Ally’s post last month convinced me to take part in the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I’ve challenged myself to read 50 books for 2017. That’s less than a book a week. Doable, right?
Hmm…
2016: 44 books read
2015: 53 books read
2014: 34 books read
2013: 46 books read
2012: 52 books read
So, in the last 5 years I’ve only hit that fifty-target twice. Which kinda sounds appalling for a writer, but I’m not counting the bits and pieces I’ve been reading from research books for my PhD. Sigh. Yes, it’s true—I’m just searching for excuses.
So, in an effort to reach my target I’ve created a bit of plan:
- To read at least one book from each LoveCat this year. That’s 13 books.
- I’m part of a monthly book group. That’s 11 books (we do drinks in Dec rather than a book ;-) ).
- I have 6 RITA books.
- So far I’ve read 6 books for the year (though one is the book group selection). So that’s another 5 books.
All of that adds up to 35 books.
Now all I have to do is add another 15 books and I’ll have met my target. But how should I choose those 15 books. Should they come from:
- My Kindle TBR pile? I have soooo many on my device waiting to be read.
- Then there’s the serendipitous impulse buys that will need to be read immediately.
- What about the physical cupboard full of paperbacks I’ve yet to read?
I could simply choose 5 from each, and Voila, my target will be met. :)
What about you, do you ever organise your reading into lists like this or are you more footloose and fancy-free?
And is there one book this year you really have to read and think I should add to my list? Recommendations are always welcome. :)
Hi Michelle
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and a great question wow for me I read and review a lot of books (and love it) so I have a word doc that has the titles listed in release day order because I do them as close to release date as life lets me :) and then of course there are the books that I buy and need to read asap so I put them in there as well. I love reading and reviewing it makes me smile.
I have already read 19 books this year on my Goodreads challenge I challenges myself to 200 books last year and read 208 so again this year I have set it at 200 lets see how I go.
As for recommendations I have read some fabulous stories already this year a few would be Now You're Mine Avril Tremayne wow also Murder Most Unusual Michelle Somers and Liz Fielding's The Sheikh's Convenient Princess :)
Have Fun
Helen
200 books, Helen? Ooohhhh, what fun! And go you for already reading 19 books for the year (I'm at 7 and rather pleased with myself). I always love how positive your reviews are. Your love of reading shines through. :-)
DeleteOh, and that Liz Fielding is SO on my TBR pile. Thanks for the other recs, they look great.
Wow- you are so organised!! This year I did think I'd write down all the books I've read in the year. Currently I'm on my RITAs, which I'm enjoying. I love the idea of reading one of each of the Lovecat books!! I'll definitely do that. As for recs...hmmm, Jodi Picoult's Small Great Things. Just. Read. It.
ReplyDeleteOrganised? Ha! We'll see how long the pretty plan lasts. LOL. But...I really would love to read a book from each LCats. And thanks for the JP rec -- looks interesting! :-)
DeleteThis is my first year of trying to keep track of my reads, Michelle and I think the Goodreads challenge is excellent for this!
ReplyDeleteI've made myself a 100 book goal this year. So far I have read 13 books. Although a couple of those were DNF and I think there's a novella in there as well.
I have 7 RITA and 2 Ruby books to read as well as some panelists books for ARRC so that will take care of quite a few of the hundred!
I think this year I'm also going to challenge myself to read outside the romance genre too. A crime novel, a science fiction novel and something literary. The idea doesn't really rock my boat but it wont hurt me :-)
You know, I think reading outside of one's genre is a good thing to do (so, no, it won't hurt you ;-) ). My book group takes care of that for me with it's odd bod selections, and the books are always interesting. You've also got plenty of contest entries there, so they'll definitely help whittle down your 100 book goal (which I will say I'm slightly in awe of). Good luck with it! Am loving how the Goodreads challenge has quite a few of us feeling motivated, AA. :-)
DeleteOne by each LoveCat is a great idea - I might do that too! Also, we should do a tiny book group one. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading a book from each of the LCats, Rach. And, yes, we should slip in a book group one just for us -- what fun that'll be!
DeleteOh, a book I have to read is The Hating Game.
ReplyDeleteOne I would recommend for you? The Suffragette Scandal. Just read it and loved!
Do you have a more literary rec for me?
I *so* have to read The Hating Game. I've heard so many good things about it.
DeleteThanks for the Suffragette Scandal rec -- will go and grab it!
Hmm, a literary rec... I love Kate Atkinson. One of my favourite ever books is Behind the Scenes at the Musuem. But, Case Histories is wonderful (and you get the fab Jackson Brodie) -- literary AND easy to read (and a mystery), I think you'd like it. :-)
Oh, and here's the Amazon link...just in cases. ;-)
Deletehttps://www.amazon.com/Case-Histories-Novel-Kate-Atkinson/dp/0316010707/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486531947&sr=8-2&keywords=case+histories
Okay, you sold me. One-clicked that sucker!
DeleteLet me know what you think! :-)
DeleteI'm so not going to get a chance to read it until about April I reckon! :-(
DeleteI'm hearing you, AA! It can be so hard to find the time.
DeleteWow, Michelle, that's some total. I'm very random. Whatever's on the top of the pile by the bed, or the three piles in the office, or a random choice on the tablet. Yep, no set plans at all. But now you're making me want to up the ante so maybe a plan is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteSue, I'm hoping that by having a plan, I'll meet my goal. We'll see how well the plan works out. ;-) But, you know, all reading is good, and that whole serendipitous grabbing for the nearest thing at hand that takes my fancy works just as well too. :-)
DeleteLove the idea of 1 book from each LoveCat... I can't remember where I mentioned it (probably FB) I'll add that to the mix next year. Can I recommend Stef's Mr Dangerously Sexy and AA's Playing the Player [or any of the Sydney Smoke Rugby series]
ReplyDeleteToo tired to do a full reply right now... will do that tomorrow. However, as of this afternoon I need to review my Goodreads goal since it's now possible to mark re-reads.
In the past I've probably read something from each of the LCats, Lyn, but I've not done so all in the same year. At the moment it just seems the epitome of reading fun -- so much fabulous romance!
DeleteOh, and snap! I have Stef's Mr Dangerously Sexy (sounds great) and I *so* have to read Linc's story by AA. Loved the previous one, Playing It Cool. :-) Thanks for the recs!
Great topic, Michelle. I signed up for the Goodreads challenge this year with a 50 book goal. Last year I read more but this year I have a lot to do and I want to regulate my reading so it doesn't take up writing time.
ReplyDeleteI'm a free 'n' easy reader. I choose according to my mood at the time: do I feel like sweet or sensual or dark or suspenseful or challenging or whatever. I would like to hit some outside-my-box areas in my reading this year -- more non-fiction is one goal -- so I must keep on top of that. Instead of just following the free 'n' easy trail.
I'd also like to take up the one story from each LoveCats challenge. Great idea!
Free and easy works for me too, Bron. But in the last couple of years I've started to forget about certain books (and then face palm myself)...or I say to myself "I've been meaning to read abc by xyz". Hopefully this year I'll manage to get those kinds of books and/or authors read. :-) Which is why I've instituted the (inspired if I do say so myself) LoveCats Reading Challenge. ;-)
DeleteI should add more non-fic too. It's a great resource for story material. Thanks for the reminder!
An addition to my comment above since instead of falling asleep my brain gave me a second wind [might have something to do with no work tomorrow for anyone in my day job building].
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I'm a mixture of lists and going with the flow.
Ebony McKenna shared a 2017 reading challenge at the beginning of January - have tagged Michelle in the comments of when I shared it to my own FB wall. When I read through the 26 items listed, I could identify titles that I (1) already planned to read this year, (2) knew I already had a book on my bookshelf or ereader that would fit the criteria or (3) figured I'll somewhat easily be able to find a book to fulfil.
In addition to that there is several books that I know I'll definitely be reading this year too. That would be all of Stef's releases [since I review them but would have bought them anyway], Michelle's releases, all of AA's Outback Heat series [that was done in January], all of AA's Sydney Smoke titles that get released this year, all of Carrie Ann Ryan's 2017 Montgomery Ink releases, all of Carrie Ann Ryan's 2017 Gallagher Brother releases and Karina Bliss' Resurrection. In addition to that I've got print copies I've recently received of an Annie West title and a Karina Bliss title.
Aside from that, I'm going to be making an effort again to make a dent in the unread titles on my ereader - I had a similar goal last year but added more than I made a dent because of instafreebie, bookfunnel and other free titles (to the extent I now can't fit my entire ebook collection on my ereader). I guess this could be considered a list of sorts but since other than going by what's showing as unread on the ereader, I don't totally consider it a list.
Only other intention is to see what comes out from several other authors that I enjoy reading and trying to afford the books sooner rather than later.
I too have read titles from most of the LoveCats in the past - but I'm definitely planning on requiring 1 books from each LoveCat in next year's self-set reading challenge. That and choosing a few authors who I will catch up on their entire backlist for the ones who weren't recently published when I found them. Actual number will be dependant on length of the chosen author(s) backlist(s). It'll probably take a few years to achieve that for all the authors I have in mind.
Oops, that turned into a chapter.
DeleteWow, Lyn, you're organised! I love your reading plan -- you have plenty of direction, but also some inbuilt flexibility. The reading list you share from Ebony Mckenna looks like *so* much fun. I'm determined to do something like that next year -- what fun (it's exactly the kind of thing to distract me from my thesis this year, though, which is why it'll have to wait till next year)!
DeleteI'm hearing you on the number of ebooks that seem to proliferate on one's ereader. For every book I read I seem to add 10. But I keep telling myself that the reading challenge is an ongoing project. I don't have to read *all* the books *all* at once. :-)
P.S. Chapters are always welcome here. ;-)
A book from each LoveCat is a great idea, Michelle. I've already read at least one (two, three or four) books from most LoveCats but it is time to dive in again. I really, really want to keep a track of my books and occasionally update my goodreads list but haven't for a while.
ReplyDeleteHave you read any Liane Moriarty books. I've loved hers to far.
I love keeping track of what I've read, Jen...and when. The jog to the memory is always welcome. :-)
DeleteOMG! Liane Moriaty! I took Big Little Lies away with me for my beach read and I love that book *SO* hard. Also, very jealous -- I wish I'd written it. Must read more from her. What would you suggest I read from her next?
Michelle, I really liked Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and loved The Hypnotist's Love Story.
DeleteOoh, thanks for that, Kandy! As soon as my RITA (and Ruby) books are done, I mean to dive into another Liane Moriarty...and both of those sound great! :-)
DeleteHi Michelle, I love your idea of reading a book from each of the LoveCats! I am blessed with being a very fast reader and get through a lot of books. But I don't count or record them which is probably not a good idea! If you're reading out of genre, I discovered Ann Cleeves last year and read right through all her Vera and Shetland books. I found her Harbour Street to be one of the best British mystery/thriller/police procedural books I've read.
ReplyDeleteI do envy the fact that you're a fast reader, Kandy. I used to be when I was a kid, but I seemed to have slowed down as I've gotten older (though that refers to more than just the reading, LOL). Ooh, Ann Cleeves? I'm off to google her. It's been a long while since I read a police procedural, but I usually enjoy them (especially the British ones). Thanks for the suggestion. :-)
DeleteI love the way you've split up your reading goals - such a good idea! I'm on book 3 of 7 for my RITA judging this year and have been given some really fun reads, which is a plus :)
ReplyDeleteI am for 50 a year too, sometimes I get more and sometimes I scrape in right on the buzzer. Novellas help too lol
I've had to dive into my RITA reads now too, Stef, if I want to get them read in time. I have some fun looking books in my pile too. :-) It's such a hardship. ;-)
DeleteLaughing at the novella tip. Mind you, if I feel that my 50 goal is getting away from me, I may just read a couple of novellas to get me on track again. :-D