How do you manage to read so many books in one year?

Reading some of the topics and profiles in this group, I'm impressed by the sheer number of books that people have read. There are people who have read more books in the past than I can imagine reading in a lifetime. How did they do that?

This is the first time that I made a resolution to read at least 50 books in one year (one book per week), and I'm already struggling to keep up (several weeks behind schedule). I wonder how others manage to read 75 in a year. Is there a secret to becoming "an avid reader"? Do you have any advice or suggestions?

Read. When you have free time, rather than goofing off, or vegetating in front of the TV, or playing video games, read. Make time to read - when you think about your day, think about when you can get an hour of reading in. Read when you hit the head. Read for a bit before you go to bed. Just make time for it.

There are tons of people here on LT that read a TON more then me but I do manage to get in around 75-100 books a year. I can't say there is a secret really but for me at least, I read everyday and I always have a book nearby (in the car, at work, in every room of the house, electronically on my ipod :) This works for me since I read 4 or 5 books at a time but that may not work for everyone.
Really, whenever I have a free minute - even if it's a literal minute of time - if I have a book within grasping distance - it will get read.
I always try to set aside time for reading, even if it's just a few minutes before I go to bed every night. I am a fast reader which doesn't hurt but one of the reasons I think I read so fast is because I read so much...it's like a cycle if that makes any sense.
I also read books I pretty much know I am going to like before I even start. I hate not finishing a book so if I do somehow start a real loser of a book it will take me forever to get through it.
One other thing too - don't get discouraged by other peoples reading achievements. Everyone moves at their own pace in life and reading isn't any different :)

Just my thoughts - I'm interested in seeing what others have to say :)

Great question. Thanks for starting this thread.
The answer to your question is that since I was a child (from an extremely dysfunctional home) I escaped to the public library where I spent many days with the librarian. The library was a safe space for me and it was there that I developed my love of words.

Thus, reading became my solace and has continued to meet this need throughout my life.
When I am stressed, I read.
Now, when I am happy, I read.

I have always enjoyed reading, and will read anywhere between 50-100+ books a year. There's no real secret to it, though - I just read when I have time (and ANY time I have time). I don't enjoy watching tv, I am no longer in school, and have no current sewing projects to work on (my other favorite hobby) ... so I spend a lot of my day with a book in front of my face.

When I was in grad school I didn't have much time to read anything other than assignments, and after I had my first son I spent a lot more time taking care of him than I did reading. I tend to read a lot of "fluff" books which pads my list quite a bit, but I find it more relaxing and enjoyable than sitting in front of a Law and Order marathon, so it works for me.

I'm always impressed by the number of books people get through around here - especially those who focus on "heavier" reads. It's certainly not a contest, but it can be a bit awe-inspiring!

> 4
Whisper1, that sounds so much like me! The library was always my safe haven as a child. I even worked at the library as a young teen, just so I had an excuse to spend all of my time there!

I make time to read. I can't go to sleep unless I have had my reading time. I read to the detriment of my housekeeping. Currently, I am lucky enough to have a job where I can read during slow times - although I must admit that the interruptions can be a problem and often customers "sneak up" on me because I am so absorbed in reading!

Booksontrial, while I fully concur with the "just read" crew, I think you have to take into consideration all the other things you might do in your day too, before being too hard on yourself. If you are running kids here and there, working crazy hours for your job, actively creative in other ways, physically active in sports yourself, there is only so much time in a day. During gardening season, for example, my reading drops dramatically. But in the depths of a Canadian winter, reading becomes a beautiful antidote to early dark evenings and deep not-going-out-there cold, so I read much more then. I don't think there is anything more delicious than reading during a snow storm. If I'm going to an appointment, I always take a book with me. Those doctors' office waits are prime reading time. I read while the car is being washed or while waiting for a friend in a restaurant. I used to read almost every lunch hour when I worked. I read while I'm cooking (have learned over the years to use the timer so things don't get burned). The one thing I wish I could do is read in the car but I can't (badly car sick).

ah tiffin...what a wonderful, sensitive person you are. I always enjoy your well-written and kind posts!

Marise, sadly, I think there are a lot of us out there who come from not-so great childhoods.

I agree with just about everything already mentioned. Another thing I do is to "read" audio books - I always have one in the car and listen whenever I drive. If, like tiffin suggested, you spend a lot of time runnng kids around, get audio's that they will also enjoy. Sometimes I have another audio in the house and listen when I'm doing "brainless" chores like laundry or ironing - the kinds of things that require your hands and eyes, but not your mind. I also listen while doing needlework. Clip a player on your belt and listen while you do housework or gardening. I get them free at the library.

I guess what I would say to you is not worry about how many more books someone else is reading compared to you. How many books are you reading this year compared to last year? If you want to read more books, that is the only comparison that matters. Like someone else said, it's not a contest. But if you're beginning to feel stressed by your book count, then back off for a while. This isn't school - you should only read as much as you want to.

Everyone reaches their reading potential in a different way. Here's mine. I do 90% of my reading between 9:00 PM and 2:00 AM. I don't usually like to read in the daytime. I don't take books with me everywhere. If I'm stuck in an airport or another busy place I'm a people watcher not a public reader. If I'm stuck in a place without people I'll watch ants or bugs or birds and try to figure out what they're up to. I can't read for hours on end so I'll read for 30 or 45 minutes then go online for a time then go back to a reading session. I gave the TV away and haven't bought another one so TV time is not a problem. I just reward myself with spending what the cable bill used to be on buying books with that money.

That roughly works out to a reading block of time of three to four hours per day. It doesn't happen every day but it happens more days than not. I'll likely end up in the 100 book range this year. Less than a lot of 75ers but more than the average reader. I still enjoy reading but if I ever find myself not enjoying it as much in the future I won't feel a bit guilty cutting back on reading time.

I don't schedule my reading times. Some books will be read all in one sitting, while others will take me several weeks. It depends on the book and what else I have going on in my life at the time. Maybe making yourself strive for a book a week is stressing you out and preventing you from achieving your goal? Read when you can, and read to be happy!

good advice goddessladyj especially since in the world today so many things are becoming chores and that just takes the fun out of it. People need to remember that reading should relax you.

Thanks to all for the wonderful responses. It seems everyone enjoys reading in their own special way. Here are the "secrets" I learned:

1. Always keep a book handy, and read whenever and wherever you can.
2. When you can't read, listen to audiobooks.
3. Enjoy your reading

I was just starting to do these things too, so I guess I'm in good shape. If only I hadn't spent all that time watching the Stanley Cup playoffs.

WilowRaven and sjmccreary,

Where do you get the audiobooks? I can't seem to find the audiobook versions of many of the books that I'm interested in.

Whisper1,

Not a lot of people can find solace in books. Those of us who do are fortunate in that regard.

VisibleGhost,

We share quite a few books in our libraries, but of course yours is much larger than mine. Would you mind if I ask your opinions on some of the books?

For Audiobooks: I've never tried it myself, but I have several friends who commute to DC and listen to books downloaded from Audible (http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/homepage/AnonHome.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes). I've also come across sites that allow you to download some classics for free, the goal being to help students who are studying the novels in high school. However, I recently switched computers and no longer have the link myself...

"Read when you can, and read to be happy!" Wonderful advice.

On audiobooks: Try your local library! They have lots of 'popular' books on audio, and if they don't have it in, you should be able to order one in from another branch. Many libraries are also now switching to downloadable audiobooks right from their website, which makes it a lot easier to 'borrow' and stick right on your ipod or whatever.

I don't care for audiobooks. I find that I want to know what happens and I can read a lot faster than they can talk. I just get annoyed. Sometimes the reader doesn't match the 'voice' in my head and that's another downer for me. I also can't imagine listening when driving. I think it would be hard to concentrate on the road.

I read fast so that helps my numbers. I don't read as much as some people here do but I notice that I go into slumps a few times a year where I might only read 1 or 2 books.

My biggest reading perk is that I work part time and I have no kids left at home. I still watch TV and God knows I spend wwwaaayyyy too much time on the computer.

I also read 4-5 books at a time and I carry books with me and read any chance I get. (including stop lights)

My 2 cents...

My reading is largely done on my daily commute. With two hours spent on public transport each working day, that's usually enough time to read one or two books per week depending on the size. Couple that with bedtime reading, and it doesn't take much to hit 75 or more in a year.

I love audiobooks which are great for commuting and long drives, and even though I live in Japan, I can download titles direct from my library in Australia over the internet.

I must read between 75 and 100 books a year on average (I'm speculating as I've never really counted - until joining LT this year), but that has been my habit since junior high school when my first part time job was working in the town library as a shelver and sometimes-clerk. I love reading with a passion, and that's important too!

I'm also very careful with my choices, so I rarely have a bad read (only one this year). Finding a genre you love or a theme to your reading is a great way to find focus and keep the momentum going.

Good luck :)

#14 For audio books, I always go to the library - ours has lots of different kinds of titles, not just popular fiction. I like getting books on CD, but they also have downloads.

For lots of good informmation and discussion about different sources of audio, check out the audiobooks group:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/audiobooks

They also sometimes talk about different readers, and some of the issues that cal8769 raised. If you don't love the first audio you try - don't give up. It may take a little while to find the best source/format for you.

Just chiming in! A lot of things mentioned above work for me. I always have a book with me. It helps to be one of those people who can have several simultaneous books going. There is one on my recliner table that I read for at least an hour before bed each night. There is one on my desk at work that I read at lunchtime each day. I always have an audiobook in my car, and I keep a download on my MP3 player for when I am doing mindless tasks at work. As much as I love reading, I didn't do a lot of it while my kids were growing up. Then one day, it hit me. Literally. A softball in the nose. My nose was broken and stitched up, and I couldn't wear glasses or contact lenses, so I couldn't drive or work, I could only read for 3 days. That's when I remembered how much I enjoyed it!

My take on audiobooks is to use some sense in choosing them. Generally, I try to do lighter books on audio, because they're easier to follow when there are distractions. That being said, I don't have any problems listening while I drive or work. My library has a ton of audiobooks, and they have recently been offering free MP3 downloads. God Bless Libraries!

And I agree with those who said it's easier to read and keep track than to strive towards a goal. It's gotta be fun!

LOL! I'm in the bunch of people who always have a book somewhere (every room of my home; in my bags) so that I can pick up and read. If I don't have a book, it's a magazine. We've discussed how many of us read cereal boxes as well---

Mostly however, I read on commutes and breaks. Since we've gone to digital television and I don't have cable, but do have an analog-type set, I watch my movie selections or I read. Occasionally, I do an audiobook, but I'm easily distracted from those.

Finally, I try to mix up my reading by author, style, or genre, just to keep it interesting. I've read more in the two years on LT than in recent years past, but it's also been a broadening read--more authors and types of books than I would normally choose for myself.

And for me--reading is just plain fun. I spent a year as a child in bed, not allowed to walk or move without assistance, and reading was my first solace. Fortunately, my parents both read (although wildly different stuff) and never censored the library. Enjoy the ride! (Or is that read?)

I grew up going to the library, which was always fun for me. Right now I read more than I have in past years. Definitely while I was going to school at night for 10 years (gulp) there was no time for pleasure reading, but I always bought books to read when I had a break.

Now I have about a half hour train commute that helps me get a lot of reading in, and I usuallly read at lunch also. I have also stopped watching a lot of television. There are just not that many programs these days that are "must see" for me.

I've been keeping tabs of what I've read since 1976. While I was in school (up til the mid 1980s), I was reading only 50-60 books a year. During my early working years, that moved up to about 80/year. After a medical leave in the early 90s, 100-120/year became common.

This year, I'm on pace for 150+ books. Part of that is due to joining LT and just discovering more books. Part of that is due to getting a Kindle in March, which makes it much easier for me to read. Part of it is that I devote at least 2 hours a day to reading books--10 pm to midnight, most days.

Except for ballgames, I watch almost no TV. I read instead. I read 4 papers over morning coffee and read books over my lunch "hour."

(I also have to read a lot for work but I don't count that for my personal reading totals unless it's on a general subject.)

cal8769,

Reading at stop lights? Do people honk at you often? How do you pick up where you left off?

LOL! I've read at stop lights. Sometimes I pretend it's a map or instructions, but when you're really, really into a book....

#15 booksontrial, ask away. I'm not sure how many of the books in my library I've actually read. Maybe 50%? When I see books for cheap that look interesting I buy them. Even though I need more about like a drowning man needs more water.

Being unemployed for two and a half months earlier in the year certainly helped expand the number of books I read this last winter. But generally, I guess I would have to say that having no one to please but myself and the cat makes it easy to carve out the maximum reading time possible.

I, too, was a big time reader as a child, but not a user of the library. Instead I had my own small library and when I was sick of those books I had complete access to my mother's collection of totally inappropriate books. Books about children dying of cancer, graphic true-murder books and the entiire Falconhurst series - not what your average nine year old should be reading, I'm sure.

Today, I always have a book (or two) that I cart around everywhere, even if I know that I probably won't get a chance to read. I mean, you never know for sure. Last week some putz pulled the fire alarm at work and we were all driven outside for 20 minutes while the fire department combed the building (for once it wasn't raining) and I got a chapter read. I've been known to take a book with me when my aunt and I go out to eat because she will to go to the potty and she is notoriously slow, so that's another good chance to read 20 or so pages. In high school the bus stop was about a quarter of a mile from my house so, I always read as I walked. Never got hit by a car either. As you all have said - you've got to make your own opportunities.

25> A couple of times. :)

I think the common element among all the advice here is that you have to make time to read, and make it a priority. If you want to read many books over the course of a year, you have to make time to read almost every day, and make doing so important enough that you don't blow it off for something else. It also helps to be ready to do some reading when you have unexpected down time (for example, I always have a book or two with me, so if I have to sit and wait for something, I can do some reading).

I wish I could feel about exercise like I feel about reading.

#31, cal8769

Right now I feel the same about exercise and reading, "Mission Impossible". :)

Some people exercise their mind, some their body. It's hard to excel at both.

#24: lindapanzo

How do you like Kindle? I hesitate to get one for myself because I like the look and feel of a "real" book in my hands. The sense of adventure when I open it for the first time, the pleasure of turning over the pages, and finally the sense of accomplishment when I finish the last page.

booksontrial, I love it and feel that same way about "opening" a book for the first time on Kindle. About the only drawback for me is that I can't pass the books along to someone else, short of loaning out my Kindle, which I won't do.

A co-worker just told me that they've now reduced the price. I hadn't heard that but that might move some people off of the fence.

#33, 34 > I second the favorable Kindle review. I received a kindle 2 for my birthday in March, and I love it. I tend to buy all of my cheesy fiction on the Kindle, but I have downloaded some classics (for free!), and it hasn't stopped me from buying books. I feel like the kindle reads like an actual book, although it's easier to read one-handed.

One of the things I like best is having a bookstore at my fingertips. It really comes in handy when you can't sleep at night...

#34, 35 lindapanzo and Luxx,

Thanks for the recommendation. The idea of "having a bookstore at my fingertips" is just too good to pass by. I looked up the product description for Kindle on amazon. It can hold more than 1,500 books!
I'm going to reward myself with a Kindle if and when I reach my 2009 goal.

One question, can you transfer all the books from one Kindle to another?

WilowRaven, petermc and Prop2gether,

You guys brought up an interesting point that I want to discuss further: How do you choose good reads?

For me, I read mostly non-fiction, choose the subjects that interest me and the authors that are known to be experts in the fields, and then I read the books that they reference. The reviews also help a little. So it is relatively straightforward.

But when it comes to fiction books (I can count the fictions books I've read with my fingers), I don't have a clue how to choose. Everybody have their own taste, and the same book can be loved by one reader and hated by another.

How do you choose good reads?

>36 booksontrial: - All of your downloads are kept available on your amazon account so you can re-download them at any time by going to "manage your kindle" on your amazon account. However, you can't "share" books from your kindle to, say, a friend's. It's all done by account.

#37--That is the question, Horatio--oh, just kidding with the reference. Most of us are genre readers of some kind, possibly from interests or schooling or having found a writer we really, really like. My tastes are pretty broadly based (Shakespeare, history, mysteries, thrillers, grammar manuals, craft books, true life, true crime--you get the picture), but it's still easy to get into ruts. I went through a period of reading nothing but historical romances, then all the Will and Ariel Durant histories, then nothing but mysteries, then science fiction, and so forth.

So--I do use lists to compare and check out. I "cheated" my way through a high school class by not reading Hamlet and getting an okay for Othello because I knew the play from shows and discussions. When I worked years later for a Shakespeare theatre, I read all the plays in the canon, even the disputed ones, plus at least three plays about Shakespeare. I use reading lists from the ALA (American Library Association), the BBC, the California Department of Education, and, probably most contentiously debated at LT, the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I don't tend to be a best-seller reader, except after the book is off the list. I also read books based on recommendations.

I don't always find a great read, but I usually find a good or at least moderate one. Truly horrible ones happen, but I figure it's still no loss. Now I have something really bad to compare to really great writing.

I love this particular group because people are willing to explain why they chose a book, what intrigued them or annoyed them, and I've discovered lots of authors and books I would never have tried on my own.

That's my Hyde Park corner speech.

Booksontrial:
I used to read a lot of nonfiction too, but now I read mostly fiction. I needed to start reading stuff that did not stress me out. The key to starting to find fiction that you like is to just look at your nonfiction. If you are interested in the Civil War, read fiction books about the Civil War. If you like science, try some science fiction. I liked to read about British history, women's issues, cultural differences and archeology; so I started to read a lot of classic british lit, historical fiction, and books with strong female characters. Once you start, the things you like expand. I love swashbucklers now. If it has sword fighting I have to read it. Also, I love just about anything by Isabelle Allende. Also, reading other people's posts on LT will really increase your TBR pile.

#36 Booksontrial: I am not sure about the being able to transfer to another Kindle. I would think so, if it's a Kindle you own. I don't think you can transfer to another person. I haven't tried this so I don't really know.

Yes, it holds 1,500 books. Between the current days' papers (3), a few magazines, a baseball blog and a ton of books, I have about 170 items on my Kindle and another 50 or 60 in the archive, which means I've read them and am storing them in my Kindle account but not on the Kindle itself. I can re-load those if I want. Most of the archived items are newspapers, which stay on for a week but, so far, I've read 30 or so Kindle books as well.

I never kept track of my reads before this. I joined the 75 challenge this year and have been keeping track. Frankly, I am astonished by the number of books I have already read. I often go for days with no reading, if I have other things to do, but then, I sometimes read 3-5 books on two days. It just depends. I always have on handy though. I keep one in the car, some on my headboard and more all over. I always have one at work, and usually one in my handbag. I am not good at waiting.

I too was an escape reader long before first grade. I too spent a lot of time in libraries when I was a little older... So, yes.. just read when you feel like it. Remember, no one is keeping track of the number of books you read. It really doesn't matter, does it? Just read, enjoy and read some more :)

Remember, never read to please anyone but yourself.

#37 booksontrial - I know your question is more focused on fiction, but if you check out my thread here on LT, you'll quickly discover that I'm very much into non-fiction, and in particular military histories and memoirs, so my comments are biased to this area, although the concepts carry to fiction too.

OK, here's my strategy...

1) Genre: I stick closely to my favourite genre because that's what interests me intensely; so even a less than well written book usually offers something of value. When I venture into fiction, I focus on mysteries, because that's the other genre I love! Experience has taught me that I want a serial with a flawed main protagonist, and an author with the ability to write with wit while being able to evoke a sense of time and place.

2) Reviews: Generally, I read reviews before I buy a book. Exceptions might include authors I know well. I prefer peer reviews when available, but I also check out Amazon. I check the Canadian, American and UK Amazon sites, as I also value opinions across cultural divides. In my genre of interest, I tend to find that UK reviewers often rate a book much lower than US reviewers. I also focus on the negative reviews (1 and 2 stars) - it's here that I often find the 'geeks' that really know their stuff! I also have a select few reviewers that I've calibrated with, and I value their opinion especially.

Here on LT, there are so many specialist groups, that lurking there can often produce some great potential reads aligned to my own tastes.

3) The Page 99 Test - "Open the book to page ninety-nine and read, and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you.", said Ford Madox Ford. I tend to agree. I can also quickly gauge my interest from the very first page. A recent 'hot review' of a book here on LT caught my interest until I read the first paragraph... Bleh!

4) Judge a book by its cover - They say never judge a book by its cover, but I think you should. People will disagree with me here, but everything about the book adds to your enjoyment of it. From the cover, to the typeface, to the layout.

Let's face it, the cover is what catches our attention when we walk through the bookshop - Does it do that? Does it reflect the contents accurately? For example, in historic non-fiction / fiction are the pictures accurate to the subject? How often have I seen a history book where the cover does not accurately reflect the period or area under discussion!?

Now, the typeface, margins and layout - Is the typeface easy to read or fatiguing? Are the margins wide enough that you can hold the book without your thumbs covering the text? Does the overall layout work to make the information legible (more of a non-fiction consideration)?

A mark against any of these may suggest a lack of care by the publisher, or by the author in his final product. And if they don't care, then why should I?

An example... This year I read Hitler's Private Library, published by Knopf. I can tell you that the sheer quality of the book, including the choice of paper, made just picking up that book an absolute joy. It made me want to read the text, which was also superb!

5) Audiobook actors - I'll generally not listen to female actors reading audiobooks because I don't enjoy their male impersonations, which lessens my enjoyment of what may be an otherwise excellent book. I have several readers I really enjoy and stick with them.

6) Take a chance - Sometimes you have to take a chance, and no one gets it right 100% of the time. I would never have discovered some of my favourite books if I had stuck rigidly to the five points above :)

Good luck...

petermc: I had never really considered the typeface, margins, and layout a consideration in my book enjoyment, but now that I think about it, I can see what you mean. Perhaps it's more on a subconscious level and a greater influence than I realize. I have a few older editions of Frankenstein and Dracula that I could never get into and I think part of it was the typeface. Also...I agree that layout in non-fiction can make a HUGE difference. Gladwell did this well in Outliers, but I read Darwin's Ghost and kept getting confused about what topic he was covering.

Your comments about female audiobook actors sounding like transvestites was intriguing. Don't you have the same the same problem with male actors reading the female parts?

#44 - I hesitated about putting in the 'transvestite' thing, because it does sound terrible, and I decided to remove the reference entirely. It is inappropriate. However, to answer your question - No. I have no problem with men doing women (Should I rephrase that?). I think audio is a very personal thing, and everyone will have very particular preferences. I should add, that even my favourite actor may be completely wrong for a particular book / character.

#45 I don't want to hijack the discussion, but just to interject - there was a lengthy discussion a while back in the audio books group about male readers vs female. Some prefer one or the other. I don't have a general preference. Some individuals are better than others - regardless of gender. Once, I had an audio with a female reader who had a lovely contralto voice. Her female characters sounded fine, as did most of her male characters. But the main male character was so convincing that I had to check the case to make sure there weren't actually 2 readers. The voice was so masculine sounding, that it was actually distracting. So, the fact that women don't sound like men, even when reading male parts, and vise versa, isn't a big problem. We use our imaginations so much in reading anyway, that the only thing we need "voices" for is to tell one character apart from another.

Back on topic, the question of how to choose a good book can be both universally broad and intensely personal. My advice is to just pick up something that catches your attention and sounds or looks interesting. If you like it, then try more of the same. If you hate it, than look for something different. It doesn't take long to learn which authors, subjects, genres, etc are most enjoyable for you.

ETA - Petermc, I also agree that some audio readers are better for some books and characters than they are for others, even if I consider them to be a favorite. And you don't need to rephrase that comment, just be sure you're smiling when you say it and not leering! ;-)

sj, for me it's accents. I could listen to the phone book being read with a good English accent (thinking of Prunella Scales reading Miss Mapp, in particular). But there are other accents which I don't enjoy and could not listen to. Also the pitch of the voice, as you noted.

Chiming in on audiobooks: I have found that the narrator can make or break the enjoyment of a book, no matter which gender they are. My favorite narrator happens to be female, Barbara Rosenblat. The first time I listened to her narrate a book, I was like Sandy - checking to make sure there were not actually multiple narrators, she does the voices that well.

I have listened to about 3 audiobooks in my life. Just can't do it. I lose interest, my mind wanders and I plain old dislike them. To each his own :P

#39 Prop2gether,

I never read a book by Shakespeare from start to finish (yikes!), though I watched some movies and plays. Obviously not the literary type, but it's never too late to start. Can you think of three books that you would absolutely like to recommend?

#40 jmaloney17,

When I read "sword fighting", I immediately thought of The Three Musketeers, but then many of the classical literature have some sword-fighting themes in them, a duel, a fight or a battle. Do you enjoy fencing yourself? Or is it the chivalry and romance?

#43 petermc,

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.

Speaking of military histories and memoirs, have you read any of the commentaries by Julius Caesar? They are on my "To Read" list, and I'm interested to know if you have a favorite edition. I read War as I Knew it sometime back and liked it.

Good point on "Reviews". It takes some patience and work to find the "reviewers that I've calibrated with". I'm surprised that for someone who pays so much attention to book cover, layout, font and texture, you can still enjoy audiobooks :)

#50--Sure, but! What are you most interested in starting with? Histories (not very accurate but beautiful speeches and often twisty plots); comedies based on gender (either love-hate matches or mixed twins most common); tragedies (and lots of dead people on stage at the end but a fortifying speech as well)?

ETA: Well, I had a full list, but LT lost it, so I'll write it elsewhere and then post again!

#53 Prop2gether,

Histories. I'm more interested in character development than twisty plots, but always enjoy beautiful speeches.

#52 - My apologies for not answering sooner, but I have not read the commentaries by Julius Caesar. My main era of interest is 19th and 20th century conflicts, although I have an interest in the crusades as well.

Finding reviewers you calibrate with isn't easy, and will differ of course from genre to genre. I tend to read reviews of books I've read, find someone with a similar point of view and look back over their previous reviews to see how we 'match up' on other reads.

As for the books v audiobooks - Audiobooks present a different set of values other than layouts and fonts, etc.. I enjoy each and apply different values to each.

Regards

#54, Okay, here are my favorite history selections:

Henry V
Richard II
Richard III

There are other Henries (IV, Parts 1 and 2), (VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3), and (VIII--where baby Elizabeth rings down the curtain), but the one where Prince Hal becomes King Henry and leads his countrymen to war is still the best. I love Kenneth Branagh's film version, although for comparison, Laurence Olivier's is a good afternoon of beautiful elocution (sounds rude, but the style of the times is sometimes a bit strong these days).

Derek Jacobi starred in a film version of Richard II and it's generally considered to have some of the most beautiful language of any of the plays. My son, who was not fond of Shakespeare at all (go figure, he only had to grow up with them!), saw a production in London this spring and fell in love with the play.

And Richard III--oh my. There's a stunning production of this play, set in the 1930's, directed and starring Ian McKellan. Olivier did a film version, where his acting style truly overreaches, but the ensemble is amazing. And, once you're familiar with the play, you should watch Al Pacino's "Looking for Richard" which is a study of the play as Pacino is casting and rehearsing for a production. One of the best Lady Anne courtship scenes I've ever watched takes place between Winona Ryder and Pacino. There's also "Tower of London" starring Vincent Price, which is sort of a "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern" version of Richard III, and good watching.

If you get interested in the tragedies or comedies, let me know....

#56: Prop2gether,

Thank you for the recommendations. Richard III seems to be the best place to start. McKellan and Pacino are two of my favorite actors.

Which of these plays have the most well-developed characters that common folks like me can relate to?

I have a hard time sympathizing with tragic characters such as Hamlet and King Lear. Their struggles seem more or less irrelevant to me and "lots of dead people on stage at the end" just make it more repulsive.

The only comedy I've seen is The Merchant of Venice. Shylock is of course the most memorable, a man of "flesh and blood", and he paid dearly for it at the end.

#55: petermc,

Just out of curiosity, which aspects of the military history are you most interested in?

I'm fascinated by the strategies and tactics of war, and interested in finding the elements in them that transcend time and geography. If the wars are fought in the same locations, there should be many similarities, even though they're 2,000 years apart.

BTW, thank you for the "Page 99 Test", I put it to good use the other day when deciding which translations of Anna Karenina to read. I might need to do the same for Caesar's commentaries.

Booksontrial: Thanks for this thread. This is a great topic.

After finishing grad school, I could not bring myself to pick up a book for 18 months. Then I found this website by dumb luck. Seeing what other people read motivates me (though I agree that the speed can be intimidating). People here are really supportive, enthusiastic and friendly.

As far as finding books, one of my high school English teachers told me, "The least you can do is read the fiction book which wins the Pulitzer every year." When I started reading again, I remembered this piece of advice. Based on those books, I found some authors that I liked and branched out from there.

Enjoy!

#57--eh? Histories are histories, even when authors don't follow the facts. The histories are, in one sense, a justification for why Elizabeth Tudor was on the throne, and, after her, James. After all, the monarch was the patron of the theatre company.

But for ease of following the intricacies of the family links and the War of the Roses between the Lancasters (Richard II) and the Tudors, try the Ian McKellan film. One of Richard's brother is king and not awfully well. The widow of the prior king is hugely unhappy with the lot but still wandering around the premises with her husband's body. The king and queen (who incidentally despises Richard) have a tweenie daughter and two younger sons. Richard's other brother, George (Duke of Clarence), is something of a ladies man and drinker. Those are the main characters to start. You can follow the various cousin lines as the story progresses. Richard has several nefarious friends who are angling for advancement and willing to work with him to get the rank (murder, pillage, whatever). Incidentally, I also saw a version made by Thames Television set in an inner city that was quite interesting as well.

I think Henry V is also pretty straightforward in its family and friend lines. He's the fun-loving Prince Hal romping around with his pals in Henry IV, but now he has to assume command, and deal with growing up and being a leader. "Cry 'God for Harry, England and Saint George!'" is the best-known of the speeches here.

#57--Okay, for the tragedies, I've seen the minor ones, but unless they are superb productions, they are tedious shows, usually full of talk and curiously little action.

Julius Caesar is in here, and there are several films versions, but I do like the one with Marlon Brando as Mark Anthony directed by Joseph Mankiewicz. It's got a stellar cast, but Brando is fascinating to watch (it's before he was so stylized) in this role. I also like the BBC version and the second one with Charlton Heston--for different reasons.

Titus Andronicus was realized fully on film ("Titus") with Anthony Hopkins in the title role and Jessica Lange playing his mortal enemy. Reimagined against stark sets, Julie Taymor edited the play (okay, not to worry, every director edits Shakespeare!), and directed a stunning production of this play. (If you're interested some time in the story, I'll tell you about the one in a corrugated tin hanger in a rain storm that I worked on years ago!)

Romeo and Juliet. Personally? I love the Zefferelli production, dislike intensely the Baz Luhrman production. I also like the MGM version with Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard, although they were decades too old for the roles.

King Lear--the two best productions I ever saw was one on television years ago starring Paul Scofield, and then, as a birthday gift, my brother and sister-in-law got tickets to the production touring with Ian McKellan two years ago. *sigh*

Othello has been filmed several times to interesting results--there's a production done by Orson Welles which was remastered and is visually quite stark; there's one with Ian McKellan as Iago that is uncut text and dark; there's the Lawrence Olivier film with Maggie Smith as Desdemona; and my personal favorite is the version starring Lawrence Fishburne and Kenneth Branagh.

On a related film basis, there's the restyling in "O" with Julia Stiles as Desdemona, and there's a marvelous film "A Double Life" starring Ronald Colman as an actor who lives his roles, featuring a Signe Hasso as his wife and onstage partner, and a very young Shelley Winters. There's also somewhere a copy of the musical version called "Catch My Soul."

Hamlet is everywhere. I'll just say I like the following versions for different reasons: Mel Gibson; Lawrence Olivier; Ethan Hawke; Kenneth Branagh.

Macbeth also has interesting versions: Orson Welles; another Thames Television production; Roman Polanski's version; and so forth. I've seen all-female productions (which is interesting in that the play is supposed to promote the idea of Elizabeth's lineage through her father) and flying witches or singing witches or whatever.

Okay, now for comedies...

#59: Bridget770,

Pulitzer Prize winners should make good reads. Thanks for the advice. In addition, there are winners of Nobel Prize in Literature, and other lesser prizes. So many books, so little time.

#60: Prop2gether,

Thanks for the character summary on Richard II & III. What a rotten lot! The growing-up tale of Henry V may be more refreshing read.

How accurate is Shakespeare's portrayal Caesar? It always puzzles me as to how actors can play the part of a historical person well, without any detailed knowledge of him/her.

#63--LOL, it's generally considered that the Tudors were a most interesting family, both on and off the throne. Of course, there are other royal families which are great to follow, but somehow, the batch that ends with Elizabeth is very compelling.

As for Julius Caesar, most of the play is really not about Caesar, the individual, as much as it is a dissection of politics. The men who oppose Caesar's policies do so for many different reasons, but find that "politics makes strange bedfellows" when assassination seems the only out--even for men of reason and conscience. After the assassination, the trio of Cassius, Brutus, and Antony must work together or die alone. Incidental to the storyline, but fascinating in any event are the two wives who are introduced: Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, and Portia, Brutus' wife. Calpurnia has had bad dreams and tries to keep her husband home. Portia is seriously worried about her husband who has stopped talking to her. Neither woman is seen again in the play, but they powerfully illuminate the strengths and weaknesses of the men they married.

So--how accurate is the history? Fair. But what speeches!