2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

The 2021 GR reading challenge is now open. For those new to Goodreads, reading challenges can be a good way to keep you motivated and help stir up your TBR piles. You can set your challenge at any number. If you’re not sure how many books you can read in a year, start out low with 20 or 50 — you can always change it later in the year if necessary.

https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...


I have set an initial goal of 90, since the new year may be as unpredictable as the old. If necessary, I’ll adjust it in the fall, as I did for 2020.

Here’s to a great year in books! 📚

[Paula]

I set mine at 60 this year. I only read 64/70 last year.

[☯Emily]

I will set mine up for my normal 50, but this year I exceeded that because of the extra time provided by COVID19.

[Meg]

Heather L wrote: "The 2021 GR reading challenge is now open. For those new to Goodreads, reading challenges can be a good way to keep you motivated and help stir up your TBR piles. You can set your challenge at any ..."

Thanks for the heads-up, Heather! I was thinking about this, this morning.

[Joan]

I set my goal for fifty but not hopeful I can find fifty good books to read this year. I might adjust down to half.

[Michelle]

I will set for 75 books this year!

[PamG]

I've set mine for 150.

[Julesy]

I set my goal at 80. Last year I also set it at 80 but adjusted it up to 100, which I also surpassed. I am thinking that I will have less time for reading and more time for enjoyable activities ... hopefully!

[Linda]

I’ve set mine at 24 but hope to gain more reading time in 2021.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Good luck with your goals, everyone! 🍀

[Jane]

I cut my GR goal back to 200, since I fell so short for 2020. Come November, if I think I can, I'll raise it.

What I really -want- to do is make a dent in the freebies I have on my kindle. I don't discriminate worth mentioning when cozies are offered, thinking I'll at least look at that author, and mention in the review why it isn't at least a 3-star review.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Wow, good luck with your goal. 200 is more than twice what most people read!

[Jane]

Yes, but for me, that's on the low end. I've done 372 once in the past. I was knocking off 3 Signet regency romances a day for a little while. I still have a carton of them, unread. Utter escapist.

[Linda]

Since I've been reading more the last couple of years I gave in and set my challenge to a higher number, 125. Still fewer books than I've been reading so I don't stress about making it.

[Shelly]

Hi, I’m Shelly and I have set my Goodreads goal at 60 books this year. I have finished 2 so far

[Joan]

I set my 2021 reading challenge at 51.

[Sameer Khan]

Last year I exceeded to more than 50 books and, this year I have still made my target to reach 50 books.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Wow, January sped by fast, didn’t it? I hope everyone’s reading year is off to a good start. I finished eleven books in January (11/90), putting me four books ahead of my goal. I don’t think I’ve ever been ahead at the end of January before. I’m usually a couple books behind and struggle to catch up, lol. NOT that I’m complaining. 😀

[Paula]

I read 7/60, 3 ahead. I usually struggle at the end to make my goal. I didn't make it last year.

[Linda]

I finished January at 13/125 - 3 books ahead! I'll take it!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

End of February update: Currently 24/90, which puts me ten books ahead. I am also somehow 10/50 already on this year’s Popsugar Ultimate Challenge. I have never been this far ahead in either challenge, this early in the year.

How are you doing with your reading goals?

[Paula]

I'm at 15/60, 6 books ahead.

[Linda]

25/125 - 5 books ahead! I'll take it!

[Jasmine]

ive set mine to 15 books this year and so far ive read 11

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Jasmine— I think you could safely double your goal. 😀

Paula and Linda— Well done! Don’t you love having that cushion?

[Paula]

Heather L wrote: "Jasmine— I think you could safely double your goal. 😀

Paula and Linda— Well done! Don’t you live having that cushion?"

I do like having that cushion for when I get my usual reading slump. Thanks, Heather.

[Julesy]

I am currently 29/80, 16 books ahead of schedule. But this is very misleading because I'm unexpectedly reading a ton of short children's books. I expect that life will be busier towards late spring and summer so I will settle into a more normal reading pace.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Julesy— I have four on my read shelf that were 40-50 pages, but I’m not feeling guilty about it, since I know there are longer ones I want to get to this year.

One of the shorter books is from today. I listened to Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff read I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, a “Read Across America” event today.

And now I’m 24/90 and 12 books ahead. 🤓

[Jasmine]

Heather L wrote: "Jasmine— I think you could safely double your goal. 😀

Paula and Linda— Well done! Don’t you love having that cushion?"

yes i think i could,and yes i do and thank you

[Gisela]

Little late to the party but here goes I will be reading 52 books this year. As of today March 16th I’m 13/52 books read.

[Janet]

Hello all! Also a bit late but here’s my challenge: 50 books this year. I think I’ve read 3 so far. But will catch up in Q2.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

April showers brings...more time to stay indoors and read. 😀

Hello, everyone! How are we all doing with our reading goals? I hope March was a good month on the reading front!

I have now completed 34/90 in my reading challenge for this year. That puts me at 38% and 12 books ahead. I like having such a comfortable cushion. Finished nine books in March, but only twelve short stories—half the number of short stories read in each of the previous two months. I’ll have to do better there in April if I want to accomplish my goal of finishing three story collections this year. Less Netflix, more reading! 😐

But first, I need to take advantage of the mild weather and get out for a short walk. Hopefully it’s not as gusty as it was yesterday!

[Paula]

I'm at 21/60 still at 6 ahead.

[PamG]

I'm at 44 of 150 for the year (6 books ahead of schedule).

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Good job, Paula and PamG!

[Linda]

I’m at 42/125! 11 books ahead!

[Jane]

I'm at 34/100, 9 ahead. I have 33 out from the library, must work on the ones other people have on hold first, then the ones that the library has only one copy next,.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Linda — Awesome job!

Jane — Wow.... Thirty-three books at once?? I didn’t think libraries let people borrow that many at once. Good luck catching up!

[Jane]

Linda, I live in Chicago proper. Chi Pub Lib has allowed one patron to have 50 out, for several years - used to be just 30. And starting before Covid even got out of China, late fees were cancelled - too much bother/trouble anymore.

I've gotten the total out down to 27!

[Jane]

Jane wrote: "Linda, I live in Chicago proper. Chi Pub Lib has allowed one patron to have 50 out, for several years - used to be just 30. And starting before Covid even got out of China, late fees were cancelled..."


Update: now down to 21! Progress!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Go Jane go! 😀

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Post-April check-in! How’s everyone doing? I hope you all had a good month of reading.

I ended April with 41/90 done, a couple books shy of the halfway point and eleven books ahead. All female authors for books in April, but predominantly male authors for short stories. I read 22 short stories, same as January and February. If I keep that pace through May, I’ll be close to 100. I need to concentrate on a 1900 page anthology started last year, so I can archive it and free up space on my Nook (28 to go...).

Am also at 16/50 for the Popsugar Ultimate Challenge, but should cross off a few more this month. I also have a couple books done for that one that I haven’t slotted yet, as they could go towards multiple prompts.

[Paula]

I'm at 27/60, now 7 ahead.

[Linda]

57/125 - 15 books ahead! Makes me feel good to see that since I spent 5 days on 1 book last week.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Paula — Excellent!

Linda — Don’t you find it frustrating when a book takes longer than you’d like, or longer than you think it will take to get through it?

[Linda]

Heather L wrote: "Paula — Excellent!

Linda — Don’t you find it frustrating when a book takes longer than you’d like, or longer than you think it will take to get through it?"

I knew it would take me at least 4 days but I wasn't counting on the 5th day, luckily I had the extra day. I would have been better off reading it over a weekend, so a little poor planning on my part. Good thing I enjoyed the book.

[PamG]

I finished April at 57 of 150 books so I am ahead of schedule.

[Jane]

56/100, 22 ahead. But 19 out from the library.

[Elizabeth]

I'm currently recorded as 30/70, 6 ahead. But I have another 10 to record which makes me 40/70, 16 ahead. Too busy reading to get the list updated!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Looks like everyone is ahead right now. Way to go! 😀