Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Working on "The List"

Time is running out and I'm feeling stressed about finishing my Top 100 Romances for the AAR poll. I finally narrowed down my list to 100 last night. Then I started the monumental task of sorting them in order of preference. I was rather overwhelmed until I came up with the idea of taking 20 of my all time favorites (I tried 10 at first but that was too hard) set them aside in a new list and then put them in a semi-order. Then I grabbed 20 more from the remaining 80 and sorted those. And so on it goes. I still have 40 left to go.

The whole task of sorting them is really like comparing apples to oranges. I may like one book more for the characters and another more for the plot, etc. etc. I like different books for different reasons. In the end I'm sorting them for my gut feeling about them. Or rather my heart. It's all subjective.

Anyway, AAR Rachel and Rosario finished their lists. And AAR published Interim results at the bottom of the poll. I found a couple books on these lists that I want to add but that means deleting some from my current list. Impossible! I better quit looking at other lists. I'd like to publish my list in a nice table like they did but I don't think I'm that smart.

What else? Oh, yeah, did you read about Nora Roberts winning book of the year at the 3rd annual Quill Awards? Totally awesome. I'm so proud :)

The rumble continues with KristieJ and Cindy posting some cool sparklies. It's so nice to be part of a community where people can disagree without getting their panties in a twist. I came up on the side of Derek and Cindy is feeling betrayed but I know she still loves me. Right, Cindy? Hmm, maybe I'll have to do something to get back into her good graces and groveling is probably involved.

6 comments:

Rosie said...

Renee as I commented when Rosario put up her list, I so love reading other people's hard work but haven't committed myself to doing one of my own. Although you all are inspiring. I'm thinking of just starting a list of books I love and putting it aside and ranking it over time. Then maybe by the time they do the top 100 again I'll be ready.

Rosario said...

Ooooh, good strategy! I wish I'd thought of it, it really could have made the exhausting sorting go quicker.

As for the table, I did it using Excel and the CONCATENATE formula ([tr][td] in one column, the book in the next, [/tr][/td] in the last one, and then CONCATENATE to put the 3 elements one after the other. Then add [table border="1"] at the beginning of the whole thing, close with [/table], and voilà). Hmm, hope that's somewhat clear.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to your list!

ReneeW said...

Rosie: Yes, it is a daunting task but I have always meant to do it so I'm glad AAR has given me an incentive. Do you keep a spreadsheet or a list of books read? I could not have done this without it. Definitely start your list now and that will give you a starting point when AAR does this again.

Rosario: Thanks for the tip! You are the spreadsheet queen so I should have asked you first. I'll give it a try and send you email if I have any problems. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Yay Nora! I love her books so much. She is such a consistently good author. I have never read one of her books I didn't love.

PS: Good luck on your list!

CindyS said...

Groveling is never involved - except in my romances and I always love you! Now me, I'm in my chair laughing my butt off - I'm hoping people aren't all serious cause uh, I'm just a ham.

I think we should fight over Stuart heroes next!

I'm not even sure I'm going to get to 100 titles. Bad memory mostly and then I began to over think the whole thing. Bah. I think I have 34 titles now - I'm going to do a once over and then send it in. I'm a pollster but LinnieGayl will be entering my ballot. I have 1500 titles that have been voted for on my spreadsheet (LinnieGayl and Lee have their own and I think Lee may be up to 2000 titles (we separated the alpha so we each do a 1/3 of the ballots) and I figure if that doesn't shake loose anymore titles for my list then nothing will!

Cindy

ReneeW said...

Alie: That's what I have always said about Nora - she's consistently good. And I loved Angels Fall (the book that got the award). I put it on my top 100 list.

Cindy: Whew :) Well, I don't think anyone is taking it seriously and those crazy letters by both of you were a hoot. Wow that's a lot of titles. Kudos to you, LinnieGayl and Lee for doing all the ballot counting. You are so good. That's going to be a lot of work. And most people will probably wait till the last minute (like me). I can hardly wait to see the results. Should be interesting.

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