Well, I fucked myself into this situation. I bought two books the other day and plan on buying more at the end of the month. The problem: I have a backlog now. Over the course of the next two and a half weeks I'll read five books.

The List:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (Just started reading it)
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (I've never read this - I've wanted to for a while but just never got around to buying it)
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Bought this after reading Small Gods, but never got around to reading it)
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Now, for those of you who don't understand why I'm in a rush... I won't allow myself to buy another book until I finish the ones I've already bought. This way I don't end up with a shitload of shit that I haven't read yet. I've had Sirens and Fountain forever, but just purchased I, Robot and realized that I hadn't read it yet.

And my other list, the "Books to buy when I get the fucking money" list, is getting to big. This list contains books like The Sunlight Dialogues by John Champlin Gardner (I cannot find a copy anywhere), Memoirs Found In A Bathtub by Stanislaw Lem, and Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. And damnit, I know someone out there's saying "He hasn't read fucking Nine Stories? What an ignorant fuck!" And gosh-darn it I need to...

Am I the only one doing this?

Do what exactly? Reading these exact books, or making a to read list, or striving to read the books you have at home *first*, and *then* buy new ones?

I have a heap of unread books at home, and I too have a to read list -- only that it is the size of a notepad. Damn.
I have to read a load of shitty books for school, so my eyes are already overtired ...

But some of the favs from my to read list:

Goethe: Wahlverwandschaften
Virginia Wolf: Mrs Dalloway
Michael Cunningham: The Hours
Marcel Proust: In the search of the lost time
Lewis Carroll: both Alice books

And to get myself through William Blake's poetry once more ...

Do what exactly? Reading these exact books, or making a to read list, or striving to read the books you have at home *first*, and *then* buy new ones?

From my first post:
"I won't allow myself to buy another book until I finish the ones I've already bought. This way I don't end up with a shitload of shit that I haven't read yet."

Anyone ever read Magaret Weis? I picked up her Star of the Guardian series and fell in love with it. Its now my most prized series. Some of her work i would recommend highly, others, such as dragonlance, i cannot enjoy. Just curious if anyone's ever read her, if they can suggest another book similar or simply comment on their feelings on it.

Good choices, CC.

<i>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</i> by Robert Pirsig (Just started reading it)

I read this when I was about 18, and found it a difficult read. Entertaining structure, though.

<i>I, Robot</i> by Isaac Asimov (I've never read this - I've wanted to for a while but just never got around to buying it)

One of the classics of Sci Fi. From memory, it introduced the three laws of robotics to the world. An easy read, too.

The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Bought this after reading Small Gods, but never got around to reading it)
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

I haven't read any of these. However, I probably don't need to read Pratchett to predict the general flavour of the contents; I've read a few Discworld novels. They're not bad, but not really my thing. I think Pratchett owes a big debt to Douglas Adams.

Thanks for reminding about Kurt Vonnegut. I've never read his stuff. Is it as bad as never reading the Nine Stories, or worse?

Besides the numerous psychology, philosophy, history books that I have to buy and read this summer, I have Look Homeward, Angel awaiting me. I gave up on Dante last winter, after a prof mentioned that everyone starts that book and never finishes it. Plus, I have a whole lot of folk tales and sci fi.... It is possible to read everything in 3 months! Have faith!

James,
Good choices, CC.
It's nice to know I've got good taste.

I read this when I was about 18, and found it a difficult read. Entertaining structure, though.
So far it's been heavy on the metaphysics, a subject I don't like. It's interesting, though.

One of the classics of Sci Fi. From memory, it introduced the three laws of robotics to the world. An easy read, too.
I should be able to blow through this thing in under four hours. I've heard of Asimov before, and I know the laws of robotics; I just wanted to read it before the shitty movie came out.

I haven't read any of these. However, I probably don't need to read Pratchett to predict the general flavour of the contents; I've read a few Discworld novels. They're not bad, but not really my thing. I think Pratchett owes a big debt to Douglas Adams.
I only started reading Pratchett after he paired with Gaiman on "Good Omens" (A great book, by the way). I won't read another Discworld book after I read this one; his humor is nice, his wit is sharp, but something about the way he structures his novels throws me off - I don't like it.

Douglas Adams is someone who I’ve come to like. I’m not a big fan of his. His books are funny, and I like Arthur Dent an all, but I just don’t like his books. I guess I’m weird. Everyone I’ve met loves Douglas, Pratchett, and Gaiman. I’m the only one (That I know of) who really loves Gaiman; I can’t stand Prachett or Douglas. They're not bad writers, I just don’t like them.