2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Checking in. I ended May at 55/90 (61%) and 18 books ahead. Being so far ahead, I have changed my challenge to 100, which still puts me at 14 books ahead. I may end up changing it again in the fall if I keep up my current pace.

In my short story challenge, I read 23 in May for a grand total of 101. Eleven of those were from the 1900 page anthology I am determined to finish this year. Eighteen to go. Only crossed off a couple for the Popsugar Ultimate challenge, so am almost at the halfway point (22/50). My goal was at least half, so not too bad.

[Paula]

I'm at 34/60 and 9 books ahead.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Happy July everyone! 🏖

I increased my goal to 100 at start of June, seeing as I was so far ahead of my goal. Am currently 62/100, twelve books ahead. 😀

I completed eight books in June and started a ninth that I ended up setting aside, at least for now. It was a classic I really wanted to read, but it is slow and tedious and the sort of book where you feel you’ve made no progress after an hour or two of reading. I also read 32 short stories, for a grand total of 133. Only 15 to go in the anthology I’ve been working through since last year, 100 Classic Short Stories. Those left are 20-55 pages long and about half are horror or sci-fi — genres I tend not to read. I found a couple available on YouTube. While I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks, I have found it easier to get through some short stories that way, such as “The Call of Cthulu” by HP Lovecraft. At least half a dozen other story collections in progress.

In the 2021 POPSUGAR Ultimate Reading Challenge, I have officially marked off half of the prompts, and I have a couple books I am holding in reserve, as they could fit multiple tasks (I don’t double dip). I hope to get through at least another dozen by year end. I have the books, it’s just a matter of working them in amongst other challenges and group reads. Would probably help if I stopped binging Netflix at night, right...? 🙄

[Julesy]

I just checked and I'm at 99/100, 49 books ahead of schedule. 🙄 I've unexpectedly been reading a lot of children's books lately for a Children's Literature class so that's why my goal is disproportionate. I am going to change my goal (again) to 120, although I know my reading will be way slower in the next 2 months. I still should be able to hit that goal by year's end.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Julesy — I was going to say you make me feel like a slacker, but knowing much of it is children’s lit makes me feel a bit better. 😀

[Julesy]

Heather L wrote: "Julesy — I was going to say you make me feel like a slacker, but knowing much of it is children’s lit makes me feel a bit better. 😀"

Well, I definitely know you are not a slacker, Heather! 😁 The past 1.5 years have been unusual and I no longer work full-time, so lots of time for reading!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Thanks, Julesy! We definitely live in interesting times. 😶

[Paula]

38/60 8 books ahead

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Good job, Paula!

[Paula]

Thank you, Heather!!

[Michelle]

Started late this year (mid-May) because of moving and other things - I'm currently at 93/150 - 15 books ahead of schedule and plowing ahead - might have to up my total if I can keep up this pace! Loving the challenges in this group to keep me motivated to find new books and keep on pushing forward!!!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Late start or not, that’s excellent progress, Michelle. I’m glad you like the challenges, too. 🙂

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Time for a post-July check in! Finished thirteen books in July, which puts my progress at 75/100 and 17 books ahead. I am now 30/50 in the Popsugar Challenge and aiming for at least another ten (which means I need to read at least two a month for remainder of the year).

Five of the books read in July were short story collections, which helped boost my short story total for the month to a staggering 71 and a grand total of 204 for the year. That number included six from 100 Classic Short Stories, the anthology I am determined to finish this year—only eight more to go!

[Paula]

I am at 44/60 and now 10 ahead.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

End of August check-in!

I read eleven books in August, which means I am currently 86/100 (20 ahead) for my Goodreads challenge, and 38/50 for the PopSugar Challenge (only 12 left!). I also read 32 short stories, for a grand total of 236 for that challenge. Six of those were from 100 Classic Short Stories, the collection I am determined to finish this year. Only two to go — alas, they are in the Sci-fi genre, which I am not fond of, but I will finish this book!

How did your month go? Any goals as we head into the end of the year?

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

How is it November already, and how did I miss the October check-in? I did not accomplish as much reading in October as I would have liked. I finished nine books, seven of which were actually on my list, but did not get to three I wanted to read. Another ambitious list and slow start for this month. This time of year gets so busy!

Progress:
Goodreads: 115/120 (15 ahead)
PopSugar: 46/50

Looks like I will hit my Goodreads goal before the end of the month, and I am hoping to tick off at least two for PopSugar, maybe even three. I have the books to finish the challenge, it’s only a matter of actually reading them.

How is everyone else doing with their challenges? Anyone meet their goal yet? Anyone needing encouragement? Two months til the end of the year — I know we can all do this! 😀

[PamG]

Goodreads: 145 of 150 (20 ahead)
NetGalley: 69 of 75 (7 ahead)

I should exceed both challenges for the year.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Looking good, PamG!

[Dawn Marie]

Just realized I surpassed my goal 307/300.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Congrats, Dawn!

[Linda]

I've met my goal for the year and am at 137/125. I've decided against increasing my goal and just enjoy watching my percent increase (currently at 110%).

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Way to go, Linda!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

I FINISHED! 😀

I officially finished book number 120 last night before bed. I’ve had so little reading time the last month and am so tired when I get home that I was beginning to wonder if I would actually finish.

I read ten short stories in November for a grand total of 286. I was hoping to get to 300, but it’s not looking very promising. We shall see. I haven’t read any of the Grimm stories in a couple months, so maybe I can plow through some of those.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will not complete the 2021 Popsugar challenge. I am still 46/50 on that one, and one of them is the longest book in Mount TBR. That is definitely not happening. I’ll be happy if I can just finish the one I started for “an oxymoron in the title.” I got through 3/5 and had to set it aside as it was too intense. Here’s hoping I can finish it! 😐

How about you? Anyone else finish their challenge? Anyone need a cheering squad to help them get through those last few books? YOU CAN DO IT!!

[Linda]

I forget when I finished my challenge but when I did I decided not to raise it, so I've been enjoying watching my percentage rise. I'm currently at 155/125 or 124%.

[Julesy]

What a crazy 2021! I had hopes that things would be back to "normal" and the pandemic would disappear. Silly me. So I did end up reading a lot, especially because I took a Children's Lit class in the fall.

My original book goal was 80 books, then bumped up to 100, then 120, and just settled on 140 even though my counts continued to go up. I ended up reading 160 books in 2021, not including the many picture books I had to read for my class.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Sounds like you had a great reading year, Julesy!

I started with a goal of 90, then increased it to 100 and then 120. I finished out the year with 125.

[Carol]

Well, I feel like an amateur compared to most of you! I had a goal of 50 and ended up reading 66.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Carol, 66 is a good number. That’s more than one a week, and more than many people read in a lifetime.

[Meg]

I did bump up my bump a couple times or so, and still finished above my final goal, thanks largely to retirement and audiobooks. I had promised myself that when I retired I would read my head off.

I haven't counted up my Popsugar challenge; I think I was going for 45 and might have come close. I didn't read my longest book, either; I just couldn't get to it. Maybe I'll get to read it this year.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Meg — I finished 46 for Popsugar. Well, 46 and 3/5. Three oxymoron titles by Nora Roberts in Mount TBR and I managed to pick the darkest one. I normally like her rom-suspense, but Divine Evil was too much for me right now. I didn’t read my longest book, either. We’ll see how far we can go this year. In looking over the list, I found a dozen I can adapt to this group.

[Carol]

Heather L wrote: "Carol, 66 is a good number. That’s more than one a week, and more than many people read in a lifetime."

Thanks! this is true. My husband never reads.

[Meg]

Heather, Divine Evil was a tough read for me, too. I remember reading a few lighter titles right after.

I have only glanced at this year's Popsugar. At first look it seemed saner than last year. I'm quite behind setting up my 2022 challenges but I'm getting there slowly...that's what I get for being in umpteen challenges!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Meg wrote: "Heather, Divine Evil was a tough read for me, too. I remember reading a few lighter titles right after.

I have only glanced at this year's Popsugar. At first look it seemed saner than last year. ..."

Glad it’s not just me! I do intend to finish the book at some point, but it really wasn’t a good fit for the busy holiday season.

As for this year’s Popsugar list...my initial reaction to some of the topics wasn’t something I’d say in public. There are several prompts that make me grateful for the GR group.