Long-Term Reading Projects

[Extollager]

By "long-term" is meant ones that would take months to do. Someone might decide to read as many first contact novels as possible, or all the sf published in a given year, or all the Hugo-winning short stories, or the complete novels of Dickens, or everything by Clifford D. Simak, or as many travel books about Japan as possible, or all the weird stories mentioned in Lovecraft's Supernatural Horror in Literature (our old Chrons friend J. D. Worthington was working on that), or all the books you can remember reading before your 14th birthday... or what else?

So I wondered if anyone had such ambitions for reading. The only qualification I have in mind is that it's a definite concept of some sort that involves reading and that you estimate it would take many weeks for you to do it.

 

[.matthew.]

I suppose I'd like to get all my non-fiction read, although if I had to narrow it down... history?

It would take me like 3 months of 12 hour days... I buy too many books...

 

[Extollager]

.matthew., what are some of those nonfiction books you have on hand?

That's worth mentioning, by the way -- whether the books for your long-term project are on hand now or if they'd be ones you have to acquire...

 

[.matthew.]

Dozens of the things. I rarely buy them from 'proper' bookstores but when I see something interesting in one of the 'surplus' stores (the ones that just buy limited stock and when they run out buy something else type places) I'll usually pick it up.

Looking at the shelf now, a few pop out as books I'd like to read more than others.
Tom Holland's Rubicon, and Persian Fire
Simon Montefiore's Jerusalem
Jon Lee Anderson's Che Guevara biography (although I got 4/5th through that years ago until I put it down one day)

I have a lot of more generalised books that are interesting but not so narrowly focused as well (which are the ones that would take the most time (not including any of the giant encyclopedias)).

 

[Brian G Turner]

I'm thinking of starting a masters degree in archaeology in a couple of years. Once I'd made that decision, I decided to buy and read all of the course materials before the course begins. Trouble is, I keep finding great related material which will also be useful.

 

[.matthew.]

I'm thinking of starting a masters degree in archaeology in a couple of years. Once I'd made that decision, I decided to buy and read all of the course materials before the course begins. Trouble is, I keep finding great related material which will also be useful.

Well, it pays to be passionate about what you study

 

[elvet]

I'm not sure that this counts, but here it is anyway. In October 2019, I started a reread of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen (10 books) plus all of the Malazan off shoots by Ian Esslemont (another 9 books). In addition, I was going back to the Tor reread (from 2012-2016) website and, after each chapter, reading the synopses, discussions, and author Q and A's. I have just started the last book on my list, Assail.
It has been the most rewarding experience, and I have found so much more to love about a series of books that was already high on my list of all time favourites. After Assail is done, I am going to read the 2 prequel novels--Forge of Darkness and Fall of Light-- as well as some of the novellas from the same world.

 

[Extollager]

That looks like an enormous undertaking, Elvet. Is it possible to suggest something of what makes the books stand up so well to a second reading?

 

[Danny McG]

I've just finished the latest Stephen King, 'If it bleeds' an anthology of four novella's.
One seemed like some of his very early stories and left me pondering because some of those are fading in my memory.

I was thinking about doing a re-read in publishing order of all his work, short stories and novels, including the Bachman books, his collaborative work with other writers such as Straub and Joe (dad's lad) Hill.
Not forgetting the Dark Tower and both versions of The Stand

I have most of these to hand, some as tree and some as e, and hope to have them all in the next few weeks.
I'll probably kick this off in the Autumn, once I sort the dates out, any new SF books I get during that time will be saved as TBR.

 

[ginny]

I've just begun research on Native Americans.
I want to find those books and sources that are Native American authors.
One problem already is that one source claims that they don't like being called Indians or Native Americans.
So now I don't know what to call them.

However that was said by James Wilson in his work The Earth Shall Weep; and he is not a native.
It will be interesting when I get my teeth into some information from the source.

I Already have 12 authors to chose from and as those works trickle in I'll likely get some insight into more sources.

 

[Extollager]

Ginny, have you read Neihardt's classic Black Elk Speaks? What a book! But be sure, be sure, to read the story Neihardt didn't tell, in Steltenkamp's Black Elk: Holy Man of the Oglala, fascinating in its own right -- but read Black Elk Speaks first if you haven't.

I have very little knowledge of this topic, but, for me, the book to read along with those two, as a wonderful classic, is Theodora Kroeber's Ishi in Two Worlds.

I liked Lionel Youst's She's Tricky Like Coyote also, though it hasn't attained anything like the classic status of the previously-mentioned biographies. It's relatively recent.

And as a non-expert for sure, may I also suggest Ian Frazier's On the Rez?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

A number of years ago, I decided to read the library in alphabetical order. Well, the fiction part, anyway. It's a small town, so this isn't as totally impossible as it might sound, but I didn't even make it out of the first shelf before wandering off after something else that was shiny. I found myself skipping too much to really make it an honest project, when I'd start on an author's books and discover they weren't for me.

 

[elvet]

That looks like an enormous undertaking, Elvet. Is it possible to suggest something of what makes the books stand up so well to a second reading?

Well, this was my 4th read of the first 8 books, so I will try and explain what appeals to me.
First off, this is a fantasy series that covers a lot of ground, and a lot of time. Though it takes place in a set period of years, there is constant reference and layering of history that builds through the books so you feel like you are in a complete and separate world.
Secondly, there is no hand holding. The writing is 'thick'. There is a leap of faith as you jump in with the first book, Gardens of the Moon.
Indeed, most people can't get into it and give up right here. Now, I was in the same boat, but I really like military fantasy, and above else, this is a story about the regular grunts, the Malazan army. So I persisted, and my faith was rewarded.
Lastly, there is no good or evil. It is just a world where things happen, chance plays a role, and you see both sides of the story. In fact, you could argue that is the main theme.
As with many books that don't always give you everything up front, there is pleasure to be had from 'Ahah' moments as the pieces fall into place even 3000 pages down the road. I am blown away by Erikson's skill in managing the pieces on the board for all these 1000+ page novels and have them come together so effortlessly. Rereads reward even further, because now I have a grasp of the big picture,I can focus on the minute details, and boy, there are a ton of exquisite passages. Though it is a Book of the Fallen, there is some joy and laughter to be found in this story.
I highly recommend it for anyone who likes epic fantasy.

 

[ginny]

Some how this sounds as arduous as...

A number of years ago, I decided to read the library in alphabetical order. Well, the fiction part, anyway. It's a small town, so this isn't as totally impossible as it might sound, but I didn't even make it out of the first shelf before wandering off after something else that was shiny. I found myself skipping too much to really make it an honest project, when I'd start on an author's books and discover they weren't for me.

Reading the dictionary or an encyclopedia from A-Zebra.

 

[Extollager]

Thanks for the light you've shed on the Malazan books, Elvet.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I don't think I have long term reading goals. Or reading goals at all. When something comes along that I want to read, I read it as soon as possible. If I want to read everything an author has written, I tend to binge-read everything of theirs that is available, which usually means that I am looking for another writer to love within a week or two.

 

[Wyrmlord]

I recently got a good copy of Cryptonomicon, and I foresee that taking, at the minimum, two months to finish.

 

[Elckerlyc]

I maintain 3 Reading Threads at the moment. Not sure if I should call them Projects or even Long-Term. More like Meandering Reading Intentions.

1. My daily recreational reading (meaning fiction). Ad random, after shuffling the TBR pile. Still, a Medium-Long Reread Project is conceivable.
2. Not so daily (unless it has me hooked) reading of non-fiction on a subject that currently holds my attention, but notably more and more about History, in a broad sense. (I am considering doing a OU course on history, coming September.) There are 5 books on my TBR on the subject. I am between reads now, not sure yet what to read next.
3. Whenever I feel like it, the continuing reading of (as mentioned before, probably ad nauseam) 1000 Years of Weather, Wind and Water. Currently reading Volume 3 (of 7; projected by the author (95) to be completed with 9 volumes, if he lives that long ), the years 1450-1575. Each volume is 800+ pages, so perhaps I could should call this a Long-Term Project. Today I read the years 1480/1482.

 

[elvet]

I recently got a good copy of Cryptonomicon, and I foresee that taking, at the minimum, two months to finish.

It is in my reread bookcase. Thoroughly enjoyed it first time around.

 

[Elckerlyc]

It is in my reread bookcase. Thoroughly enjoyed it first time around.

I read it twice. And I'm quite sure a third reading is inevitable.