I’m all for the library and KU because I read over 100 books a year and can’t afford to buy them all. I don’t tend to annotate unless it’s a non-fiction and even those it doesn’t happen often with but those I tend to buy then. I do like to get signed copies of books I love after I read them.

Either way, it works out for the reader. No problem to treat each part as a separate novel, it's not exactly breezy reading.

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You would probably like Savage Detectives better. To be fair, 2666 was unfinished when Bolano died, so who knows what it ultimately would have looked like.

I love the idea of decluttering, because it leaves room for books you'll love, but I'm not sure I could limit myself to 20. 😲

Genuinely asking, because I've never heard the term, but is 'strugglebus' a typo or actually something? (British, so, for example, didn't know what a 'shortbus' was).

I actually tend to buy books for kindle and read them on my phone, so neither. Owning a physical copy of a book does nothing for me and I’m glad to avoid it.

Used books are a cheaper alternative.

Or my favorite - BookOutlet - for overstock books (new but returned to publisher)

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What I had heard was that he split up into 5 to maximize the amount of money he could leave his son (he was dying as he wrote it), though I'm not completely sure that is true.

I look at my “want to read” and compare to what I can get at the library. Get the ones that aren’t at the library.

Personally I have a large list of books I’m waiting on at the library and try to do that as much as I can. However, if I am impatient I’ll buy.

Plenty of takes here. Mine will be no less subjective. First, it could be that this isn’t the right time for you to read this book. Second, it could be the wrong book for you. Third, my view is that it’s a solid book but im not sure if it has lasted through the lens of time for me. Im not saying the emperor has no clothes (like i would about DFW) but i do think there’s less there than meets the eye. I was on a bolano binge for a while and ive even read all his shorter books, but at some point it didnt resonate. In 2666 there are some very very good parts, but in the end it didnt hold up. Maybe I’ll revisit it in a few years, maybe i wont. Will see

Borrowing from the library takes the pressure off reading for me. I have some books that I've bought and never read and they just sort of stare at me, quietly shaming me as time goes on. Joking but not joking. I still buy books but this year I'm trying to take a borrow-first approach.

We all have our preferences. Personally I didn't like DFW or Ellis, I like Bolano and Danielewski, and am neutral on people like Pynchon or Eco.

That may also have something to do with my chafing against his language. There’s a through line of apathy in the book from beginning to end that I think wore on me, especially with the dense text and often meandering asides. I found a good stopping point between novellas so maybe once I pick it back up I’ll get to see that style used to greater effect

Edit: not sure why this warranted downvotes!

I started to get back into reading in 2020. I wasn’t going into the library so I bought so many books to read. I haven’t nearly read all of them and I am running out of space on my shelves.

I just got a library card end of last year and I am loving it so far! I don’t have to spend money and I can request holds and I don’t have to waste the space on my shelves, especially if it’s a book I end up not liking as much as I thought I would!

I know I'm very lucky. We only tackle the tough books, but we can count on each other to do the reading and discussing and learning. We take the book in sections and discuss as we read. I hope we always keep it going.

People do seem to enjoy savage detectives maybe I’ll start there!

I’ve yet to read infinite jest but I definitely think I also gravitate towards Wallace’s writing style more than Bolaños. After reading Something To Do With Paying Attention I felt like I had read something human and plainspoken while I feel that Bolaños cynicism may turn me off a bit. He’s clearly a brilliant writer but maybe I need to under what style works for me best

Borrow. Buy after if I'll reread. According to my library I save ~5k a year.

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I loved the first part and absolutely hated the other parts.

2666 was one of my favorite books last year. Rather than compare it to the difficulty of Murakami -- Id say it's more like Gravity's Rainbow, Infinite Jest, or The Familiar. They all take a while to understand what the author is going for. You many still not like the books methods or it's conclusion (which many people hate), but I believe the way it's written definitely achieves Bolanos goals.