2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2017
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Rachael Readsalot: 70+ books in 2017
Planned ReadingTrying to finish previous DNFs:
Finish an anthology:
Shakespeare:
Series:
Genre Bingo:
Tbr Randomiser:
Colour Challenge:
Other:
Here we go again!Compared to 2016 I'm changing the way I do this. When I finish a book, I will post here with the title, author, number of pages, my rating, the challenges that include this book and why I chose to read it. I'm also going to do monthly summaries of my progress.
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To stay on track, I need to read 5-6 books and 2084 pages a month.
Challenge Checklist:
✔ Overall goal: completed 7 October
✔ Let's Turn Pages: completed 1 October
✔ Genre Bingo: completed 13 October
✔ Serial Reader: completed 22 August
✔ Colour Challenge: completed 16 June
✔ Tbr Randomiser: completed 16 October
✔ January - Marathon: completed 22 January
✔ February - Spanning the Globe: completed 18 February
✔ March - Title IX: completed 21 March
✔ 2nd Quarter - Clear the Shelves: completed 9 June
✔ May - Spell Sunrises: completed 24 May
✔ July - War and Peace: completed 15 July
✔ 3rd Quarter - Triathlon: completed 7 September
✔ September - Back to School: completed 7 September
✔ October - Folklore: completed 16 October
✔ November - Paired Books: completed 20 November
✔ December - The Long Challenge: completed 30 December
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Feel free to talk to me about books. I don't bite. But once you get me started, I may not stop! :)
Wow, great goal :) Hope you have a great reading year in 2017! Looking forward to seeing what you read. Happy New Year :)
Lisa wrote: "Wow, great goal :) Hope you have a great reading year in 2017! Looking forward to seeing what you read. Happy New Year :)"Thank you! Good luck with your challenge too!
1. Magic Kingdom For Sale/Sold by Terry Brooks324 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Colour Challenge, Marathon
Why I read this: Recently read and enjoyed a short story by Terry Brooks and wanted to read more of his works
2. The Whistler by John Grisham352 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Genre Bingo, Marathon
Why I read this: It was recommended by my Dad
3. Partners: A Rogue Lawyer Short Story by John Grisham60 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Marathon
Why I read this: Included as a short story in the back of my copy of The Whistler
4. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by JK Rowling294 pages
Rating: 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Colour Challenge, Marathon
Why I read this: I devour anything to do with the wizarding world and I enjoyed the film a lot.
5. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau384 pages
Rating: 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Colour Challenge, Serial Reader, Marathon
Why I read this: I was attracted by the shiny cover and then the description interested me.
6. Tigers in the Cage by Rachel Caine7 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Challenges: Let's turn pages
7. Stormcrow by Rachel Caine
11 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read these: short story prequels to the Great Library series which were available to read for free on wattpad.
A note on rereads: If I've already set a read date on here, I won't count it in this year's stats and challenges because I find it gets complicated when you add editions. I will still make a comment here once I have finished a reread.Reread #1: Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
4 stars
I reread this to refamiliarise myself with the Great Library series
8. Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine411 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Marathon
Why I read this: part of the Great Library series
9. Inside the Magic: The Making of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Ian Nathan144 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Marathon
Why I read this: Birthday present from my parents because they know how much I enjoy the Harry Potter universe
10. Ransom My Heart by Mia Thermopolis (Meg Cabot)396 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Genre Bingo, Marathon
Why I read this: meant to reread last year but didn't get round to it
11. Chocolat by Joanne Harris320 pages
Rating: 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Marathon
Why I read this: Couldn't remember the last time I read this
PROGRESS SO FAR - 1 month down, 11 to goNumber of books read = 11/65
Plus rereads: 1
Number of pages read = 2,703/25,000
Genre Bingo: 2/12
Serial Reader: 4/20
Colour Challenge: 3/15
Tbr Randomiser: 0/12
January Marathon: 9/8
Shortest book = Tigers in the Cage (7 pages)
Longest book = Paper and Fire (411 pages)
Best Book = The Testing
Worst Book = Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold
5 stars: 3
4 stars: 6
3 stars: 2
Comments: I read a lot in January which means I'm ahead of schedule with most challenges but due to my Kindle being out of action (I have a new one now!) I couldn't read any books for my tbr randomiser challenge this month.
What's next?: I am going to make some progress with my personal lifetime challenge by reading a Shakespeare play
12. Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare189 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Spanning the Globe, personal lifetime challenge
Why I read this: to make progress with my personal lifetime challenge to read the complete works of William Shakespeare
13. Beastly by Alex Flinn327 pages
Rating: 2 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Genre Bingo, Colour Challenge, Spanning the Globe
Why I read this: did not finish last year and thought that by including it in as many challenges as possible, I'd be more motivated to read it all
Reread #2: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams4 stars
Why I (re)read this: didn't want to miss out on the group read for February
UPDATED Note about rereads: Now that we have a reread option (thanks for listening, Goodreads!), going forward I will be including rereads in this year's stats and challenges.
14. Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin262 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Tbr Randomiser, Serial Reader, Colour Challenge, Spanning the Globe
Why I read this: to start off my tbr randomiser challenge
15. Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell128 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review written previously
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: to check the reread feature was working
16. Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl18 pages
Rating = 5 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Genre Bingo
Why I read this: Roald Dahl would have been 100 last year and I was thinking about how much I enjoy his dark and humourous writing particularly this short story
17. J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World: Movie Magic Volume One: Extraordinary People and Fascinating Places by Jody Revenson96 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: another birthday present from my parents which I hadn't read yet
18. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness610 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Tbr Randomiser, Serial Reader, Spanning the Globe
Why I read this: I've heard good things about this and thought it was time I read it
19. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo369 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Tbr Randomiser, Colour Challenge
Why I read this: another book I've heard good things about
PROGRESS REPORTTotal number of books read = 19/65
Plus rereads: 2
Total number of pages read = 4,724/25,000
Genre Bingo: 4/12
Serial Reader: 8/25
Tbr Randomiser: 3/12
Colour Challenge: 6/15
Spanning the Globe: 4
Shortest book = Tigers in the Cage (7 pages)
Longest book = A Discovery of Witches (610 pages)
Best Book = The Testing
Worst Book = Beastly
5 stars: 4
4 stars: 11
3 stars: 3
2 stars: 1
Comments: February may be the shortest month of the year but I managed to read loads again. I feel happy that I'm making good progress with all my yearly challenges and have increased my goal already for the Serial Reader challenge.
What's next?: After I've finished my second Beauty and the Beast retelling of the year, it's time for my first buddy read of 2017
20. As Old as Time: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell496 pages
Rating = 5 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I love Beauty and the Beast and I couldn't resist buying this when I saw it at the weekend
21. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell529 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Tbr Randomiser, Colour Challenge, buddy read
Why I read this: I enjoyed the Simon Snow snippets in Fangirl
22. From This to That by Christopher A. Paolini14 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Genre Bingo
Why I read this: I just found out that my original science fiction choice for the Genre Bingo challenge is not being published until 2018 :( so had to find an alternative
23. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood370 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Title IX, group read
Why I read this: it was March's group read
24. Emma by Jane Austen495 pages
Rating = 3 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Colour Challenge, Title IX
Why I read this: I was discussing this recently with my best friend
25. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory490 pages
Rating = 5 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Genre Bingo, Colour Challenge, Title IX
Why I read this: a Philippa Gregory novel was always going to be my historical fiction choice for the Genre Bingo challenge so why not one of my favourites?
26. The Adventure of the Six Napoleons and Other Cases by Arthur Conan Doyle368 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: it was a free promotional copy and if it interests me, I'm never going to say no to free books
27. The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths 384 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader
Why I read this: it was the latest instalment of the Ruth Galloway series
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 27/65
Plus rereads: 2
Total number of pages read = 7,870/25,000
Genre Bingo: 6/12
Serial Reader: 10/25
Tbr Randomiser: 4/12
Colour Challenge: 9/15
Title IX: 3/3
Shortest book = Tigers in the Cage (7 pages)
Longest book = A Discovery of Witches (610 pages)
Best Book = The Testing
Worst Book = Beastly
5 stars: 6
4 stars: 15
3 stars: 5
2 stars: 1
Comments: A quarter of the year is over already and I've completed 41% of my overall challenge, so I am way ahead of schedule. I'm flying through my other challenges. Most notably, this month, I have read over 3000 pages which is my biggest monthly page turn total this year (so far).
What's next?: I'm starting the Silo series
28. Wool by Hugh Howey537 pages
Rating = 5 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Colour Challenge, Genre Bingo, Clear the Shelves
Why I read this: I heard about this at university and only now got round to reading it.
So, I've seen a few people post about Bookbub, a website where you can get FREE ebooks which is always a good thing for bookworms. I've had a look and I'm addicted. I've already got hold of 11 books from this site, one of which is a trilogy. I admit that I was unsure about downloading a couple but then I figured that they were free, I have plenty of space on my Kindle and it will give me a chance to try some new authors. Besides, there could be a hidden gem or two. Give it a go - I would definitely recommend Bookbub.
Rachael wrote: "So, I've seen a few people post about Bookbub, a website where you can get FREE ebooks which is always a good thing for bookworms. I've had a look and I'm addicted. I've already got hold of 11 book..."I've also added a few (although I don't know when I'm going to read them with so many books on my TBR list already lol). A lot of romance novels on there but some interesting sounding other novels too, I agree!
29. Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare1 page (and yes, I'm still counting it in my challenges. Every little helps :P)
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, personal lifetime challenge
Why I read this: I wanted to read a Shakespeare sonnet and chose a random number
30. Shift by Hugh Howey566 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Colour Challenge, Clear the Shelves
Why I read this: part of the brilliant Silo trilogy
31. Dust by Hugh Howey401 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Colour Challenge, Clear the Shelves
Why I read this: it's the final book in the Silo trilogy
32. The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian128 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: it was in the Unfettered anthology which I am trying to finish this year and then I found it as a separate book on here so I thought I'd count it
The Coach with the Big Teeth, a short story in the Unfettered anthology = my first (and hopefully last) DNF of the year.It was about baseball and:
a) I have very little interest in sport anyway
b) I expected more fantasy
c) I only read a couple of pages before I called it a day but all I could think was that line from Little Red Riding Hood: "my, what big teeth you have"
33. Solitaire by Alice Oseman401 pages
Rating = 2 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Tbr Randomiser, Clear the Shelves
Why I read this: I couldn't decide what to read next so I let my Tbr Randomiser challenge decide for me
...
Finishing this book means I am officially halfway there with my goal :)
34. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare246 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Colour Challenge, Clear the Shelves, personal lifetime challenge
Why I read this: As it's the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and death, I thought I'd 'celebrate' by reading one of his plays
35. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith561 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader, Clear the Shelves
Why I read this: in preparation for the TV series that is out later this year
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 35/65
Plus rereads: 2
Total number of pages read = 10,711/25,000
Serial Reader: 14/25
Colour Challenge: 13/15
Genre Bingo: 7/12
Tbr Randomiser: 5/12
Clear the Shelves: 6/15
Shortest book: Sonnet 73 (1 page)
Longest book: A Discovery of Witches (610 pages)
Best book: Wool
Worst book: Beastly
5 stars: 8
4 stars: 20
3 stars: 5
2 stars: 2
Comments: Eight months of the year left and I am already over halfway there towards my overall goal. I am doing well with my other challenges too. A low point was that I had to DNF something but it was only a short story so it doesn't really matter too much.
What's next?: Northanger Abbey
2025 & 2026 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...
So for 2017, I'm going for 65 books but I suspect I'll smash that goal too! I want to do more group challenges, particularly some of the yearly ones. I'm also going to give some of my DNFs one more chance.
EDIT: goal is now 70 books.
EDIT 2: what the hell let's go for 75