Jun 22, 2018

My 2018 Reading Challenge

by Bronwyn Jameson

Has anyone else noticed that we’re approaching mid-year?  Scary, isn’t it, how quickly time flies when you’re not paying attention.  I could despair at how far behind I am in many of my 2018 projects but no. I’m taking a positive stand and looking at the one project I’m killing. 


My 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge:  I’ve read 45 of my scheduled 50 already so I’m feeling quite chuffed.  Not only because the stat’s say 90% done but because I’ve broken a reading jag -- not a full-on slump, but a semi-malaise.  The kind that made me feel meh about reading in general, so I'd choose to not pick up my Kindle for weeks and weeks and weeks on end.

During this time, I was listening to podcasts when normally I'd be reading. One of my favourites is Gretchen Rubin’s “Happier” which is packed with tips for living a happier life — some involve big change and others are as simple as Stop Reading That Book!
Which book? Any book that isn’t doing its job, and for me that job is — 90% of the time — entertainment.  In 2018 I’ve given myself permission to DNF.  When in the past I would push on, not wanting to give up on the author or the characters or their story. Wanting to find the magic that other readers expressed in the reviews that drew me to buy this book. Hoping the connection would come with the next scene or in the next chapter or the one after that.

But Gretchen convinced me: I don't have to finish.  With so many titles on my Kindle — I am a chronic one-clicker — there is no reason to persist with books that don’t satisfy me, entertain me, or make me feel good. If a book isn’t enticing me to pick it up, to turn the page, to read just one more chapter, then I try another.  Sometimes I just need a different book...or a different kind of book.

Hence, I’m back in love with reading and killing my 2018 Reading Challenge.

Do you like to finish most books you start, even if they’re not wonderful, or do you DNF them and move on?

14 comments:

  1. Congrats on your reading challenge. I seem to be pretty much on schedule with mine but I must admit I pick a number that I’m sure I can achieve so there is not too much pressure. Finishing books you start is a hot topic around the blogosphere and I think I’m alone in saying that I push myself to finish every book I start but I’m pretty choosy about what I read so there isn’t much I don’t like.
    ( hope my comment hasn’t come through three times. I’m having trouble with my iPad 😩)

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    1. Veronica, I'm like you. I pick an achievable number although in 2018 I limped over the line with exactly 50, hence my delight in getting back my reading mojo this year. Interesting point about being choosy with your books, hence finishing them all. When books were books and more expensive, I was the same. I took more time selecting my reads, with few impulse buys ... which also meant I didn't try as many new authors of different genres as I do now with digital (and generally cheaper) books. So there's definitely more that I don't like, but also the hidden gems I would not have found in "the old days."

      (And just the one comment.)

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  2. Snap! I've also been trying to deal with my digital TBR pile this year -- part of my reading challenge was one "old" book for every new purchase read. And I've also deleted a lot of titles that I know I'll never get to. A de-cluttering exercise that has made my Kindle much more manageable.

    Sorry to hear about your injury but glad it's now on the mend. And that you were able to use the down time to get way ahead on your reading challenge.

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  3. I used to finish every book, as I'd say to myself, "I paid for this so I'm da** well going to read it!" That lasted about 30 years. For the past 15 years, I have "given myself permission" to not read the "entire" book. I'll stop where I realize it's going nowhere, and then I'll skip over to the last chapter to read their HEA and possible epilogue. If even that is a chore, I'll skip again to the final two pages (as I still want that HEA) and say no to the epilogue.
    I remember years ago literally throwing a book across the room because it didn't have an HEA.
    I usually pass my books onto friends and family when done. When I come across a book that makes me mad (like those mentioned above), I toss it in the recycling bin instead. Sorry, but that's how I roll....

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    1. Lacey, you are obviously a faster learner than I. LOLs. My inability to not-finish stems from a number of factors:
      1. Guilt/loyalty: I want to finish books to repay the author's hard work.
      2. I was brought up to finish tasks and not give up until the (bitter) end.
      3. And, yes, I paid for this so I must try harder to get value for my money.
      Who knew this post would become a therapy session for me? More LOLs.

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  4. I have passed my goal this year, and I think it's precisely for what you describe. I've finally given myself permission to just put the book down if I'm not enjoying it. So that means that this year I have loved almost every book I've read, even if it wasn't on some list of must-reads. I used to worry I was missing something if I didn't finish, or that I was in some way letting the author down. Not completing the book doesn't mean I have to announce to the world I didn't like it; it just means stop. And I don't agree to read and review ARCs anymore unless it's a book that already seems to be in my comfort zone. I'm not a professional reader or reviewer so I need to remind myself that reading is a joy and I need to do whatever it is that keeps it that way.

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    1. Reading *IS* a joy. I'm so glad both you and I have arrived at this place and that we can stop being apologetic about DNFing anything that isn't bringing us joy. You are so right: no-one needs to know which books we didn't care for, which didn't work for US right now. Go us!!!

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  5. Woohoo on the challenge Bronwyn I love doing these and I have read 107 of my 205 books 11 in front and 52 % through which makes me smile :)

    I normally read every book I start but I did have one last week that I got from Netgalley sounded really good and after 10% in it was a DNF I just couldn't go any further I felt really bad but I really have so many fabulous books to read that I had to leave it. I am still behind in my reading there are so many fabulous authors writing great books and so many coming out at the same time it is hard to keep up, but I love it :)

    Have Fun

    Helen

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    1. Wow, 107 read. That is sensational Helen. I do love reading and am sure I would have no trouble getting that number if I didn't spend so much time trying to write. LOLs.

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  6. Bron, I hate giving up on a book but yes, time has become too precious to waste reading a book that doesn't engage me. If it isn't too terrible (and I don't mean it's not a good book, but just doesn't do anything for me, taste being so personal!) I sometimes skim really quickly to the end. I need to delete that book from my Kindle, though, or get it out of the house, as otherwise I'm guilty of picking up the DNF book and starting it again only to come to the same realisation again! I am a very fast reader so get through a lot of books.

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    1. I totally relate to your response, Kandy.
      Time has really become too precious for me too.
      I am a very fast reader as well. Most Harlequins take me a little over an hour to read (so are great for bubble bath times).
      I just read my 93rd book of the year. I am WAY behind, though, as I have read over 250 books every year since 1973. I'll catch up, never fear, LOL.

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    2. Kandy, I also relate to your comment. Time is precious and I LOVE reading, so I want to spend my precious reading time on books that I love. Also agree about getting rid of the DNFs because it is easy to start over at a distant date thinking it's still a TBR.

      The part I don't relate it, Kandy and Laney: I'm not a fast reader by nature. With books I love, I prefer to wallow in the story and the writing. To not miss a sharp turn or phrase or a clever nuance . If I start to skim it's because I'm not engaged.

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  7. I'm 8 ahead of my GR challenge this year, Bron. I reduced it to 75 from 100 last year as I didn't make that ilustrious number. Next year I'm doing 50 though because the idea was to push myself to read more, not to meet some insane target I set for myself. I think 50 is a goodly amount of books to read in a year and who knows, maybe I'll even surpass it without the pressure being on?
    Of the books I've read this year, several have been DNF's. I always note this in the private notes section so I know when I go back at the end of the year how many I actually read to completion.
    I've also joined a book club this year to force myself to read more "intellectual" books. There havbe been 2 books so far - one was a DNF, the other I persisted with (it was a novella which helped!) even though it wasn't my cup of tea at all. But I'm going to persist with the club because I do need to broaden my reading base.

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  8. That's the thing about goals, isn't it? You want them achievable without being TOO easy and sometimes it takes a bit of working out. I reckon 50 is a decent number -- almost one a week -- without being TOO difficult. Because reading, for me, shouldn't create any stress. There's enough of that in everything else; I want reading to remain a joy and an escape. Which brings me to the book club: good luck with that. ;-)

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