a more general post on books
Jan. 7th, 2007 10:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snugglekittySo, I'm not planning to keep track of how many books I've read as I go through the year, this time. I realized about halfway through 2006 that it takes a lot less time just to count them up at the end. I just stopped, didn't say anything about it, and waited to see if anyone would comment. Nobody did, so I guess it's not that important to all of you, either.
As a reminder, and for anyone new to my journal, here's how my star system works:
* No redeeming qualities.
** Redeeming qualities somewhat overshadowed by flaws.
*** Okay book, probably won't read it again. Either average in every way, or has great things and crappy things about it.
**** I would read it over and over. Or, a really amazing book with at least one serious problem.
***** I feel that it changed my understanding of life or my outlook on the world. Or, I feel it could change the genre, or could change the world if it got the right kind of attention. If there are flaws, they don't detract from the awesomeness.
Generally, I don't finish books that I would only give one star to. I am a follower of the Nancy Pearl fifty page doctrine, which suggests that if you've gotten through fifty pages and you haven't found anything that makes you want to keep reading, you should put it down. I never used to do this, but now there are just so many books out there that I don't feel I should waste my time on books I hate.
Finally, and unrelatedly, I am a member of paperbackswap.com. If you haven't encountered this website, the central idea is this: you post up a list of books that you would like to swap. People who want them request them. Every time someone gets one of your books, you get a credit to get a book from someone else. You also get an initial three credits for listing nine books. Everyone sending pays for shipping, everyone receives for free. I've been a member for a while, but only just started using the site. It seems like it's going to work out well. Kind of like the book swaps we do, only in a way that is more ongoing than "all at once." Give it a try. It makes me want to read more of the books on my bookshelf which have just been sitting there for months or even years, which is neat. Go go gadget barter!
As a reminder, and for anyone new to my journal, here's how my star system works:
* No redeeming qualities.
** Redeeming qualities somewhat overshadowed by flaws.
*** Okay book, probably won't read it again. Either average in every way, or has great things and crappy things about it.
**** I would read it over and over. Or, a really amazing book with at least one serious problem.
***** I feel that it changed my understanding of life or my outlook on the world. Or, I feel it could change the genre, or could change the world if it got the right kind of attention. If there are flaws, they don't detract from the awesomeness.
Generally, I don't finish books that I would only give one star to. I am a follower of the Nancy Pearl fifty page doctrine, which suggests that if you've gotten through fifty pages and you haven't found anything that makes you want to keep reading, you should put it down. I never used to do this, but now there are just so many books out there that I don't feel I should waste my time on books I hate.
Finally, and unrelatedly, I am a member of paperbackswap.com. If you haven't encountered this website, the central idea is this: you post up a list of books that you would like to swap. People who want them request them. Every time someone gets one of your books, you get a credit to get a book from someone else. You also get an initial three credits for listing nine books. Everyone sending pays for shipping, everyone receives for free. I've been a member for a while, but only just started using the site. It seems like it's going to work out well. Kind of like the book swaps we do, only in a way that is more ongoing than "all at once." Give it a try. It makes me want to read more of the books on my bookshelf which have just been sitting there for months or even years, which is neat. Go go gadget barter!