2025 Reading Challenge discussion

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ARCHIVE: Mod Stuff > Introduce Yourself to the Group - 2024

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message 251: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Kristen wrote: "Hello everyone! My name is Kristen and I'm from Michigan, USA. I'm a little late to the party but I've just found this group and am excited to track and update my reading goal progress here.

My g..."


Welcome to the group, Kristen! 👋
Like Blagica mentions, our Buddy Reads section is an amazing opportunity to read The Bell Jar, and any other classics (or books in general) you're interested in picking up this year :)

Wishing you lots of luck with your reading goals.


message 252: by Blagica , Challenges (new)

Blagica  | 12953 comments Larissa wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm Larissa from Brazil. English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or weird-sounding sentences I might write

I decided to join a group to maybe (..."


Welcome to our group! I think your English is wonderful. What are you studying in university? I can't wait to see what you read.
Best Wishes


message 253: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Bullock-Hock | 2 comments I’m Lisa from Kentucky. Mostly a thriller or fantasy reader. Every now and then I’ll take on a romance.


message 254: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Hi! 👋
From one Lisa to another, welcome to the group!

Wishing you the best literary journey you could've wished for, filled with lots of amazing books, and other reading experiences 😊


message 255: by Susy (new)

Susy | 11 comments Hello,
My name is Susy, and I am from Illinois. I am an assistant preschool teacher and I love reading books. Currently I am on summer break and my goal is to read 20 books this summer. I found this group because I liked the A-Z challenge and would like to read at least one book from every letter of the alphabet this year. My favorite genre is historical fiction. I like to listen to audiobooks while cleaning my house or going on long car trips. I'm excited to discover new genres and join the A-Z challenge this year.


message 256: by Blagica , Challenges (new)

Blagica  | 12953 comments Susy wrote: "Hello,
My name is Susy, and I am from Illinois. I am an assistant preschool teacher and I love reading books. Currently I am on summer break and my goal is to read 20 books this summer. I found th..."


Welcome Susy so happy to have you join our group! You must be thrilled to be off for the summer. We have tons of challenges including A-Z so happy you found us.


message 257: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Susy wrote: "Hello,
My name is Susy, and I am from Illinois. I am an assistant preschool teacher and I love reading books. Currently I am on summer break and my goal is to read 20 books this summer. I found th..."


Welcome to the group, Susy 👋
We have so many fantastic challenges in the group, I hope you take a look around and see if there are any other, aside from the A-Z, that interest you. My personal favorite is always the Genre Bingo, but this year I really like : Out on a Limb , because it's so different from the others.
And, "Clear the Shelves", and "Let's Turn Pages" are great motivators to keep reading.

Wishing you all the luck with your goals!


message 258: by [deleted user] (new)

Susy wrote: "Hello,
My name is Susy, and I am from Illinois. I am an assistant preschool teacher and I love reading books. Currently I am on summer break and my goal is to read 20 books this summer. I found th..."


Welcome to the group! I also love the A-Z challenge and I'm hoping to actually finish it for the first time this year :)


message 259: by JoJo (new)

JoJo | 2 comments Hey! I’m Jo and I’m from Lincolnshire in the UK.

The majority of my reading tends to be done when I’m out and about - on the train, waiting for the train or in cafes where I’m killing time! I have a 2024 target of 30 books.

I’m a fan of a proper book, but my addiction is getting me into trouble! Part of the reason I’ve joined this community is to help keep me on track with all those books that shout “buy me”, get them read and maybe try some new stuff.

My preferred genres at the minute seem to be crime, thriller, and children’s fantasy, although there are a few other random things creeping their way in. I also seem to be going down a bit of a Second World War rabbithole.

Happy reading all!


message 260: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments JoJo wrote: "Hey! I’m Jo and I’m from Lincolnshire in the UK.

The majority of my reading tends to be done when I’m out and about - on the train, waiting for the train or in cafes where I’m killing time! I hav..."


Welcome to the group, Jo! 👋
A goal of 30 books sounds reasonable, and it looks as though you're well on your way to reach it before the end of the year.
Have you come across any new favorites so far?

May you have a fantastic 2024 - Good luck on your reading journey during the second half of the year 😊


message 261: by Dorothy (new)

Dorothy  (vilette) | 267 comments JoJo wrote: "Hey! I’m Jo and I’m from Lincolnshire in the UK.

The majority of my reading tends to be done when I’m out and about - on the train, waiting for the train or in cafes where I’m killing time! I hav..."


Hello Jo. Good to hear from another book addict. Is there a 12 step program for people like us? The other day I bought 2 books from my favourite independent bookseller, then went straight across the road and picked up 3 more from the Library!


message 262: by Karin (new)

Karin | 247 comments Lisa wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Hello .
•I’m Nicole
•I’m 34 I will be 34 next month
•I am in a reading slump but I’m trying so hard to get out of it
•I like thrillers & horror & mystery but I want to read other ..."



Lisa gave excellent advice for reading slumps. Other things I've tried is to read "fluff" (light things) or listen to audiobooks while driving/walking, etc so I'm doing something and hearing someone. I don't like all narrators, of course, but some are fabulous.


message 263: by Karin (last edited Jul 08, 2024 11:24AM) (new)

Karin | 247 comments Larissa wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm Larissa from Brazil. English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or weird-sounding sentences I might write

I decided to join a group to maybe (..."


Based on our books in common, you might want to try another book by Blake Crouch since you gave his Dark Matter 4 stars (I gave it 3). I gave 4 stars to his book Recursion


message 264: by Simona (new)

Simona Jelínková | 12 comments Hello everyone, I’m Simi from the Czech republic, Europe, an English teacher and a huge bookworm. I love reading physical books, Kindle books (in bed - more comfortable then with the physical book) and about a year and a half I started listening to Audible books while commuting and doing diamond painting. I love fantasy and sci-fi, however, as a teacher of 12-19 years olds, I read basically anything they recommend. Thanks to the different ways of reading I am 13 books in advance of my reading goal for this year - 110 books, so I’m pretty happy about that. I love vampires, witches and all supernatural. My favourite authors are Anne Rice, Veronica Roth, Brian Lumley, Andy Weir,… However, I also read non-fiction, like Bullet Journal Method (and am a huge BuJo fan), Obesity Code, Spare by Prince Harry…. I’m new to group thing in here, trying to widen my horizons through Goodreads ❤️


message 265: by Blagica , Challenges (new)

Blagica  | 12953 comments Simona wrote: "Hello everyone, I’m Simi from the Czech republic, Europe, an English teacher and a huge bookworm. I love reading physical books, Kindle books (in bed - more comfortable then with the physical book)..."

Welcome, Simi, to our reading group!

We're thrilled to have you with us. Your passion for books and your diverse reading habits are truly inspiring. From physical books to Kindle reads and Audible, your dedication to reading is impressive, and being 13 books ahead of your goal for the year is an amazing achievement!

As an English teacher from the Czech Republic, you have the incredible role of shaping young minds, and it's wonderful that you incorporate your students' recommendations into your reading list. Your love for fantasy, sci-fi, and all things paranormal, including vampires and witches, means we can be friends. Please look around and join what looks fun and let us know if you need anything


message 266: by Dorothy (new)

Dorothy  (vilette) | 267 comments Simona wrote: "Hello everyone, I’m Simi from the Czech republic, Europe, an English teacher and a huge bookworm. I love reading physical books, Kindle books (in bed - more comfortable then with the physical book)..."

Hi Simi, can you tell me please what is 'diamond painting'? Thanks,Dot


message 267: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Simona wrote: "Hello everyone, I’m Simi from the Czech republic, Europe, an English teacher and a huge bookworm. I love reading physical books, Kindle books (in bed - more comfortable then with the physical book)..."

Welcome, Simi! 👋
We're thrilled to have you join us 😊I hope you have lots of fun exploring the group and widening your literary horizons.
Happy reading!


message 268: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Dorothy wrote: "Simona wrote: "Hello everyone, I’m Simi from the Czech republic, Europe, an English teacher and a huge bookworm. I love reading physical books, Kindle books (in bed - more comfortable then with the..."

The concept of diamond painting is extremely similar to both painting-by-number, and cross-stitching, except that in this case you are using "drills", which are tiny, flat-backed rhinestones, crystals, or faceted resin diamonds, and sticking them on a self-adhesive canvas with a bit of wax/gel.

There are different sizes, detailing, etc. Here's an example of one my kid did for Easter:



message 269: by Katie (new)

Katie | 6 comments Hi everyone, I'm Katie from Oxford, UK. This year I've fallen in love with reading again after a very long (years!) break, and I can't get enough. I mainly like to read fantasy, sci-fi, horror and crime - I've been reading a lot of Stephen King and Terry Pratchett this year. My aim is to start branching out from these genres, and I'm looking forward to participating in some challenges to help me do that! :)


message 270: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Hi Katie and welcome to the group! 👋

I can attest to the challenges we host in the group being phenomenal for branching out and expanding ones boundaries.
There's plenty to explore, so I hope you find something that piques your interest 😊

Wishing you the best of luck with your reading goals!


message 271: by Dorothy (new)

Dorothy  (vilette) | 267 comments Lisa wrote: "Dorothy wrote: "Simona wrote: "Hello everyone, I’m Simi from the Czech republic, Europe, an English teacher and a huge bookworm. I love reading physical books, Kindle books (in bed - more comfortab..."

Thanks for the picture. It looks great. I used to do cross stitch but now have arthritis and have had to give it up. Luckily I still have my books!


message 272: by Megan (new)

Megan K (mrsjoshuak) | 2 comments Hi all! I’m Megan from Texas. I love sci-fi, thrillers, classics, fiction. I’m a wife and mom. I believe I was invited to this group and promptly forgot about it! Thanks adhd. 😂 but I’m back now!


message 273: by Blagica , Challenges (new)

Blagica  | 12953 comments Megan wrote: "Hi all! I’m Megan from Texas. I love sci-fi, thrillers, classics, fiction. I’m a wife and mom. I believe I was invited to this group and promptly forgot about it! Thanks adhd. 😂 but I’m back now!"

We're so glad to have you join us from Texas! Your love for sci-fi, thrillers, classics, and fiction brings a wonderful variety to our discussions. As a wife and mom, we know your time is precious, and we’re thrilled you’re able to join us despite the occasional ADHD moments. 😂

Your enthusiasm and diverse taste in books will add so much to our group. We're excited to dive into thrilling plots, timeless classics, and imaginative sci-fi worlds with you.


message 274: by Chloé Jaye (new)

Chloé Jaye | 1 comments Joining late!
Hi I’m Chloé I’m from the UK. I joined this challenge as I felt I needed something to get me going! I’ve read 72 books so far this year, but I need something to reduce my tbr pile and love this idea! I couldn’t believe how hard it was to write a-z of books though but I’m excited to join this!


message 275: by Blagica , Challenges (new)

Blagica  | 12953 comments books_with_chloejaye wrote: "Joining late!
Hi I’m Chloé I’m from the UK. I joined this challenge as I felt I needed something to get me going! I’ve read 72 books so far this year, but I need something to reduce my tbr pile and..."


Hey Chloé, welcome to the group!

No worries about joining late—we're just glad to have you here! It sounds like you're already a reading superstar with 72 books under your belt this year. Tackling that TBR pile can be a challenge, but we're all in this together, and the A-Z book challenge is a fun way to keep things interesting (even if it’s surprisingly tricky!).

We're excited to have you on board and can't wait to see what you’ll be reading next. Welcome to the fun, Chloé!

Happy reading! 📚😊


message 276: by Cheryl (new)

Cheryl (cherylsbooks) Hi All! My name is Cheryl and I'm from Courtice, Ontario Canada. I'm an unashamed book drunkard and love every genre, however historical fiction is my favorite. I was searching for a group to find book recommendations and reviews to add to my reading challenge this year. Looking forward to connecting with fellow book lovers!


message 277: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Welcome to the group, Megan, Chloé and Cheryl! 👋
We're so happy to have you join us.

Wishing you all the best of luck on your literary endeavors during the remainder of the year. 😊

Have fun, and happy reading!


message 278: by Myra (new)

Myra | 3 comments Hi! A new member here from Norway. I'm Myra and very excited to be a part of this group. :)


message 279: by Myra (new)

Myra | 3 comments My reading challenge is easiest! LOL! 3 books in 6 months. I am trying to get back to reading again.


message 280: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Hi Myra👋 Welcome to the group!

I love that goal! I had the same sort of goal when I joined the group. What genres do you enjoy? I can probably give a gazillion recommendations to help get you back on track, if you wish 😊

Wishing you the best of luck on your literary journey. May you discover lots of amazing books to get you back into the habit, and enjoyment of reading.
Happy reading!


message 281: by Myra (new)

Myra | 3 comments Hi Lisa!

Thank you for the warm welcome! :D I love all genres but I am more into psychological thriller and I love reading books on psychology.

I am currently reading Bros.Karamazov, quite a thick book but loving every chapter of it so far. And another one "The Changing Mind" by Levitin. Please, please recommend more books!

Thanks again!!! :D


message 282: by Fathurahman (new)

Fathurahman Rizieq | 1 comments I dont usually great about this. my name is Fathur, i'm from Depok, Indonesia. I am so excited to join this community. Of late, I have grown to like classic works of literature, especially Fyodor Dostoevsky. I was captivated by his works, mainly because of how he pictures human nature and morality. I'm looking forward to discussing timeless stories with all of you and learning so much from each and every one of you.


message 283: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Fathurahman wrote: "I dont usually great about this. my name is Fathur, i'm from Depok, Indonesia. I am so excited to join this community. Of late, I have grown to like classic works of literature, especially Fyodor D..."

Welcome to the group, Fathur! 👋
I definitely recommend checking out our buddy reads and group reads sections. They're both amazing options for discussing the books that have been on your radar for far too long, or those you find intimidating, or even those that are outside your comfort zone and you wouldn't normally gravitate towards without a little push.

I hope you have fun in the group and continue to have a great 2024.
Happy reading!


message 284: by Lauren (new)

Lauren Needs More Books(OC) (chevylauren131) | 2 comments Hi Im Lauren! Im 37 yo and live in the Northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. I enjoy forensic fiction, crime fiction, detective fiction and occasionally thrillers. My reading goal was 150 books but Im going to surpass that by alot! Woot! My favorite authors are Karin Slaughter, Jeffery Deaver, Johnathon Kellerman, Kathy Reichs and Tess Gerritsen. Im always looking gor new friends who enjoy the same types of books!


message 285: by Lisa (last edited Aug 20, 2024 06:37AM) (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Lauren wrote: "Hi Im Lauren! Im 37 yo and live in the Northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. I enjoy forensic fiction, crime fiction, detective fiction and occasionally thrillers. My reading goal was 1..."

Welcome, Lauren! 👋
Way to go on surpassing your original goal! 150+ books in a year, is amazing 😊
Wishing you the best of luck on your literary journey through 2024.

Happy reading!


message 286: by Ramandeep (new)

Ramandeep Singh (napstablook) | 3 comments Hi everyone,

I am Raman from Canada.
I prefer to read fiction, especially science fiction. I use ‘read’ loosely since I’m just as likely to use Kindle or Audible.

My favourite book this year is Project Hail Mary

I joined Goodreads in 2016 and took on my first reading challenge that year. Since then, I’ve only completed the 20-book challenge twice, mostly due to one reason (or excuse) or another. This year, I got started a couple of months ago and have already finished 5 books.

I’m determined to complete the challenge this year!

Feel free to drop a hi and share your favourite science fiction book. :)


message 287: by Lisa (last edited Aug 28, 2024 11:45AM) (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Welcome to the group, Raman! 👋
Regardless of format, what matters most is that you're (hopefully) enjoying the books you pick up. 😊

I really enjoy sci-fi aswell. It's not the genre I gravitate most towards, but it is one I'm always interested in diving deeper into.
But with so many great sci-fi books out there, it's hard to pick a favorite one! It's like if you asked me to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life. 😂
Two that I will forever try to convince everyone to read are The Sparrow and Children of Time.

What is your favorite sci-fi? And what's one book you really want to get to but haven't been able to yet?

Here's to 2024 being the year you manage to not only reach your reading goal of 20 books, but surpass it. 🤞 I hope you have fun and enjoy the activities and challenges the group has to offer. And if you need help with anything, or have questions. please don't hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you the best of luck on your reading journey! Happy reading!


message 288: by Ramandeep (new)

Ramandeep Singh (napstablook) | 3 comments Lisa wrote: "Welcome to the group, Raman! 👋
Regardless of format, what matters most is that you're (hopefully) enjoying the books you pick up. 😊

I really enjoy sci-fi aswell. It's not the genre I gravitate mo..."


Thanks for the recommendations. I am currently reading the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor. Guess I'll go for Children of Time once I am done because it has a catchy title :D


message 289: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Ramandeep wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Welcome to the group, Raman! 👋
Regardless of format, what matters most is that you're (hopefully) enjoying the books you pick up. 😊

I really enjoy sci-fi aswell. It's not the genre I..."


I hope you enjoy it! Would definitely love to hear your thoughts whenever you get to it 😊
Also, can 100% recommend Seveneves, if you haven't read it.


message 290: by Jessica (new)

Jessica Johnson | 1 comments Hello all. I'm Jessica Mazzell. I'm from Wilmington, NC. My favorite genres are supernatural fantasy, YA, Romantasy... cough. ;) I usually read 1-4 books a week. My job as a set medic in the film industry gives me plenty of time to read. I’m also an author, so books are a huge part of my life. I'm excited to be here and looking forward to connecting with fellow book lovers!


message 291: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Hi Jessica, and welcome! 👋
We're thrilled to have you join our book-loving community. 😊

How cool that you're a set medic. That sounds like a very fascinating job! I imagine you've met/been around lots of fantastic actors! I would love to talk with you some more, because I'm really intrigued now.

Have a look around and join anything that interests you - we have some really fun challenges coming up in September.

Don't hesitate to let me know if you need help with anything or may have questions😊
Wishing you the best of luck on your literary journey through the rest of the year and onward.
Happy reading!


message 292: by Dorothy (new)

Dorothy  (vilette) | 267 comments Ramandeep wrote: "Hi everyone,

I am Raman from Canada.
I prefer to read fiction, especially science fiction. I use ‘read’ loosely since I’m just as likely to use Kindle or Audible.

My favourite book this year is [..."


Nice to meet a fellow Canadian. Welcome to the group.


message 293: by Mercedes Loescher (new)

Mercedes Loescher | 1 comments Hi! I’m Mercedes ☺️ I’m from Virginia. I love reading thrillers, romance (all types), and fantasy. I found the group by scrolling through groups and felt like it was a good fit. My reading goal for 2024 is that I want to read 200 books - I know a lot 😅. I think I’m at like 88, but I have a reading problem so I think I can finish.

Thanks for having me!


message 294: by Mia (new)

Mia Davis | 2 comments Hi everyone! My name is Mia Davis I’m from Houston, TX.
My favorite thing to read is historical fiction, fiction, romance, & thrillers. I occasionally dabble in fantasy but not a fan of fairy smut LOL. I also like a few YA authors but mostly stick to what I know. Recently I have gotten back into reading after returning to my hobbies following the dark cloud of motherhood doom when you do nothing for yourself and everything for others. Now that my kids are in school, I have a little more time to read and explore new authors. Hoping to start a book club soon!


message 295: by Libby (new)

Libby | 24 comments Welcome to all!


message 296: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Mercedes Loescher wrote: "Hi! I’m Mercedes ☺️ I’m from Virginia. I love reading thrillers, romance (all types), and fantasy. I found the group by scrolling through groups and felt like it was a good fit. My reading goal for..."

Hi Mercedes 👋
We're thrilled that you found our group and decided to join 😊 We have such a wide range of of readers, from those who aspire to read 12 per year, to those who aim for more than 10x that, that I have no doubt you'll fit right in with your goal!

Good luck with your reading goals in 2024 :) I hope you discover lots of fantastic books along the way.


message 297: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Mia wrote: "Hi everyone! My name is Mia Davis I’m from Houston, TX.
My favorite thing to read is historical fiction, fiction, romance, & thrillers. I occasionally dabble in fantasy but not a fan of fairy smut..."


Welcome to the group, Mia! 👋
lol, "dark cloud of motherhood doom when you do nothing for yourself.... " 😂 Is so damn relatable! I'm so glad I've always had time to read (Thankyou, Kindle) but I don't know that I have more time to myself now than I did before my kid started in school.

Wishing you a fantastic reading year to explore all the genres and authors you love. Hopefully you'll discover lots of new favorites along the way.
Have fun and happy reading!


message 298: by Gina Marie (last edited Sep 02, 2024 02:16PM) (new)

Gina Marie | 90 comments Hello! My name is Gina Marie and I'm from southern Oregon. I was a prolific reader in my youth and all through college (I was an English major). After college I found less and less time to read, between work and community involvement. Last year was particularly busy as I finished a Master's degree, completed a term as Rotary club president, and successfully campaigned to be re-elected to my local Library District board. This year I set an intention to make more time for reading. I'm especially focused on fiction, since it had been a while since I've read a book that wasn't for school or professional development.

My life is still really busy, so I set what I hoped would be a realistic goal of reading 15 books. And I'm already at 14! I participated in my library's Summer Reading Program, which I found fun and motivating. I find it easier to stick to a goal when I'm part of a group or challenge, so that's what brought me here. Looking forward to diving in!


message 299: by Karin (new)

Karin | 247 comments Ramandeep wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Welcome to the group, Raman! 👋
Regardless of format, what matters most is that you're (hopefully) enjoying the books you pick up. 😊

I really enjoy sci-fi aswell. It's not the genre I..."


I just saw this--I enjoyed the Bobiverse series and hope you like it as well.


message 300: by Lisa (last edited Sep 03, 2024 01:51AM) (new)

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments Gina Marie wrote: "Hello! My name is Gina Marie and I'm from southern Oregon. I was a prolific reader in my youth and all through college (I was an English major). After college I found less and less time to read, be..."

Welcome to the group, Gina Marie! 👋

First of all, I want to commend you for all those amazing achievements - That's so cool to have been so active and involved in the community.
I always enjoy reading about members who have read their whole lives, but for some reason, it's always the stories of people that have been away from it for whatever reason, whether that be busyness or lack of interest, etc. but then comeback to reading after a long period of time, that makes me extra happy. 😊

15 books sounds like an excellent place to get back into it - Congratulations in advance on reaching your goal! I'm certain there will be plenty more before the end of the year! We have lots of fun challenges and other activities, that I'd definitely recommend checking out.
And if you enjoy book discussions we have a group read each month - This month it's for Howl’s Moving Castle. As well as a variety of buddy reads that you are welcome to join, if they interest you. The more, the merrier, as they say!

Wishing you the best of luck so you can achieve your goals in 2024. I hope you have a fantastic year and discover lots of amazing books along the way :)

If you have any questions or anything, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Happy reading!


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