Reading Materials for the first six months of 2012 (English) | My language mission and my log | Forum

January 28, 2012
23:17

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This is my reading log, which I decided to separate from my intonation log.

Goals for the first six months of 2012 (books to read):

(()): unimportant

(())>: needs to be read at some point

>>: important

>>> very important

>>The Christian Bible for Children (Graphic Novel) (800 pages)

((The Fall (340 pages)))

>>>Shakespeare The Winter's Tale (about 250 pages)

>>>Robinson Crusoe (220 pages + commentary)

>>Foe (120 pages or so)

>((The Color Purple (almost finished with it: 230 pages)))

These are mostly reading assignments. The books I have to read are fairly long, which means that I'll have to plow through close to 2,000 pages before I'm done with them. I'm not used to reading on a daily basis, so it'll be difficult for me to stick to my goals.

If I read 23 pages a day, I should be done in three months. If I concentrate on the more important books, I can get away with reading only 19 pages a day. Reading the Illiad and the Odyssey is probably something that I'll never do again. I'm looking for a "Sparknotes" version of the tales though.

January 29, 2012
18:37

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I read 76 pages of the New Testament. The graphic novel format helps a lot. It's not really a comic book, but it's not your average book either. It's very nice.

75/1,350

January 30, 2012
19:32

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133/1,350

I'm pretty happy with my progress. I'll try to read some more tonight. I should be able to finish the New Testament this week. Next, I'll either read RC or The Winter's Tale.

January 30, 2012
21:58

Randybvain

Cheltenham, UK

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Why did you choose the books with obsolete language?

Native: Polish Fluent: English Communicative: French (learning), Welsh (learning), Russian (bit rusty, need to be refreshed) Learning: Latin I have also been learning Ancient Greek, Irish and Old Church Slavonic. I would like to learn Esperanto, German and Mandarin Chinese. Some other languages I find interesting enough to learn: Lithuanian, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Panjabi, Icelandic and Kashubian.

January 30, 2012
23:22

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These are mostly reading assignments.

Please read my previous posts before commenting on my choice of books. I didn't choose them.

January 31, 2012
01:44

Randybvain

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I am sorry, I couldn't believe than graphic Christian Bible might be part of any assignment. I thought you're using the word assignment as you used "intonation". My mistake. Good luck, any cool way

Native: Polish Fluent: English Communicative: French (learning), Welsh (learning), Russian (bit rusty, need to be refreshed) Learning: Latin I have also been learning Ancient Greek, Irish and Old Church Slavonic. I would like to learn Esperanto, German and Mandarin Chinese. Some other languages I find interesting enough to learn: Lithuanian, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Panjabi, Icelandic and Kashubian.

January 31, 2012
02:42

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Thanks. We have to read it in order to learn about Anglo-Saxon culture (76% of the American population is Christian).

February 1, 2012
03:08

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206/1,350

I'm enjoying the bible, which is a good thing. I'm looking for an abridged version of the Ilyad and the Odyssey. Even if I'm ahead, I'll read 20 pages a day from now on. I need to if I want to fit in another book into my schedule.

February 3, 2012
00:29

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255/1,350

This challenge is going very well. I have a new book to read, which I'll order on Amazon soon. I ordered simplified version of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

February 3, 2012
01:39

Randybvain

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Many books are available on-line, like in the Project Gutenberg. Are you comfortable with reading from the screen? You would always save some money. Alternatively, I think also about the Kindle or another reader of this kind.

Native: Polish Fluent: English Communicative: French (learning), Welsh (learning), Russian (bit rusty, need to be refreshed) Learning: Latin I have also been learning Ancient Greek, Irish and Old Church Slavonic. I would like to learn Esperanto, German and Mandarin Chinese. Some other languages I find interesting enough to learn: Lithuanian, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Panjabi, Icelandic and Kashubian.

February 4, 2012
00:38

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I like books better. I would never buy a Kindle. However, I like audiobooks. :)

February 5, 2012
01:05

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277/1,350+

I read 22 pages today. I really hate Shakespeare, so opening TWT was extremely hard. I already watched the play, but I still have trouble understanding what the characters are saying. I'm afraid I'll have to read the play in French AND English. That would be a big waste of time.

February 5, 2012
01:28

Randybvain

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Why do you hate Shakespeare?

Native: Polish Fluent: English Communicative: French (learning), Welsh (learning), Russian (bit rusty, need to be refreshed) Learning: Latin I have also been learning Ancient Greek, Irish and Old Church Slavonic. I would like to learn Esperanto, German and Mandarin Chinese. Some other languages I find interesting enough to learn: Lithuanian, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Panjabi, Icelandic and Kashubian.

February 5, 2012
14:21

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It's boring, and the books are in old English. I'm a fun-loving young adult, not someone who likes to read things that put her to sleep. :/ Anyway, I should work some more.

February 5, 2012
14:39

kaet

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Since TWT is a play, I don't think it'd be cheating to watch a good film (one that uses the words of the play, not a story just inspired by it). Watch it, get an idea of the story and what's interesting about it, and *then* read the play. You might enjoy it more.

Native: English Speaks: French and Hebrew Learned in school and wants to get back to: German and Irish Currently beginning: Russian My language blog

February 5, 2012
22:48

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I already watched the play in class. I got the DVD from a friend and copied it, but I don't even feel like re-watching the play right now. Moreover, I have to read the play soon since we're studying it in class.

I have trouble actually sitting down and reading the play because I have a lot of trouble understanding old English. There are explanations in the edition I bought, but reading TWT is still a big chore. Today, I've read 7 pages so far.

February 6, 2012
00:23

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306/1,350

I read 28 pages today. I'm a very slow reader when I have trouble understanding books, so I wasted over 45 minutes trying to make sense of the first act. The good news is that I only have about 125 pages left to read. It should take me about 6 days to finish the book.

February 6, 2012
01:21

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I've just finished listening to a simplified version of Robinson Crusoe. I read along with audiobook for a bit. I liked the story a lot, but I know that I'll have to read the "real" Robinson Crusoe soon. It's okay though, because RC is 10 times more entertaining than Shakespeare.

Anyway, that's +40 pages :)

346/1,350

Reading Materials for the first six months of 2012 (English) | My language mission and my log | Forum

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