Clearing the Backlog...

[Барбоса]

This is the closest I will get to making an actual New Year's Resolution...

Inspired by one of my facebook friends, I am going to attempt to read 52 books and watch 52 movies in 2014.

Doesn't sound like all that much of a challenge, especially to those who went to the cinema more times in 2013 than I have been in 30 years, but it will be a tester for me as I can literally go months without watching a movie, despite having a rather large collection of DVDs.

As for books, I read a lot so for the purposes of this any books that I read for research/writing purposes will not be counted unless read from cover to cover, which is unlikely considering many of them are largely are boring even for me.

I am also going to attempt to make each book a new read rather than retreading old paths. I will try the same with the movies too.

Currently Reading

• Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
• James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)

 

[Coco]

Reading more books is a resolution of mine as well. Unfortunately, I shan't be counting the graphic novels I'm sifting through at the moment. Those aren't really books.

Come at me, nerds.

 

[Барбоса]

Reading more is on my list as well. Unfortunately, I shan't be counting the graphic novels I'm sifting through at the moment. Those aren't really books.

Come at me, nerds.

I have at least 20 collections of Judge Dredd ahead of me at some stage in the next year. Not sure whether to count them are not. Each one is 300+ pages long but then there is not all that much reading involved...

Damn it, Coco. Not five minutes in and you have presented me with a poser.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

how the hell do you guys have so much time

 

[Slash-LN]

I could probably do the movie thing since I go through phases where I watch one or two movies a day for an extended period of time.

I couldn't do the book thing. I used to really like sitting down and reading novels and biographies or autobiographies but now I have a hard time focusing on them. If I didn't have alternate forms of entertainment I'd probably read more. Although this reminds me I bought Chris Jericho's second biography in 2012 and haven't read it yet. I may have to find it and read it.

 

[Барбоса]

The second Jericho book is eminently miss-able.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I skipped through all the Fozzy chapters and still found it incredibly dull.

Edit: You can go months without watching a movie? This must be how other people feel when I tell them how often I have sex.

 

[Барбоса]

how the hell do you guys have so much time

Working from home and only having the most part time of part time jobs helps.

Edit: You can go months without watching a movie? This must be how other people feel when I tell them how often I have sex.

I was in the middle of a prolonged drought until last night... when I watched Eastern Promises.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

A book a week? Easy peasy.

Do you fail if you overshoot the film challenge?

 

[Барбоса]

A book a week? Easy peasy.

Do you fail if you overshoot the film challenge?

Nah, 52 is the minimum target.

As for a book a week, it will all depend on which books I pick up. A few in my 2 Read pile are rather large and hard to get through tomes, although there are also a couple of 220 page virtual novellas to balance things out.

 

[Tastycles]

I'm going to join you on this, if you don't mind. For films I don't have time to go the cinema that many times, so it'll just be things I haven't seen before. I'm also going to listen to a new album a week.

So far:

Films

1. Mary Poppins

Books

Albums

 

[Барбоса]

I'm also going to listen to a new album a week.

I did briefly consider a new album a week too but I have no chance of living up to that as I am not all that interested in listening to full albums.

A new song a week would even be pushing it for me.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

1. Eastern Promises
2. Zulu*

*Seen before

Books

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)

 

[Diet Soda]

Ooh, can I join in too with the film thing, because I want to try and go to the cinema at least once a week this year.

1. American Hustle

 

[Uncle Sam]

I'm hoping to finish The Great Gatsby by the end of the week. Not lengthy, but pretty dense.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Who doesn't have time to go the cinema? Or spare time in general?

 

[Blade]

I've got American Hustle and 21 & Over (don't judge me) down in the films category. 12 Years a Slave tonight.

 

[Барбоса]

Who doesn't have time to go the cinema? Or spare time in general?

I have the latter but not the former.

 

[Danger Burger]

Might join if its ok?

Books:
1. Bret Hart: My blah blah blah Shaun Micheals sucks.

Films:
1. The Perfect Storm


Currently starting the Drenai series, so that should boost me a bit! I used to watch two films a day in my youth, but I've most certainly lost that freedom and ability.

Ps. I will most likely pillage the lists of others for what sounds appealing!

 

[Tastycles]

Films

1. Mary Poppins

Books

Albums

1. 18 Months - Calvin Harris

Or as it should be called, "the soundtrack to 18 months of nights out in Basildon". It's hit after hit, there's no doubting Harris can write a catchy tune, and I first pulled the millionaire ex (and potentially future) girlfriend listening to "We Found Love in a Hopeless Place" in Walkabout, so it was quite good really.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance

Books

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)

Slow going in the reading department, mainly due to Heather's book being a tough read and having plenty of writing to do.

 

[Blade]

Oh, we're counting repeat viewings.

In that case, I have American Hustle, 21 & Over and Scott Pilgrim so far.

 

[Барбоса]

I am hoping to get 52 new movies but for posterity's sake (and my own OCDish like of keeping lists), I am listing the repeats too.

 

[Blade]

Watched Dallas Buyers Club tonight. Pretty amazing movie. Jared Leto in particular is incredible in it.

 

[Diet Soda]

I'm only counting going to the cinema. Hard mode. If over time this becomes untenable then I will allow myself to count films I missed at the cinema over the past few years and am now seeing for the first time on Netflix/Lovefilm.