Reading Out of Order (And Choosing Topics)

[Joan]

Emily wrote: "Joan wrote: "I have a plan this year with options. The plan will definitely change with whatever buddy reads there are in my other group. It also changes with some books of the month group reads. I..."

I only put the first book of a series I want to read on my tbr list. I can't imagine what it'd look like if I had all the complete series I want to read on there. I only put them all on there if they are in my ATY plan.
At the end of last year I cleared out some books that I decided I probably wasn't going to read or at least not in the near future. I also cleared out some weird ones that I put on there from articles I'd come across. Now I mostly stick to what my Goodreads friends recommend.
At the moment I have 7 books checked out from the library, 3 audiobooks on CD (I have an older car), and 3 ebooks. Luckily I have 2 county libraries that I can use and often it is not hard at all for me to get a book. I really only buy them if it is a really cool book (Illuminae - I had to own - too cool looking) or if I think my daughter might read it. I usually buy them off of the clearance section of books-a-million or Amazon if I can't locate a book or I have a gift card.
I think I'd lose interest if I had to read in order. The prompts I'm least in favor of I'll try to do on audio in the car since I have a 45 minute drive to work.
I struggle when a buddy read or group read comes up for a book that isn't on my plan and then I have to rework my plan to fit it in there. Some books get pushed to the next year when that happens or I'll sneak them in on a side read if there is time. I try to get ahead at the beginning of the year so I can do that. Currently I'm right on track but I should have 2 more completed by the end of Monday.

[Rachelnyc]

I have switched almost exclusively to ebooks from the library which is great for the wallet but would make it tricky to have to read in any particular order.

My library usually has a lot of copies of popular books but there is often a hold on new releases or topical books (there are over 2000 holds on Fire and Fury but almost 600 copies available!) so it's difficult to time things. It can be frustrating when everything becomes available at the same time so occasionally I have to do the process more than once because my time runs out.

[Rachel]

I definitely read out of order, especially because I do multiple prompts-based challenges. I pick topics based on which books I'm most excited to read at the time, combined with which are available from the library. I also strategically try to get rid of some of the books/prompts I'm least looking forward to early on in the year so I don't keep putting them off, and get stuck reading books I might hate at the end of the year when I'm usually a bit burnt out anyway.

In general, I find balancing things out is very helpful. I do my best to choose books in a way that lets me vary things in terms of length, genre, etc.

[Jillian]

I finished my first planned book to read for this challenge! Though I had to move it into a different prompt than I originally planned because an unplanned book took the spot already.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Jillian wrote: "I finished my first planned book to read for this challenge! Though I had to move it into a different prompt than I originally planned because an unplanned book took the spot already."

Ugh, same. Anyone else look at the books you've read so far and realize that half of them are not on the plan you worked for two months creating?

#moodreaderproblems

[Tracy]

Emily wrote: "Jillian wrote: "I finished my first planned book to read for this challenge! Though I had to move it into a different prompt than I originally planned because an unplanned book took the spot alread..."

Yup...all of them so far lol

[Jillian]

Emily wrote: "Anyone else look at the books you've read so far and realize that half of them are not on the plan you worked for two months creating?

#moodreaderproblems "

Next year, I am going to keep a list of my planned books and then what I actually read to see how many books from my planned list I actually read.

This year since I'm not doing the PopSugar challenge I have not had to move any books from where I first place a book on AtY52 challenge list. It has been nice not having to keep shuffling my books like I did last year.

How is everyone else doing?

[Ann]

If people would quit recommending good books that I MUST read I wouldn't have to read them and fit them in somewhere. And then it is discovering new authors that I MUST read more of and try and fit them in. My list is so messed up. I am supposed to be reading down my To Be Read pile at home. So far NOT so good. But, hey, I am enjoying reading.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

SAME. I made a plan with 5-10 books for each prompt, and then promptly threw that out of the window. Of my 25 books read for ATY, I think only 11 were “on plan”. I’ve moved books around a bit, but I’ve been sticking to the only-choose-three-prompts-per-book so it hasn’t been too bad.

[Sarah]

Does anyone know why I picked ??? Short book? Translated?
I am jumping around and had about 5 holds from the library come in.
I am behind but will catch up over the summer.

[Edie]

I use the time I would spend trying to put together a plan (that will become out of date within days of creating it) to start reading. New books, books for my book club, friends recommendations and comments by others doing this challenge all generate books I HAVE to read.

I do consult my huge TBR list when looking for a book to fulfill a prompt. Also, I often check out what others are reading for that prompt. All this gives me the flexibility to read what grabs me in the moment. And it works for me.

[Perri]

It's fun when a book I'm reading for a Book Club or by whim turns out to fit the list somewhere...say! this author has the same first and last initials! :)

[Tracy]

Sarah wrote: "Does anyone know why I picked ??? Short book? Translated?
I am jumping around and had about 5 holds from the library come in.
I am behind but will catch up over ..."

It will fit either... I used it for a translated book....bizarre story lol

[Jillian]

Perri wrote: "It's fun when a book I'm reading for a Book Club or by whim turns out to fit the list somewhere...say! this author has the same first and last initials! :)"

I like when that happens too, especially if it works for a task I have no clue what to read for it.

[Kristen]

dalex wrote: "I am doing the challenge in random order for a multitude of reasons..."

I'm with you on this one, particularly for library availability. I'm being a Scrooge to try and get rid of all my debt by the end of the year, so participating in reading challenges like this is helping me to 1) enjoy good books instead of going out and blowing money like it's going out of style and 2) fall back in love with my local library. It adds a little feel of chance and surprise to the challenge too! What do you do when suddenly 5 books that you've requested all come available at the same time, because of course they do, even though you've waited four months for each of them?! Buckle down and fly through them, even if it means you may not enjoy them as much? Or take your time and savor them, even if it means you might not get to them all and have to wait another 4 months to get your grubby paws on them again? Oh luck be a lady.

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Kristen, I've also been trying to get out of debt and I feel your pain. I've decided to treat myself with a few things but I mostly put my money on debt. Love the local library!

I intentionally didn't put together much of a plan because I know how little I stick to it.