Saturday, January 02, 2016

The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge

We are pleased to present The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge!



Several of you have stated that you want to READ MORE BOOKS in the New Year.

Mr. DeVice read an astonishing 59 books in 2015 and yet he wants to increase those numbers in 2016.

Muscato devoured 33 books last year and says, "as I've migrated mostly from paper to electronic books, it feels like I'm not reading nearly as much."

The Mistress managed about 50 books.

So we here at Infomaniac encourage you to get started. It's not a race and it's not a contest.

You certainly don't have to read as many books as Mr. DeVice, Muscato and The Mistress but try for as many books as time permits. Even one book every couple of months is better than none.



Reading enriches us, stimulates our imaginations, reduces stress, improves our vocabulary, and increases our intelligence.

So put down that remote control (with the exception of viewing Downton Abbey, of course) and pick up a book, dammit.

Every 2 months, Infomaniac will publish a post asking you to comment on what books you've read over a two-month period.

Note: The first check-in to see how you're coming along will be approximately March 1st. 

Join the 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge! Challenge yourself to READ MORE BOOKS!

47 comments:

  1. I see the gentleman in the picture has the unabridged--uncut--version.

    True story, I actually renewed my library card this week, because I'm planning on reading more stuff & not worry about what to do with all those books I had piling up & taking up space in my place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EROS: Unabridged … uncut … Ha!

      Remember to return your books by the due date as others are waiting and you don’t want to get fined!

      Delete
    2. ... spoken like a true librarian ...

      Delete
    3. MAGO: Spoken like someone who once had to pay a big fine for not returning her books on time.

      A lesson learned the hard way.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. MISTRESS MADDIE: Most picture books have text as well, so yes, picture books count.

      Delete
    2. Maddie likes the "pop-up activity" type. Jx

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    3. There all fun and games till you get an eye put out.

      Delete
  3. I'm aiming to read more non-fiction this year (shouldn't be difficult as I only managed one last year). Although the first book I have to read is Charlotte's Web!

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    Replies
    1. MR. DeVICE: My 8-year-old self enjoyed “Charlotte’s Web” enough that I could read it again.

      I have the opposite situation… I read more non-fiction than fiction.

      Delete
  4. Have been reading the Master & Commander series the last few months ... and will be in March as well.

    Did I win yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LX: May we remind you that this is a personal challenge, NOT a contest.

      *sigh*

      Delete
  5. An admirable effort! And I can only imagine that this crowd has ... diverse tastes - in literature as in everything else...

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    Replies
    1. MUSCATO: Expect the unexpected with this bunch.

      I’m looking forward to your 2016 choices.

      Delete
  6. Last year, I read 24 kindle books, that's not bad, considering I lead an active sex life. I will try to squeeze a few more in for 2016. Have you read Gary Jennings The Journeyer? The story of Marco Polo and his exploits is definitely worth a read but not for the faint hearted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MITZI: An active sex life?

      Why not try reading AND masturbating at the same time?

      The Journeyer? I’ll need my fainting chaise close at hand.

      Delete
  7. My issue is that I don't note down which books I have read, so I must do this. I think I read 20 or so books last year... I go through heavy reading phases. My next three, sitting beside me are: The Crooked House; The Hourglass Factory; and, Elizabeth is Missing.... hopefully they will be read by March!
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MISS SCARLET: In future, have your nib poised to jot things down.

      I’ve just Googled “The Crooked House” and there are more than half a dozen books by that title. Which author?

      I’m interested in your choices as you’ve recommended some good books to me in the past.

      Delete
    2. The Crooked House by Christobel Kent. I went through a 'gripping' thriller phase in 2015!
      Sx

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    3. MISS SCARLET: Just read the description of "The Crooked House" and I’m afraid I’d need the fainting chaise for that one too.

      Apparently, I’m more of a delicate hothouse flower than I’d imagined.

      Delete
    4. Due to your reading prompt I started reading The Crooked House today.... Very good.... ghostly menace rather than gory violence.... sensitively written.
      Sx

      Delete
    5. MISS SCARLET: Yes to ghostly menace, no to gory violence.

      However, you’ve just started so I’ll wait for your final word on the matter.

      Delete
    6. Ghostly menace? Try Horrorstör in an IKEA-like setting. Found this one courtesy of Mr Device.

      Delete
    7. LX: I’ll keep “Horrorstör” in mind as long as it doesn’t have any of Mr. DeVice’s usual “Star Trek” characters showing up midway.

      Speaking of IKEA, last year I read “The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe” by Romain Puértolas. Most enjoyable.

      Delete
  8. ah, a book club!

    i've got mine, what will you girls bring?

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    Replies
    1. NORMA: I’m bringing the wine.

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    2. I'm bringing the vaguely interested look hat implies I've finished the assignment when, in fact, I haven't even looked at it. I'm quite good at it.

      Delete
    3. PEENEE: There’s a book entitled, “How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read.”

      Sounds like just the ticket for you.

      Delete
  9. I read the newspapers for my works of fiction. Jx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Book reading? What a novel idea...
    I just buy them for all the pretty colours

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PRINNY: Like buying a painting to match your sofa.

      Delete
  11. Ps... That Mr Darcy has let himself go...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PRINNY: Jane died before she could see what became of him.

      Delete
  12. I'm in! xoxoxox and Happy New Year, Mistress!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Speaking of Canadianaians, as one must around this joint, I've been reading a collection of Alice Munro short stories "Family Furnishings." As always, I love her, gloomy bitch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PEENEE: Have you seen Alice Munro’s list of awards, including the Nobel Prize for Literature? Impressive, to say the least.

      We call her genre, “Southern Ontario Gothic.”

      Delete
  14. Did not count them, read around thirty different titles over the last year, nearly all non-fiction, mostly historical, ethnolocical or such boring stuff. I am terrible at putting my own books back into the shelves, so they form a pile that collapses after circa 14 months. I have a vague plan of reorganisation for my books, but it is still vague.
    I am interested in Ms Munro after having read a longish essay with / about her in a German paper some months ago.
    Actually I read a biography of emperor Charles V., not by an historian but an interested layman, who actually visited the places where Charles lived or spent time (his court was still a travelling show, he had to criss-cross the whole of Europe), which in itself is a kind of travel book. Xes, let's talk in March about books again ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MAGO: I read historical non-fiction too …. Books that would bore the pants off the general reading public but that I find fascinating.

      Please do something about your stack of books before you become like the Collyer Brothers.

      Delete
  15. I'm like Mago on this. Lot's of essays, mostly about music, linguistic, semiology, science... i.e boring stuff.

    I've not read half of the brillant works of Umberto Eco. I'd like to get some of them this year.

    Also Alessandro Barico (I must have a thing for Italians). I read Novecento, Silk, Next and Hegel's Souls and the Cows of Wisconsin and I enjoyed them very much. Looking forward for more.

    I've also got those 4 or 5 essays on orchestra conducting amongs which The Score, the Orchestra, and the Conductor (Gustav Meier) I've been trying to get through those for 2 years or so... we'll see.

    Unfortunately nothing that would be of any interest to Mistress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HUGGY JON: You would be surprised at what interests The Mistress.

      Delete
  16. Can I play, please? I know how to read, but I may be barred on account of my footwear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DINAHMOW: Where have you been all these years? Ah, over at Mr. DeVice's...that's where.

      Yes, you may certainly play. We'll be discussing our January/February books around the 1st of March.

      No Crocs allowed.

      Delete
  17. I always take of my footwear at the door.

    ReplyDelete