Read-a-Thon #1 - All About the Challenge

[Katie]

Today, we're going to celebrate the thing that brings us all together, the reading challenge.

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
2. How did you find the ATY group?
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
8. How do you track your challenge?

[Ellie]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my first year (although I was around for the voting process last year).

2. How did you find the ATY group?
People kept mentioning it in the Popsugar challenge group so I came over to investigate.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
I kinda like the gamification aspect (as in ticking off items from a list), it gives me something to aim for when I am otherwise staring at my TBR unable to decide on what to read next. I read quite widely already, but it's also useful to stop me getting stuck in a rut of reading the same old things.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Popsugar (I really like the weekly check-ins there).

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
13

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
Throw my plan out the window and read what I like! Haha, that doesn't sound like a plan at all... I have a list of possible books for when I get stuck but so far I've been doing OK just slotting books in as I go. I'd feel a bit constrained sticking to a pre-defined list.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I'm excited about picking my STEM read. Actually, no, I have no idea how I'll pick just one.

8. How do you track your challenge?
I add the challenge prompts onto my books read spreadsheet, but I also have my list in various places online (group spreadsheet, group planning thread, my blog). I have all my challenge books on their own shelf on GR too. I'm quite a visual person so I like being able to see them.

[Tracy]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my third year!!!!

2. How did you find the ATY group?
I don't remember. I know I was out of work on my first medical leave and wasn't sleeping, I can remember sitting in the dark at the kitchen table browsing GoodReads because I had insomnia. Somehow I stumbled across it and joined the group and then the list making started!! The researching for books gave me some purpose, so I got kind of obsessed. I wasn't very involved in the group the first year even though I finished the challenge, last year was when I started really participating and getting to know everyone. You guys are the best!!!!🙂

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
The lists!! I LOVE planning the lists LOL. My favorite time of year is when the final list comes out and I can start planning. Also, I've been pushed to read so many books that I wouldn't have and I find so many great recommendations.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
I'm doing Pop Sugar ( Love the weekly check ins there too Ellie ) and I also have Book Riot and Reading Women planned out. Obviously won't be finishing them all, but it was fun to just dream about it....
I think I may be able to pull off finishing ATY ( always my priority challenge) AND Pop Sugar this year.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
5 so far and ( Thank you read a thon ), I'm 50% through books 6 and 7.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
Uh, my strategy seems to be wait until October and then stay up all night through December reading like a crazy person so I can finish, LOL... last year it was steal all the books I read for Pop Sugar and Book Riot and throw them into ATY prompts. I still have all of the books I had pulled out and planned for last year on my plan thread for this year.
" Throw my plan out the window and read what I like!" I love this, I'm kind of the same way I guess.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I think The Indigenous prompt. I'm really looking forward to reading There There

8. How do you track your challenge?
I really don't. I just go into my thread ( its linked to my profile page) and pick a book, then cross off and update the numbers as I go. No spreadsheets here. I really should try and work on one though. I need to brush up on my excel skills.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
- This is my third year! I joined in June of 2017 and barely completed 2017's in time.

2. How did you find the ATY group?
- I can't remember! This was the first Goodreads group I ever joined and participated in, but I probably saw the voting posts on the group page.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
- It helps me pick which book I'll read next! Before challenges, I would spend days between books because I wasn't sure what I wanted to read next... this kind of takes the guessing out of it.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
- I have a few challenges going on the Wacky Challenges group, and I'm doing a few on the Game Night group as well. No other year-long challenges for me though... I didn't like PopSugar or BR's prompts enough.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
- 9! Right on track. I'll have to work on The Red Tent this week.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
- Oooooh I'm a planner, but I planned 5-10 books per prompt for flexibility. And I'm actually sticking to my plan this year because I'm reading in order... my side reads are a bit out of control right now, but I think that's made it easier to read in order and stick to a plan.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
- I really liked the linked prompts we had last month. I also like the list prompts, like the NYPL and the GR Choice ones. It helps me narrow down all of the options.

8. How do you track your challenge?
- I have my plan on here. I also have a spreadsheet. I also post it on my blog. Finishing a book has got a bit tiresome, tbh, because I have so many places to post!

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my first year.

2. How did you find the ATY group?
A lot of people mentioned it over in the Popsugar group, but I really only paid attention when we were all waiting for the Popsugar 2019 prompts to come out, and they mentioned the ATY prompts were already out, so I came over here to channel some of my pent up detailed planning.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
I liked the challenge of finding books to fit unusual prompts, and finding books that are outside my comfort zone, but that I can still enjoy. Plus, it's really nice to have a reason to pick a book to read next, instead of just mentally wandering through the 100s of TBR books and not knowing how to choose.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
I'm actively doing ATY and Popsugar (with some crossover--I'm willing to count a book for multiple challenges), and also have Back to the Classics sitting on the back burner for when I can put more effort into it.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
7. I'm slightly behind schedule, but that's because I decided to use only already owned TBR books for ATY as much as possible, and I had a bunch of library books I needed to read and return near the beginning of the year. Catching up now!

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
I do plan books ahead of time, especially to remind myself which books I really want to get to this year, or when there's a difficult prompt that only fits a few books I want to read. I also move things around as I go though, and match my mood reads to prompts even if I had something else planned.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I liked these particularly: "2 books related to the same topic, genre, or theme", "A book off of the 1001 books to read before you die list" and "A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed". And this one, "A book related to one of the 12 Zodiac Chinese Animals", because I have a bunch of unread free Kindle books that are dragon related. :-)

8. How do you track your challenge?
I just use the list of prompts on my thread and check off prompts as I finish them, and also have a dedicated shelf linked to the tracker on the group home page. I use a Google Drive page for organizing and planning multiple challenges at once at the beginning of the year, but I usually don't refer to it again after I have my tentative plans posted in group.

[Marina]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
I've been here since the beginning so this must be my 5th year. Well, I took a break halfway through last years challenge, but I stayed around.

2. How did you find the ATY group?
I can't remember how I found the 2015 reading challenge but I moved to this group right when it was created.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
Finding new books and stepping out my comfort zone once in a while. I also really like the jigsaw aspect finding books on my TBR that fits different tasks.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Always. At this moment I'm working on 21 challenges from the Wacky reading challenges group and 18 from the Wanderlust challenges group. I always participate in The seasonal reading challenge and I'm also doing a few challenges on Litsy.
And my lists are ever growing 😁

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
I've completed 7 books so far but since I'm planning on only using 500+ pages books it's going a bit slower than usual. I don't think I'll finish this year, but that's okay.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
No, just as mentioned only using 500+ books.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I don't have topics I'm most excited about, but there's a couple of books I really hope to read: Gone with the wind and Anna Karenina.

8. How do you track your challenge?
In my thread and I have a spreadsheet where I track all my reading and my early challenges.

[Edie]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my 3rd year
2. How did you find the ATY group?
I had finished up another challenge and went looking for a list of other challenges
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
By providing prompts outside my normal reading lane, it opened me up to authors and books I would have missed otherwise.
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
I am also doing Popsugar, ReadHarder and Reading Women... and reading 5 books for the Around the World challenge. I also have a personal 80 in 80 challenge that I work on. I will count a book for more than one challenge, but never for more than one prompt in a challenge.
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
21
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
Nothing very organized. I go through my TBR list periodically and line up 5-6 books that fit prompts I haven't completed, so I can time my requests for books from the library. I also slot in books for my book club and books that others have recommended for prompts.
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I like prompts related to lists of award winning books or books recommended by librarians. Not a fan of prompts related to movies or tv shows.
8. How do you track your challenge?
I have a spreadsheet that includes tabs for each of my challenges.

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[Michelle]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge? This is my first year.
2. How did you find the ATY group? Through a Book Riot article on reading challenges...I think.
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges? It has made me go outside of my 'normal' in regards to reading.
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones? I've already completed the 2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge. I have this one and I've also created a TBR list for both Popsugar 2018 & ATY 2018 Challenges. :)
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year? 17 books read.
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)? I created a spreadsheet and chose a book for each challenge. I then created shelves here on GR for each challenge list I'm doing. I then choose a book from the list that I feel like reading at the time.
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?"a book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list" I haven't read that many from the list so it will be great to cross one off.
8. How do you track your challenge? Just my shelf, my spreadsheet and posting on IG.

[Samantha]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
It looks like I did the first one in 2015 when the group was called 2015 Reading Challenge.
2. How did you find the ATY group?
I was invited to a group to ask Tess Gerritsen questions about an upcoming book. It was the first time I had heard of groups so was looking at what some of the different ones were and lucked on to this one.
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
I come accross books I might not otherwise known about. It also gives me a goal and a place to track that goal.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Nope

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
I am behind only having finished 6 bu think I should be all caught up after the read-a-thon
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
I tend to read in orderish. I try to plan a bit so I can put books on hold at the library. When I get books from the library can at time put the challenge out of order but it is generally never more than a few weeks ahead.
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I don't really have one but have noticed that it is often the ones that I a least excited about that I find those little gems I never would have read other wise. A book published before 1950 is one that I am not looking forward to but perhaps I need to be excited for the challenge of finding something I will enjoy.

8. How do you track your challenge?
I keep the list on my computer with the books I have read and the books I am planning to read in the upcoming weeks.

[Carmen]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my first year! It's my second year of doing challenges.
2. How did you find the ATY group?
In looking for the prompt list I found this group!
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
The focus it brings to my reading. I read more, and am more aware of what I'm reading, and by whom. It also makes me read things I wouldn't otherwise!
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Too many! I am also doing Popsugar, Beat the Backlist, Back to the Classics, and 2 challenges of my own- not counting the GR challenge.. Woops!
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
8! 9 if I can find a prompt for my just finished read!
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
Nope. I try to find books for all prompts ahead of time, but never end up sticking to it, but it's nice to fall back onto for harder prompts. Even if I still need some for the prompts including lists and stuff.. hmmm
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
The books correlating to the same subject, as I've got some Greek mythology lined up <3
8. How do you track your challenge?
I have a folder with all my prompt lists and pages with all the prompts written out with planned books/read books. I cross off on the list in black, and in red on my pages. I also have a shelf here on GR and a notebook to keep track of all my reads to keep my dates straight and correct.

[Shelley]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge? This is my third year
2. How did you find the ATY group? I think I got here through the Dewey 24 hour readathon
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges? I have really long TBR lists, but have a tendency to get into ruts about reading. Doing challenges makes me pull books from my list that I may not be sure into.
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones? Popsugar and Book Riot
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year? 11 of the actual list and 8 in the rejects list
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?I am a huge planner and I keep track of other options. For ATY in particular, I like to read in month order (all January books in January, all March books in March) to stop myself from getting too far ahead of myself and being stuck with my least favorite books at the end of the year.
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?You have owned for at least a year. I don't own many books, so I read them pretty quickly. I'm changing this to being an excuse to buy a book that I've been looking for for years. I've got some that I've wanted to read for 5 years so I'll finally pay full price for them.
8. How do you track your challenge? I have a full excel sheet with pivot tables and formulas. <3

[Hannah]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my first proper year - I found out about the ATY Reading Challenge part way through the challenge last year, and tried to do as many prompts as I could, but I didn't join the group until half-way through the voting rounds.

2. How did you find the ATY group?
It kept being mentioned by people who were doing the Popsugar Challenge in their weekly check-ins, so I got curious and found out about it that way.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
The planning and list making. I LOVE planning and making lists.
I've set myself a target this year to read all the books I have a physical copy of. This was 65 at the start of the year. For the other prompts from ATY and my other challenges, I am trying to read mainly books I had on my TBR at the start of the year, whether that it books from the library or ebooks I own. I've also found so many great recommendations thanks to everyone else doing the challenge.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
I'm doing Pop Sugar ( I also love the weekly check ins) and I'm also doing Reading Women and Modern Mrs Darcy. I'm concentrating on ATY and Pop Sugar, and I try to read one book for each every week. I've also made a list in a couple of notebooks of all the prompts for all the years of challenges since 2015 for Pop Sugar, ATY, Reading Women, MMD and Book Riot, and I use any side reads to complete the prompts from those years.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
I've finished 21, and I'm listening to book 22 at the moment.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
I planned out all of my books when the final prompts came out, and made a few changes because of Pop Sugar. I've written the titles of the books on small bits of paper, and put them in to three containers depending on the format. The paper is also a different colour for each of the different challenges. Then, depending on the challenge I want to read for and the format I want to read, I pick a piece of paper from that container and read whichever book is on the paper. If I pick out a book I need to get from the library, I will put it on hold, and read it as the next book when it becomes available. And yes, I did definitely over-plan this! The read-a-thon has put this on hold for a bit, as I want to make sure I the books I am reading can be used for a country.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I think I'm more excited about certain books rather than challenge topics.

8. How do you track your challenge?
I go into my thread and cross off of the prompt and update the numbers as I go. I've also printed off a copy of my thread so I have a paper copy when I only have access to my phone / can't be bothered to turn my laptop on. I also love stationary, so I have some notebooks that I write in the books I've completed for each prompt.

[Pam]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my 4th year!

2. How did you find the ATY group?
I don't remember but probably saw it as a group on someone's profile in another group.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
The feeling of accomplishment. It's also motivational and keeps me reading and expanding the types of books I'm reading!

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Yes, I may be overdoing it this year but, in addition to my personal 100 Authors & Great American Read challenges, I'm doing the following challenges in other GR groups:

Translated Lit (21 different languages) in ATW in 80 Books
Tourist (24 countries) in ATW in 80 Books
Finishing Winter Olympics (multi-year challenge) in ATW in 80 Books
Back to the Classics (12 categories) in Never to Late to read the Classics
12+4 in Life of a Book Addict
and the highly insane Seasonal Reading Challenge (SRC), which I can't seem to give up!

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
18

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
My strategy is to get ahead early (first 2 months) so I have some breathing room later in the year. I don't plan ahead but I do have some books that I plan to use for certain prompts. What helped me last year was halfway through to create (and modify) a message in my challenge thread with only the prompts that are remaining.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
Like Hannah said, it's not the prompts, its the books. I am really excited about reading some of the longer books I own that I have been putting off like Middlesex, The Goldfinch, The Luminaries, the LOTR, Gormenghast trilogy, etc.

8. How do you track your challenge?
I have been just tracking on my thread but I just created a spreadsheet today with everything but the SRC, which I track separately. This should help me coordinate between the challenges. I'm focusing 90% (starting in March) on books I own and seeing how they fit into the different challenges and where I have gaps. There are only a few prompts that I will have to rely on the library for.

[Silvia]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge? Since the beginning, I did the 2015 PopSugar with the group and then we started the new group ATY.

2. How did you find the ATY group?I was looking for a group to make the PopSugar 2015 and found two at that moment. I liked this better and just stayed.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges? Meet my goals and share experiences.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones? No, I am afraid one challenge is my highest goal :D

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year? 4, almost 5

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)? Nop

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about? The four related, the wedding rhyme.

8. How do you track your challenge? I use the list of prompts on my thread and also have a shelf dedicated to the 2019 AtY Challenge.

[Rachel]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my fifth year of doing reading challenges.

2. How did you find the ATY group?
To be honest, I don't remember. I can't remember if I voted in the 2016 challenge, or found the group after that challenge was mostly complete.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
Getting the chance to read so many of the books that I'm really looking forward to. I find having the challenge prompts helps me focus a bit and actually decide what to read, so I don't get overwhelmed by having so many books on my TBR. It gives me some direction about what to pick, but I've never had much problem fitting in all (or at least most) of the books that I'm most excited for.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
I'm doing PopSugar, a rejects challenge based on the prompts for ATY that I voted for that didn't make it, Bookish's 2018 challenge, and a combined version of the 2018 and 2019 challenges from the Mommy Mannegren blog. For the Mommy Mannegren challenge, I combined my favourite prompts from both years to make a full list.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
Just 3, I'm embarrassed to admit! I've read about 30 books in total, but very few for ATY so far.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
Since I'm doing multiple challenges, I find that it's very important for me to stay organized, especially because I'm also planning on reading series and want to make sure I fit those books in. I make a plan of what I want to read for each prompt and each challenge, and then mood read when it comes to actually picking what to read next.

I also try to read some of the books or prompts that I'm not very excited for early on in the year, to prevent myself from procrastinating on them until the end, when there's virtually no chance I'll actually read them. I also do my best to vary what I'm reading in terms of length, genre, storyline, etc. so I don't burn myself out on any particular kind of book.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I find it much easier to be excited for specific books than specific prompts, but if I had to pick one from ATY, I would probably pick the psychological thriller because I love those and have been wanting to read more of them.

8. How do you track your challenge?
I keep track of progress toward my overall goal on Goodreads just using the tracker on the homepage. I also have a Word document where I make a few notes on each book as I finish them, which I find useful since I also have a blog and it's hard to remember details of every single book. I keep a list of which books I read each month, and track how many books I've read toward each challenge by the end of the month.

[Veronica]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my 4th (?) year.
2. How did you find the ATY group?
I started with it when it was a group for, I think, the 2015 Popsugar challenge and then it evolved into its own group.
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
It gives me the boost I need to meet my reading goals and talking to others about the books I've read.
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Not officially, but I have looked at Reading Women and Popsugar.
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
4 and currently choosing my 5th.
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
I am trying to read in order and look at what the next few prompts are to decide on which books I choose next. I usually have some idea of what I want but look to see what others have chosen.
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
I am looking forward to the wedding-related prompts, the book that I have owned for more than a year ( I have plenty to choose from!) and the sense of place.
8. How do you track your challenge?
I track it on here and in a notebook where I list all books that I have ready that year.

[Jill]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my 3rd year.
2. How did you find the ATY group?
I think I found it through the Popsugar group but I can’t remember for,sure.
3. What is your favorite thing about doing the reading challenges?
I like how it expands my reading horizons. I can get stuck reading only a couple of genres and the challenges get me out of the rut.
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? I am doing 4 other challenges besides ATY. I created a 25 book ATY reject challenge, Popsugar, Reading Women and Modern Mrs. Darcy.
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year? 16 so far but I will probably finish the 17th tomorrow.
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)? I do plan ahead but nothing is set in stone. If I hear about books during the year that I really want to read sooner rather than later I try to,find a place to,fit them in. I also try to take books from my TBR as much as possible otherwise it will get more out of control than it already is.
7. What 2018 challenge topic are you most excited about? I loved the 2 books related to the same topic. I paired a fiction and non fiction book, An American Marriage and Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.
8. How do you track your challenge? Lots of places, here on the ATY page and spreadsheet, my own spreadsheet, Goodreads and Pinterest.

[Joan]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge? This is my 3rd year doing the challenge
2. How did you find the ATY group? I'm not sure I remember. I think I found it on a post somewhere or I was just clicking around goodreads.
3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges? It keeps me on track for what to read next and it helps me branch out and read some things I might not otherwise read. I enjoy the group and discussing the books. I guess all of that is more than one thing but it is hard to choose.
4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones? Not really - I set my overall goal low this year at 60. I didn't want to feel pressured. I'm on the Goodreads Choice Awards Book Group and I try to read a dozen or so of the choice award books. Some of them overlap with this challenge. Other than that I just try to do some buddy reads with the 2019 Reading Challenge group.
5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year? 8
6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)? I try to plan buddy reads for some of them. I don't read in order. If I start to fall behind I read small books to help me catch up and not feel stressed.
7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about? Probably prompt #1 which I haven't gotten to yet!
8. How do you track your challenge? I track it in the 2019 plans section.

[Traci]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge? This is my second year.

2. How did you find the ATY group? Randomly on Goodreads, maybe through Popsugar?

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges? Spreadsheets! Well, kind of. I love planning and ticking off books read.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones? Popsugar, Book Riot Read Harder, Reading Women, Modern Mrs Darcy, ATY rejects, and a few personal ones like I don't let books stay on my TBR shelf longer than 3 years.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year? 9, currently listening to #10.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)? I'm reading in order and listed out options ahead of time. Actually, one day last month I got a little stressed about all the books for the challenges and juggling with in order and personal challenges for non-fiction and cultural appreciation months, so I have my entire year's books pretty planned (have already decided not to read in order next year to make it all easier)

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about? I liked the two linked books prompt, also am excited about the Mediterranean setting/author and Indigenous.

8. How do you track your challenge? My own spreadsheet and the ATY spreadsheet.

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[Kathy]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
This is my 5th year. I found the original Pop Sugar group in the summer of 2015 after finishing the Read Harder Challenge. I've been here ever since.

2. How did you find the ATY group?
Looking for a new challenge after finishing Book Riot's Read Harder.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
I like having books lined up to read. Also challenges help me read other genres/types of books than I normally gravitate to.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Yes. I'm doing a 10-book ATY Rejects challenge of the prompts I liked best that didn't make the final list. I'm also doing Modern Mrs. Darcy. I also belong to the Never Too Late to Read Classics group on Goodreads and we have a few challenges there too.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
12, which I'm pretty happy with.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
I plan and plan and plan, then end up reading about 1/3 of the books I planned. I read in order last year but found it too constraining so I'm reading whatever prompt I like.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
A book related to food
A book you stumbled upon

8. How do you track your challenge?
I have a spreadsheet with one tab showing 4 different possibilities for each prompt, then one tab showing what I actually read. I also have a Word document where I just keep adding possibilities for each prompt as I come across books that fit

[Jody]

1. How many years have you been doing the ATY Reading Challenge?
I've been here since the beginning, pretty much, back in 2015, when we were doing the POPSUGAR challenge.

2. How did you find the ATY group?
I searched for Goodreads groups for POPSUGAR and found the old one, and the rest is history. I'm so glad I found it.

3. What is your favorite thing about doing reading challenges?
Making new friends, having people who like reading & talking about books as much as I do. Also discovering new books that I most likely wouldn't have even known about, let alone read.

4. Are you doing any other reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
This is my first year since I started challenges that I'm not doing either POPSUGAR or Book Riot, and surprisingly I'm not missing them at all. I feel like the pressure is off, especially since I'm only reading 500+ page books for AtY this year. I am always doing a bunch of challenges on Wacky Challenges, but they all overlap and are super casual. I've also got my 50 Before 50 lists, and Around the World, but I have some years to complete the first, and no limit on the second.

5. How many books have you completed for the ATY challenge so far this year?
Only six so far, but I'm not planning on finishing. I really just want to read a decent amount of long books this year, so am only reading books with 500 or more pages.

6. Do you have any strategies for completing the challenge (e.g. reading in order, planning books ahead of time)?
I usually like to have a bunch of options available for each prompt (it's especially helpful this year), so that when it's time for a new one, I have a lot of options - one year, I read in order and locked in my books in advance ... I hated it, and I didn't finish.

7. What 2019 challenge topic are you most excited about?
None, really, like many others in the thread, I'm more excited about the books. I'm hopeful that my jar of random delights will give me the right topics to slot in the chonks I really want to read this year.

8. How do you track your challenge?
I have my personal spreadsheet, with stats & my thread here in the group.