Comments on: Of Books on the Shelf http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Thu, 14 May 2026 17:02:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11551 girldetective Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:47:04 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11551 I loved Cryptonomicon, even though I'm not a math and crypto person. I devoured it in just 9 days, I think. I started Quicksilver, though didn't get through. We have two copies of it--the HC and the TPB, and have strongly considered getting the set of three MMPBs, too. I really enjoyed Snow Crash, and have been thinking of it lately--the character who has "poor impulse control" tattooed on his forehead. But I loved Diamond Age most (minus the ending--those aren't NS's strong point) because it was about girls and literature and learning. I loved Cryptonomicon, even though I’m not a math and crypto person. I devoured it in just 9 days, I think. I started Quicksilver, though didn’t get through. We have two copies of it–the HC and the TPB, and have strongly considered getting the set of three MMPBs, too. I really enjoyed Snow Crash, and have been thinking of it lately–the character who has “poor impulse control” tattooed on his forehead. But I loved Diamond Age most (minus the ending–those aren’t NS’s strong point) because it was about girls and literature and learning.

]]> By: weirleader http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11547 weirleader Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:02:00 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11547 Have you, by chance, read Cryptonomicon? I've tried working on his Baroque Cycle, but got mired less-than-halfway through the first volume. It really feels like a grind for some reason. Whereas Cryptonomicon just flew by... although perhaps that's because I'm a math-guy and really enjoyed the crypto and computer parts. Quicksilver (Baroque vol. 1) has some interesting history, but reads more like history and less like fiction. Now Snow Crash was good - odd, but good. Where else can you read about a samurai-sword-wielding pizza-delivery-guy named Hiro Protagonist? :-) (PS - don't know what's up with all the hyphens, must be in a hyphenating mood) Have you, by chance, read Cryptonomicon? I’ve tried working on his Baroque Cycle, but got mired less-than-halfway through the first volume. It really feels like a grind for some reason. Whereas Cryptonomicon just flew by… although perhaps that’s because I’m a math-guy and really enjoyed the crypto and computer parts.

Quicksilver (Baroque vol. 1) has some interesting history, but reads more like history and less like fiction.

Now Snow Crash was good - odd, but good. Where else can you read about a samurai-sword-wielding pizza-delivery-guy named Hiro Protagonist? :-)

(PS - don’t know what’s up with all the hyphens, must be in a hyphenating mood)

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11530 girldetective Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:34:43 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11530 I figure if I ever get around to Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle trilogy, that might make a severe dent in books read. He's coming out with a new, 900+ page book called Anathem, soon. One would think he got paid by the word, like Dickens. I figure if I ever get around to Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle trilogy, that might make a severe dent in books read. He’s coming out with a new, 900+ page book called Anathem, soon. One would think he got paid by the word, like Dickens.

]]> By: pussreboots http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11528 pussreboots Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:10:25 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11528 My normal rate used to be one or two books a week. Last year I challenged myself to read a book a day just to see if I could do it. Now after a year of doing it, it just seems natural. In previous years I've read as few as 20. I'll probably have years like that in the future. My normal rate used to be one or two books a week. Last year I challenged myself to read a book a day just to see if I could do it. Now after a year of doing it, it just seems natural.

In previous years I’ve read as few as 20. I’ll probably have years like that in the future.

]]> By: pussreboots http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11519 pussreboots Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:16:20 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11519 For the last couple of years I've been averaging a book a day. My current backlog is about 1000 books (sigh!). So it comes out roughly 3 years to read through my backlog assuming I don't bring home any new books. Unfortunately I'm not that good at not brining home books. I participate in BookCrossing so I release books as I read them. Ideally I'd like to release more books than I bring in but so far I'm up 30 books from what I've released. I'm such a book nerd that I have a sql based database of all my book activity. For the last couple of years I’ve been averaging a book a day. My current backlog is about 1000 books (sigh!). So it comes out roughly 3 years to read through my backlog assuming I don’t bring home any new books. Unfortunately I’m not that good at not brining home books.

I participate in BookCrossing so I release books as I read them. Ideally I’d like to release more books than I bring in but so far I’m up 30 books from what I’ve released. I’m such a book nerd that I have a sql based database of all my book activity.

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11509 girldetective Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:56:52 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11509 The only reason my shelf has books from only about a dozen years ago is that I did some serious purging when I moved from Philly to MN, and continued to do so here because of limited shelf space. I think if I bought a new bookcase, I'd have to fill it and then immediately buy another, since I've got them stacked all over. The only reason my shelf has books from only about a dozen years ago is that I did some serious purging when I moved from Philly to MN, and continued to do so here because of limited shelf space. I think if I bought a new bookcase, I’d have to fill it and then immediately buy another, since I’ve got them stacked all over.

]]> By: pussreboots http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11504 pussreboots Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:05:21 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11504 Ah... **blush** I misunderstood. I thought you were asking about books on the shelf versus rate of reading. At my current rate of reading I could clear my backlog in 3 years if I don't buy any more (not likely!). If you look at how long I've actually had some of the books in my backlog, then yeah, I have some that are 20 years old. Ah… **blush** I misunderstood. I thought you were asking about books on the shelf versus rate of reading. At my current rate of reading I could clear my backlog in 3 years if I don’t buy any more (not likely!). If you look at how long I’ve actually had some of the books in my backlog, then yeah, I have some that are 20 years old.

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11502 girldetective Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:54:40 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11502 Elle, I have had Calvino's book on my shelf for over ten years! I bought it because one of the volumes(World's End, I think) in Neil Gaiman's The Ssndman graphic novel series referenced it. I think it's past time I read it, and I hope to get to it very soon. Thanks for the additional reminder! Pussreboots, you can see that my TBR shelf is much older than yours. And I am going to be very glad when I do finally pull it off the shelf, scb! Elle, I have had Calvino’s book on my shelf for over ten years! I bought it because one of the volumes(World’s End, I think) in Neil Gaiman’s The Ssndman graphic novel series referenced it. I think it’s past time I read it, and I hope to get to it very soon. Thanks for the additional reminder!

Pussreboots, you can see that my TBR shelf is much older than yours. And I am going to be very glad when I do finally pull it off the shelf, scb!

]]> By: scb http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11437 scb Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:00:41 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11437 Over the years, I have often bought books that just get set on the shelf and not read... until one day it turns out that's just the right book for that moment, and I'm so glad it's there waiting for me! Unread books on a shelf are a treasure-trove, a priceless resource (especially with the speed at which books go out of print these days). Over the years, I have often bought books that just get set on the shelf and not read… until one day it turns out that’s just the right book for that moment, and I’m so glad it’s there waiting for me!

Unread books on a shelf are a treasure-trove, a priceless resource (especially with the speed at which books go out of print these days).

]]> By: pussreboots http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345&cpage=1#comment-11434 pussreboots Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:21:01 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1345#comment-11434 Thank you for stopping by my blog. I have about a three year "TBR" shelf in my collection. Thank you for stopping by my blog. I have about a three year “TBR” shelf in my collection.

]]>