Not having any real idea of how many books I usually manage
in a year, and no idea of the kind of reading time the year before me
would bestow, I picked 50 books as my task. A book a week, pretty much. And I kept it up. I
did. Gleefully registering each book as it reached
‘the end’.Keeping track in my beloved Bullet Journal also helped each month at book club, as in the rush and wash of life I always found I had forgotten some gem that I had read that month.
I also particularly loved looking back and spotting patterns
and anomalies.
-
As
did authors I go back to again and again (Lisa Kleypas, Jill Shalvis).
-
I
discovered authors I’d never tried before then loved them and devoured them (CS
Pacat, Harlan Coben).
-
And
then there were authors (RJ Palacio, Lisa Lutz) who gave me one book which changed the
shape of my reading year adding depth and flavour and delight.
So did I make it to 50?
You bet I did! 54 to be exact. Will
I do it this year? You bet I will! It was fun, and helpful, and a buzz to see
that tracker ticking over.But it was the burgeoning realisation that I had such a healthy reading life that really warmed the cockles. As a mum of three with healthy happy young kids and a writing career and a graphics business and the rest, to know that I still found those pockets of time for myself to sink, dive, indulge in the reading of stories for my own pleasure was extremely gratifying.
Starting as I mean to go on, I finished reading my first book
of this brand spanking new year at half past midnight on New Years Day and I could not wait to write it down in my 2017 list. I'm thinking 55. One more than last year. Surely that's a worthy goal.
So come on, who's with me?
Me, Allly! Me, me, me!
ReplyDeleteBronwyn's post a few days ago inspired me to keep track of my reading beause it was a new years resolution a few years back to read more and I have - read about 8 books over Dec!! - but I want to keep track of exactly how many this year and GR is an easy platform to do so.
And....I'm already at 3!!! :-)
It's so worth it. You don't forget the gems and if you like a little healthy competition it reminds you not to give away that precious reading time to other pursuits.
DeleteCount me in, Ally! I'd love to reach 50 reads for the year. I fell short of that mark this year (by 6). But I've already finished one book this year, and am into my second, so fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love the variety of your reads. Must add some autobiographies of smart, creative woman. Also, as I've never read Lisa Kleypas, I need to add her to my list. :-)
Ahem, obviously that should read: I fell short of that mark *last* year. ;-)
DeleteOMG you MUST read Lisa Kleypas! I did on Sarah Mayberry's insistence and have never looked back. Take care when choosing as she tends to write 4 books series so make sure you read in order. So worth it. The Wallflowers series was my first and oh the joy!
DeleteHi Ally
ReplyDeleteAwesome I set myself a task of 200 last year on Goodreads and was a bit worried but got there + I read 208 last year and have again set myself 200 to read again this year and have already read 3 :)
I loved watching the challenge grow and when they put them all up with the covers wow it looks so good.
So yes I am in as well and although it is a long time since I have read a Lis Kleypas I have read her historical some books and highly recommend them
Have Fun
Helen
208! Wow. I'm assuming you live on a deserted island and a handsome young man in a loin cloth brings your fortifying drinks on the hour every hour and...oh, sorry, that's my reading fantasy. ;) Hope you reach your goal this year! Off to a great start.
DeleteI love Goodreads for how I'm going with my reading. Even know what I've read in previous years I find it difficult to select a number for their challenge. I know last year I set my target at 50 and then when I hit that reasonably early (March or April I think) I adjusted to 75, so by year end it was telling me I'd read two hundred and something percent of my goal - newly read books was 170ish with an addition 40ish re-reads.
ReplyDeleteWhile I did track what I'd read and what I'd rated it, I haven't gone through to figure out patterns in what I read. I may do this after 2017 though. I'd say part of what I track/note should be how many of the books are reviewed review copies (those copies being from authors' I would have read anyway).
I'd be curious what you though of Shonda Rhimes' Year of Yes since I'm currently reading it for an online book club that I'm part of.
Realised I forgot to add this year's goal: Has been set at 75. But reality is I have no idea what I will read, other than wanting to read less this year so reading does cut into my writing time
DeleteLyn, it sounds like you're the opposite to me. I was happy to carve out more reading time! But I totally understand how this is a good opportunity to find more writing time, for sure. Hope it works out for you this year!
DeleteNormally I'd be the same as you - carving out more reading time. However last year I read so much because on top of the usual read before bed, I was reading most weekends and plus it being my go to activity when chronic pain levels were high (seemed to be the case more often than not). Given that I work 40 hours a week in a mentally exhausting job, as well as trying to manage the health challenges, it's tough enough to make time for writing without letting extra reading time take over.
DeleteAlly, I've been thinking about this since Bron's post a few days ago so I might do it too. No idea how many books to set though, because I've never recorded it before!
ReplyDeleteMy number was fairly random. A little under a book a week felt about right for me. Though I was surprised to actually make it!
Delete54 books is a fabulous effort, well done! I also read Mindy Kaling's book (her second one) last year and really enjoyed it. She has such a great voice.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing a 50 book challenge this year too, seems to be the right amount for me. I got 51 in last year, quite comfortably. I love being able to look back at the end of the year and see all the covers of the books I've read. probably my favourite part of Good Reads!
I've done the Goodreads Challenge for the last two years, and just started for this year. I love keeping track of my reading like that! I also love all the stats you can then look up, and the covers always look so pretty... I met my challenge the last two years, yay! This year I'm going for 80, a lower number because I want to read some huge books that have been on my TBR for a while. Love the Goodreads Challenge!
ReplyDeleteI'm seriously thinking about doing the Goodreads Challenge this year. Being a group thing is one tick. The visual of seeing all the covers, a second big tick. The only thing is deciding on a number that is both realistic and in the spirit of a challenge. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do the reading challenge but right now I have too many other challenges going on in my life! I am a fast reader and usually read a couple of books a week, more if they are category or contemporary romance. I take a little longer with memoirs or social commentary or history books.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like Harlen Coben, Ally. He has such fresh writing. I like his earlier stuff particularly. I listened to a podcast of his recently which was fabulous.
My goal last year was 120 & I made it to 153! I made this year's goal 150. I don't have any little ones in the house, and my youngest will actually be going away to college in Sept., so I will have more time. I also have a job that has slow periods, in which I can read at work. I think it is great to keep track of what and how much you read through GR!
ReplyDelete