I have rather failed on giving updates on how many Century of Books is going – though you can, of course, see what I’m updating in my list. I’ve been relatively good at keeping it up to date – there are 68 titles on there and, at the time of writing, I’ve read 71 books from my century.
On track
So, yes, I’m on track. I only need to have read about 65 century books to be on track – so I’m even a little in hand. But it’s getting to the time of year when it stops being quite so serendipitous and easy to fill out titles in ACOB. For the first half of the year, at least, I can just read what I want to read – jotting down the titles and dates as I go. I don’t even have to think about it. By the time we enter the final third, it becomes a maddening discovery that everything I want to read was written in (somewhat to my surprise) 1987 or 1978. Huh.
Pencilling in
I’ve been pencilling in titles along the way, particularly when I start reading them (so I don’t accidentally double up), but also other books that I’ve got in the pipeline – for book group, say. It’s a balancing act, because I definitely don’t want to write them all out in advance. Nothing kills a reading project dead for me like setting out all the titles in advance. BUT I do have another five ACOB books on the go, and have pencilled in a further eight that I’m intending to read. That still leaves quite a few gaps to surprise me.
Reading from my shelves
I definitely have unread books for every year of ACOB, often quite a few, so I am spoiled for choice and should be able to read just from my tbr. And I guess I largely have? But, with re-reads and audio and whatnot, it turns out that 55 of my 68 books have come from my tbr shelves. Not bad… could be better? But at least I’m not in the position of scrabbling around for suggestions, because there are plenty there.
Other commitments
And then there’s book group and podcast reading (it’s hard enough to find things Rachel and I can both read in time, without limiting factor of years!), and occasionally review books and whatnot. It looks like I’m going to get more and more overlaps as the year comes to a close… not to mention whims, like deciding today that I had to start Joy Grant’s biography of Stella Benson, even though it’s (you guessed it) from 1987.
Reading a lot
The 25 Books in 25 Days certainly helped my 2018 reading total, but I do seem to be reading more than previous years. I’ve always been around the 100 mark, so ACOB is a bit of a tightrope walk, but I get the impression I’ll be comfortably over 100 this year. I haven’t added up how many I’m on so far, but hopefully I won’t have to do too much desperate reading on New Year’s Eve.
Anyway, this is a sort of scattergun update. I’m really enjoying it, and I think I’ll get there successfully if I continue at this rate – but I think I’m also looking forward to completely unfettered reading next year.
I have completed 68 of my century too, currently reading number 69 (which is about 500 pages, oops). I have actually read 81 books this year to date, so already a few duplicate years. With book group reads and sudden urges no doubt there will be more. Though my rough calculations suggest I can’t afford more than another six or seven of those.
As you know I read (too) many shiny new books – so I hope you’re impressed that I’ve covered 31 of my century too – but the unwitting duplicates! all from 1985 or before – four gaps I could have filled. Admittedly, I’m not deliberately trying – but it would be interesting to fill in more years… Well done on your going so far.
Just completed the 64th…came home from library with four intriguing books and not ONE of them turns out to be from any required years! On hold while I try to catch up on ACOB first. NB Just finished the fabulous “Slaves to Solitude” – many thanks for your review which prompted me to seek it out!
I love that – “the pointy end”!! I’ve been tempted by this, and even started recording the publication year of what I read as a casual way to see if I thought I could manage it. I’m sure I couldn’t though- I’d get a bit of a way in and then get really cross and want to read *anything* as long as it wasn’t from the missing years…
So well done! And good luck on the rest of it! :)
I’m reading #74 of my century but haven’t read many outside of ACOB or duplicated many years. I’ve enjoyed the project enormously but am right with you in looking forward to reading freely next year.
I am spectacularly behind at this point but still cheerfully optimistic that all will come together in the end. I just finished my 100th book of the year but only 45 of those filled ACOB years. Whoops. And I seem to be picking 300+ page books most of the time, which is clearly not a winning strategy. Time to start reading plays!
I’ve done 69 … but then I started in 2014!
I like the image of you stuck away in a corner reading furiously on New Year’s Eve while others drink champagne and wear party hats around you. :D
I think that 55 from your shelves out of 68 is really good! I wish my percentages were so high!
Goodness gracious, what a juggling act!! Hats off to you, I have no idea how you manage to balance this kind of commitment with all the other reading obligations you have going on… your progress is truly admirable! Keep it up! ;)