As I’ve mentioned before, I read a lot. I always thought there wasn’t much point in me doing a reading challenge like the 52 books in a year one, since I habitually read much more than a book a week anyway. However, on the Goodreads site, I came across the Seasonal Reading Challenge group, which posts a long list of tasks to be achieved over a season (defined as a three month period). So I signed up. Because while I read a lot, I only really read within a couple of genres (Sci fi / Fantasy / Urban Fantasy / SFR, and Historical Romance – I like my escapism, see!). I used to read mystery / spy / thriller novels more when I was younger, but I moved away from them when I got more into reading sci-fi. Anyway, as I think I also mentioned in a previous post, doing that challenge didn’t widen my reading as much as I’d hoped / planned. It probably would have done if I didn’t have such a long list of books I already want to read.
So, last year I did the 144-books-in-a-year challenge instead. And… I failed!! I only read around 110 books. Some of them were pretty doorstep-y, but still. I spose that’s what happens when you only have one pair of hands – I can’t read and knit or spin at the same time, unless I’m listening to an audiobook. Which I don’t do very often.
This year, the challenge group (this is also on Goodreads, by the way) has changed its parameters so that you can set your own goals to some extent. I thought I’d be realistic and go for 100 books this time around. That averages out to 8 1/3 books per month, and I’ve already read nine so far this year. So that’s a good start. If I find I’m reading more every month, there are points during the year where you can move your challenge goalposts, so I can increase to 150 if I want. But I’m not going to particularly try for that, I’ll just see how I do.
What a goal! I love to read, but find it so much harder to find the time these days. I just want to start keeping track of what I can actually accomplish over a year. Starting slow… ;)
Because I’m not able to work at the mo, I’ve got more reading time that I otherwise would – that helps! I started out by just keeping track, too, but now I’m enjoying the slight challenge of having a goal to work up to :-)
That’s a great start! I only challenged myself to 25 on GoodReads. Have fun!
I’ve always been a dreadful bookworm, though ;-) Hope you have fun too!
Here from ICLW. You *only* read 110 books? That is very impressive. Congrats!!
Thank you! Bear in mind, though, that I’m not working at the moment, so I have more reading time than when I was at work. :-)
Happy ICLW!