The Reading Challenge Group discussion
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Hi! My name is Millie and I found this group when I did a "reading challenges" search on Goodreads. I'm from Alaska and I've always loved reading. I'll read just about anything if it looks interesting. I almost always have an audiobook going for the day (usually when I'm crafting or cooking) and I have a book on my nightstand so I can read before I fall asleep. Because of this last bit, I'm a bit of a slow reader with my physical book. XD I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone. Feel free to add me as a friend!
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If you have any questions or need help to set up your personal thread, just ask!
It's good to have you here!
Thank you! It's been a busy week already, so I'll get it taken care of soon. :)
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Hi all, my name is Claire. I'm 24, and from Washington (west coast USA) but have lived in Colorado for years now. I can't wait to see what everyone is reading this year! I can't remember if I ever introduced myself originally, so I figured better late (or twice) than never. I've been lurking in the group for years now - in 2020 I was pretty determined to finally do a yearly reading challenge, but, well, 2020 didn't go quite as planned. Neither did 2021 for me personally. So here I am this year, determined to do a more formal reading challenge! I always read plenty but rarely track or plan what I read, and never really discuss it, but I want to try and this community seems like an excellent place to do so. I have loved reading since I was a toddler, and like to read from an array of different genres and writing styles. My mom and teachers said that growing up, I devoured just about anything written I could get a hold of. I like to learn, but now I tend to alternate more serious or educational books with fun ones. My personal favorite are fantasy novels in medieval-esque settings, especially those with a strong female heroin, and all the better if they have a unique or fun magic system. Such as those by Tamora Pierce, Green Rider series by Kristen Britain, and Kristin Cashore novels, particularly Fire. I also love historical fiction. Some recent favorites for me are The Lightkeeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol, and Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. I like autiobiographies and biographies as well, but try not to read them too frequently as they are harder for me to get in to and take more out of me to read. The only types of stories I generally don't like much are horror and mysteries - they've just never appealed to me, personally. While plot and setting are of course both crucial to any story, my favorite part of reading, and what really draws me to a particular book, are the characters and compelling character development. Most of my favorite novels are full of vibrant characters, and some of my favorite stories are ones that - when I think about it - have very little that actually happens in them, and are more a study of people, what made them who they are, how they feel, how they interact with the world, etc. I studied psychology in University, mostly because the mind fascinated me, and continues to do so.
Reading has always been an escape for me, and is one of the only hobbies I've been able to keep up over the years. I'm in my 20's but have a rare genetic disease and some other chronic illnesses that have limited my options and hobbies as I have aged. So while I had to give up my lifelong love of horseback riding, and limit or give up several other physically difficult hobbies, I've continued to read. I haven't been able to work in years, but have been volunteering in advocacy for healthcare and rare disease research in the USA. I do a fair bit of academic reading (journal articles, studies, meta-analyses, etc) both for my advocacy and my own desire to continue to study even though I no longer am in school. Since I really want to read a diverse array of books this year (and try to be a bit more organized) and am not able to work yet, I am planning on two a week, for a total of around 104 - but with some flexibility, as some weeks I plan to read multiple short stories, or similar. I plan to look at the reading challenges the group is doing monthly, and participate in at least a few! I want to get as much reading in as I can, now that I'm well enough to be reading regularly again, but not well enough to go back to work. I've been in intensive physical therapy (4x a week) and various other treatments and surgeries over the last few years, and I think picking up reading more reliably will help me with both stress and getting my mind back to feeling sharp. Some of my conditions have affected my cognition significantly and the last few years, reading was difficult and frustrating to me. I used to devour books effortlessly, and I remember clearly what it felt like, and do miss it. It is more difficult for me now, but not any less worth it or important to me, so, here I am!
I made my reading list for the year in a google drive document, but I plan to make my own thread in the personal threads section for tracking here as well. I'm sure I won't read exactly what I plan every week - I'm not quite that able to stick to the plan, haha, so a book will doubtless be switched to another week here or there. But overall, my goal is to read many different genres and topics, and to better explore some mediums that I haven't read much of, like poetry, short story anthologies, graphic novels, manga, light novels, and the like.
To anyone who actually read my long and somewhat rambling introduction, thank you! Happy (late) new year to everyone, and I look forward to sharing what I'm reading, and following what others are reading in 2022 as well!
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Reading is such an important part of my life as well and I do the same thing you do, alternate light with more serious reading. But I do enjoy mysteries-only the vintage ones, not the realistic ones.
If you have the energy, and want to get inside a character's head, I recommend the novels of Dostoevsky. But they do require some effort, but it's worthwhile.
So glad you could join us!
Hello I'm Vicky from England and I'm doing everything in the wrong order,having started two challenges and forgotten to introduce myself!I'm sixty one and live with my husband and grown up sons in Dorset.We often get chance to visit places associated with the author,Thomas Hardy and so I try to read at least one of his books a year but will admit to enjoying some more than others!Goodreads generally has lots of groups which encourage folk to read the classics and I have really explored that genre since I joined.I am also discovering American writers and have recently been working through the plays of Arthur Miller which I can't believe I haven't read before-what a genius!I love reading challenges and regularly take part in them-they make me read more widely!I was drawn to this group because it offers-among other things- a place to keep all my challenges together.I also like the mini challenges run by the group,itself and the friendly atmosphere.
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If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
I am a big Thomas Hardy fan but have never been to England!
Hello everybody! My name is Lisa and I’m live in a small village in Austria. I really enjoy reading and I love to do challenges and this sounds like a fun group to be in. :)
I decided to do the ABC- Challenge to explore different genres as well and to decide quicker which book to read next.
Currently I’m reading „A Tale of two cities“ by Charles Dickens.
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You can set up your own thread if you like, in the Personal Challenges section as well. It's a good way to keep track of all your challenges, even from other groups.
Where in Austria do you live?
My husband and I love to travel and have visited every province in Austria. Our last trip was in 2018, where we visited Klagenfurt, Graz, Eisenstadt, Villach and Vienna. It was fun!
I live in Lower Austria about 40 km south of Vienna. ;)
im zombie and im from the uk!! i used to read a lot when i was younger, and have just recently started to be interested in books again. im interested in japanese literature, music biographies, young adult fiction and a little bit of sci-fi. :)
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The challenge folder for 2023 will soon be set up, including the monthly genre challenge for 2023.
That doesn't mean that you can't do any of the 2022 challenges. Make yourself at home here.
And I do love your avatar. 😍
Hello All! I'm Jakub, from Poland. I’m a movie and Bandes Dessinees/Comics Buff. I also love to read all kinds of literature, recently mostly european and especially german.
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Hello everyone! Happy New Year!I'm Michael from North East England and I'm relatively new to Goodreads. I've been a very lazy reader for most of my adult life but last year I tried to make an effort to read more books. I only managed to get through 10 books in 2023 so I've set my target for 2024 at 20 books. I realise this is a modest target which some people might hit in a couple of months but for me it's a lot.
I'm aiming to read a minimum of 10 pages a day, usually in the morning. I struggle to read in bed as I just fall asleep and forget what I've read.
If anyone has any strategies they've found useful for reading more, I'd love to hear them.
I discovered Terry Pratchett over Christmas so I'm looking forward to reading more Discworld books this year. Oh, and a friend just loaned me IT by Stephen King which may take a while!
Good luck with the 2024 reading challenge!
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My best advice for reading is to enjoy the book you picked!
If it doesn't work for you after a certain number of pages, you are allowed to stop reading the book.
You can either go back to it in the future or abandon it forever.
It's a liberating sensation.
Twenty books is a good goal to start with.
I tend to read more than one book at a time, but the books are completely different, like one non-fiction book and a novel. I can read to suit my mood that way.
We have lots of challenges here to get you motivated!
Thanks Rosemarie. I like the idea of reading 2 books at a time so I might give that a go.
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Hi everyone! My name is Kelly, I’m 27, and I’m from Boston, Massachusetts in the US! I’ve never joined a goodreads group before and thought this one seemed like a great place to start. When I was younger I read constantly throughout everyday, but haven’t been able to commit to reading as much as I would’ve liked the last few years. My goal for 2024 is to get back into it and remember that even just reading a few pages a day counts! My favorite genres are probably memoirs and historical fiction, but I am looking to branch out this year, so I’m very excited to participate in the monthly reading challenges! Can’t wait to discuss with you all :)
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We've different types of challenges to get you reading, but the monthly genre is a great one to begin with.
Don't hesitate to ask questions. Goodreads can be confusing at times.
Hi, I’m Sarah and I found this group through Rosemarie, who I met in another group called Around the World in 80 books, I’m always interested in ways to introduce new books to what I’m reading, so the Monthly Genre challenge looks interesting.
My favourite genres are: historical fiction, science fiction, travel writing, history, thrillers and crime.
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I'm Denise, from California. I found this group while looking for more reading challenges. I expect to be fairly active once the 2025 challenges are posted...I prefer longer/yearly challenges but sometimes try quarterly also.I read a lot of literary fiction, classics, non-fiction, bestsellers, but I'll read nearly anything. . I don't prefer sci-fi or fantasy but will dabble in them occasionally.
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You can use any books you've read this year in our challenges.
Happy reading!
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Rosemarie wrote: "Welcome to the group, Denise!You can use any books you've read this year in our challenges.
Happy reading!"
Will do! I have added books to Mount TBR, featherweights, chunksters, and doorstops. I'll use those til the end of the year
Discovered yet another great "reading" group to join.Thanks for leading me to The Reading Challenge Group, Rosmarie!
I'm a little late to the game, but better late than never.
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Rosemarie wrote: "Welcome, Nancy. It's good to see here. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have."Question: where can I find some information about creating a personal thread in this group?
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For the desktop version:
Just click on New Topic and take it from there.
Don't forget to click save!
For the app, go to the same folder, 2024 Personal Challenges and click on the + sign.
Rosemarie wrote: "The place to create your new thread is under 2024 Personal Challenges.For the desktop version:
Just click on New Topic and take it from there.
Don't forget to click save!
For the app, go to the s..."
Thanks for your help!
I do have 1 Personal Challenge that I should have started back in January, but I will try and read what I can for it over the next 7 months. From June to Dec 2025. I posted a thread already. See Link Below.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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I wish you happy reading!
That is a great idea for a personal challenge!
hi! my name is tami and i'll read pretty much any genre, but my favorites are thrillers and horror. anyone can add me if they'd like more reading friends. :)
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I hope you have fun doing our challenges.
Hi, my name is Noa! I'm currently doing a personal reading challenge where I read one book from every country in the world 🌍📚 I would love to hear what you guys think and if you have any suggestions for me! https://www.instagram.com/readtheworl...
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If you let me know a few countries you need books for, I'll be glad to give you some recommendations.
The Reading Challenge Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Green Rider (other topics)Orphan Train (other topics)
The Lightkeeper's Daughters (other topics)
Fire (other topics)
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kristen Britain (other topics)Tamora Pierce (other topics)
Jean E. Pendziwol (other topics)
Christina Baker Kline (other topics)
Kristin Cashore (other topics)
More...
I only found an interest in reading the last couple of years, beforehand having only ever having read books when I had to in high school.
I am excited to find this group to help challenge me to develop my love for reading further and expand my repertoire beyond techno-thrillers and war biographies haha.