2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2019
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Rachael Readsalot: 80 (or more!) in 2019
2019 Challenges
✅ Let's Turn Pages: 30,000 pages completed by 29 October
✅ Clear the Shelves: 30/30 completed 21 November plus 3 additional books completed before the challenge ended
✅ The TBR Jar Challenge: 12/12 completed 14 July
✅ Serial Reader: 40/40 completed 3 October plus 8 additional books completed before the challenge ended
✅ An Author's Works: 5/5 completed 23 September
✅ Kind of a Big Deal: 20/20 completed 29 October plus 2 additional book completed before the challenge ended
✅ Popsugar: 20/20 completed 30 July plus 1 additional book completed before the challenge ended
✅ January - Marathon: 8/8 completed 31 January
✅ Mysterious March: 1/1 completed 15 March
✅ Much Ado About Shakespeare: 3/3 completed 12 April
✅ All the World's a Stage: 7 books completed by 3 June
✅ Your TBR Blockbusters: 3/3 completed 27 May
✅ Hidden Treasures: 1/1 completed 5 May
✅ Reading in Style: 1/1 completed 3 June
✅ Independent Reading: 3/3 completed 18 July
✅ Books on the Little Screen: 7/7 completed 18 September
✅ Serial Monogamist: 6/6 completed 26 August
✅ Monster Mash: 4/4 books completed 23 October
✅ Let's Roll the Credits: 12/12 completed 28 November
✅ Veteran Authors: 4/4 completed 21 November plus 1 additional book completed before the challenge ended
✅ Rock the Vote: 1/1 completed 14 November
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Statistics
Total books read = 90
Rereads: 8
Authors*:
Female: 48
Male: 39
Other: 3
Including authors I hadn't read before: 31
Length
<200 pages: 18
201-500 pages: 50
501-999 pages: 20
1000+ pages: 2
Type
Hardback: 11
Paperback: 35
E-books: 44
Genre
Chick Lit: 2
Contemporary YA: 2
Historical Fiction: 6
Horror: 2
Fantasy: 45
Fiction: 1
Mystery/Thriller: 13
Non-Fiction: 1
Poetry: 4
Play: 6
Science-Fiction: 8
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 12
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 65
⭐⭐⭐: 13
* How the authors identify themselves. I know there are many different genders but I didn't want to overcomplicate myself hence the other category
Click here to see some stats and graphs about my ratings and reviews
Kristin wrote: "Rachael, I'm so excited to be partipating in several of the same challenges as you (and mod-ing together for another year). Wishing you a happy year ahead and looking forward to seeing what you rea..."I'm excited too!
Unusually for me, I haven't really planned what I want to read in 2019. One book will definitely be Dark Age (the fifth book in the amazing Red Rising series) but I have to wait until July until that's released. What are you looking forward to read in 2019?
Yes, I think my main aim is to read books that I've had on my shelves for quite some time. I'm quite looking forward to being a bit more of a mood reader as previously, I have planned the majority of my reading in advance.I enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale and I hope you do too.
Inspired by Kristin and oshizu, I'm going to do some additional statistics this year (see message 2 above)
Love your stats and your corner! Wishing you all the best in the coming year.
These are the books I definitely want to read in 2019:
And so it begins...Best of luck to everyone! Feel free to pop in for a bookish chat here - I love talking about books! :)
Happy New Year, Rachel, and best wishes for all your challenges - hope, you get to read some fantastic books 🤩
Mie wrote: "Happy New Year, Rachel, and best wishes for all your challenges - hope, you get to read some fantastic books 🤩"Thanks, Mie. Happy new year and good luck to you too
1. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor282 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (1/20), January Marathon (1/6)
Why I read this: I like history and time travel and had heard good things about this series
Books TBR = 380
Books TBR = 385Went shopping for clothes, bought books instead 😂
2. The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare171 pages
Rating = 3 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, An Author's Works (1/5), Popsugar (1/10), January Marathon (2/6)
Why I read this: part of my personal lifetime challenge to read the complete works of Shakespeare
Books TBR = 384
Books TBR = 382I was sorting out my to-read shelf and noticed there were a couple of books on the wrong shelf
Wow so organised. I think I should look more into these challenges. Shakespeare's complete works is on my to read list to, Best of luck x
Laura wrote: "Wow so organised. I think I should look more into these challenges. Shakespeare's complete works is on my to read list to, Best of luck x"Best of luck to you too and thanks for your lovely message x
3. Liar Liar by James Patterson and Candice Fox368 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (1/30), Serial Reader (2/20), Popsugar (2/10), January Marathon (3/6)
Why I read this: part of the Detective Harriet Blue series
Books TBR= 381
Rachael wrote: "These are the books I definitely want to read in 2019:
Dark Age
The Fork, The Witch and the Worm
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (Sept)
A Discovery of Witches/Shadow of Night/The Book of Life (Feb..."
It looks like we both need to read The Sin Eater's Daughter. I want to have it read before the NYALF but I'm not having much luck in the YA Fantasy department at the moment so I don't hold out much hope in that.
Dark Age
The Fork, The Witch and the Worm
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (Sept)
A Discovery of Witches/Shadow of Night/The Book of Life (Feb..."
It looks like we both need to read The Sin Eater's Daughter. I want to have it read before the NYALF but I'm not having much luck in the YA Fantasy department at the moment so I don't hold out much hope in that.
Emma wrote: "Rachael wrote: "These are the books I definitely want to read in 2019:Dark Age
The Fork, The Witch and the Worm
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (Sept)
A Discovery of Witches/Shadow of Night/The B..."
I'm also hoping to read it before March. I also need to read the books I bought at last year's NYALitFest - they're still untouched on my shelf
4. The Seagull by Ann Cleeves416 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (2/30), Serial Reader (3/20), January Marathon (4/6)
Why I read this: I like watching the Vera TV series and one of the new episodes is based on this story
Books TBR = 380
5. White Cat by Holly Black310 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (3/30), TBR Jar (1/12), Serial Reader (4/20), Popsugar (3/10), January Marathon (5/8*)
Why I read this: it was one of the books I'd bought at last year's NYALitFest
Books TBR = 379
* I increased my goal for this challenge
6. The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave228 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (4/30), TBR Jar (2/12), January Marathon (6/8)
Why I read this: I judged the book by its pretty cover
Books TBR = 380
7. The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Eragon by Christopher Paolini288 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (5/20), Popsugar (4/10), January Marathon (7/8)
Why I read this: I'm a massive fan of the Inheritance Cycle
Books TBR = 379
Books TBR = 381This is why you can't take me grocery shopping because I get distracted by the books
8. Order of Darkness Volumes I-III: Changeling; Stormbringers; Fools' Gold by Philippa Gregory880 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (5/30), Serial Reader (6/20), Kind of a Big Deal (1/10), January Marathon (8/8)
Why I read this: I like Philippa Gregory books
Books TBR = 380
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 8/70
Number of pages turned = 2,943/25,000
Clear the Shelves: 5/30
TBR Jar: 2/12
Serial Reader: 6/20
An Author's Works: 1/5
Kind of a Big Deal: 1/10
Popsugar: 4/10
January Marathon: 8/8
Longest Book: Order of Darkness (880 pages)
Shortest Book: The Winter's Tale (171 pages)
Best Book: White Cat
Worst Book: The Winter's Tale
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐:
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 6
⭐⭐⭐: 2
⭐⭐:
⭐:
Comments: Well, 2019 is off to a good start. I'm pleased with my progress on all of my group challenges. For the majority of January's books, they have been on my shelves for quite some time so I'm glad I've finally got round to reading them.
What's next? I'm going to read another play by Shakespeare
9. The Tempest by William Shakespeare127 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, TBR Jar (3/12), An Author's Works (2/5), Popsugar (5/10)
Why I read this: part of my personal lifetime challenge
Books TBR = 382 (I took advantage of some Kindle deals)
10. The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury325 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (7/20)
Why I read this: Melinda Salisbury is appearing at this year's Northern YA Literary Festival and I wanted to read some of her work before I go to the festival
Books TBR = 381
Books TBR = 384I had a gift card to spend so decided to buy a couple of books from my Kindle wishlist
Isn't your TBR number supposed to be going down? lol
Marc wrote: "Isn't your TBR number supposed to be going down? lol"Yes it is! But I keep buying more books... I can't help myself!
I have the same problem. At least I get most of them used so as not to blow up the budget. I also constantly borrow more from the library than I have time to read and thus keep deferring all of the owned books that I want to get to. Oh well, It's a good problem to have in the grand scheme.
11. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan753 pages
Rating = 3 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (8/20), Kind of a Big Deal (2/10), buddy read
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about this book
Books TBR = 383
12. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness610 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (9/20), Kind of a Big Deal (3/10), Popsugar (6/10), buddy read
Why I read this: part of the All Souls Trilogy
Books TBR = 383
Books TBR = 384I received an email offering me some Kindle credit against certain books - of course, I was going to use it.
Books TBR = 385I haven't finished the All Souls Trilogy yet but I find myself wanting more of this world so I've just bought Time's Convert
13. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness594 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (10/20), Kind of a Big Deal (4/10), Popsugar (7/10), (early) buddy read
Why I read this: part of the All Souls Trilogy
Books TBR = 384
PROGRESS REPORTNumber of books read = 13/70
Number of pages turned = 5,352/25,000
Clear the Shelves: 5/30
TBR Jar: 3/12
Serial Reader: 10/20
An Author's Works: 2/5
Kind of a Big Deal: 4/10
Popsugar: 7/10
Longest Book: Order of Darkness (880 pages)
Shortest Book: The Winter's Tale (171 pages)
Best Book: A Discovery of Witches
Worst Book: The Winter's Tale
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 2
⭐⭐⭐⭐: 8
⭐⭐⭐: 3
⭐⭐:
⭐:
Comments: In the shortest month of the year, I read some chunky books. I bought a few more books to add to my shelves but I'm trying to read books I've had for longer. I had my first reread of the year and took part in a few buddy reads (previously I have only committed to one a month).
What's next? I'm staying in the world of All Souls and reading more by Deborah Harkness
14. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness592 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, TBR Jar (4/12), Serial Reader (11/20), Kind of a Big Deal (5/10), (early) Buddy Read
Why I read this: part of the All Souls Trilogy
Books TBR = 383
15. The All Souls Real-Time Reading Companion by Deborah Harkness113 pages
Rating = 4 stars
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: it was included in the back of my copy of The Book of Life
Books TBR = 383
16. Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness448 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I was still in an All Souls World mood
Books TBR = 382
Books TBR = 385My dad surprised me with a couple of books.
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Happy World Book Day (UK and Ireland)!
17. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon848 pages
Rating = 5 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Kind of a Big Deal (6/10), Popsugar (8/10)
Why I read this: I will possibly be meeting the author (again) at the weekend at the Northern YA Literary Festival and wanted to read her latest book first
Books TBR =385
18. The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz400 pages
Rating = 4 stars with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, TBR Jar (5/12), Mysterious March (1/1)
Why I read this: it sounded like an interesting mystery
Books TBR = 384
Books TBR = 392I went to the Northern YA Literary Festival and came back with:
* The Harm Tree by Rose Edwards (ARC)
* State of Sorrow/Song of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury
* The Island by M.A. Bennett
* Monsters in the Mirror by A.J. Hartley
The Quick by Lauren Owen (I did a book swap with my good friend, Emma)
Gilded Cage by Vic James (from the book exchange stall)
Enchantée sampler by Gita Trelease
A Monsters in the Mirror bookmark
A postcard that says "Unashamedly Bookish" which is me to a T.
(* = signed by the author)
2025 Reading Challenge
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New goal = 80 books!