Keen reader's first virtual climb

[KeenReader]

I usually have 12 books issued to my account, plus books on order and I have 146 on my wishlist (now 145 on wishlist - 10th March 2020).

This year I mainly plan to reduce the books I am borrowing so I don't have to read library books when I really want to be reading something I own. This is the plan for the end of each month in 2020:

January: A maximum of 11 books borrowed and requested (no change in wishlist)

Did it (just)!

February: A maximum of 10 books borrowed and requested (no change in wishlist)

For the second time I did it (just)!

March - revised goal: A maximum of 9 books borrowed and unread (no change in wishlist, no books on order)

Achieved this on 10th March (

----The library is shut due to the coronavirus threat. I had 9 borrowed books when it shut, which I cannot return. So I shall read at least one a month and return them ASAP----

April: A maximum of 8 books borrowed and unread (no change in wishlist and none requested)
Achieved by 7th April.

May: A maximum of 7 books borrowed and unread (no change in wishlist and no requests)

Achieved 10th May 2020

June: A maximum of 6 borrowed unread books and requested (no change in wishlist)

Did this by 3rd July

NEW goals: The original goals were scuppered because the library is closed!

July: A maximum of 5 books borrowed and read (no change to requests)

Done - I didn't note down when though

August: A maximum of 4 books borrowed and requested
Done August 31st

September: A maximum of 3 books borrowed and requested

***These may need to be updated*****
October: A maximum of 6 books borrowed and requested (ordered books to include a fourth book from wishlist)

November: A maximum of 6 books borrowed and requested (ordered books to include a fifth book from wishlist)
December: A maximum of 6 books borrowed and requested (ordered books to include a six book from wishlist)

[Bev]

Good luck with your reading plans in 2020!

[KeenReader]

Bev wrote: "Good luck with your reading plans in 2020!"

Thank you and the same to you.

[KeenReader]

KeenReader wrote: "I usually have 12 books issued to my account, plus books on order and I have 146 on my wishlist.

This year I mainly plan to reduce the books I am borrowing so I don't have to read library books wh..."

In this post I am going to keep a kind of journal of how things are going so hopefully I learn from my experience this year

January 2020.

My local librarians are far too good at their jobs! They have decided to pick a theme for each month this year and promote books that deal with that theme. I had reached my goal until I cracked and requested 2 of the books on this month's theme (identity). I think I will have to cut down on my visits to the library if I am to meet my goals, now I have to read two extra library books if I am to get back to my goal before the end of the month.

February 2020
My local librarians got me again! I've just ordered Their Eyes Were Watching God even though I've already borrowed 10 books this month (my total for issued and ordered books). Luckily I am already reading a library book which will be finished before the end of the month so I can get back on track by the end of the month.

March 2020
The library has shut due to the coronavirus threat. All library book loan periods have been extended (and will be extended until they reopen).

[KeenReader]

I am going to record the books I read in this post.

January
Hidden Figures. I was a bit disappointed by this, if I am honest. I thought it was a bit confusing. It was also repetitive in places.
The Book of Forgotten Authors. WARNING: This is not a good book for anyone doing one of these challenges, but it was enjoyable, although I was surprised by some of the authors he included. For example, I don't agree that Margery Allingham and Georgette Heyer have been forgotten. AFAIK most of their books are in print (in the UK at least).
Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales, This is a collection of 6 short stories. Generally I don't like short stories (I think they are very difficult to write well) but these are superb.

February
The Murdered House This was an unusual crime/mystery book. The author spent a lot of time looking at the effects of the crime on the community and he blended that with solving the crime. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first, but I ended up really enjoying it.

March
Lies Sleeping, This is the 7th book in this series. I enjoyed it, but not as much as the other books in the series. Mostly because it dealt with a plot which is beginning to bore me (there are several plots/sub plots, usually all are progressed to some degree in each book, but this just focussed on the one that I have had enough of).

April
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August This was an intriguing science fiction / mystery /thriller combination, which I thoroughly enjoyed. In this book, the main character is born in 1919 and dies around 67 years later. Then he is reborn in 1919 again and begins to remember his previous life. Each life is different because he makes different decisions during his lives and meets other people like himself. Then he is informed of a disaster that appears to be created by someone like himself and he has to try to put things right before it is too late....

May
Homegoing This was pretty ambitious. It followed characters from two related families for 8 generations. I think this would have been better if it was spread over a series of books. There wasn't enough time with each character for them to become real for me.

June
Sorcerer to the Crown - This was a mix up of a regency romance and a plot rather like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell with the addition of some serious themes about racism. Ir sounds a nightmare, but it was outstanding - 5 stars.

July
The Cottage Book: The Undiscovered Country Diary of an Edwardian Statesman - Not my usual type of book, but quite charming - 3 stars.

August
Their Eyes Were Watching God - I enjoyed this overall although the main character irritated me a bit. 4.5 stars