So how's the year working out for you?

[Janice]

I completed all of my challenges but one:

Hear Ye, Hear Ye - 76/60
Doorstops -25 /15
EDingus - 51/30
Home Alone - 7/7
Hot Off The Press - 19/12
Another Chance - 1/5
That's Unreal - 11/7 Horror Genre
Where's Your Card? -39/10
Back In The Saddle - 11/5 Rereads

Now to plan 2017....

[Almeta]

I did pretty well this time round. (2016)

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! = 110/65
Doorstops = 22/10
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die = 10/5
Shortcuts =32/ 20
Reality Check =14/10
Double Dog Dare = 64/60
Shelving Unit (Sai King Recommends) = 22/20
Chain Link Fence (got-connections) = 31/31 (This is part of a challenge that I started at an earlier date, so I had adjust my goal to 27 for 2016. Read 4 others in 2015.)
Yearbook = 104/136 (Crazy Challenge gets bigger and bigger every year for me. I'll never catch up!)
World Tour: = 70/50 (Had a Geo-Cache challenge in YLTO! that kept me going on this one.)
Serial Eyes = 105/55 toward series', 6 completed
Left Over Stew = 19/10
Home Alone =19/30 (The grass is always greener outside my house!)

Here are my total failures! I just lost interest in completing them.
I am going to try the Dagger Awards again in 2017 for And the Award Goes To

And the Award Goes To (Dagger) = 6/20
Authorization (Rock Bottom Remainders) = 1/15
Time Waits for No One (Harlem Renaissance) =0/ 5

[Almeta]

Janice wrote: "I completed all of my challenges but one:

Another Chance - 1/5 ..."

Probably didn't deserve another chance anyway!☺

[Janice]

Almeta wrote: "Probably didn't deserve another chance anyway!☺"

Probably not! Although the one I did read, I loved the second time around. There were a couple of others I wanted to try again, but I never got to them.

[Purple]

I have finally update my shelves. I was able to complete one challenge (Home Alone 10/10), but not the other, Shelving Unit (16/20).

Twelve months seems like such a long time in January! I thought I'd easily finish both, but I only just squeaked by on the first one. I read lots of books, just not the ones I actually planned to!

Some of you guys, though, are fantastic with these challenges! Congrats!

Off to set new challenges for 2017. Hopefully I'll do better this time around. :)

[Almeta]

Purple wrote: "...Off to set new challenges for 2017. Hopefully I'll do better this time around. :) .."

Even though I don't make all of my goals, I think that I do better having made them.

It is difficult to stay focused when we have so many new recommendations and group reads to keep up with.

Enjoy your reads of 2017.

[Purple]

Very true, Almeta. I think having set goals at least helps me remain focused on what I would like to be reading.

Happy reading to you as well!

[Elizabeth S]

I just squeaked by on several challenges, but happily all were done!

Doorstops: 15/15
Shelving Unit: 279/200
Shortcut: 649/600
And the Award Goes To: 25/25
Double Dog Dare: 13/13
Pulitzer Challenge: 8/8
Back in the Saddle: 39/30
Help Yourself: 12/12
Hot Off the Press: 148/125
Left Over Stew: 100/100
Now That Was Classic: 20/20

[Almeta]

Elizabeth S wrote: "I just squeaked by on several challenges, but happily all were done!

Doorstops: 15/15
Shelving Unit: 279/200
Shortcut: 649/600
And the Award Goes To: 25/25
Double Dog Dare: 13/13
Pulitzer Challeng..."

Great job Elizabeth!☺

[Darkpool]

Mixed results for 2016.
Made it with..
Hear Ye: 21/20
New (to me) Authors (aka authorization) 16/15
Chain link fence 12/12 (love this challenge)
Goodreads authorization 31/25
Missed it with..
Where's your card: 39/40 (so close!)
Shelving Unit 13/15
Left over stew 4/6 (clearly still not interested in those books)
reality check 6/8
serialeyes 23/25

[Almeta]

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "Mixed results for 2016...."

Even the ones you missed were very close. I'd say you had a successful year.

Chain Link Fence is my favorite as well.☺

[Elizabeth S]

My challenges have not been updating for the last few weeks. Anyone else having this issue?

And yes, I have set the date for each one. And yes, I am clicking on the "x of y (z%)" link to force the update. Maybe things got messed up with the re-reads feature?

[Janice]

There are known issues with the challenges as a result of the re-reads feature. Goodreads seems to be having trouble fixing it. I asked for an update on their progress a few days and got no reply.

[Elizabeth S]

Thanks, Janice! It is good to know that they are working on it.

[Linda]

My challenges are showing the right numbers but when you click on "show books" they are not listed! I also had a book that I finished last night that wasn't counted on my challenge. I went back and looked and it had the right date. I tapped the "set as today" the date stayed the same, but when I checked it was now counted for the challenge. I don't. know, crazy!

[Andrew]

I have been busy studying and can hardly fit a book in edgewise. I was hoping for a nice whole number, I may have to suffice with a simpler sum.

[Elizabeth S]

I hear you, Andrew. We are basically half-way through the year and I am sadly behind on almost all my goals.

[Linda]

I think I am in good shape. Still have a couple of challenges that I have not started yet. Awareness that we are half way through the year gives me a push to step up my game.

[Purple]

I have completed one of my challenges (Home Alone), but am behind on the other two (Shelving Unit and Rosetta Stone). Thanks for the reminder that the year if half over. I need to step up my reading. I've been reading plenty of other books, but not the ones I need to be reading, apparently.

[Jackie]

Mid year update 2017:


√ Doorstops (400+) 5
Edingus 20
Getting to Know Them 10
Here Ye, Here Ye 10
Home Alone 20
Hot Off the Press 5
Now That Was Classic 5
√ Reality Check 10
Short Cut 20
That's Unreal 10
√ Where's your Card 20

I've completed 3 of my 11 challenges. I am ahead on 4 more, behind on 3, and on track on one. Home Alone, Hot Off the Press and Now That Was Classic are the ones in which I am behind. I am reading too many library books and still neglecting the ones I have at home. This is a great wake-up call that we are on the downhill side of this year!

[Jackie]

2 months to go assessment.


√ Doorstops (400+) 5
√ Edingus 20
Getting to Know Them 10
Here Ye, Here Ye 10
Home Alone 20
Hot Off the Press 5
√ Now That Was Classic 5
√ Reality Check 10
√ Short Cut 20
That's Unreal 10
√ Where's your Card 20

[Elizabeth S]

You are moving along quite well, Jackie. Here's my current status:

And the Award Goes To (pulitzers) = 4/6
Back in the Saddle = 26/30
Doorstops = 11/15
Hot Off the Press (2017) = 108/125
Leftover Stew = 46/75
Now That Was Classic = 4/12
Shelving Unit (mock-Siberts) = 18 DONE Oct 21

[Janice]

I've finished some of the challenges, but others I'm a bit behind.


[ ] Hear Ye Hear Ye - 58/65
[X] Doorstops - 26/10
[X] Oh Canada - 6/5
[X] Home Alone - 6/5
[ ] Left Over Stew - 17/24
[X] Where's Your Card? - 30/20
[X] Hot off the Press - 14/12
[ ] Back in the Saddle - 0/5

[Purple]

I'm still at 1/3 in terms of challenges completed. I need to either drastically increase my number of books for Home Alone next year or drop that challenge altogether. I'm still struggling with the other two.

Home Alone: 23/10 (I think I finished this in April)
Shelving Unit: 9/15 (I decreased this from last year and I still might not complete it.)
Rosetta Stone: 21/33

[Jackie]

1 month to go assessment


√ Doorstops (400+) 5
√ Edingus 20
√ Getting to Know Them 10
Here Ye, Here Ye 10
Home Alone 20
√ Hot Off the Press 5
√ Now That Was Classic 5
√ Reality Check 10
√ Short Cut 20
That's Unreal 10
√ Where's your Card 20

[Purple]

One month? Eek. Looks like you've got things under control, Jackie!

Home Alone : 26/10 I struggled with this one last year. Guess I made up for it this year!

Shelving Unit: 13/15. Pretty sure I will meet this challenge, maybe even exceed it.

Rosetta Stone: 24/33. This is the tough one. I'm actually surprised that I'm struggling with this one. Too bad articles and dissertations don't count!

[Elizabeth S]

Entering the home stretch... and not doing as well as I'd like, of course!

Jackie, you look well set to finish strong. Purple, I'd count a dissertation. Dissertations are usually a book length (or more). Actually, I did count a dissertation a few years back. Added it to the goodreads catalog, and voila!

My fininished challenges:
✔ Back in the Saddle
✔ Shelving Unit (mock-Siberts)

Lookin' good, close to finished:
And the Award Goes To (pulitzers)
Doorstops
Hot Off the Press (2017)

Sadly behind, chances are small:
Leftover Stew
Now That Was Classic

I do believe in miracles, however. I may yet pull off all the challenges.

[Purple]

Can we add dissertations to the GR database? Because that would seriously be a game changer for me!

[Elizabeth S]

Purple wrote: "Can we add dissertations to the GR database? Because that would seriously be a game changer for me!"

I don't see why not. They are books. Published by the university. You can even add a self-published book, so a dissertation should be fine. (Unless someone tells me that the rules have been recently changed, of course.)

I've added at least 2 dissertations myself.

[Purple]

Great. Thanks for letting me know!

[Almeta]

[Purple]

I love it! I'm trying, I'm trying! :)

[Elizabeth S]

Working hard! Reading hard!

[Janice]

I've completed all but Left Over Stew and Back in the Saddle.

[X] Hear Ye Hear Ye - 66/65
[X] Doorstops - 27/10
[X] Oh Canada - 7/5
[X] Home Alone - 7/5
[ ] Left Over Stew - 17/24
[X] Where's Your Card? - 33/20
[X] Hot off the Press - 20/12
[ ] Back in the Saddle - 0/5

[Almeta]

Janice wrote: "I've completed all but Left Over Stew and Back in the Saddle.

[X] Hear Ye Hear Ye - 66/65
[X] Doorstops - 27/10
[X] Oh Canada - 7/5
[X] Home Alone - 7/5
[ ] Left Over Stew - 17/24
[X] Where's Your..."

Nice! Especially with the "Doorstops".☺

[Elizabeth S]

We are really down to the wire now. I've completed 4, have reasonable hopes for 2, but I've had to give up hope on completing left-over stew.

And the Award Goes To (pulitzers) = 6 DONE Dec 17
Back in the Saddle = 30 DONE Nov 24
Doorstops = 13/15
Hot Off the Press (2017) = 125 DONE Dec 21
Leftover Stew = 56/75
Now That Was Classic = 9/12 (almost done with 2 more)
Shelving Unit (mock-Siberts) = 18 DONE Oct 21

[Roz]

I completed/exceeded 5 of my challenges, came close on 1, and should probably give up on trying to complete 2 of them.

✔ Hear Ye, Hear Ye 11/10
✔ Hot Off the Presses 27/10
✔ Serial Eyes 19/15
✔ Shelving Unit 20/15
✔ Where's Your Card 66/20
EDingus (close) 6/8
Home Alone 0/5
Left Over Stew 0/6

I always forget what I own and forget to check what I had left over from the year before.

[Janice]

Almeta wrote: "JNice! Especially with the "Doorstops".☺ "

I hadn't intended reading that many. They kept jumping into my path so I'd trip over them. That's likely why I'm pushing to finish my Goodread's challenge. I have one to go, and I hope to dance across the finish line before I turn into a pumpkin at midnight on the 31st.

Looking at the list of books I want to read next year, I might be in the same predicament. I have the last two books of Song of Ice and Fire which I want to read in tandem. That's over 2000 pages. And Shogun (another 1000+ tome). *sigh*

[Linda]

I have completed 3/6 with the hope of completing the 4th. Not as well as I hoped but I have enjoyed participating!
Time waits for noone 11/10√
Home Alone 95/50√
Guardians 1000 Novels 3/5
Goodreads Authorization 41/50
Endingus 57/50 √
Thats Unreal 10/10√
Have just finished Time waits for.... Looks like 4 out of 6 for the year.

[Almeta]

Linda wrote: "I have completed 3/6 with the hope of completing the 4th. Not as well as I hoped but I have enjoyed participating!
Time waits for noone 3/10 ( working on now)
Home Alone 95/50√
Guardians 1000 Novel..."

I admire your tenacity for reading books from home!☻

[Almeta]

Crack the Whip!

[Darkpool]

I'll be lucky to complete any of mine this year. my overall total seems to be 20-25% down on the last few years for no apparent reason.

[Almeta]

Guess which one I FAILED AT!!!!!

I actively sought audio books this year, so I am not surprised at that increase.

Shortcut was also a huge leap, due to reading winners of the Caldecott Awards. These are short children's books. So don't be overly impressed!

A lot of my books are marked as part of a series, however I only completed 19 through to the last.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! = 178/65
Doorstops = 32/10
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die = 13/5
Shortcuts = 127/50
Reality Check =10/5
Double Dog Dare = 72/60
Shelving Unit (Sai King Recommends) = 24/20
Chain Link Fence = 31/31
Yearbook = 175/153
And the Award Goes to...79/50
World Tour =54/35
Home Alone 6/30
Serial Eyes = 151/50 toward series' & 19 up-to-date

[Janice]

Based on my powers of deduction, strong logical mind, and knowing you well..... I'd say it was Home Alone. I'm a wee bit psychic.

[Almeta]

Janice wrote: "Based on my powers of deduction, strong logical mind, and knowing you well..... I'd say it was Home Alone. I'm a wee bit psychic."

That's amazing! lol!

[Jackie]

I had a good year, I only missed making 2 of these goals, by 3 books each. Looking forward to 2018!

√ Doorstops (400+) 5
√ Edingus 20
√ Getting to Know Them 10
Here Ye, Here Ye 10
√ Home Alone 20
√ Hot Off the Press 5
√ Now That Was Classic 5
√ Reality Check 10
√ Short Cut 20
That's Unreal 10
√ Where's your Card 20

[Elizabeth S]

I finished 5 goals, but missed 2. Here is the final report:

And the Award Goes To (pulitzers) = 6/6
Back in the Saddle = 33/30
Doorstops = 15/15 (finished on Dec 31 at 10:30pm!)
Hot Off the Press (2017) = 126/125
Leftover Stew = 58/75
Now That Was Classic = 10/12
Shelving Unit (mock-Siberts) = 19/18

I'm looking forward to another year of challenges.

[Purple]

Congrats to everyone who completed their challenges!

I finished Home Alone (28/10) and Shelving Unit (16/15), but came up short for Rosetta Stone (31/33). I might concentrate on that one alone for 2018.

[Almeta]

Overall it looks like everyone had fairly realistic goals in 2017.

(view spoiler)[Marilyn Monroe (hide spoiler)]

Good reading in 2018!

[Darkpool]

I only met one of my goals, and that was chain link fence which I love. As mentioned earlier my total number of books read in 2017 was significantly lower than recent years, and I can't quite work out why. Three challenges I was one book short for, and for most of the rest I totally sucked!

Time to adjust goals, and maybe kick some for touch and pick new challenges!