Resolutions are dumb, and I don’t really support them, but The Alanator and I have been talking for a while about some changes and goals we’d like to achieve. I’m certainly not opposed to writing them down, so here they are (some of these are mine, some are collective):

Stop buying books
We’ve already talked about this. Right now, my To Read has about 130 books on it. I’ve gotten into a bit of a funk about what I read, and so I’m letting other people pick my books. That’s why I’m doing the Bookstravaganza and why I started reading A Tale Of Two Cities yesterday morning. If I can make it through another 20-30 books this year, I’d be happy with that. Ultimately, I’d like to institue a zero-sum rule for books where if one come into our home, one goes out to someone else, but we’re going to start small.

Go for more walks
Last year’s vague ‘reach some weigh loss goal’ was a complete and utter failure. I’m at roughly the same place I was last year in this respect, and it’s not a good place. I want to get this part of my life under control and I know it can be done. I need to start making better decisions and making those decisions consistently. Seems like a good first start would be going for a brisk four days a week. These will be scheduled into my calendar, as I’ve started finding accumulating task lists and schedules effective in getting shit done.

Go on a fun trip
In 2009, The Alanator and I got married and then a month or so later went to Ireland. I’m not expecting to do anything quite so epic, but we’re hoping to do something for four or five days around our anniversary or his birthday (early spring). Current suggestions are a trip to a semi-nearby city full of museums and other fun things. Potential cities: Ottawa, Chicago, Montreal, or NYC. Also I hear there’s a Kirland Lake weekend scheduled for early April, and those are always fun. I loves me my Brad and Lem time.

Make more local friends / Hang out with existing ones more
We don’t have a lot of friends who live within an hour’s drive of us. I’d like to change that. Additionally, I’d like to hang out more frequently with the people we do like. We have large quantities of friends that live within a 2-3 hour radius, and we don’t see them nearly enough.

Get new blog theme
I still like the red and black, but it’s time for something new. Thinking about changing the name as well.

Figure out finances
Pay off the remainder of my car loan and start socking away money for a rainy day.

Finish another quilt
I have the top of one made but not the bottom of it, and I like having a project that I can hold up at the end of the day and show my progress. Web app development isn’t really conducive to that sort of thing.

2011 will only be as good as I make it. The last month or so has been a little bit rough for me, so I’m hoping a bit more focus will help get myself back into a proper frame of mind and productive again.

 

In the last week or so, every time I leave a coffee shop or other old-people gathering point, it’s inevitable that at least one of them will say “See you next year!” while leaving, and all his/her friends will laugh politely. It’s not funny. Please stop encouraging him/her.

It looks like the first book I will be reading in the 2011 Bookstravaganza will be A Tale of Two Cities. I have another dozen or so books to add to my To Be Read list due to Christmas and will be posting a new voting list as I get to about halfway through A Tale of Two Cities. You can still vote (or re-vote) on the original post. Votes will be considered until midnight tomorrow, when I shall start the book. The next voting list will have two or three books from the current list as well as some new stuff. I’ll keep trying to mix it up for y’all.

 

So, here we are again. The Bookstravaganza. I narrowed the extremely long 120 book to-be-read list down to ones listed below. I don’t know how many there are because I didn’t count.

Here’s what you’re to do: Vote in the comments for as many of the above listed books as you feel. Previous votes will count, but everyone can vote again or opt to change their votes. I’ve added a few notes about my feelings on these books and how the ended up on this list, so I hope you enjoy. If you want me to read something that’s not on my epic to-be-read list, you need to give it to me, as I cannot buy books for the calendar year 2011. Want to know what to buy me? I have an Amazon wish list.

Oryx and Crake (Fiction)
Margaret Atwood
Has been recommeneded to me by many people, including my friend Jana who doesn’t seem to vote for things on my blog cause she’s busy with having a life and a kid and going to school. Seriously, she should just sit around pining for my next blog entry. Like I know the rest of you do.

The Windup Girl (Fiction)
Paolo Bacigalupi
One of 2010′s most awarded science fiction novels. Won the Nebula in 2009 and the Hugo in 2010. My mom bought this for me for my birthday and she’ll be sad if you don’t vote for it. And we don’t want to make my Mom sad cause she’s a nice lady and buys me books even though it’s quite apparent I don’t really need any more.

The Wild Frontier (Non-Fiction)
Pierre Berton
Shut up, I’m a history nerd and this is my list so I can put boring history books on it. Pierre Berton is great. He’s the Carl Sagan of Canadian history. I bet at one point he dressed like him, too. However, I promise that I will never read a book about searching for the North-West passage again, because my goodness, it was boring. Like six hundred pages of not finding what you’re looking for.

World War Z (Fiction)
Max Brooks
Already voted on by Courtney and Erin. Zombies are apparently the new vampires. Alan read it and loved it. I don’t really love zombies. Or vampires even. Though I hear the next big thing will be robots, and robots are awesome. Hopefully the zombies are okay with this or we’re all in trouble.

And Then There Were None (Fiction)
Agatha Christie
I’ve wanted to read some Agatha Christie ever since that episode of Dr Who where she was a character and a giant annoying bee-human-preacher thing terrorized a 1920′s garden party. Also in that episode was MY doctor, David Tennant, with his amazing hair (and everything else to be quite honest), and the lovely Catherine Tate, the least annoying companion in the RTD years. Like seriously, what’s with the new guy’s hair?

A Tale of Two Cities (Fiction)
Charles Dickens
Remember that episode of Dr Who with Dickens? I do. Eve Myles, who went on to play Gwen Cooper was in it. I’ve already tried to read this once and I didn’t get through the first page, but someone said that I need to read this with a British accent and then everything would be better. Willing to give it a shot. Which brings me to a new rule: I don’t have to finish the book if I don’t want to. Life is too short to read horrible things.

Preludes and Nocturnes (Graphic Novel)
Neil Gaiman
Sandman #1. Now that we have our Sandman books back from Courtney, it’s time to get into this epic graphic novel series. If you so choose.

Burning Chrome (Fiction)
William Gibson
I just listened to Friday’s episode of Q with William Gibson and I now heart him. Voted onto the list by Kat.

Catch-22 (Fiction)
Joseph Heller
Recommended once upon a time by my sister in law. I have no idea what it’s about but she hasn’t steered me wrong yet. Except for The Left Hand Of Darkness, which I have to admit was a little meh.

No Logo (Fiction)
Naomi Klein
Seems like one of those hipster books but I want to read it anyways.

The Physics of Star Trek (Non-Fiction)
Lawrence M. Krauss
You know you want to read it too.

Watchmen (Graphic Novel)
Alan Moore
I hear there’s a big blue naked man in this.

Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Fiction)
Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami is awesome. Everyone should read Dance Dance Dance and Norwegian Wood. You know you want to. You know you want me to read this. Vote!

Cosmos (Non-Fiction)
Carl Sagan
Have you ever read Contact? No? Then you don’t get to vote. Ever dressed like Carl Sagan? OK, I guess you can vote again.

The Kraken Wakes (Fiction)
John Wyndham
Loved Day Of The Triffids. Seriously one of the best books I read last year. Liked the Chrysalids. Hope I like this one too!

Now vote! Vote like your blog-reading entertainment depends on it!

 

Vote early and vote often.

I have to add jquery to get my table sorter going on this and to be honest it’s Friday night and I need a drink. I’ve used up all of my technical ability on doing my regex-fu.

  Title Author Genre
Souls in Metal: An Anthology of Robot Futures Ashley, Mike Fiction
Earth is Room Enough Asimov, Isaac Non-Fiction
The Mammoth Book of Vintage Science Fiction Asimov, Isaac Fiction
The Solar System and Back Asimov, Isaac Non-Fiction
The Universe: From Flat Earth to Quasar Asimov, Isaac Non-Fiction
Today and Tomorrow and Asimov, Isaac Non-Fiction
View from a Height Asimov, Isaac Non-Fiction
Oryx and Crake Atwood, Margaret Fiction
Surfacing Atwood, Margaret Fiction
The Blind Assassin Atwood, Margaret Fiction
Emma Austen, Jane Fiction
The Windup Girl Bacigalupi, Paolo Fiction
Too Close For Comfort Barlow, Maude Non-Fiction
My Country Berton, Pierre Non-Fiction
  Smug Minority Berton, Pierre Non-Fiction
The Last Spike Berton, Pierre Non-Fiction
The Promised Land Berton, Pierre Non-Fiction
The Wild Frontier Berton, Pierre Non-Fiction
The Nudist on the Late Shift Bronson, Po Non-Fiction
World War Z Brooks, Max Fiction
The Wealthy Barber Chilton, David Non-Fiction
And Then There Were None Christie, Agatha Fiction
Death Comes as the End Christie, Agatha Fiction
Shadowdale Ciencin, Scott Fiction
Tantras Ciencin, Scott Fiction
Patriot Games Clancy, Tom Fiction
City and the Stars Clarke, Arthur C. Fiction
Earthlight Clarke, Arthur C. Fiction
Expedition to Earth Clarke, Arthur C. Fiction
A Tale of Two Cities Dickens, Charles Fiction
The City of Ember DuPrau, Jeanne Fiction
The People of Sparks DuPrau, Jeanne Fiction
The Prophet of Yonwood DuPrau, Jeanne Fiction
Wild at Heart Eldredge, John Non-Fiction
Measure and Construction of the Japanese House Engel, Heino Non-Fiction
The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald, F. Scott Fiction
Preludes and Nocturnes Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
The Wake Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
The Doll’s House Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
Dream Country Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
Season of Mists Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
A Game of You Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
Fables and Reflections Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
Brief Lives Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
Worlds’ End Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
The Kindly Ones Gaiman, Neil Graphic Novel
Smoke and Mirrors Gaiman, Neil Fiction
The Alien Dark Gallagher, Diana G. Fiction
Virtual Light Gibson, William Fiction
All Tomorrow’s Parties Gibson, William Fiction
Neuromancer Gibson, William Fiction
Burning Chrome Gibson, William Fiction
Idoru Gibson, William Fiction
Perpetual Motion Gibson, Graeme Fiction
Memoirs of a Geisha Golden, Arthur Fiction
Boy Meets Girl Harris, Joshua Non-Fiction
  More Adventures in Time and Space Healy, Raymond J Fiction
  Doppelgangers Heard, Gerald Fiction
Between Planets Heinlein, Robert A. Fiction
Expanded Universe Heinlein, Robert A. Fiction
The Number of the Beast Heinlein, Robert A. Fiction
Catch-22 Heller, Joseph Fiction
  Musings of an Inquisitive Mind Hevelka, Jaroslav Non-Fiction
The Book Of Negroes Hill, Lawrence Fiction
The Two Faces of Tomorrow Hogan, James P. Fiction
Days Gone Bye Kirkman, Robert Graphic Novel
Miles Behind Us Kirkman, Robert Graphic Novel
Safety Behind Bars Kirkman, Robert Graphic Novel
No Logo Klein, Naomi Fiction
The Physics of Star Trek Krauss, Lawrence M. Non-Fiction
Ahead of Time Kuttner, Henry Fiction
The Magician’s Nephew Lewis, C.S. Fiction
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Lewis, C.S. Fiction
The Horse and His Boy Lewis, C.S. Fiction
Prince Caspian Lewis, C.S. Fiction
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Lewis, C.S. Fiction
The Silver Chair Lewis, C.S. Fiction
The Last Battle Lewis, C.S. Fiction
The Tiananmen Papers Liang, Zhang Non-Fiction
  The Lucifer Key MacPherson, Malcolm Fiction
The Ship Who Sang McCaffrey, Anne Fiction
Damia’s Children McCaffrey, Anne Fiction
Angela’s Ashes McCourt, Frank Fiction
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man McLuhan, Marshall Non-Fiction
The Book of Ti’ana Miller, Rand Fiction
Watchmen Moore, Alan Graphic Novel
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Murakami, Haruki Fiction
SATURDAY AT M.I.9 Neave, Airey Non-Fiction
Black Wizards Niles, Douglas Fiction
Darkwell Niles, Douglas Fiction
Access All Areas Ninjalicious, Non-Fiction
Inside the Whale and Other Essays Orwell, George Fiction
The Family Puzo, Mario Fiction
Basic Endgame Stratgy: Queens & Rooks Robertie, Bill Non-Fiction
  The Kimono Mind Rudofsky, Bernard Non-Fiction
Cosmos Sagan, Carl Non-Fiction
Queen of Candesce Schroeder, Karl Fiction
Japanese Inn Statler, Oliver Non-Fiction
The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck, John Fiction
Inside the Soviet Army Suvorov, Viktor Non-Fiction
The Animal Wife Thomas, Elizabeth Marshall Fiction
The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides, Fiction
The Fellowship of the Ring Tolkien, J.R.R. Fiction
The Two Towers Tolkien, J.R.R. Fiction
The Return of the King Tolkien, J.R.R. Fiction
Sources of Japanese Tradition Tsunoda, Ry-Usaku Non-Fiction
Journey to the Center of the Earth Verne, Jules Fiction
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Verne, Jules Fiction
Cat’s Cradle: A Novel Vonnegut, Kurt Fiction
Player Piano Vonnegut, Kurt Fiction
The Sirens of Titan Vonnegut, Kurt Fiction
Timequake Vonnegut, Kurt Fiction
The Purpose Driven Life Warren, Rick Non-Fiction
Filth Welsh, Irvine Fiction
Trainspotting Welsh, Irvine Fiction
Those Left Behind Whedon, Joss Graphic Novel
Better Days Whedon, Joss Graphic Novel
Notes on the Underground Williams, Rosalind Non-Fiction
The Kraken Wakes Wyndham, John Fiction
Dead and Buried Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn Fiction
 

I didn’t realize my to-be-read list was so long. There are 121 books on this list. Some are Alan’s books I’m not really interested in reading, some I got a couple of pages in and then stopped. There are about 30 non-fiction books, a couple dozen graphic novels, and the remainder are fiction. At least, I think they’re fiction. Some of them I don’t even know what they’re about. I don’t really think you would be happy reading through a list of 120 books and because I have 4 readers, I’d probably get four suggestions, all of which are different.

Oh well, we will still go on with the show!

I will post the full list over the weekend. Working on a way to display the list that isn’t stupid and doesn’t take hours to set up. Maybe I’ll just steal the goodreads layout; it’s sort of pretty. Maybe I can divide into fiction / graphic novels / non-fiction. That might be best.

I knew I had a lot of unread books, I just didn’t realize it was this many.

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