Happy New Year!! For the third year, Sheila at Book Journey is hosting the First Book of the Year event. The idea is simple - just share a photo of you and your first book. Sheila says:
This is the third year I am hosting this event and this year, it is all the more important to me... I would love for you to join me in this tradition of picking the book that you will be reading into the new year. It can be a coveted book that you have been waiting to read, a guilty pleasure book, a re-read of a favorite that you want to explore once again… whatever you want.This year my First Book was selected for me by our mysterious library hold system. My ebook hold of City on Fire by by Garth Risk Hallberg came in last weekend. You probably remember all the publicity the book received earlier in 2015... the author's advance was astronomical and the book is a whopping 944 pages long!
I have no hope of finishing the book before the 14-day loan period ends next weekend and may resort to airplane mode. If that doesn't work, I'd at least like to figure out whether it's worth purchasing a copy. I really hate deadlines ;-)
Have you chosen your First Book of the Year?
Happy 2016! I am still reading Orley Farm, so that will be my first book of the year. And I'm happy to be starting the new year with Mr Trollope.
ReplyDeleteLisa - Hooray for Trollope and Happy 2016!!!
DeleteHurray for Trollope; my first book for 2016 is one of his, and I recently read Orley Farm.
DeleteWhoa. And a tome to start the year. Good luck :). I have selected my first book of the year: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
ReplyDeleteBryan - Think I may skip the goodreads challenge this year ;-) Happy 2016!
DeleteFor me I just am finishing what I didn't finish yesterday!
ReplyDeleteJill - Thought I was going to finish The Story Hour yesterday, but that didn't happen... this afternoon for sure. Then I'll begin City on Fire.
DeleteI'll be interested in hearing what you think about City On Fire. I've heard kind of mixed reactions, but that is not always a bad thing. Long book though. LOL
ReplyDeleteLove the picture, JoAnn!!
Kay - When reactions are mixed, I'm often more likely to read a book. Universal praise makes me nervous ;-)
DeleteOnly 14 days for City on Fire? Some people would take the rest of the year to read it! I hope you'll enjoy it. Happy reading. Judith @Leeswammes' Blog
ReplyDeleteJudith - Not sure why we get 3 weeks for print but only 2 weeks for ebooks...definitely not enough time for a chunkster like this!
DeleteEnjoy the book!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheila!
DeleteWow, that book is a chunkster, isn't it? It looks intense, too....I hope you finish it in time. Happy New Year, and thanks for visiting my First Book post.
ReplyDeleteLaurel-Rain Snow - A book about New York City in 1976-77 sounds irresistible to me. Hope it's good :)
DeleteWe have the 21-day option on library ebooks still, but I think it's going to be taken away soon, to shorten the waits for holds. Happy reading in 2016!
ReplyDeleteLaurie C - I'm pretty sure our ebook loan period used to be 3 weeks... 14 days is too short. Happy New Year!
DeleteI read that book...could barely pick it up! My wrists actually hurt from reading that book...and I am not sure how I felt about it...I will wait to hear your thoughts!
ReplyDeletePatty - I had the book in my hands at B&N and was astonished at its weight! Not sure I could even attempt this one in print...
DeleteStarting this year with a chunkster! I lowered my Goodreads goal in the hopes that it will encourage me to take on at least one or two. Let me know if airplane mode works! Hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I haven't signed up for the goodreads challenge yet and am debating about whether I will. It feels good to pick up a 900+page book and not worry about stats though...
DeleteHappy New Year JoAnn!
ReplyDeleteYour post illustrates how the randomness of life, in your case the library hole system, affects what we read.
I never borrowed ebooks from a library but I used to borrow audiobooks. I remember that even though the lending time would end as long as I did not try to borrow another book I was Ok if I went over the time limit. I suppose ebooks or the system that your library uses is different?
Brian - I've never been able to figure out the library hold system. It seems like there's another variable in it that I don't know about! Ebooks magically disappear at the end of the loan period if the device is connected to the internet, which is always the case for my phone or iPad. Since I don't need internet on my kindle, I can keep it on airplane mode indefinitely... which I may have to do with City on Fire!
DeleteWow, that one big book, but reading it on a table probably makes it less intimidating. Hope you love it!
ReplyDeleteLaura - I'd never even attempt this one in hardcover!
DeleteMine is Cast of Characters, a book about the early years of The New Yorker... also determined by library hold! The title definitely reflects the contents! Happy first book...and wishing you many more. :)
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Ooh, that sounds interesting. Enjoy!
DeleteHappy New Year! Wow, over 900 pages. Quite a hefty book to ring in the new year. Hope you love it! I'm starting with a vintage science fiction book-- The Purple Cloud by M. P. Shiel.
ReplyDeleteBev - At 900 pages, I'll definitely be willing to abandon it if I'm not liking it. That's too long to suffer;-) Hope you enjoy your selection!
DeleteI have that one in hardback format from the library. Decided to wait on this one until I hear more positive feedback. Nine hundred pages is a lot of reading.
ReplyDeletehttp://readerbuzz.blogspot.com
Deb - I suppose if you read it in hardcover, that counts as exercise... or at least strength training! ;-)
DeleteI will be very curious to get your thoughts on that book. I've been dancing around it unsure if it's for me. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLiterate Housewife - I've been waffling about whether to read it or not, too, but curiosity has won! Am considering adding in the audio version to make it a read/listen combo.
DeleteI hope you love it! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy!
DeleteI hate deadlines also, that is why I hardly ever check books out of the library anymore. If I want to read a clunkier book, I check the libraries in my area to see if they have it in audio, than I listen to it. Works for me anyway...Happy Reading 2016 Year.
ReplyDeleteGigi Ann - Those deadlines are pesky, aren't they? ;-) I'm considering adding in the audio version to help me get through it a little faster.
DeleteEnjoy! I hope the airplane mode works :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. Fingers crossed :)
DeleteWow, that's a huge book! Don't think I could finish in two weeks either, but at least you'll get a good feel for the book. Hope you love it! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteDiana - Two weeks is next to impossible for a book that size! Happy New Year!
DeleteHau'oli Makahiki Hou. This seems like a story will take you on a journey all over NYC. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stefanie. I love NYC, so hopefully this will be great.
DeleteUnless there is a wait list - we can renew three times. I hope the story of your book justifies the length and that you enjoy it. Happy New Year JoAnn.
ReplyDeletePat - That's a good point! I'm assuming there is a wait list because I had to wait... but there may not be.
DeleteI hope you enjoy this first book of the new year JoAnn.
ReplyDeleteI hope the New year is especially good to you and yours.
Thanks, Diane. Happy New Year to you and your family :)
Delete944 pages, that would stress me as a 1st book of the year :-) enjoy. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteMarce - It will probably be the longest book I read in 2016!
DeleteNice photo....I don't know this book.
ReplyDeleteI see you are reading The Story Hour. I enjoyed that book...I hope you are as well.
ENJOY, and Happy New Year!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My First Book Of The Year
Elizabeth - Just finished The Story Hour last night. The ending was abrupt, but I still enjoyed it.
DeleteHappy New Year!! Wow- 944 pages? that's a tome!I hope it's great- it looks interesting. Have a great Jan. 1st!!
ReplyDeleteGreg - Tome is the perfect word for this book, lol. Happy New Year!
DeleteOh man, I didn't know that book was 944 pages long! A book that big I'd have to read electronically too...and there would be no way I could do it 14 days!
ReplyDeleteMelinda - There was no way I'd read 944 pages in hardcover... probably no way I'll finish in two week either, lol!
DeleteWow, that's a whooper of a read - I hope you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLibrary deadlines get me all the time!
Reading With Jade
Jade - I should know better than to borrow a book this long from the library...
DeleteEnjoy reading your 1st book of 2016!!
ReplyDeleteCaptivated Reader - Thanks :)
DeleteWow! Yep....14 days is cutting it close. Happy Reading this year!
ReplyDeleteDebbie - Probably a little too close! Happy reading to you, too!
DeleteHappy New Year. Wow what a whopper of a book and have to admit first time hearing of it. Ah yes library deadlines. I wonder if turning off into airplane mode would work. Maybe by time it is due you'll know whether you want to purchase it or not.
ReplyDeleteKathryn - I'm hopeful the airplane mode strategy will work. There's no way I'll finish before the book is due!
DeleteI briefly thought about reading a huge tome. I actually love a big book now and then. I've never heard of this book! I'm going to look it up. Happy reading! I hate deadlines too!
ReplyDeleteHeidi - Hallberg received a nearly 2 million dollar advance for City on Fire... a staggering number even more unusual because it's a debut novel. I'm dying of curiosity!
DeleteDoes starting a new book on New Year's Eve count? (You can tell my evening was exciting, can't you!) When I saw "Still Life" by Louise Penny on the paperback shelf at the library, I grabbed it. I believe this was her first book. A librarian had suggested LP to me some time back when I asked for a recommendation for a cousin who liked the murder/mystery genre. I like to slip one in now and then myself. My favorite is Donna Leon. I think, however, the new Robert Galbraith (JKR) book will be ready for me to pick up maybe next week and I'm really anxious to read that one. I've read some quite big books, but don't think I would ever tackle 900+ pages; you're a braver soul than I am. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteJudyMac - Several blogging friends have recommended Louise Penny to me... can't wait to hear what you think. I have Donna Leon's Death at La Fenice (think it's the first Brunetti) on my kindle. Hope to read it this winter.
DeleteI've loved big books since I was a kid, but don't like that I think twice about them now... time to finish, number of books read, etc. That's one reason I'm not doing the goodreads challenge this year. Happy New Year!
Now that is a huge tome with a deadline. I don't know what airplane mode is LOL. I am in this blog hop too, for the first time.
ReplyDeleteTerra - Airplane mode is a setting on my kindle where it cannot connect to the internet. That way my ebook library checkout will not be magically 'returned' on the due date... it will remain on the kindle until I choose to connect to the internet again.
DeleteIt's brave to choose a 900+ pager as your first read! Good luck finishing it in two weeks :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stacy... I'm going to need it ;-)
DeleteHappy New Year !! I hope your first book is a memorable one :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brona. Happy New Year!
DeleteOh wow - best of luck with that one!
ReplyDeleteSarah - We'll see how it goes...
DeleteLove chunksters! I've seen this book in print and in audio at the library, can't decide which way I am going to go. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteNise' - I may do both! Considering adding in the audio, too.
DeleteHappy New Year and good luck with your first read of the year! So curious to hear what you think of it but that is a lot of pages :)
ReplyDeleteIliana - Thanks, I'm excited about reading this book.
DeleteOh, wow! You'll be reading your first book into the next year! lol I'm actually reading a backlist book that I had planned to read last week but didn't get past the first six chapters, The Husband's Secret.
ReplyDeleteKathy - The Husband's Secret is on my list, too. I think I basically want to read every book you pick up ;-)
DeleteThat is a chunkster! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteChaosIsAFriendOfMine - Happy New Year to you, too!
DeleteI have this book in paperback. I love the different pages such as text and graphics. Now to finsd the time to read it. Will look forward to hearing your thoughts. 😎😎😎
ReplyDeletePam - It's not out in paper here in the US yet, but I loved looking at all the different fonts, etc. when I flipped though it in the bookstore. Hope the full effect comes through in the ebook!
DeleteOn the plus side of the library deciding on your first read, it saves that tough decision making process!
ReplyDeleteLisa - Very true! ;-)
Delete