Do you all read for pleasure? (Ignoring reading dictated by school-work, except if that negatively impacts on your reading for pleasure time.) How much time a day or week do you get for that?
Do you buy books to support your reading habit or borrow from the library. New books? Second-hand books? Books on-line or books from a big shop or books from a little one?
What are your long time favourites? The ones you're keeping to reread again and again. (If you never reread, I'd like to hear about that too!) What were your reading discoveries in 2006? What's the best thing you've read so far this year?
Lists! Do you keep lists of what you read? What makes you do that? What format is this list in, and what information do you record?
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Reading
I read a lot for pleasure. Hours and hours a day now I'm retired but that's not as much as I was reading when I was working. My job in a very quiet second-hand bookshop meant that once the place was tidy each morning the rest of the day was for reading. Seven hours paid reading time. It was a dream job!
Books
I buy heaps of books, mainly new, mainly on-line. It is my addiction. During the book fair season I attend all the charity book sales in the area and travel to the South Island for the biggest of those in the country.
Favourites
I collect books so I have lots of keepers, ranging from 1930s - 50s children series (Elsie Oxenham), through to Tamora Pierce first editions. Lately I've been making shelf space for cosy mystery series, especially Donna Andrews and Earlene Fowler. 2006 was the year of the cosy mystery for me, so probably Donna Andrews was the discovery of the year, though Diane Duane's Young Wizards series was one heck of surprise. (Where had something so great been hiding for the last 20 years?) So far this year? Bill Crider's A Knife in the Back. Such a great writer, regardless of the series.
Lists
I have many book lists! Budget, purchases (for working out currency conversions), reading, search, and collection lists. They are all in Excel databases and I take them everywhere with me on my PDA.
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That's me ... what about the rest of you?
I definitely read for fun. I usually get some chapters in after the day has wound down and I'm ready to go to bed. I get all comfy in my PJs and curl up in a nest of blankets and pillows and read for an hour or so before I go to sleep. I don't get to read every night...I'd say about half the week--if I'm lucky!
I'm guilty of spending most of my cash on books. I buy from everywhere: Borders, Barnes and Noble, eBay, amazon.com, used book stores...
My long time favs (and the ones I re-read over and over)....
* The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop
* Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
* The Dragon Prince and Dragon Star Trilogies by Melanie Rawn
* The Sword-dancer Saga by Jennifer Roberson
* The Sevenwaters Trilogy by Julliet Marillier
* The Dragonriders of Pern ;)
* The Elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
* Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly
* The Obsidian Chronicles by Lawrence Watt-Evans
* The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
* The White Mare's Daughter by Judith Tarr
* Harry Potter by JK Rowling
* His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
* The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
* The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
* Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
My fav children's books that really got me into reading....
* Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville
* Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
* The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
* The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce
* Animorphs
* Babysitter's Club
* Echo by Francesca Lia Block
* The Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
* Pony Pales
* The Saddleclub
* Venus Among the Fishes by Elizabeth Hall and Scott O'Dell
* A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle and Jody A. Lee
* Julie of the Wolves series
* Child of the Wolves by Elizabeth Hall
My discoveries of 2006...
* Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter by LKH
* Moon Called and Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
* The Rowan and Damia by Anne McCaffrey
The best thing I've read so far in the year 2007 would have to be Blood Bound :D
I do have a list. It's in one of those small, cutesie books that you can find near the cash registers at Barnes and Noble or Borders. I record what I want to read and what I want to buy.
Phew. And that's all I have to say I think....
Quote from: "Dana"My long time favs (and the ones I re-read over and over)....
* The Dragonriders of Pern ;)
...
* The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
...
* Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Yep, yep.
Quote from: "Dana"My fav children's books that really got me into reading....
...
* The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
* The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce
...
* A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle and Jody A. Lee
...
Tamora Pierce! Her books are my main fantasy collection. I really only read YA sf/f. Never grew out of it; only really like short books. I could only read The Lord of the Rings because I was given a set in three volumes! :lol:
Quote from: "Dana"I do have a list. It's in one of those small, cutesie books that you can find near the cash registers at Barnes and Noble or Borders. I record what I want to read and what I want to buy...
My list is in my PDA (backed up on two computers). And now I have more to add to the list.
I have to admit, uni killed my reading habit. I go through spurts sometimes where I read a book in a week (which for me is rather fast) and then I don't pick up another book again for a month or two.
Books I re-read:
Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
Dune (Frank Herbert)
Anything by C. S. Lewis
Lord of the Flies
Pern Books (obviously)
Roots (Alex Haley)
My discovery of 2006 was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger.
Lists... no lists. Well, I have check list of classic from the library I got about 10 years ago. My goal, before I die, is to read them all. I've got about a third done out of about 100. But I don't record anywhere what I read.
University killed my reading time as well, but now that I'm all graduated and stuff I'm getting back into it. It's so nice to be able to finish a novel in an evening versus a 20 page paper that gives me a headache. But yes, I love to read. I've always loved it. I used to get into trouble in grades 5-7 for sneaking books into the classroom and reading them under my desk.
I love to buy books, and I have a huge book collection (library?) but the past year or so has changed my budget and I just can't buy like I used to. So I go to the library a lot, and sometimes the second hand stores. But man, do I miss buying books. Having a library is comforting.
Favourites... there's a few!
* 'The Last Unicorn' by Peter S. Beagle
* 'Moon Called' and 'When Demons Walk' by Patricia Briggs
* 'On the Road Again' by Jack Keroac
* 'Pride and Prejudice' by Ms. Austin
* 'The Woodwife' by Terri Windling
* 'War for the Oaks' by Emma Bull
* Anything by Kathy Reichs, because I've done a little forensic anthropology in my time. *g* Although nothing as dramatic or... wet.
* Victoria Laurie's 'Abby Cooper: Psychic Eye' series. I have a distinct weakness for chick-lit mysteries.
* 'Perdido Street Station' by China Mieville. I still need to buy this. It's FANTASTIC.
* 'Castle Waiting' by Linda Medley. It's actually a graphic novel.
* 'Summon the Keeper' by Tanya Huff.
* 'Salamander' by Thomas Wharton. Even if he did send me a nasty email once.
* 'Chocolat' by Joann Harris.
* 'Practical Magic' by Alice Hoffman.
* 'Crocodile on the Sandbank' by Elizabeth Peters is pretty well a perfect book.
* the Sherlock Holmes series by C.A. Doyle
My favourite books as a kid were anything by Mercedes Lackey, 'Juniper' by Monica Furlong, and the Famous Five. Although I only had book one of that. And Nancy Drew. I devoured Nancy Drew.
Best thing so far this year? I've started a book called 'Children of Chaos' that's really wonderful so far. I have high hopes for it! And I am SALIVATING in anticipating of 'Blood Bound'.
And I don't keep lists. But I ought to.
Ok this might take awhile so grab the popcorn and soda, sit back and get read for a long winded speech of SUPERNATURAL proportions.
I read for fun all the time. On the bus home from school, after I finish my homework and my sister or dad grabbed the computer before me, in bed at night... the list of reading times and places goes on and on and on. :D
My favorite Books of all time...
~The Dragonriders of Pern (I wonder why that is? :wink: )
~The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
~Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time, & The World Beneath By James Gurney (Illustrated yet still VERY Awesome!)
~Dinotopia Lost and the Hand of Dinotopia by Alan Dean Foster
~Tamora Peirce in General (I own the Immortals Quartet and the Entire Circle of Magic series and read everything except for Protector of the Small and the new unfinished quartet about George Cooper's ancestor)
~Redwall by Brian Jacques
~Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini
~Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
~Artemis Fowl by Eon Colfer
~The Young Wizard Series by Diane Daune
~Maximum Ride by James Patterson
~The Silverwing Trilogy by Kenneth Opal (I have yet to read the third installment I can't find it anywheres!)
One Off's (Ones I read once, or bought and read once, but never again)
~The Secret of Platform Thirteen and Island of the Aunts By Eva Ibbotson
~Fever 1793 (can't remember the author right this minute)
~Esperanza Rising
And there is probably more but I can't remember off the top of my head. And before this I never made a list. But I do have people who want to read my books sign a check out list! (I'm THAT protective yes.)
Discovery of 2006: The Circle of Magic Series by Tamora Pierce (I liked them so much I bought them! The entire series!)
Quote from: "Yvonne"* Victoria Laurie's 'Abby Cooper: Psychic Eye' series. I have a distinct weakness for chick-lit mysteries.
Ohh! I have this in my To Be Read pile with a bookmark carefully placed in the first page just this morning!
Have you read Susan Kandel's three Cece Caruso mysteries? Excellent!
I wonder how it is I've never read Tamora Pierce! ::runs off to find out why she hasn't::::
I have many to put here, but I will wait until later! too many for now, no time LOL
I read excessively! College did kill it for a while freshman year... but then I realized that being stressed out and killing myself studying was not working well for me. I go through phases where I read different genre. If I find an author I like, I tend to read every book they have as fast as I can. Being a poor college student (paying your own way is hard!), I usually get my books out of the library, or buy them at book sales when they are really cheap. Buying a new book is actually a real splurge/treat to me!
Yep, I read for fun. :) I read during lunch at work and I used to read on the bus when I took it. I also read on evenings and weekends, although not as much as I used to. Most of the time I read books from the library or borrow them from a friend. I don't own many books since I'm selective about what I buy.
Some of my favorites:
Lord of the Rings
Dune
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman (short story collection)
Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London
The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling
Julie of the Wolves
The Gunslinger by Stephen King (and books #2 and #3 in the Dark Tower series, not so much the other ones ;) ) I also love The Stand and his short story collections
Wild Animals I Have Known by Earnest Thompson Seaton, mostly for the story 'Lobo'.
My discovery for 2006 was Kelly Armstrong's werewolf books, on Dana's recommendation. Good stuff. I also read lots of horror story collections.
I forgot about Neil Gaimen! I really liked 'Neverwhere' but I have yet to pick up 'Smoke and Mirrors'. However, what short stories of his I've read, I really enjoy. Speaking of short stories, there is a battered copy of 'Dreams Underfoot' by Charles de Lint in my car. Love that book. 'Someplace to be Flying' is also a goodie, but his latter books can get a little repeditive.
Also, 'The Jungle Book'? Great read, and not just because Mr. Kipling and I have the same birthday. :)
Oh, and I forgot to mention that my favorite books when I was a child was the Dr. Doolittle books and the James Harriet books.
And even though I rarely read, I do seem to keep acquiring more and more books.
I collected books too, Jane. I have a set of Encyclopedias from 1941, almost a complete set of the books of knowledge from 1919, a first edition of Tarzan (in unfortunately sad shape) and a first printing in the US of Bambi. I love old books :D
Quote from: "Eimi"I have to admit, uni killed my reading habit. I go through spurts sometimes where I read a book in a week (which for me is rather fast) and then I don't pick up another book again for a month or two.
Books I re-read:
Anything by C. S. Lewis
Good call, Eimi :D I love C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia. And I'd love to read some of his essays! Got to track them down first...
I kind of collect hardcover first editions of my fav books. I have all of the Pern series except Dragonflight, Dragonquest and The White Dragon. Those are hard to find at a reasonable price for a college student!
I don't collect books by series, I collect books by author. There are several authors I have read EVERYTHING by them, and KEEP wanting more!
Everything Anne McCaffrey has written! - Faves are Dragonriders of Pern (who'd of thunk it?) and all the Rowan books.
Mercedes Lackey
Steven Brust
Tanya Huff
Tamora Pierce
Eragon and Eldest - Christopher Paolini
Douglas Adams (Thank you Mikel!)
Lillian Jackson Braun
Naomi Novik
Christine Feehan
Looking for some GREAT GREAT GREAT non Pern dragon reads? Eragon/Eldest are a must, Mercedes Lackey's Joust series, and Naomi Novik's trilogy are ALL great reads.
My 2006 discovery is Naomi Novik. Yummy books!
Quote from: "Yvonne"I forgot about Neil Gaimen! I really liked 'Neverwhere' but I have yet to pick up 'Smoke and Mirrors'. However, what short stories of his I've read, I really enjoy. Speaking of short stories, there is a battered copy of 'Dreams Underfoot' by Charles de Lint in my car. Love that book. 'Someplace to be Flying' is also a goodie, but his latter books can get a little repeditive.
Also, 'The Jungle Book'? Great read, and not just because Mr. Kipling and I have the same birthday. :)
Oh, yes. Charles de Lint is a good one. If you want some short fun reads, look for Seven Wild Sisters and the sequel Medicine Road. (If you haven't read them already!)
Gaiman has two short story collections now. My friend borrowed me his new one - Fragile Things. Not quite as good as Smoke and Mirrors, but still good. Gaiman used to live near me, but that traitor moved to Wisconsin. :x ;)
Hmmm... I actually make lists on Amazon to remind myself what I've read this year and what I want to read when I get a chance. :D So let's see...
Some of my current "to buy" list is:
- The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity by Alan Cooper
- Wisdom's Daughter: A Novel of Solomon and Sheba by India Edghill
- The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn
- When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs
- Devious Derivations: Popular Misconceptions--and More than 1,000 True Origins of Common Words and Phrases by Hugh Rawson
- Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs
Aaaand, the ones I'm waiting to come out!
- Belladonna by Anne Bishop
- For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
- Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong
- No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong
- Kitty Takes a Holiday by Carrie Vaughn
When I'm reading for comfort, I pretty much go with my two faves: Anne Bishop and Melanie Rawn. I also have a hefty Orson Scott Card collection that gets reread fairly often. ;)
Quote from: "Jane"Quote from: "Yvonne"* Victoria Laurie's 'Abby Cooper: Psychic Eye' series. I have a distinct weakness for chick-lit mysteries.
Ohh! I have this in my To Be Read pile with a bookmark carefully placed in the first page just this morning!
Finished now. What a great read. Murder(s) was a bit gory 'cause I'm such a wimp but the rest was great. I'm going to have to go and buy the rest now.
Speaking of buying, I just won a real auction in the UK (postal/e-mail bid) for a set of first editions by my favourite old-fashioned romance author. £358 and small change ... gulp! That's blown the book budget until July or August. But see - I knew the estimate of £40 - 60 was just a little low! :lol:
Quote from: "Bree"Hmmm... I actually make lists on Amazon to remind myself what I've read this year and what I want to read when I get a chance. :D
I'm sorta disappointed by this, Bree. I pictured you with a relational database of incredible complexity managing your past, current, and future reading and purchases.
A list on Amazon? Anybody could do that!
:D