2018 Reading Challenge!

[Bec]

Come and chat about what you set your Goodreads 2018 Reading Challenge to, why you chose the number, what you are planning on reading, and come back to give us all the updates!

[Bec]

I set my Reading Challenge at 120 books.

At the end of 2017, I was reading A LOT and averaging 15 books a month, so I thought 10 books/month for the entire year would keep me consistently reading but not be too much of a stressor (I hope).

This is the first year I've given myself a legitimate challenge though because normally I set really low goals so I can just see how much I can outdo myself.


I've started off really well! So far I've read 8 books which puts me 2 books ahead of schedule! And I'm halfway through 4 currently reading books as well (I sound like a maniac when it comes to reading, I realize this).

How is everyone else doing?

[Ilsen]

I set my goal to 30 books.

I didn’t complete my 50 books goal due to being really busy the last semester. Even then, the most I read was in the summer when I had all the time in the world. I had no set reading schedule.

This year however, I changed that. I said that I would read 2 hours everyday or try to. So far I have been reading almost every day. I have finished 5 books so far so I’m 4 books ahead of schedule. I may change my goal if I finish it early. But so far I’m doing really good.

Also I’m currently reading three books so you’re not alone Becca XD

[Bec]

Hey, you're off to a great start!

I completely understand what it's like with reading and being busy, particularly with study. That's why previously I've set lower goals so when I got overwhelmed I didn't feel too guilty about not reading as much as I wanted to.

[The Half-blood Reader]

I set the challenge to 50 - starting slow, but I may set it higher like always. Let's see how the year goes!
I just felt like last year I kind of exhausted my will to read certain things in trying to comply with challenges.

I'm at 12, but 4 are short stories - just because I was in the mood for some laughs. There are also 2 graphic novels and a manga series I had to finish, because they were lent to me by a friend. I like to return borrowed books as fast as I can.

I didn't make a lot of specific plans for what I will read. It all depends on the mood I'm in...
I plan to keep reading the Shadowhunters series and finish the Dexter one. I wanted to sink my reader-teeth into some books I received from authors, so I can give a review (the least one can do).
I also wanted to continue The Lunar Chronicles - stopped at book 1.

Guys, I'm currently reading 2 novels consistently, and then there's just... everything else. It's a mess.

Ilsen, you're being so efficient! ;__; Glad it's working out for you, and I wanna hire you to organize my life xD

[Bec]

I know what you mean about challenges. I did a lot of challenges with GRs groups last year and this year I don't think I will.

I am doing the Read Harder challenge by Book Riot (although I've already refused to do one of the challenges, off to a killer start) and set some personal challenges to tick off some of my classic, nonfic, and backlist books this year.

Apart from that, I've always got my ARCs and the occasional readathon that I come across on Twitter.

[Ilsen]

Aww thanks Regsly. But to be honest, I’m terrible at organizing. All of my friends and family wish I was organized with my life with how I’m organized with my books XD

Oh yea one of my reading goals this year is to finish series that I started or put off. That definitely means the Lunar Chronicles because I definitely want to continue it. There’s some series that go way back. Also this may be the year that I catch up with Rick Riordan because I started Percy Jackson and never finished it so I want to try again.

Another reading goal is to try to read all the books on my shelf (or most of them) before going out and getting new books. I’m only buying books if they are for buddy reads, BOTM, or if they are part of a series that I’m currently reading. Also, I’m planning on getting books that I owned ARCs of and loved (like The Cruel Prince and A Crown of Wishes)

Omg I gave up on challenges. I was too focused on completing the challenges instead of reading just for fun. So I gave up on the June challenge. I’ll probably join another month long challenge but I won’t make it a huge deal. But the old challenges that I didn’t complete, I’m not even going to bother finishing them XD

[Hayli]

I have my challenge goal set to 100 at the moment.

I was surprised how much I had read last year since I originally had my goal as 35 and instead read 85! I averaged about 10 books, give or take, a month. But I started out especially slow in the beginning of 2017 so I am definitely feeling good with how this year is going so far.

I listen to audiobooks, for the most part, so I tend to fly through books. I have "read" 14 books as of right now and I am 9 books ahead of schedule.

I am also planning on attempting to complete the Popsugar reading challenge. As well as setting a goal for myself to read a good amount of my owned books, since I have an alarming amount of unread ones.

[Bec]

Such a great start Hayli! Sounds like you might kill the challenge this year if you keep it up.

I pick up a fair few audiobooks as well, I love having them for commutes or walking by myself, or doing chores around the house when I don't have my hands free.

[Hayli]

Becca (becandbones) wrote: "Such a great start Hayli! Sounds like you might kill the challenge this year if you keep it up.

I pick up a fair few audiobooks as well, I love having them for commutes or walking by myself, or d..."

I'm hoping that I will!

I'm the same way. I like to listen to them as I drive to and from work and when I'm falling asleep. I've also been finding it harder to actually sit down and concentrate on a physical book so audiobooks have been really great for me. :)

[The Half-blood Reader]

@Ilsen The Percy Jackson universe is so good! I caught up... last year? Or the year before? I don't remember anymore.
Now I have to read the Magnus Chase series and the Trials of Apollo.

@Becca I never get into an official readathon xD

And about challenges still: when they are hard, have a "short" deadline and the books you feel like reading don't fit anywhere. Not worth it.

[The Half-blood Reader]

Hayli wrote: "I have my challenge goal set to 100 at the moment.

I was surprised how much I had read last year since I originally had my goal as 35 and instead read 85! I averaged about 10 books, give or take, ..."

Great goal, Hayli!

Audiobooks are great and I wish I had more (our library doesn't yet have ebook or audiobooks loans). I used to listen while I was doing stuff and for sleeping, as well. It was lovely. And they really go faster.

[Ilsen]

@Regsly Yea I’m really excited to go into it! I read the first two books in freshman year but I never got to finish it so I want to finish it this year!

And yea I agree with the challenges. If they don’t fit, then you shouldn’t do it. Plus I feel like I’m more concentrated on finishing the challenges rather than just reading for enjoyment. But I’ll join a challenge every now and then but it won’t be a priority anymore.

The only audiobook I’m interested in is the Illuminae series because I heard it was a production and Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe because it’s narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

[The Half-blood Reader]

@Ilsen I read both The Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus series, and I also read the Kane Chronicles. I like the take uncle Rick takes on mythology + modernity, and how he creates such diverse characters. I have a beef with his main female characters, though. I know the target audience fails to see some problematic things, and therefore likes said characters, finds problematic things funny. But I cannot.

It's like... for example "Read a book in which an mc is a farmer". The only book I own that I'm aware has a farmer is The Bridges of Madison County, and I wasn't nor shall I be in the near future in the mood for such a story. Absolutely not. Give me warm feelings or amusement, please.

Ooooh a production? Now you got me curious. Might check it out someday.

[Ilsen]

@Regsly Yea we tend to miss problematic things when it’s in our childhood. But I’ll look out for them. I’ll still read them however.

Yea pft I don’t know any book with a farmer. I think for that one I just put a book that was set on a farm and I was like *shrug* close enough.

Yea I heard from everyone it’s fantastic. I’m just reading the physical book and it’s still amazing.

[The Half-blood Reader]

@Ilsen Like I said, they're still good, amusing, clever and there's some characters I love. But when it came to some females, I got so aggravated ugh.

I want to read it. One day xD

[Ilsen]

@Regsly You probably will one day. But hey the series is finishing this year so you can binge it all at once! XD

[Hayli]

@Regsly

I just finished the Illumiae audiobook recently and it was an experience! It was really cool. (I'd recommend having a physical copy on hand as well, otherwise you miss some things that are hard to include in the audiobook format.)

[The Half-blood Reader]

Hayli wrote: "@Regsly I just finished the Illumiae audiobook recently and it was an experience! It was really cool. (I'd recommend having a physical copy on hand as well, otherwise you miss some things that are..."

Okay. That settles it. I'm going to get the audiobook sometime as well as the book. Audiobooks. I'm assuming Gemina and Obsidio will be the same.

@Ilsen you know how I love binge reading xD

[Ayla]

Hi y'all! Casually joining in here xD

You've all set great goals and are doing great so far as well! :o <33

I've lowered my goal from 50 books in 2017 to 40 books in 2018. Last year I read 39 books, so almost 40, and I definitely want to achieve my goal this year (and perhaps up it to 50 again, if this year turns out to be good!) :)
I'll also be going to university this year (if I pass my exams lol) so I think I'll be very busy by the end of this year. However, during summer break I'll probably have lots of time to read :)

By the way, would you all be interested in doing a Buddy Read like the one you're doing with the Shadowhunters Chronicles right now? Once you've finished that one, of course :)
I was thinking maybe we could do HP, or something else, whatever you prefer!

[Ilsen]

@Ayla

I would like to do another buddy read for a long series. Maybe Harry Potter (I’m down to reread Harry Potter) or Throne of Glass (yep still haven’t read it. There’s a bunch of long series I need to read if anyone has any suggestions XD

[Ayla]

Ilsen wrote: "@Ayla

I would like to do another buddy read for a long series. Maybe Harry Potter (I’m down to reread Harry Potter) or Throne of Glass (yep still haven’t read it. There’s a bunch of long series I..."

Yeah, I'd love to read that one as well! :D
It's just that I'd rather finish the books I own first (amongst which is HP), but I'll try my best to finish all of the books I own first :)

[Cordelianne]

I would be interested in buddyreading HP as well! I haven't read HP in three years, so it is definitely time to read HP again :)
Oops well I love those books haha

[Ayla]

Cordelianne wrote: "I would be interested in buddyreading HP as well! I haven't read HP in three years, so it is definitely time to read HP again :)
Oops well I love those books haha"

Glad to hear that! :D

[Ayla]

@Everyone

I'm not creating a poll (to prevent people who won't be joining anyway from voting), but can count votes this way.
Books suggested until now:

Harry Potter series (7 books) - Voted on by: Becca; Ilsen; Alicia; Cordelianne; Me = 5 votes
Throne of Glass series (7 books) - Voted on by: Becca; Ilsen = 2 votes
... [any other suggestions by you]

Please feel free to suggest another series and vote on one of these series :)

[Ilsen]

Ah I see Ayla. Yea a lot of people vote on the polls XD

I mean I have Throne of Glass which is why I’m offering it. I also have the long series of Jackaby and Vampire Academy! (I’m considering long series longer than 4 books)

[Bec]

I'm keen for both HP and ToG. Not sure when I'll have time to read them but I'll make it work :)

[Alicia]

Hey guys! So I set my goal to 75 and then realized that I have already read 9. I didn't realize how many books I would have to read for school this semester, but I am rather glad. I might just fly past my goal this year.

I would love to do HP buddy read, but I wouldn't be able until March/April. If you guys do it around then, count me in!

[Ilsen]

Oh yea I agree Alicia, I can’t do it next month! I’ll be in way too many buddy reads next month XD But I’m totally down for a series buddy read! They are very fun!

[Bec]

Alicia wrote: "Hey guys! So I set my goal to 75 and then realized that I have already read 9. I didn't realize how many books I would have to read for school this semester, but I am rather glad. I might just fly ..."

It's one of the best feelings outdoing your reading goal!

[Cordelianne]

I am currently reading Throne of Glass in another group, so I would prefer HP

[Ayla]

I added the votes and hope I've understood your votes correctly :)
If not, feel free to correct me!

We'll wait about a week or so to see if more people are going to vote, and then pick a series and a month in which we'll start the Buddy Read! The month will probably be March/April then, like Alicia suggested :) If that's fine with all of you, of course!

[Alicia]

Ayla (ParadisePinkPages) wrote: "I added the votes and hope I've understood your votes correctly :)
If not, feel free to correct me!

We'll wait about a week or so to see if more people are going to vote, and then pick a series an..."

I am so excited for this! I can't wait. So I am going to be old and say that I haven't read this first one since 99.....LOL