I’m changing up the format of my website. I’ll probably still throw in the ol’ film review here or there, but frankly, I haven’t been watching anything that’s good as of late. And as for music, well, I’ve determined that my tastes are terrible, and I will just continue to listen to stuff as I see fit. Ain’t nobody gonna teach this old dog any tricks.
However, I’ve decided to challenge myself. I’m going to read 100 books starting from September 1st, 2008, in the next year. I’m using the following qualifications:
1. The book must be over 200 pages. None of the shit I used to use to win free Book-It! pizzas from Pizza Hut. Also, I read a bunch of children’s books, because I love that shit, and so it must exceed 200 pages to count. Which means no Where the Wild Things Are, but the excellent Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is still kosher. I also am curious to check out the Twilight stuff.
2. Short story collections do count, but they must contain more than 6 stories. I love George Saunders too much to discount him from being in my read-fest. Plus, often, those are where it’s at, reading-wise.
3. No graphic novels. This was a tough call. I’m still going to read them, because frankly, graphic novels are amazing. It’s like suddenly discovering Mediterranean food. “Why didn’t someone tell me this stuff’s so good?!” I would highly recommend Fables, Runaways, and Y: The Last Man, because that’s the last batch of stuff I read. However, I still want graphic novel recommendations. I’m looking at you, Vermillion.
4. Recommendations are requirements. This one is going to be the bitch-bear. I once made a dare at a karaoke bar that I frequented that I would sing any song someone selected for me if they bought me a beer. So I sang “No More Tears” as a duet. I did “Dontcha” by the Pussycat Dolls. I have no shame. But…papa didn’t raise no fool. Recommendations go under the section: “Stuff This In Your Thoughthole!” page. There are caveats and helpful tips. Also, this is where I will pin up the Wall of Shame! list.
I don’t think there’s any way I can turn this into some sort of raise money for cancer research or as some sort of charity event. If I could, I would. This is just for me. Because I am awesome.
While your new theme looks pretty, it’s not very nice to navigate. For instance, there is no way to go to the previous entry. Sure, I could click on the current month in the Archive list and then find it, or I could scroll way down and click on something under the Recent Posts, neither is very obvious (since the Recent Posts is waaaaaaay down on the page). I think it’s better to have a theme that has “previous post” and “next post” links somewhere near the top or around the post in order to help the viewer.
Of course, if most people use an RSS reader like me, it’s a moot point.
Um, where’s your Thoughthole? I want to stuff things in it. Judiciously. I won’t be a bitch and stuff it full of 1500 page untranslated Russian-language novels. I promise.
Also – since you’re going to be reading graphic novels anyway, could you maybe post them somewhere? I’d like to start reading them, too, but there are so freakin’ many of them, it’s hard to know where to start. Runaways, Y the Last Man, and V for Vendetta are already on my list, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Fables.
Love the new burgundy background, btw.
New site is purdy. I like it a lot. You know I think we should go toe-to-toe on this reading 100 books in a year. Though I might be ahead of you on this one, seeing as I started marathon reading back in April, but I have read several graphic novels and hardbound comics collections.
Take those out and I’m probably at around 20 books read since April.
If you need any recommendations, I’m your girl.
It’s on, sister. Go ahead and throw them up in the page link that says “Stuff This In Your Thoughthole!” I’m realizing that I myself have a pretty extensive list of books already picked out.
And I’m in the middle of reading two books right now, so if I counted on the year, I’m sure I’ve gone over 100 already. But I’m not counting these two, and I wanted to give myself a specific timeline to measure. So it’s as soon as I start reading the Robert Anton Wilson that it begins.
But if you want to duel, I’m on. Let’s win this!
No graphic novels? If it wasn’t for that, I’d join this adventure. Good luck!
Recommendations: Preacher (finished), Scalped (ongoing), DMZ (ongoing), pretty much anything by Vertigo will rock your world.
Oh, hana, I’m still reading graphic novels. I’m just not counting them as part of the hundred. I’m reading Y: The Last Man, Invincibles, The whole Marvel Civil War saga (it’s fucking glacial), 100 Bullets, and Fables. I’ve been downloading torrents that Vermillion has been recommending. Loved Preacher, I’ll check out the other two.
100 Bullets is awesome; I’m only onl volume 5 or 6. I can’t keep up. The last volume of Y was well worth the wait.
so I have a recommendation for you. Fast, easy and really fun read. You could probably finish it in 1-2 days. I think it’s a requirement for any avid reader as it plays into our sense of superiority but in a really fun way….anyways, I recommend the ‘Thursday Next’ series of books by Jasper FForde (two f’s not a mistype). So there’s my two cents. Enjoy!
[...] the new Portishead album: I challenge you to take place in the Cannonball Read (more info here and here) and pledge to read 100 books in one [...]