I follow a gazillion bloggers of various types. Okay, maybe not a gazillion. Maybe it’s more like a bazillion.

One of them, Editorial Ass aka Moonrat, recently posted:

Awhile ago, my friend Andromeda Romano-Lax, the author of the beloved novel The Spanish Bow, told me about a project of hers, which I’ve decided to totally rip off (sorry, Andromeda).

She collected a list of 100 books that she wants to have read in her life to fill in some of her reading gaps of classics and great contemporary fiction. She knew it was a monumental task ahead of her–we all tend to choose fun things instead of things we should read, right? At least I do–so she gave herself 5 years to try to get through the list, and gave herself 25% accident forgiveness, meaning if she finishes 75 titles in 5 years, she’ll consider herself to have been victorious.

I’m copying her rules EXACTLY except I’m giving myself 5 years starting now and rounding up (i.e. almost 6 years…) so my goal will be to finish 75 of these 100 books by New Year 2015. I hope this window will also allow me to pick up other non-list books along the way (cuz let’s face it, I will… I have a compulsive book buying habit).

She then asks, which of us would like to play?

Now what self-respecting bibliophile can turn down a request like that?

If you don’t already have a personal list of books you’d like to read, or think perhaps you should, here is a link to the comment thread on Moonrat’s post. Other bloggers are making great suggestions and leaving links to their own lists. Maybe after looking at a few, including mine, you will find that you too want to join in the fun.

I hope you do.

Since this will be a lengthy project, and I don’t have any more room at the top of my blog for another tab, the list will be linked on my sidebar.

Most everyone is copying the criteria exactly; mine are similar:

1. Snobby classics I’ve always wished I’d read, but didn’t because I thought I wouldn’t like them. These will probably end up making up the 25% I fail to read. We’ll see.

2. Books I’ve owned for a long time, but haven’t read because when it comes to deciding, I’ve got a time commitment problem. But no more. Size no longer matters. Or so I’ve been told. Ahem.

3. Books I’ve been given, but haven’t yet read. Oh the guilt!

4. Memoirs and Non-Fiction. For some reason I stopped reading these but will make it a point to put more on my list.

5. This list will be dynamic; ever changing as it will include award winning books, and there is no way to know what the Pulitzer or Man Booker will be five years from now.

I think I remember seeing somewhere a progress meter type widget. As soon as I figure out where it is and how to use it, I will post it in the sidebar so that you can see my progress at a glance.

Have a great Sunday and an even better week!