2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Lifetime Reading Goals
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I've just thought of another one -- to actually read all of the classics that I've been wanting to read, but too intimidated or just too busy to actually pick up (Ivanhoe, The Three Musketeers, Anna Karenina, to name a few)
My life time goal is to get through every single book I own, there are over 900 I have yet to read. I'm hoping to do this before I'm 40 so we will see. I would also like to cut down my TBR at home by at least 50 every year.
Here's the thing about the lists. There are a lot of books on those lists that don't appeal to me either or that I don't like, but here's what I've learned from that. Sometimes I find a jewel that I would have never discovered.
I never read books as a child. At around 20, I started reading some best-sellers, but only since last year have I really started to have any reading goals!There are different "approaches" for me:
1. I want to read "all" classics. I did not know the 1001 list before this thread, and I saw that it has plenty of the books that I'm planning to read. It might not be that exact list that I want to "accomplish" reading. When I say "all" classics, I guess anything that feels a classic to me personally. But that list is close.
2. Books that I truly enjoy. This is a hard one. There are only few books I truly, truly love. I like many, but real favourites are rare for me. And worse, I cannot say it's a specific genre or author that will always make me happy. Mostly, I just happen to stumble over a new favourite by luck. Which means reading as many books as I can, to find as many "hidden treasures" as possible :)
3. I want to read a wide spectrum of books; fiction, non-fiction, all genres, different authors. I'm also planning on reading books by authors from different countries around the world. I've read mostly European and US authors, that has to be changed.
The last two points are why I like Reading Challenges like the Popsugar one, and others like it. They force you to read out of your comfort zone, browse for books you never would have found otherwise, and possibly stumble over new favourites.
My goal is to read as much as I can in my lifetime, and to read more genres and more non-fiction books. I'm also trying to read all the classics, like Dickens. And I want to read all Stephen King and Dean Koontz books.
And read all the books on my TBR, which might be impossible as I'm always adding to it and I have over 1,000 books I want to read.
As a child, I wanted to read every book in the world. Now I know that's impossible, but as I said before, reading everything on my TBR is probably impossible too lol.
Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Here's the thing about the lists. There are a lot of books on those lists that don't appeal to me either or that I don't like, but here's what I've learned from that. Sometimes I find a jewel that ..."That's what I have found too. And actually there's just a couple books I really felt I got almost nothing out of. I could do without the one I read now, the Flaubert one, but at least after reading it I know what to think when someone calls it the greatest novel ever written ^^
JoJo wrote: "My goal is to read as much as I can in my lifetime, and to read more genres and more non-fiction books. I'm also trying to read all the classics, like Dickens. And I want to read all Stephen King ..."
I want to read all Stephen King too ^^ Have you read The Long Walk yet?
Winter wrote: "JoJo wrote: "My goal is to read as much as I can in my lifetime, and to read more genres and more non-fiction books. I'm also trying to read all the classics, like Dickens. And I want to read all ..."
No I haven't. I've only read a few books, which I would like to re-read because it's been a while. This year I'm planning on reading The Green Mile again and The Mist (first time reading, but I've seen the movie) and I'm hoping next year to get to reading the rest of them. Have you read any?
JoJo wrote: "Winter wrote: "JoJo wrote: "My goal is to read as much as I can in my lifetime, and to read more genres and more non-fiction books. I'm also trying to read all the classics, like Dickens. And I wa..."
A few yes. I have read some earlier, but decided to count them all again, so as of now I'm at 9, but that includes a couple of short stories. He's an exellent writer!
CrazyBookLady wrote: "Tabea wrote: "My lifetime reading goal is to read 5000 books and has been for a long time. Winston Churchill allegedly read 5000 books in his lifetime, so I'd be in good company. I guess that you c..."Feel free to steal it :D I don't think that I can read more than 100 or even close to that many books a year, but then again I am only twenty, so I hopefully still have some time ;) 388 down, 4612 to go :D
My lifetime reading goal is to read all books from '1001 books you must read before you die' and all the Hugo, Nebula, David Gemmell Legend Award winners and nominees. I love lists so I am working on others too, but these are the main ones.
Maureen wrote: "My lifetime reading goal is to read all books from '1001 books you must read before you die' and all the Hugo, Nebula, David Gemmell Legend Award winners and nominees. I love lists so I am workin..."
Fun- I love lists too- checking off all I've read on various must read lists and favourite lists etc. But I wouldn't read a book only because its on a list- it has to sound interesting as well.
Maureen wrote: "My lifetime reading goal is to read all books from '1001 books you must read before you die' and all the Hugo, Nebula, David Gemmell Legend Award winners and nominees. I love lists so I am workin..."
I'm working on the 1001 too. How many have you read yet? Have you discovered some favorites?
my lifetime goal is to read 1000 books
I like the lifetime goal to read 5000 books! It's a lot, but I'm just a few years older than you, Tabea, so I bet we can do it. :)According to Goodreads, I'm 588 / 5,000.
Im finally back on here after a while. War and Peace is keeping me busy! Anyway, it's awesome with the 10,000 members!! A few of my lifetime reading goals areBoxall's 1,001 Books before you die list http://listology.com/ukaunz/list/1001... 22/1001
Read the whole bible cover to cover (hopefully Ill get done this year)
Guardian's book list http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009... 25/1000
Rory Gilmore book list (I never watched the Gilmore Girls, but this looks like a fun list) https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/... 23/312
Alison wrote: "Im finally back on here after a while. War and Peace is keeping me busy! Anyway, it's awesome with the 10,000 members!! A few of my lifetime reading goals areBoxall's 1,001 Books before you die l..."
The Gilmore Girls is an awesome show that I highly recommend. It's on Netflix...catch it before the revival comes:)
One of my lifetime goals is the 1,001 books to read before you die combined list. It's been interesting so far, some of the books I've ended up adoring and others not so much... Anyone wants to recommend favourites from the list go for it, I'd love to hear!
Also to somehow complete my TBR not pinning too much on that one seeing as its constantly expanding!
I know this is wacky because it will keep changing, BUT I am working my way around my city's public library fiction section I start with the first book with author's last name beginning with A, then I move on to B... Once I get all the way round, I go back to A. I'm working more haphazardly through the mystery and non-fiction sections, also YA. It's a pretty big library, too. I deviate from the course for GR challenges a lot, but then I go back to it again :)
Lauri wrote: "I know this is wacky because it will keep changing, BUT I am working my way around my city's public library fiction section I start with the first book with author's last name beginning with A, the..."That sounds like fun.
I have a few lifetime reading goals:1. Boxall's 1001 Books to Read Before You Die- I doubt I will read all of them, but every book I have read off of the list so far has been pretty good (except I will ignore Charles Dickens from now on because I have read two of his books and they both made me want to spoon my eyeballs out. Same thing with Mark Twain). If I really don't like a book I will stop reading it, but it is a good list to go to for a little literary stretching.
2. To continue my education through reading. I have a 4-Year Degree and I wonder if I would have saved a ton of money had I just read about everything I wanted to learn about. So, to continue to read non-fiction books or books that are considered classic is high on my list of things to do throughout my life.
3. I am always looking up random book lists on the internet to see how many I have read of a certain type. One of the ones that I found is all the books that Rory from Gilmore Girls read on the show. I think I would like to read all of those. They are incredibly varied and because I used to be told that I was like Rory growing up, I feel slightly compelled :)
Mostly, though, I just read for fun. If I don't like a book I probably won't go back to that author. I have no hard and fast rules. I do hope that if my kids see me read a lot it will inspire them to become readers in this age of technology- and I love myself some TV and internet, but all things in moderation.
Winter wrote: "Maureen wrote: "My lifetime reading goal is to read all books from '1001 books you must read before you die' and all the Hugo, Nebula, David Gemmell Legend Award winners and nominees. I love list..."
Apparently I did not like classics when I was younger haha. I have read around 40 now (I have to update the list again haha). I think one of the surprises for me was Vernon God Little. I would never have read that book if it wasn't for the list.
I hope I can finish that list eventually. There are a couple of books that I think are way too difficult. But maybe in a couple of years I think differently :).
Maureen wrote: "Winter wrote: "Maureen wrote: "My lifetime reading goal is to read all books from '1001 books you must read before you die' and all the Hugo, Nebula, David Gemmell Legend Award winners and nominees..."I try to space the harder ones out. I'm having a really really tough time with Flaubert. I have found good things in most of them, but he really is a hard nut to crack lol.
I need to check into that one :) I'm around fifty, so not too far either. I have read some more, but it wasn't that many so I decided I wanted to read them again.
CrazyBookLady wrote: "Cassandra wrote: "I like the lifetime goal to read 5000 books! It's a lot, but I'm just a few years older than you, Tabea, so I bet we can do it. :)According to Goodreads, I'm 588 / 5,000."
I've..."
That's awesome lol ^^
I've seen so many posts like this. Really for me, I just found it smart to create a spreadsheet of all the books I've read and a short summary. Most of these books I purchased online so I have an okay Idea as to how many people actually recommended these books as well. 1. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline : http://amzn.to/1YXBNax
This book portrayed a mother's love regardless of how you became a parent. Not only that, it had you asking yourself, would you, could you, make that call? There is a real emotional pull between doing what is right and NEVER wanting to give away your own child. I think that the way she goes about finding out the truth is a very real look at not wanting to show all your cards until you absolutely have to.
2. 15th Affair by James Patterson : http://amzn.to/1YXCbWk
I love reading James Patterson's book; but I especially love and enjoy the Woman's Murder Club series. A cop, a medical examiner, a reporter and a prosecutor make up the club, and when they get together, look out! This book was special. Can Boxer trust her husband. He was missing for over a week, and Boxer finds out he has lied to her. I don't want to reveal too much, but this book kept me turning pages all day. Yep, I could not stop reading it and read it one day. I highly recommend it.
3. The City of Mirrors: A Novel by Justin Cronin : http://amzn.to/1YXBUmk
Really loved this trilogy - will make an excellent film if they ever get around to making it!!! I only wish I had been able to read these books consecutively without waiting for a few years between each one. It was a little difficult to catch up on things and remember where the story I had left off. Although, I will say this one was easier to jump into than the leap from the first book to the second.
4. The Last Mile (Amos Decker series) by David Baldacci : http://amzn.to/1XvtROM
The Last Mile refers to the last journey a Death Row inmate walks as he or she heads toward his/her execution (even if it is only 30 to 50 yards or so). In this novel, the author begins his story with Melvin Mars, a convicted murderer on the Texas death row, just hours before his execution. Spared by a confession by an individual awaiting execution in Alabama, Melvin's case attracts the attention of Amos Decker, the Memory Man, traveling to his new job with an FBI Task Force?
5. Extreme Prey by John Sandford : http://amzn.to/1YXCdxH
I've read everything this guy has written. Some I like more than others but he has never failed to disappoint me! These books are the reason I think I'd like Minnesota..... I'm especially fond of the books featuring Lucas Davenport. If you are looking for an absorbing read, then look no further. This one is perfect for the plane! I started it on the flight out to NYC and finished it on the return flight home. Enjoy!
That's My Contribution. :)
Karin wrote: "Because I have noticed that my reading tastes have not remained exactly the same over the decades, that I never like all the books in any of those famous lists, that I feel that at my age I should ..."I agree!! Enjoy!!
Winter wrote: "Lifetime Reading GoalsDuration: May 1 - June 30, 2016
This group is all about setting yearly goals, quarterly goals, and monthly goals, but we know reading is a lifelong passion. Do you have any ..."
I never thought about setting a lifetime goal. I have a "college" prep reading list I've carried around for 30 years - I'd like to finish it as well as one of the 100 best novels of all times list that I printed out in ~1998. And I think I'll shoot for reading one book in a foreign language. But mainly I aspire to be a reader all my life. And a teeny piece of me aspires to write one complete readable book:)
Candiss wrote: "I've been working my way through the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. I don't want to read the whole thing, necessarily; I think it would be practically impossible, at least for me...e..."I'm going to check out your list. I haven't heard of it before.
My lifetime reading goal is to read 1,000 books all for fun!
I've never really thought about this. I guess, if I had to choose something, I'd say I want to find 500 books I can honestly say are amazing. That would be an achievement.
Hey I dorgot to say thar so far I have read 105 books of the 1,000. I am on my way! :)
Virginia wrote: "I've never really thought about this. I guess, if I had to choose something, I'd say I want to find 500 books I can honestly say are amazing. That would be an achievement."There's so many great ones ^^ 500 is a lot for amazing books, but there's some real gems out there. Love when I discover new ones!
I love the idea of finding 500 amazing books. I'm very picky about what I would call an amazing book, so if I find 100 in my lifetime, I will be thrilled!
I've never really thought about a lifetime goal but I would love to be able to read at least 250 books by 2017. But with my reading habits like they are, I don't know. lol But I'm sure going to try!
I would say that my ultimate lifetime goal is the same as many have already mentioned in this thread, keep reading for enjoyment/keep having fun. It's definitely a goal that has been a bit knocked around in the past few years but things started to fall back into place last year when I started participating more on GRs and found this group. The varied challenges definitely help with finding new reading inspiration. Being open to new inspiration and new perspectives is also a lifetime reading goal for me. There are two quotes from Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane that are fairly fitting, "I lived in books more than I lived anywhere else," and "growing up, I took so many cues from books. They taught me most of what I knew about what people did, about how to behave. They were my teachers and my advisers.” I'd like to continue to hold on to that magic throughout my life; to continue to learn, garner perspective I might otherwise be unaware of, gain a way of being in my life that is enriched by every character and every plot I have the chance to experience.
Then there are some more specific goals such as reading some of my dad's favorite authors/favorite books. It tends to help me deal with grief when it bubbles up to the surface. Last year I found a worn copy of The Old Man and the Sea in a trunk of his things just when I was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed by missing him. It was very comforting to read the book but even more so to reflect on it afterwards, to imagine why he dogeared so many pages, what about his personality (that I remember) responded so much to Hemingway and to this book in particular. I don't have a master list to work from but I do know a couple authors that he gravitated towards and hope to pick them up at similar times in my life as a way to stay connected and honor his memory.
There are also a couple authors that I know I want to dive into more officially such as Proust, Dickens, George Eliot, et al. I consider these lifetime goals as well. I swear, why are there so many good/great books out there by so many good/great authors!? lol But being able to devote some solid time to favorite authors without burning out on reading their books too close together is a definite goal that stays at the back of my mind.
There are so many great ideas here, I love reading them! Honestly, I don't have a particular lifetime goal or list I'm working through. My reading habits are fluid and I like to just go wherever my mood takes me.I guess my vague lifetime goal is to keep my reading diverse. I want to ensure I'm always reading at least 50% female authors and that I'm constantly trying new authors, especially those who have different life experiences to mine!
Ariel wrote: "I would say that my ultimate lifetime goal is the same as many have already mentioned in this thread, keep reading for enjoyment/keep having fun. It's definitely a goal that has been a bit knocked ..."Those are some great goals Ariel! I'm so sorry about your father.. Books can help though when it feels like too much to handle.
Winter wrote: "Those are some great goals Ariel! I'm so sorry about your father.. Books can help though when it feels like too much to handle. "Thanks, Winter. :) I agree, books are such an amazing comfort.
Ariel wrote: "Winter wrote: "Those are some great goals Ariel! I'm so sorry about your father.. Books can help though when it feels like too much to handle. "Thanks, Winter. :) I agree, books are such an amazi..."
Yes. I actually have a fantasy series I read every time I feel really bad because the characters make me feel better, it's my equivalent to comfortfood I guess.
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Ocean at the End of the Lane (other topics)The Old Man and the Sea (other topics)
Vernon God Little (other topics)
Ivanhoe (other topics)
The Three Musketeers (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Selma Lagerlöf (other topics)Grazia Deledda (other topics)
Sigrid Undset (other topics)
Pearl S. Buck (other topics)
Gabriela Mistral (other topics)
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I also thought about doing the 100 or 1000 books to read before you die. However, most of these books didn't appeal to me and I hate reading books that I dislike.
So I have just decided to try to read more non-fiction without putting a number on how many I should read. And I just want to read for enjoyment.