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A brief history of the Book Barns Annual Reading Challenge Long ago, well before any of us without archives can access, ancient Book Barn scholars set out to test their knowledge and training by reading a certain number of books a year. Then came the rise of the booklord. In addition to challenging ourselves by reading a set number of books, the booklord created his own unique set of goals to encourage the brave to step outside of their comfort zone and expand their minds. This year I have ascended to the place of the booklord and will be issuing my own challenge with hopefully some fun additions (or just gimmicky bullshit). The rules Realistically, this is 100% about having fun and trying to push your reading further, so it is entirely up to you how you go about this. You can just stick to the traditional "read X number of books" challenge, or you can have fun with us and take the booklord challenge. Many of the categories are intentionally open ended (and even something like "history" doesn't specify whether it is fiction or non-fiction or what kind of history) so you can interpret as you like. I only request that you don't back out of something or shy away just because it is outside of your comfort zone. Again, it's up to you, but if you're in this thread then you are presumably here to challenge yourself, and I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not trying something new. Also, try to post something outside of just a list (I have been guilty of this too). You don't need to review every book you read, just call out favorites or even just talk about how much fun you're having this year compared to other years. With that said, onto the challenge: The 2018 Booklord Challenge I've kept to a similar style and length of list that we've had in the past, but decided to spice things up by adding bonus challenges. These can be attempted in addition to the normal goal or in place of or not at all. Some of these might be laughably easy for some while others might be way too hard, so feel free to engage and adjust as you see fit: 1. Set a goal for number of books or another personal challenge1 2. Of the books you read this year, make sure at least 20% of them are written by women.2 bonus: Of these make sure half are by authors new to you 3. Of the books you read this year, make sure at least 20% of them are written by someone non-white.2 bonus: Of these make sure half are by authors new to you 4. Read at least one book by an LGBT author. bonus: Make sure 10% of the books you read this year are by LGBT authors 5. Participate in the TBB BotM thread at least once in 2018 (thread stickied each month at the top of the forum). bonus: Participate in the SHAMEFUL The Greatest Books You've Never Read thread 6. Ask another poster to issue you a wildcard, then read it.3 bonus: Similarly, get a wildcard from another thread in this forum 7. Get a recommendation from a friend or loved one. bonus: Read literally the first in-person book recommendation you get in 2018 (solicited or not) 8. Read something written before you were born. bonus: Read a book written/published the exact year you were born 9. Read a book published in 2018 (or if you're eager to start early, the latter half of 2017). bonus: Read something that wins an award in 2018, but only after it is announced (i.e. don't apply retroactively) 10. Read something translated from another language. bonus: Read something that isn't in your primary language 11. Read something political. bonus: Read something political from/about a country you aren't from and don't currently live in 12. Read a poetry collection. bonus: Read poems by at least 10 different poets 13. Read a collection of short stories. bonus: Read short stories by at least 10 different authors 14. Read a play. bonus: Read a play first published in the last 10 years 15. Read something involving history. bonus: Read something about a (nonfictional) war that didn't involve the U.S. 16. Read something biographical. bonus: Read something biographical about someone you've met/seen in person4 17. Read something about religion. bonus: Read a major religious text 18. Read something from a non-traditional perspective. bonus: Read something narrated in the 2nd person 19. Read something that has been banned, censored, or challenged. bonus: Read something currently banned, censored, or challenged in its country of origin 20. Read something about music. bonus: Read something about a genre of music you're explicitly not a fan of 21. Read something that involves Maslow's hierarchy of needs. bonus: Read something about hunger 22. Read something about the future. bonus: Read something about a future that takes place before the current year Clarification, errata and footnotes Try to read a different book for each challenge, but feel free to combine on the percentage based ones. Remember that failing at one of the challenges doesn't mean you have to give up on the whole thing, this is literally just a fun way to challenge ourselves, so have fun and don't take it too seriously! 1. Last year there were a few (myself included) who elected not to do the number challenge, so I added the "personal challenge" option for those who want to do the booklord challenge while customizing something for themselves. For example, I am going to try to do one reread per month, for a total of 12. 2. Repeating these challenges from last year, but feel free to adjust. I don't think 1 out of every 5 books (or 1 out of every 10, if you read a book by a non-white woman) is too crazy, but you can also feel free to try for more. 3. Last year someone wildcarded The Berserker with Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong which is 4 volumes and something like 2500 pages. I am hesitant to make hard guidelines here but I just ask wildcarders to be aware of things like time constraints, and wildcardees that you can always get re-carded if necessary (although please don't abuse that to get out of reading something you just aren't interested in). 4. This could be like a concert or speech or just someone you saw from a distance once. Again this is open-ended so have fun with it. Other fun stuff I am going to be issuing some kind of reward (likely a cert) to a random person who completes the challenge and writes a little something; details will be in a post below. I am also going to try and do theme weeks about some of the above challenges to encourage discussion and keep the thread exciting during the bulk of the year where it is usually just lists and wildcards. Anyone else can feel free to make effort posts about some of the categories or anything involving the challenge. Have fun and good luck!
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Dec 29, 2017 23:46
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Posters taking the challenge Name: Guy A. Person Personal Challenge: 12 rereads Booklord's challenge: yes Name: screenwritersblues Personal Challenge: 30 books Booklord's challenge: no Name: ToxicFrog Personal Challenge: 96 books, at least 10% nonfiction, at most 25% rereads Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Omne Personal Challenge: 24 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Tiggum Personal Challenge: 52 books for the year, of which at least 24 must be by women and 12 must be non-fiction (counting overlap) Booklord's challenge: no Name: The Berzerker Personal Challenge: 40 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Chazani Personal Challenge: 40 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: mdemone Personal Challenge: 100 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: cryptoclastic Personal Challenge: 40 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Orion2221 Personal Challenge: 52 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: nerdpony Personal Challenge: 100 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Jew it to it! Personal Challenge: 40 books Booklord's challenge: not committing yet Name: Gertrude Perkins Personal Challenge: 52 books total, with at least 1/3 by women and at least 1/3 by writers of colour Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Talas Personal Challenge: 60 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Groke Personal Challenge: 40 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: smug n stuff Personal Challenge: 52 books, at least 5 books published in 2018 and at least 5 out of copyright Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Ben Nevis Personal Challenge: 80 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Carlosologist Personal Challenge: 27 books, with the sub goal being at least 40% by women and 30% by Latin-American authors Booklord's challenge: no Name: Robot Mil Personal Challenge: 40 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: nipplefish Personal Challenge: 50 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: USMC_Karl Personal Challenge: 42 books, at least 12 nonfiction books and 4 different collections of poetry Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Hungry Personal Challenge: 52 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Franchescanado Personal Challenge: 24 books, including 6 books in the SHAMEFUL: The Greatest Books You've Never Read thread Booklord's challenge: yes Name: apophenium Personal Challenge: 50 books Booklord's challenge: first 6 parts of the challenge Name: Dr. Kloctopussy Personal Challenge: 50 books; at least 4 BotM books; 2 books from the shame pile; The Chekhov, Tolstoy, and Dostoevski works covered in Nabakov's lectures on Russian literature, and the lectures themselves; Bible chunks Booklord's challenge: not officially Name: Esme Personal Challenge: 52 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Chamberk Personal Challenge: 36 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: oscarthewilde Personal Challenge: 52 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Corrode Personal Challenge: less than 50 books in "unread" pile at the end of the year Booklord's challenge: yes Name: thatdarnedbob Personal Challenge: 80 books, and actually posting in the dang thread each month Booklord's challenge: yes Name: my bony fealty Personal Challenge: 60 books, at least 50% female authors and at least 10% LGBT authors Booklord's challenge: not yet Name: Stuporstar Personal Challenge: 52 books Booklord's challenge: yes Personal Challenge: Booklord's challenge: A human heart refuses to back my foolish plot to read some books Name: Magikarpal Tunnel Personal Challenge: 100 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Strong Mouse Personal Challenge: 20 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: Socialized Personal Challenge: 24 books, at least 18 of which are books they already own Booklord's challenge: wildcard only Name: lithium flour Personal Challenge: 24 books and to actually keep posting in this thread Booklord's challenge: picking and choosing Name: Milt Thompson Personal Challenge: 26 books, under 20% rereads Booklord's challenge: yes Name: idiot of the legal system Personal Challenge: 52 books, with at least ten poetry books and less than ten written by straight white dudes from dominant literary canons Booklord's challenge: no Name: Loutre Personal Challenge: 75 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: MuRLinn Personal Challenge: entire wheel of time series Booklord's challenge: no Name: Fellwenner Personal Challenge: 100 books, no rereads Booklord's challenge: yes Name: CestMoi Personal Challenge: 5000 books Booklord's challenge: not likely Name: Bitchkrieg Personal Challenge: 100 books Booklord's challenge: dunno Name: MockingQuantum Personal Challenge: 70 books Booklord's challenge: yes Name: ectoplasm Personal Challenge: 30 books totaling at least 10,000 pages Booklord's challenge: Guy A. Person fucked around with this message at 04:01 on May 18, 2018 |
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Dec 29, 2017 23:46
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Booklord reward system This year you're working toward a (potential, random, and small) reward for all your hard work! In addition to the warm feeling of accomplishment you will receive for completing your challenge, you will also be entered into a random drawing for an SA gift cert. If you complete the booklord challenge to your own satisfaction (I mean, it's all on the honor system anyway), write a small paragraph/post about one of the books from your challenge or just the challenge in general and how it's helped expand your reading. Or hell, even if you think it's been totally pointless, write about that. Since I'm not qualified to judge anyone's writing I'm not going to reward based off best essay, I'll just enter your names into a spreadsheet or something then randomize it on new years day of 2019 and shoot the winner their choice of cert (excluding smiley). Just title it something like "Booklord challenge essay contest" or something, preferably in bold to catch my attention. Good luck and happy reading! Guy A. Person fucked around with this message at 03:52 on Dec 31, 2017 |
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Dec 29, 2017 23:46
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Put me down for 30. No book lord challenge.
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Dec 30, 2017 01:28
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I'm going to do my usual of 96 books, at least 10% nonfiction, at most 25% rereads, and the Challenge.
ToxicFrog fucked around with this message at 13:41 on Dec 30, 2017 |
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Dec 30, 2017 02:29
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Put me down for 24 books and the challenge
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Dec 30, 2017 02:42
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I'm just going to stick with my usual personal goal of 52 books for the year, of which at least 24 must be by women and 12 must be non-fiction (non-fiction books by women count for both). I've started reading The Best Australian Science Writing 2012 edited by Elizabeth Finkel, which I was given for Christmas by my brother-in-law and will be my first book for 2018.
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Dec 30, 2017 02:44
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I'm in for 40 this year. Thanks for the mention in the OP. This year I am going to wait a few months before I ask for a wildcard and I am only going to accept one from somebody who has been participating in the challenge up to that point. I like the idea of the bonus challenges and the discussion topics and whatnot too. I think this will be good!
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Dec 30, 2017 19:20
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Going for 40 as well and the booklord challenge. This should be fun!
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Dec 30, 2017 23:27
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Sign me up for the usual, 100 books and the full challenge.
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Dec 31, 2017 00:55
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I didnt really start reading again until fall of this year. Found out about the challenge in December so Im excited to do this for 2018! Sign me up for 40 books and the challenge.
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Dec 31, 2017 01:41
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Updated second post with everyone who has signed up so far, and also updated third post with details about a prize for this year!
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Dec 31, 2017 03:52
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Count me in for the challenge and 52 books.
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Dec 31, 2017 04:19
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I'm in! 100 Books and Booklord.
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Dec 31, 2017 07:04
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Count me in for 40 books. I believe that I can meet the challenge including re-reads but I do not want to commit just yet.
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Dec 31, 2017 07:26
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I'm down! As with last year, I want to reach 52 books total, with at least 1/3 by women and at least 1/3 by writers of colour. Also the full Booklord!
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Dec 31, 2017 18:37
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New year, new challenge  Count me in for 60 books and the booklord's challenge.
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Dec 31, 2017 19:48
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Going for 40 books and the challenge. (Read over 60 books this year but my wife is pregnant again and that's going to take up quite a bit of time, so.)
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Dec 31, 2017 20:33
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Im in for 52 and the challenge! Im also going to try to read at least 5 books published in 2018 and at least 5 out of copyright.
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Dec 31, 2017 20:59
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I'll do 80 and the booklord.
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Jan 1, 2018 05:02
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I might as well put my English degree to work, right? I think Im gonna go for 27 books this year, with the sub goal being at least 40% by women and 30% by Latin-American authors
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Jan 1, 2018 08:11
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I'm in for 40 and attempting the booklord challenge. I petered out of the challenge last year and only made 37 books but writing a thesis got in the way - hoping now that's nearly over I can get back to guilt free reading!
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Jan 1, 2018 18:27
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What a fun idea! Count me in for 50 books and the booklord challenge.
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Jan 2, 2018 00:09
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I had an absolute blast doing last years book lord and will happily take part in this one. I'm going to shoot for 42 books, I will take the challenge, and my personal challenge is to read at least 12 nonfiction books and 4 different collections of poetry. Thanks for hosting another one, I was honestly surprised by how fun it was to stretch my reading into new areas last year.
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Jan 2, 2018 03:54
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First time doing this, I'm in for 52 books and the booklord challenge too.
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Jan 2, 2018 13:28
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I didn't really maintain my reading last year for a number of personal reasons. In fact, it was the worst year for reading I've had. I'm going to try to get back to reading as a daily habit. Still, to make things easier, I'm going to keep by goal to an easily manageable 24 books this year, and hopefully surpass that. This will give me a chance to read through some larger novels I've been putting off, as well. I will also commit to the Book Lord Challenge. My personal goal is to read at least 6 books given to me in the SHAMEFUL: The Greatest Books You've Never Read thread, because it's a good thread that needs more traffic/attention. Franchescanado fucked around with this message at 20:45 on Jan 2, 2018 |
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Jan 2, 2018 14:51
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I'm in for 50 books and the first 6 parts of Booklord Challenge. I enjoyed doing the challenge last year, but want to keep it a bit simpler this time around. I also want to post more on the thread. I think the theme weeks is a great idea, I'll be sure to peek in for those. Good luck all, happy reading!
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Jan 3, 2018 04:33
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Last year was one of my worst reading years, too. I think I started and set down as many books as I actually finished. It just seemed like nothing was really holding my interest. So this year, my goal is 50 books. And not all popcorn books. I'm not going to make an official goal of the booklord challenge, but I am going to evaluate myself against it at the end of the year. My personal goals are going to be: -- At least 4 BotM books -- At least 2 books from the shame pile (need to make a list) -- The Chekhov, Tolstoy, and Dostoevski works covered in Nabakov's lectures on Russian literature, and the lectures themselves. -- some significant chunk of the Bible that I haven't figured out how to define yet.
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Jan 3, 2018 10:13
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I'm in for 52 books and the booklord challenge.
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Jan 4, 2018 20:44
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I'm in for 36 and the challenge; I've got another kid on the way and classes to start so I don't foresee myself reading as much as I have been. Now, off to post in the last year's thread...
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Jan 7, 2018 08:22
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It's not like I have a lot of free time, but reading really is something should I spend more time doing, so here goes nothing! I'm going for 52 books, and I guess I'll take the challenge.
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Jan 8, 2018 11:58
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I'll go for the challenge. Rather than specifying a number of books, I'll specify that I want less than 50 books in my "unread" pile at the end of the year.
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Jan 8, 2018 12:24
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Got everyone who has posted so far. Going to wait a couple weeks for people to figure out their challenges and assign some wildcards before I post some more substantial stuff, but feel free to discuss stuff as you see fit in the meantime. Also I am in the challenge (gotta set a good example) and could use a wildcard.
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Jan 8, 2018 17:10
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Guy A. Person posted:Got everyone who has posted so far. Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain by Barney Norris. Could also use a wildcard.
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Jan 8, 2018 20:19
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Corrode posted:Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain by Barney Norris. Enjoy My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl! It's short and funny. I could also use a wildcard, please. Please nothing long (500+ pages). Also, there's the Post Your Bookshelf thread, which may inspire some people to read more, or at least show off their bowed shelves.
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Jan 8, 2018 22:32
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I'm in for 80, the Booklord, and actually posting in the dang thread each month
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Jan 9, 2018 05:28
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Sign me up for 60 books, personal challenge: at least 50% female authors and at least 10% LGBT authors. No booklord for me, unless I change my mind later?
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Jan 9, 2018 06:30
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Franchescanado posted:Enjoy My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl! It's short and funny. Under the North Star by Väinö Linna in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Finnish Civil War. It is a trilogy, but the each part is around 300 pages and this wildcard only applies to the first one. In case the translation is impossible to find, feel free to discard the wildcard.
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Jan 9, 2018 07:05
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I'm in for 52 books and the booklord. I almost made it last year on my regular reading habits. I hadn't even signed up.
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Jan 9, 2018 07:06
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I refuse to back your foolish plot to read some books
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Jan 9, 2018 07:39
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