I have big plans for this the last month of 2018.
To star off I plan to write entries on this blog at least once a day, 31 days of fun.
And to top it off, I have the goal to read the minimal average per day at least for this whole month, that is 146 daily pages.
If all goes well, I could walk out of December with approximately 7,000 total pages.
The first two days have gone according to plan.
Must grab this momentum and roll with it.
Back to reading.
azr.
Last year I set out to have some epic years of reading, that is to read all of those fantasy novels I was so eager to go through but haven’t got around to doing so.
So, I compiled a list of 100 novels that I was just burning to read.
As you would see in the list below, there are a few series that are true classics, and if you love fantasy you most definitely must read, but there is also some of the new breeds of fantasy writers that are taking this beloved genre by storm.
The red text represents books I have already read.
The blue text represents the book I am currently reading.
| Book | Total Pages |
| The Hobbit | 288 |
| Lord of the Rings | 1112 |
| Legend of Huma | 384 |
| Dragons of a Fallen Sun | 627 |
| Dragons of a Lost Star | 550 |
| Dragons of a Vanished | 610 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book IV: The Crystal Shard | 344 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book V: Streams of Silver | 377 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book VI: The Halfling’s Gem | 378 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book VII: The Legacy | 341 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book VIII: Starless Night | 369 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book IX: Siege of Darkness | 378 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book X: Passage to Dawn | 375 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XI: The Silent Blade | 408 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XII: The Spine of the World | 406 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XIII: Sea of Swords | 407 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XIV: Servant of the Shard | 348 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XV: Promise of the Witch King | 345 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XVI: Road of the Patriarch | 375 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XVII: The Thousand Orcs | 367 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XVIII: The Lone Drow | 370 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XIX: The Two Swords | 376 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XX: The Orc King | 398 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXI: The Pirate King | 396 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXII: The Ghost King | 375 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXIII: Gauntlgrym | 389 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXIV: Neverwinter | 363 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXV: Charon’s Claw | 442 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXVI: The Last Threshold | 434 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXVII: The Companions | 441 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXVIII: Night of the Hunter | 352 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXIX: Rise of the King | 352 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXX: Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf | 352 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXXI: Archmage | 352 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXXII: Maestro | 352 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Book XXXIII: Hero | 352 |
| Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen I) | 635 |
| Deadhouse Gates (Malazan Book of the Fallen II) | 699 |
| Memories of Ice (Malazan Book of the Fallen III) | 925 |
| House of Chains (Malazan Book of the Fallen IV) | 1044 |
| Midnight Tides (Malazan Book of the Fallen V) | 960 |
| The Bonehunters (Malazan Book of the Fallen VI) | 1232 |
| Reaper’s Gale (Malazan Book of the Fallen VII) | 1280 |
| Toll the Hounds (Malazan Book of the Fallen VIII) | 1280 |
| Dust of Dreams (Malazan Book of the Fallen IX) | 1276 |
| The Crippled God (Malazan Book of the Fallen X) | 1200 |
| The Chronicles of the Black Company | 704 |
| The Books of the South | 672 |
| The Return of the Black Company | 672 |
| The Many Deaths of the Black Company | 788 |
| The Vorrh | 500 |
| The Erstwhile | 462 |
| Beren and Lúthien | 289 |
| Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire | 336 |
| Dancer`s Lament | 418 |
| Deadhouse Landing | 387 |
| Dragons of Autumn Twilight | 452 |
| Dragons of Winter Night | 404 |
| Dragons of Spring Dawning | 388 |
| Time of the Twins | 421 |
| War of the Twins | 412 |
| Test of the Twins | 348 |
| Dragons of the Dwarven Depths | 594 |
| Dragons of the Highlord Skies | 597 |
| Dragons of Hourglass Mage | 335 |
| The Second Generation | 440 |
| Dragons of Summer Flame | 612 |
| Amber and Ashes | 362 |
| Amber and Iron | 373 |
| Amber and Blood | 318 |
| Return of the Crimson Guard | 732 |
| The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, Vol.1 | 319 |
| Stonewielder | 638 |
| Orb Sceptre Throne | 609 |
| The Way of Kings | 1005 |
| Words of Radiance | 1088 |
| Oathbringer | 1241 |
| The Name of the Wind | 662 |
| The Wise’s Man Fear | 1000 |
| The Slow Regard of Silent Things | 159 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Anthology | 370 |
| Neverwhere (Illustrated by Chris Riddell) | 435 |
| Coraline (Illustrated by Chris Riddell) | 192 |
| The Graveyard Book (Illustrated by Chris Riddell) | 289 |
| Fortunately, The Milk… (Illustrated by Chris Riddell) | 144 |
| The Godborn: The Sundering Book II | 352 |
| The Adversary: The Sundering Book III | 528 |
| The Reaver: The Sundering Book IV | 352 |
| The Sentinel: The Sundering Book V | 352 |
| The Herald: The Sundering Book VI | 352 |
| The First King of Shannara | 538 |
| The Sword of Shannara | 670 |
| The Elfstones of Shannara | 619 |
| The Wishsong of Shannara | 572 |
| Prince of Thorns | 373 |
| King of Thorns | 609 |
| Emperor of Thorns | 449 |
| Forge of Darkness | 687 |
| Fall of Light | 861 |
| Blood and Bone | 850 |
So far I have read 26 of 100 books, and my total of pages is 11,048 of the 53,459 pages all of these books sum up.
For the Christmas break I have big plans, first is to read a couple of books from The Malazan Book of the Fallen and to finish Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire series.
In other news, yesterday I reached another milestone of this year of reading, a total of 3,000 pages.
As I planned for yesterday, I read a couple of issues from the newly published Sandman Universe spin-off series, on this journey I was in good company, firstly by great magician Tim Hunter and secondly by the prince of Darkness himself, the morning star, Lucifer.
These are two great books, and you should check them out, but for my taste, I was more intrigued by the Lucifer series.
I am still a little behind schedule with my reading but giving the circumstances I have achieved more than expected.
For today, I plan to work on The Gardens of the Moon for a little bit, and also to read a graphic novel I purchased a while back, Un samurái ve el amanecer en Acapulco, by Mexican writer Álvaro Enrigue and Spanish illustrator Sonia Pulido.
Well now, back to reading.
azr.
Just finishing with my work for the semester at my Master’s Degree and I can breathe a little bit easier.
I’ll take a few days to unwind and read a little bit.
I have plans to reach 3,000 pages by tomorrow.
So now let’s see how my numbers are.
I have some work to do, but in order to achieve this, I have some things line up.
Firstly, I will try to finish the first volume of the graphic adaption of my favorite novel, American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
Secondly, the seventh issue of the fantastic series Batman: White Knight by writer/artist Sean Murphy.
And finally, the first issues of the expanded Sandman Universe series, this time is the turn of The Books of Magic and Lucifer, it is always exciting to dive into this massive universe that made me fall in love with comic books.
And in between all of this, I’ll try to make some headway with The Gardens of the Moon, got to keep the epicness blowing.
I know, lots of reading, but finally a little time to read.
Back to it.
azr.
I just finished a long study session and my brain, although is exhausted, does not seem to want to shut off.
I get the all that reading and writing puts it into overdrive but come on have some decency.
I guess I’ll put this pseudo insomnia into good use.
I’ll probably squeeze some light reading, Kick Ass Volume 2 shall do the trick.
Fortunately this running around ends Friday and I have big plans for my reading.
But more of that later, for now I will focus on my school work and try to get to 3,000 my the end of this weekend.
Eyes don’t fail me now
Happy Readings!!!
azr.
Right now I am on the final stretch of my first semester of my masters degree.
And to define it as hectic it would be an understatement.
So, I will take a little break, pour myself some coffee and read the sixth issue of Batman: White Knight.
Let’s cast away some bad spirits.
Happy Readings!!!
azr.
I know, it has been 20 days since my last entry, but It has been a whirlwind.
So, just a quick update.
Just passed 2,000 pages for the year.
Still working on The Gardens of Moon and finished the first book of the year, The Prince of Thorns.
Also, I read a bunch of Hellboy stories, nothing like seeing little Anung-Un-Rama trying to run away and join the circus.
Well now back to it.
Hopefully I can write a bit more extended next week.
Happy Readings!!!
azr
For the past week, it has slipped my mind to talk about a new exhibition in the city’s museum of art.
This time is a photographic retrospective spanning five decades and the lenses of many photographers working on capturing the always intricated reality of our border city.
I am not sure until when the exhibition is going to be on display, but if you are in Ciudad Juarez or El Paso, you should go and check it out.
It would not disappoint.
Back to it then.
azr
Yesterday was my favorite Mexican holiday, Dia de Muertos, The Day of the Dead.
It is a special celebration, in which, we honor our dearly departed by putting their pictures and all of the things that they loved the most.
On the University’s grounds each year, the students and faculty, put up the traditional “altares” many dedicated to famous figures of Mexican and international cultures.
A really colorful celebration celebrating the life of our loved ones.
And with this day my Monster Mash period comes to a close and of the eleven tasks, which include reading horror books and watching some classic horror movies, I only completed two, reading the first volume of Hellboy in Hell and watching the new Halloween movie, so better luck next year.
The other good thing is that I finally started reading the second volume of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run, just a few pages in and it is already surpassing all expectations.
For now, I’ll work on this graphic novel and try to make some headway with Gardens of the Moon, currently on page 147 of 645.
The plan is to work my way thru the main storyline of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, that is, the ten novels written by Canadian author Steven Erikson and then jump back in with the infamous Drow Drizzt Do’Urden and continue my journey in the Forgotten Realms.
Now let’s talk numbers:
Now back to it, for the night is dark and full of reading.
azr.
I am glad to say that the first mini milestone of this year of reading has been reached.
That is reading 1,000 pages.
This is the first breath I take before the big plunge.
For me, getting over this first mark in the first two weeks of the year is monumental.
It motivates me, and it ignites my internal fire.
Now, let me tell you really quick how I got to this numbers.
First, I read a quick story-arc involving The Flash and Batman, The Button, as a prelude to the event The Doomsday Clock, it gets its hook into you, in my case, an overwhelming curiosity in where are they going with this.
Secondly, I read the first issue of the new Batman series, The White Knight, beautifully executed by the great Sean Murphy, love the murky artwork and storyline.
And lastly, I finished the third volume of Red Sonja by master storyteller Gail Simone, in my personal opinion one of the best interpretations of the She-Devil with a Sword.
I’ll stay off graphic novels to start my Monster Mash reading with a fresh book.
So, my focus for this two days will be the books on the deck and set the stage for Hellboy in Hell to kick off the festivities.
Now let’s talk numbers:
Happy Readings!!!
azr.
This week has been slow for my reading progress ( as you will see in the numbers a little bit below).
Let’s start with the book front; firstly I made some headway with the Gardens of the Moon, currently on page 108 of 645, secondly I keep on reading the beautiful 200th-anniversary edition of Frankenstein, right now I am on page 60 of 247.
Here are some of the beautiful illustrations by Mr. Plunkert.
I plan to finish it by Halloween and mark the official start of one of my favorite time of the year, something I like to call Monster Mash, which runs from Halloween (31st of October) to Dia de Muertos (2nd of November)
Dia de Muertos is the Mexican holiday where we honor our relatives who have past on; I loved this holiday because is full of color and is actually a celebration of life, a remembrance of those who are no longer with us physically but their memory lingers on vividly in everyone they touched.
During this three day period, I watch classic horror movies, eat industrial quantities of candy, read some of my favorites horror novels/graphic novels and go and watch the traditional “altares” y “tumbas” to commemorate Dia de Muertos.
I am still working on my list of movies and graphic novels.
So far, on the movie front, I have James Whale’s 1931 classic Frankenstein, a sort of tradition to watch it on Halloween. The other movie on my list is George Romero’s 1978 zombie classic Dawn of Dead.
On the graphic novel front, there is only a single book, Hellboy in Hell Volumen 1 by none other than Mike Mignola; I’ll browse around my unread pile of digital graphic novels to find some adequate gems to read.
I’m eyeing some classic Tomb of Dracula comics and some Swamp Thing by Alan Moore to add to the list.
Now let’s talk numbers, now quite the progress I would have liked, but at least it is not a dreadful and frightening zero.
Now back to reading as The War on Drugs gently spins on my record player.
azr.
lostinamillionpages.com 