Stephanie's 2020 Reading Challenges

[HomeInMyShoes]

Nice. 1,000 books. I'm close. Maybe next year if I'm up on my reading, but I've kind of been sluffing it the last couple.

[Stephanie]

Another goal reached! By finishing an Amazon magazine, I have now read or listened to everything I bought before 2011. I've had estuff since 2008, so progress.

I have 1 audiobooks and 16 ebooks bought in 2011, so will be working on those. While all audiobooks are included, free ebooks, unless acquired by a credit, are not included.

Before you think I'm doing really well, I have several hundred unread/unlistened books bought in 2012 and 2013.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Pfft. I'm only listening to the first paragraph. La la la. Good job. :)

[Christa, The Renewed]

As a fellow somewhat-reformed e-hoarder, I think you're doing great!

I've had estuff since 2010 and I don't think I've actually made a dent in that first year's acquisitions. LOL I sort of stopped keeping track at a certain point so now I have no idea. :D

[Stephanie]

September wrap-up. Continued progress on series. I finished the Dresden Files except for the final book published on 9/29. It's my next book. Lots of progress (and enjoyment) on the Myrtle Clover series. I'm not happy with the new narrator however. I'm hoping she improves with the second book, but probably not. Her choice for voice for Myrtle is terrible - squeaky high. She is not a shrinking violet and is unlikely to have such a crappy voice. Irritating.

Progress on Shannara. I could still finish this year. Turns out one trilogy group is actually a series of novellas, so easy peasy on that. So Dark Legacy trilogy for October, Defenders of Shannara in November and finally, the final quadrilogy Fall of Shannara in December although it could bleed into January. I do like to do holiday stories during December. I'll just fit in Paladins (the novella collection) here or there.

Due to tennis elbow problems, I'm going to have to stop cross-stitching for awhile, and my sewing machine is going in for it's maintenance, so I may be watching more TV rather than audiobooks. That will mean more ereading which means I will get to those final 87th precinct books not available in audiobook! I just keep putting them off because of needlework.

[Stephanie]

My wrapup for October. Finished the Dresden Files including the 2 new books. Yay!

I'm on schedule for Shannara series - just finished Dark Legacy. The next group are 3 short stories, then the final trilogy and quadrilogy. So, I might still finish this year.

Myrtle Clover - I have one book left that I own. I can borrow the rest of the series, which I may do instead of buying. The series is getting quite formulaic now.

Vorkosagan saga - I'm about half way done and some of the books are available free from Audible Plus catalog.

87th Precinct series - should be done with this next week. I am partway done with both books. One was an old audiobook that glitched up halfway so I'll be reading the rest. I know I keep saying I will finish this series and I'm determined to do it in November!

Landover series also by Terry Brooks - halfway done.

So lots of progress. I also have gone through over 80 standalone novellas and short stories - goal is 100 before end of year.

[Christa, The Renewed]

Fantastic progress!

I've got some in-progress series that I really should tackle soon.

[Stephanie]

Christa wrote: "Fantastic progress!

I've got some in-progress series that I really should tackle soon."

It's hard to focus. I wanna read this...I wanna read that.

[Christa, The Renewed]

Stephanie wrote: "It's hard to focus. I wanna read this...I wanna read that."

It really is. So many things I want to read. It doesn't take me long to decide what to read next when I finish a book, but any plans I try to make in advance are sure to fail. :D

[Stephanie]

Ok, it's mid-November and I'm starting to think about plans for goals for 2021 already. I plan to continue to focus on series where I already own many of the books/audiobooks. I'm also thinking of including the challenge of listening to at least one 30+ hour audiobook each month. They seem to be accumulating. I've 37 titles. Some are omnibuses, some part of series, one is the entire collection of a radio show (Dragnet).

Should I have an ebook challenge? I have over 1,400 unread ebooks (yeah, I have a problem). Some are whispersync titles which would get used when I listen to the audiobook. My unofficial goal was simply to finish everything in 2010 (and earlier) and at least one book per year (years are year purchased).

[Stephanie]

Update on the kitty hoard. The 4 kitties are now 14 years old. They are in their final senior year - after this they are considered geriatric. They all have some medical problems, arthritis being the chief complaint. Most recently, a couple of skin growths on my cat turned out to be cancerous so I had to bring her back to remove the other two. She is no longer Frankenkitty, having had her stitches removed last week, and is doing well.

I highly recommend trying Cosequin if you have a cat with arthritis. Makes a huge difference! Doesn't solve all problems though - Polly has a problem elbow for instance.

Our longest lived cat was Mara and she passed just shy of 19. Also had a couple of cats live just past 18, so I don't expect my hoard to be around more than another 5 years. My vet said getting to 18 is pretty monumental for most cats.

[Christa, The Renewed]

Stephanie wrote: "Should I have an ebook challenge? I have over 1,400 unread ebooks (yeah, I have a problem)."

I can relate. Though my number is higher. One of my challenge goals for next year is going to be reading stuff I already have and minimizing library borrows / book purchases.

[Stephanie]

Someone's recommendation on the order to read Brandon Sanderson's books. I've already read Elantris. I own book 1 of Mistborn, Warbreaker and the 1st 3 of Stormlight series. Hopefully more Mistborn comes on sale for cheap soon.

Elantris - already read

Mistborn Era 1 (Mistborn: The Final Empire, Well of Ascension, Hero of Ages)

Warbreaker

Mistborn Era 2 (Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, Bands of Mourning)

Arcanum Unbound (except Edgedancer)

White Sand Vol 1-3 (graphic novels so kinda optional but there is graphic audio version on audible)

Stormlight Archive (The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Edgedancer, Oathbrnger, Dawnshard, Rhythm of War)

[Stephanie]

Calling the Myrtle Clover series done as far as challenge goes. There are no more audiobooks. If I get some credits from Amazon purchases, of course, it will be in line after the Michael Jecks books but I prefer to hold out for audiobooks.

Also finished the 87th Precinct series FINALLY!

[Stephanie]

Wrapup for November.
87th Precinct DONE!
Myrtle Clover DONE for now
Defenders of Shannara trilogy - DONE

2 books left for Landover series and final quadrilogy left for Shannara.
Started Mirror Dance (Vorkosigan saga) by Lois Bujold yesterday. Having trouble getting it to sync between devices which is getting annoying.

[Stephanie]

This med I'm taking is really interfering with reading attention span. A good day today, but it's pretty sad that I've already reached the 10th and barely finished a 2nd book.

My goal is to finish the last of the Terry Brooks books, both series, before end of year. That's 5 books. Plus 4 more novellas (any) to get my 100 for the year. Need to get a move on!

[Stephanie]

So my Wrapup for December!
Completed two Terry Brooks series
Fall of Shannara - DONE!
Kingdom of Landover - DONE!

So other than a book of short stories coming out in 2021, I've completed a first read of all the Terry Brooks books FINALLY! Also managed to score an omnibus of the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy at Amazon. Since only available as an abridged audiobook, at least with the omnibus I can have my Echo read the book text-to-speech if I want.

Still have some books left in the Vorkosigan saga to be done in 2021.

Made my 100 novellas/short stories before year end as well. Most are audiobooks so that really cleared out my Audible library of very short books.

[GA]

Stephanie wrote: "I did it! I did it! I reached 1,000 books read (listed on Goodreads) and that is even after removing the short stories and novellas! Yay!!! Considering that in 2007 I was still relearning how to re..."

Well done, Stephanie!