2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2017
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Rachael Readsalot: 70+ books in 2017
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PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 73/75
Plus rereads: 2
Number of pages read = 24,935/25,000
Serial Reader: 33/30
Tbr Randomiser: 10/12
Genre Bingo: 11/12
Triathlon: 9/8
Back to School: 2/2
Shortest book = Sonnet 73 (1 page)
Longest book = A Storm of Swords (1,218 pages)
Best Book = Wool
Worst Book = Beastly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 10
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 47
⭐⭐⭐: 13
⭐⭐: 3
⭐: 0
Comments: I've finally finished the first five epic books of A Song of Ice and Fire and also managed to read a few more other books this month.
What's next? I'm going to be reading a few books that fit in with this month's group theme of fairytales/folklore
74. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman304 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Folklore, group read
Why I read this: it was this month's group read
75. Uprooted by Naomi Novik465 pages
Rating = 5 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Folklore
Why I read this: I've been thinking about rereading this and thought it was apt now because the group's theme this month is folklore
76. Dracula by Bram Stoker336 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Genre Bingo, Tbr Randomiser, Folklore, buddy read
Why I read this: it's my horror pick that I needed to finish some of my challenges
77. The Children's Book of Books 2000 by Quentin Blake et al.96 pages
Rating = 3 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I found it while sorting some things out at home
78. The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble237 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Tbr Randomiser, Folklore
Why I read this: it sounded interesting and was one of my randomly picked books of this year
79. Origin by Dan Brown465 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader
Why I read this: it's the latest book to feature Robert Langdon
80. La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman546 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader
Why I read this: there have been rumours about this book for so long and of course I had to read it because I love His Dark Materials
It's that time of year again: the Goodreads Choice Awards voting! In previous years, I have voted in every category choosing books that sounded good even if I hadn't read them. This year, in the opening round, I have decided to only vote for 2017 books I have read. I haven't actually read many newly published books this year but this is what I voted for:Mystery and Thriller - Origin by Dan Brown
Fantasy - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (this was a hard decision for me because I also wanted to vote for the Fantastic Beasts screenplay as both books got a five star rating from me)
Young Adult Fiction - La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction - Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
Other than fantasy, I wouldn't say these books have been outstanding (all got a solid four stars from me though) but at least I've had my say.
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 80/75
Plus rereads: 2
Number of pages read = 27,398/25,000
Serial Reader: 35/30
Tbr Randomiser: 12/12
Genre Bingo: 12/12
Folklore: 4/4
Shortest book = Sonnet 73 (1 page)
Longest book = A Storm of Swords (1,218 pages)
Best Book = Wool
Worst Book = Beastly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 12
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 50
⭐⭐⭐: 15
⭐⭐: 3
⭐: 0
Comments: I have now completed all of my yearly challenges including my overall goal. My highlight of October was getting to read the first volume of the Book of Dust. While it wasn't as good as I expected, I was still excited about this book because I have been waiting for it for years.
What's next? My challenge(s) may be complete but I still need to finish my planned reading for the year
81. The Collectors by Philip Pullman24 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review previously written
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Paired Books
Why I read this: after La Belle Sauvage, I was in the mood for more His Dark Materials
82. Fifty Fifty by James Patterson416 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Paired Books
Why I read this: part of the Harriet Blue series
83. The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths304 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader
Why I read this: it's part of the Stephens and Mephisto series
84. Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman55 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: to spot a character from La Belle Sauvage
I've voted in the Goodreads Choice Awards semi finals and my votes have changed slightly since the first round:Mystery and Thriller - Origin
Fantasy - Norse Mythology (again, I so wanted to vote for two books in this category and considering my choice is between two excellent writers, JK Rowling and Neil Gaiman, I suspect my decision will be hard in the final too)
Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction - La Belle Sauvage
Middle Grade and Children's - Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book (I admit I haven't read this yet but Beauty and the Beast is my favourite Disney animation so I have high hopes this book is good)
85. What I Did In My Christmas Holidays By Sally Sparrow by Steven Moffat11 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: it popped up on my update feed and I found you could read it online for free
86. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold328 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Paired Books
Why I read this: I felt it was time to reread this
87. The Butterfly Tattoo by Philip Pullman160 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Paired Books
Why I read this: I like Philip Pullman and this book was a Kindle daily deal
88. A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge416 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I was attracted by the pretty cover. Plus I found a signed copy
89. The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare97 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, personal lifetime challenge
Why I read this: to check another thing off my personal lifetime challenge list to read everything by Shakespeare
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 89/75
Plus rereads: 2
Number of pages read = 29,212/25,000
Serial Reader: 37/30
Paired Book: 4/4
Shortest book = Sonnet 73 (1 page)
Longest book = A Storm of Swords (1,218 pages)
Best Book = Wool
Worst Book = Beastly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 13
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 57
⭐⭐⭐: 16
⭐⭐: 3
⭐: 0
Comments: I read an awful lot in November but my page count didn't rise as much because some books were quite short. I also can't believe how fast this year has gone. It's nearly December where we have Christmas which means more books for me!
What's next? I'm trying to finish Anna Karenina
Rachael wrote: "DNF: Anna Karenina again!Maybe it's not meant to be..."
Oops, how come?
Have it on my TBR too but keep putting it off...
Susy wrote: "Rachael wrote: "DNF: Anna Karenina again!Maybe it's not meant to be..."
Oops, how come?
Have it on my TBR too but keep putting it off..."
I'm really struggling to get into it. I've given it a go but I don't have enough motivation to carry on. I'm going to read something else that I'm in the mood for. Don't let me put you off - I wish you well when you come to read it.
Well I’ve heard that it’s not an easy read. So many people saying that is what’s holding me off. What was it that got your motivation down? Writing style, pace, storyline itself, something else?
Susy wrote: "Well I’ve heard that it’s not an easy read. So many people saying that is what’s holding me off. What was it that got your motivation down? Writing style, pace, storyline itself, something else?"A bit of everything really. There is so much description where not much happens. A few parts were quite good and held my interest but most of the time, I was reading but not taking any thing in. I don't know whether I'll be better watching a film version of Anna Karenina
Rachael wrote: "Susy wrote: "Well I’ve heard that it’s not an easy read. So many people saying that is what’s holding me off. What was it that got your motivation down? Writing style, pace, storyline itself, somet..."Mmm, doesn’t sound like my cup of tea.... I don’t like too many descriptive passages. Maybe I should give it a try but with so many good books waiting for me, I don’t really feel compelled to read it. Film version sounds good actually.
I listened to it on audio and I agree it was a long book with some real boring parts but some of them were good. maybe audio would be better for you
My Year in BooksStill plenty of time to read a few more though... Well, I need to so that I can finish my last monthly challenge
90. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld448 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, The Long Challenge
Why I read this: I've been meaning to read this for quite some time
91. The Night Before Christmas: The Classic Account of the Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement C Moore9 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, The Long Challenge
Why I read this: well, it is 24 December!
* Sonnet 97 by William ShakespeareWill count this towards my personal lifetime challenge but not my overall reading challenge because I can't find it on here. I read this because I heard the actress Judi Dench read part of it on some TV programme over Christmas
92. Only Connect: The Official Quiz Book by Jack Waley-Cohen446 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: my family like to watch this quiz on TV and we even try to work out the answers
93. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain355 pages
Rating = 2 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, The Long Challenge
Why I read this: because I like the Arthurian legends
2017 StatisticsNumber of books read = 93 (plus 2 rereads)
Number of pages read = 30,506
Average number of pages per book = 351
Shortest book = Sonnet 73 (1 page)
Longest book = A Storm of Swords (1,218 pages)
Best Book = Wool
Worst Book = Beastly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 13
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 60
⭐⭐⭐: 16
⭐⭐: 4
⭐: 0
Average rating: 3.9
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (other topics)Only Connect: The Official Quiz Book (other topics)
The Night Before Christmas: The Classic Account of the Visit from St. Nicholas (other topics)
Uglies (other topics)
Anna Karenina (other topics)
More...
450 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader
Why I read this: I have previously enjoyed some short stories in this fantasy world