Mist; John Bellairs
39. The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death; Daniel Pinkwater

Goal: 150
Books Read: 39
Percent complete: 26%
Total pages: 13443

40. Freak Show; Bruce Jones & Bernie Wrightson
41. Even Cowgirls Get The Blues; Tom Robbins
42. The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull; John Bellairs
43. The Specter from the Magician's Museum; Brad Strickland

Goal: 150
Books Read: 43
Percent complete: 29%
Total pages: 14230

44. Shade's Children; Garth Nix (345p)
45. Song of the River; Sue Harrison (589p)
46. The Road to Science Fiction #3: From Heinlein to Here; James Gunn, ed. (656p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 46
Percent complete: 31%
Total pages: 15847

Wow, I cannot believe how long it is taking me to read The Road to Science Fiction #3: From Heinlein to Here. I started on March 26 and I'm still not done. It's a pretty big book, but it's a fairly easy read and very interesting. Granted, life has been pretty busy the last couple of weeks, so I've had less time to read, but it's still rather amazing - even The Stand didn't take me this long and it is significantly longer.

Wow, I finally finished The Road to Science Fiction #3: From Heinlein to Here... I can't beleieve it took me two and a half weeks. It was really good though, and I learned a tonne about the development od science fiction. I'll definitely have to pick up the other books in the series.

I think this has probably been the most consistently good anthology I've read. Usually they are really hit or miss, with a few really good stories and a few really mediocre stories. Not all of the ones in this volume appealed to me personally, but they were pretty much all well written.

Now on to Mother Earth, Father Sky, which is a re-read. I picked up My Sister the Moon the other day and I need to refresh myself on volume one before I start on number 2. Actually both are re-reads, but I've only read My Sister the Moon once before, whereas I've read Mother Earth, Father Sky many times.

47. Mother Earth, Father Sky; Sue Harrison (313p)
48. My Sister the Moon; Sue Harrison (402p)
49. Eastern Standard Tribe; Cory Doctorow (223p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 49
Percent complete: 33%
Total pages: 16785

50. Over Sea, Under Stone; Susan Cooper (196p)
51. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency; Alexander McCall Smith (235p)
52. Throne of Jade; Naomi Novik (398p)
53. Black Powder War; Naomi Novik (365p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 53
Percent complete: 35%
Total pages: 17979

54. The Chessmen of Doom; John Bellairs (155p)
55. Tears of the Giraffe; Alexander McCall Smith (227p)
56. Morality for Beautiful Girls; Alexander McCall Smith (227p)

May 1 book, 714 pages
57. Wolves of the Calla; Stephen King (714p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 57
Percent complete: 38%
Total pages: 19302

57. Wolves of the Calla; Stephen King (714p)
58. Song of Susannah; Stephen King (544p)
59. The Dark Tower; Stephen King (1045p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 59
Percent complete: 39%
Total pages: 20891

What did you think of the ending trio of books to the Dark Tower Series? I read them as soon as they came out hungry to find out what happens. I really didn't like Song of Susannah much. I think I was over that character. Just wanted to hear someone else's thoughts

I really enjoyed them. I initially had some misgivings toward the author writing himself into the story, but I think he pulled it off in a way that was effective and not pretentious or awkward, and I quickly got over my sense of being embarrassed on his behalf for using such a strategy.

The only part I didn't really care for was Susannah in New York, the ending before the ending if you will, at the end of the last book. I really grew attached to the characters in the story, and I think they were developed really well, and essentially taking the characters and throwing away all that development and growth left me very lukewarm about that part.

A lot of people have mentioned to me that they were disappointed in how the story ended, and while it was perhaps not the most satisfying and revealing ending, I think it fit the story well, and anything else perhaps would have fallen flat and been a disappointment. It also seemed fitting with all the talk of ka and the cyclical nature of things.

60. Four Past Midnight; Stephen King (744p)
61. Reversible Errors; Scott Turow (553p)
62. The Kalahari Typing School for Men, Alexander McCall Smith (185p)
63. The Girl Who Played Go; Shan Sa (312p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 63
Percent complete: 42%
Total pages: 22685

64. Vet In A Spin; James Herriot (224p)
65. Skinny Legs and All; Tom Robbins (479p)

June 6 books, 1777 pages
66. The Dark is Rising; Susan Cooper (244p)
67. The Terminal Man; Michael Crichton (268p)
68. Congo; Michael Crichton (316p)
69. Rising Sun; Michael Crichton (399p)
70. The Andromeda Strain; Michael Crichton (272p)
71. Eaters of the Dead; Michael Crichton (278p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 71
Percent complete: 47%
Total pages: 25166

June has been sloooow. @_@ It took me 11 days to finish The Dark is Rising.

72. Jurassic Park; Michael Crichton (399p)

July 1 book, 735 pages
73. The Talisman; Stephen King & Peter Straub (735p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 73
Percent complete: 49%
Total pages: 26300

please tell me:

where did you find a copy of "Eaters of the Dead" by Crichton?

and is l"The Wolves of Calla" by King part of the Dark Tower series? If it isn't, I don't think it was written by King. DT is the only thing of his I havent read yet.

I picked up my copy of Eaters of the Dead from our local used book store... you should be able to find a copy on Amazon if you can't find one locally.

Wolves of the Calla is part of the Dark Tower series. It is book 5 I believe.

The Wolves of Calla is the fifth Dark Tower book.

July 5 books, 1862 pages
73. The Talisman; Stephen King & Peter Straub (735p)
74. The Great Train Robbery; Michael Crichton (300p)
75. Pretty Face (Vol 1); Yasushiro Kano (192p)
76. Jitterbug Perfume; Tom Robbins (388p)
77. The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul; Douglas Adams (247p)

August 3 books, 1176 pages
78. The Lost World; Michael Crichton (430p)
79. The Cripple and His Talismans; Anosh Irani (252p)
80. Disclosure; Michael Crichton (494p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 80
Percent complete: 53%
Total pages: 28603

August 8 books, 3016 pages
78. The Lost World; Michael Crichton (430p)
79. The Cripple and His Talismans; Anosh Irani (252p)
80. Disclosure; Michael Crichton (494p)
81. Pegeen and the Pilgrim; Lyn Cook (278p)
82. Something Like A House; Sid Smith (227p)
83. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; J.K. Rowling (607p)
84. Conrad's Fate; Diana Wynne Jones (393p)
85. Star Trek Voyager: String Theory, Book 1 : Cohesion; Jeffrey Lang (362p)

September 6 books, 2176 pages
86. The Empty Chair; Jeffrey Deaver (479p)
87. The Hundered Secret Senses; Amy Tan (406p)
88. I, Nuligak; Nuligak & Maurice Metayer, ed. (197p)
89. Star Trek Voyager: String Theory, Book 2 : Fusion; Kirsten Beyer (400p)
90. Star Trek Voyager: String Theory, Book 3 : Evolution; Heather Jarman (400p)
91. Manhattan Is My Beat; Jeffrey Deaver (294p)

October 3 books, 719 pages
92. The Bell, the Book and the Spellbinder; Brad Strickland (149p)
93. Cat Owner's Manual; Dr. Bruce Fogle (287p)
94. Mackerel Sky; Natalee Caple (283p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 94
Percent complete: 63%
Total pages: 33338

Ugh, busy summer and I am so far behind my target... I think now that it's getting cooler out I'll be spending more time reading.

95. Wormwood; G.P Taylor (259p)
96. Star Trek: Mutiny on the Enterprise; Robert E. Vardeman (189p)
97. The Coffin Dancer; Jeffrey Deaver (532p)

Goal: 150
Books Read: 97
Percent complete: 65%
Total pages: 34318