Reading Challenges
Even though it might like to disguise this fact, Goodreads.com is still very much a social networking site. Oh it might hide its overall intention with books, but without a community to rate and discuss the books, it would be one very dry site indeed.
I recently joined a group – a far more actively social section of the site. Groups are essentially forums that link into the Goodreads database allowing for easy book linking and displaying. They provide a place to discuss and share about the group topic.
Most groups (even forums and sites) that I join tend to be viewing only for me. That’s right, I lurk. I’m just not very consistent with checking all the sites, which makes it hard to carry on a good forum conversation.
Initially, after I joined, I never had any intention of doing more then lurking. Just check up what was going on in the group every now and then; that’s about all the time commitment I can handle. In fact there are other groups that I have joined where my interaction is thusly limited.
But the PNR group had these wonderful monthly reading challenges (no, not an AA group for people who have trouble reading.) Each month a different set of parameters is announced to help you pick your list of nine books for the month. For example this months challenge is read nine books with a cover that has a specific color, black, yellow, pink, purple, etc. Last month was pick nine books off of a friends reading list.
It’s not super competitive, nor is there pressure to finish in any way. I have found it to be an incredibly amusing way to get through my “to read” pile of books, plus expand my collection a bit.
So that’s what I have been doing in my free time, when I am not playing computer games or sleeping; bumping up total books read number.
Here is my reading list for October:
<3 TFG
ps Four down, five to go. Eight-teen days left. Not bad at all. =)
And no you will not find anything other then fun reading in my list. I dont hold with the Oprah’s bookclub type of books.
Tags: adventure, books, drama, medieval, off-topic, scifi, silly, Web
October 13th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
There are times when I can barely keep up with my pull list from the comic book shop, never mind nine books for a month. Even so, I should probably do a little gussying up of my Goodreads account… it has been languishing ever since I signed up.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Oooh I didn’t know you had an account. Friend me! I would love to see what sorts of books you are reading right now.
And yeah 9 books a month is a huge stretch for me, but I’m finding that I’m starting to read faster. =) Plus its really enjoyable. I love reading and sometimes all I need is a good kick in the pants to get myself going.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Oooh my reading list link here is shrinking. Will have to fix that. =)
edit: fixed it!