The Book Vipers discussion

Not sure on my reading for this year. I might not take part in the BV reading challenge in 2017, I might focus instead on the BV book of the months, only managed a few in 2016.

My big book for 2017 is probably going to be 1Q84

It will be smaller this year Jason.

Jason. Snap. Paul, we appreciate anything. You are so good to do this each year.

I'm sure I'll end up joining in, I'm a sucker for a reading challenge.

gonna try and read romeo and Juliet this year, 2017 has gotta be the year I succeed in reading that book.

Good luck.

My English teacher at school managed to put me off Shakespeare completely. Thank goodness she didn't put me off reading

Paul wrote: "My English teacher at school managed to put me off Shakespeare completely. Thank goodness she didn't put me off reading"

My English teacher managed to put me off reading all books, had to fight my way back into books in my early 20's. Some people just shouldn't be teachers. Had 3 English teachers at my secondary school and they all hated kids.

Shakespeare at school put me off Shakespeare. Not the teacher. Just the study. I must say though I like to watch a Shakespeare. That was one of the questions btw "Shakespeare should always be seen on stage, not studied"

I must have been lucky with my English teachers as none of them put me off literature. Mind you, I'm quite glad I didn't end up doing a degree in English as that apparently is good at killing a love of reading!

I rather liked IQ84. It didn't take me long to read at all despite its size. Although it still has a 'supernatural' (in the non-ghostly sense) element it is pretty straightforward for Murakami, I think, even noir-ish.

Good goals!

Been watching Dirk Gently on TV so have decided next year I will read the books as it has been a long time since I read them and I don't remember much.

They're a great little series

I loved my English teachers, they had a true passion for books. I was always in advanced classes though so we didnt focus on the typical things like Shakespeare...maybe I was lucky haha

IQ84 has been sitting on my shelf all year! I would love to make that a 2017 book. I have heard good things about it.

What did you study in advanced classes, Kira, that beat the complexity of Shakespeare? Middle English like Chaucer, or maybe Milton?

Lisa wrote: "What did you study in advanced classes, Kira, that beat the complexity of Shakespeare? Middle English like Chaucer, or maybe Milton?"

Lisa, we didn't really study any of the classics, or their authors. More the structure of English language and how it developed over time in relation to other written languages.

We had great teachers but Shakespeare was something else. They tried to enthuse us but Cymbeline? Really A level board?

I did Macbeth 3 years in a row.

I saw Macbeth rather than studied it. Thankfully. Love to watch Shakespeare. Not to read

Jason wrote: "Paul wrote: "My English teacher at school managed to put me off Shakespeare completely. Thank goodness she didn't put me off reading"

My English teacher managed to put me off reading all books, ha..."

I am afraid I had a similar time with most of my teachers (though there were exceptions). The idea that kids might be allowed to enjoy learning seemed to be alien to them.

Added to my 2017 reading list are the books I got for Christmas.

Ten Years in An Open Necked Shirt
The Father of Forensics: The Groundbreaking Cases of Sir Bernard Spilsbury, and the Beginnings of Modern CSI
Narcisa: Our Lady of Ashes
Why Birds Sing: A Journey Into the Mystery of Bird Song
A Postmodern Belch

I will probably start the year with them

Interesting Jason

Good haul there Jason

Yeah, I was pleased with them, apparently I have another one on the way they didn't make the Christmas post.

I'll also hopefully read another Pratchett novel this year. next one on the list is Pyramids. Book 7 I think.

I absolutely loved 1Q84. It's well worth the time taken to read it.

I had a great high school English teacher who really encouraged me and got me into some interesting books. Some of my university modules nearly put me off- I will never enjoy Wordsworth, Coleridge, Renaissance tragedy or ghost stories again because of the lecturers.

A good teacher can make a massive difference. My wife was at the same school as me and had great English teachers. mad!