It’s a well-known fact that Simon is a bad influence. He piles new titles on to my already daunting to-be-read lists, then distracts me from reading them with episodes of his (and Rachel’s) excellent podcast, and, most egregious of all, every so often he decides to host A Century of Books (ACOB).
For those not around during previous ACOBs, this is when he gets the bright idea of spending a year reading and reviewing 100 books spanning a century. When we did it back in 2012, it was 1900 to 1999 and was both madness and a great amount of fun. This time around, it will be 1925 to 2024.
I have largely weaned myself off of reading challenges (or, as Simon will be the first to point out, writing reviews) but this is too tempting to ignore. It is wise to join when my life is so much busier than it was in 2012? Absolutely not. Will it be fun? Absolutely. And that, really, is all the reason I need.
I have set up a new page to track my progress here. If you’re tempted to join, please do!
Your initial sentences cracked me up. But it appears that Simon IS a bad influence!
He’s the WORST, clearly. But I’ll happily follow his lead anyways.
🙂
Yes, Simon is a bad influence. I have been struggling with this temptation, and now I see you fell yourself. Now I am doubly tempted!!
Do join us! It’s so much more fun to do this with friends.
I am going to check what I have already read, and how many books that would entail for this year, and will go from there. You temptress!!
I’m in. Simon AND Claire – how can one not join this?!
HURRAH! You, me and Simon – what an unbeatable trio.
Happy New Year.It has been niggling since I read it..what did Simon mean by “the first half almost fills itself..?”.
Pat.
Hi Pat – I meant I just read as normal, without trying to find specific ACOB years, and it’s only in the second half that I start to struggle to find titles.
I totally agree with Simon that our normal reading patterns make the first 50% of the century super easy to complete – no planning needed, we happy knock off the years. But because I am an obsessive planner, I keep a list of books for each year of the century and try to a) save some of the ones I’m really looking forward to for the end of the year and b) tackle the harder years early on. I aim to have several options for most years so that if I find I’m not enjoying a book I can drop it and move on.
Claire’s way more my way..particularly as searching for,and,rediscovering women authors is a particular joy of mine!
1925..I have a copy of Mrs Calloway on my shelves so off to an encouraging start!
Hahahahah! I am so happy you’re joining – and so happy Barb is with us too! So happy that I shall forgive this SLANDER.
I speak only the truth! Including that I’m very excited to be doing this again with you.
Excellent, good luck!!
Thanks!
Oh wow… I normally don’t go
for reading challenges ( especially the prompt kind) but this sounds so fun!!!
It definitely is! And it’s such a loose and flexible challenge, allowing you to read anything along the way.
My reading rate has slumped too much to allow me to do this again
I successfully did it one year and loved it. I will be fascinated to see what you and Simon read this time.
Happy to have you as an engaged onlooker this time around!
Awesome challenge! Best of luck with it!
Thanks, Sharlene!