2024 Annual Challenges End of Third Quarter Check-In

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

We are halfway through the year. Here's a thread to share how you are doing toward your annual challenges so far.

[Crystal]

I'm much further behind in Tumbling Titles than I expected to be at this point! I will not meet that one, but I'm still giving it my best shot. I'm really enjoying Listopia and am trying to fully complete that one. I've not done as well with the six month and quarterly challenges as I'd hoped either. I was hoping to use all of my I Own books for the Bookshelf Reducer, and ended up not due to just not having enough time. I've struggled a bit this first half of the year but I'm hoping to do better all around the second half of the year. If only I had more time to read, it would just solve everything :)

[Karen]

This year has been quite a mix for me - doing very well with some and almost no progress on others.

I feel like I'm pretty on track for the 6-month and 18-month challenges I commited to. I've not been as successful as I hoped for the quarterly challenges - hopefully I'll do better the second half of the year. I'm way behind on our monthly challenges - hoping to focus on catching up in July & August.

Concerning our annual challenges:
Met or almost met goal/level for - Completed Series, Electronic Books, L8brary Loans, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller & New to Me Authors
Making good progress - ABC/123, Children & YA, Make a STATEment
Need to work on - 20th Century by Decade, Classics, European Tour, Non-Fiction

I'm hoping to use July & August to catch up or see if I need to drop any.

Thanks again to all of you for this year's great challenges.

[Kate, Challenge Fun Distributor]

I'm on track for the Listopia 18-month challenge, and as long as I don't get sent 'home' in the library game challenge, I should be good for that one as well.
For the 12 month challenges, I've only got 7 series completed of the 20 I had planned, but I've got 13 of the 24 in the 24-in-24 challenge read. I've got a 9th book in progress for the 2024 pub year challenge (had hoped to read 11-20 books, so I'm good there), and 9 new-to-me authors as well.
I'm working on trying to finish the last book in the bookshelf reducer 6 month challenge . . . I'm not sure I'll finished before midnight tomorrow, but I'll certainly try! (lol)
I'm on track/finished with everything else, though.
I think it was a good thing for me to kinda look at where I'm standing with my chosen challenges at the mid-point of the year. Thanks for posting this thread, Staci!

[Michelle]

For the halfway point, I'm doing good in all of the annual challenges I joined.

I recently signed up for the Completed Series Challenge. I'm a bit behind in it, because I've only completed one series. However, I've started many series this year, some of them are one book away from completion.

I'm confident I am able to complete all of my annual challenges before the year ends.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Crystal wrote: "I'm much further behind in Tumbling Titles than I expected to be at this point! I will not meet that one, but I'm still giving it my best shot. I'm really enjoying Listopia and am trying to fully c..."

Love your positive approach Crystal! "Giving it my best shot"

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Karen wrote: "This year has been quite a mix for me - doing very well with some and almost no progress on others.

I feel like I'm pretty on track for the 6-month and 18-month challenges I commited to. I've not ..."

Same Karen! I'm doing great one some challenges and horribly on others. It's still a fun journey. :-)

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Kate wrote: "I'm on track for the Listopia 18-month challenge, and as long as I don't get sent 'home' in the library game challenge, I should be good for that one as well.
For the 12 month challenges, I've only..."

Looking good Kate!

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Michelle wrote: "For the halfway point, I'm doing good in all of the annual challenges I joined.

I recently signed up for the Completed Series Challenge. I'm a bit behind in it, because I've only completed one se..."

I'm with you Michelle...so many open series.

[Karen]

Staci wrote: "Michelle wrote: "For the halfway point, I'm doing good in all of the annual challenges I joined.

I recently signed up for the Completed Series Challenge. I'm a bit behind in it, because I've only..."

I'm with you Staci and Michelle...so many open series and I keep finding new ones and new authors.

[Katrina]

For the Annual challenges I chose 4 to focus on:

Complete the Series 6 - 10 series
I have completed 2 so far. Need to step up to get at least 6.

Make a Statement Rhode Island
Only read one book set in Rhode Island...maybe I chose the wrong state haha

European Tour
I have read 12 books from Denmark, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Mostly the United Kingdom. I think this is going quite well.

24 in 24
Not going so well, only read 2 books so far, with 4 currently reading.

I may be changing my strategy for the rest of this year. While I have many challenges on the go, I may just add books if they fit a challenge and not worry about completing the challenges in full.

The issue is I have 45 books I am currently reading. Well they are labeled currently reading on Goodreads. Some I haven't read from since 2020. To try and catch up on all these books and get more of them completed, I am going to limit myself to only starting a new book if I complete 2 books I am already reading.

This is my new challenge for myself!

[Karen]

Staci wrote: "Karen wrote: "This year has been quite a mix for me - doing very well with some and almost no progress on others.

I feel like I'm pretty on track for the 6-month and 18-month challenges I commited..."

I agree Staci - it's still a fun journey - with lots of wonderful reads.

[Loraine]

I'm doing pretty well on most of the challenges:

1. Non Fiction - Read 9 so far of my challenge of 20
2. New to Me Authors - Goal 24 - to date read 36
3. European tour - read books for 22 countries
4. ABC-123 - need 8 more to complete all 3 lists
5. Electronic Books - read 59 of goal 61+
6, Completed Series - Finished 14 of goal 26
7. New Releases - Only 4 of goal 20
8. Library Loans - Read 44 of goal 41+
9. Children & Young Adults - Read 32 of goal 25
10. Classics - Read 3 of goal 5
11. Mysteries, Suspense, Thrillers - Read 47 of goal 70
12. Make a STATEment - State Texas - Read 5

[Karen]

Wow, Loraine - you are doing great!

[Beth]

Some are doing well, others not so much.

Pick a State - Alaska - 7 so far.

New Releases ( 41-80) - 28 so far.

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller (71+) - 88 already

E-books (61+) I split these into three
Kobo -32, Kindle -39, Libby -25

Finish the Series (41+) -9

Cover Hunt - missing fog, fringe, cooking utensils, wildflowers, and hearts

Military Ranks - have 19

ABC/123 - missing Q, U, X, and Y in Authors, Q, X, and Z in Titles, and D, Q, X, and Z in Settings.

Library Loans (41+) - 36

Cozy Mystery (1-10) - 5

Scavenger Hunt - missing Pilot main character, subgenre, unusual mode of trans, set in a train, small piece of evidence, innocent person.

New Authors (11-25) - 12

Series Countdown - none for duologies, have all the rest except one missing from quartets.

Non-Fiction (1-10) - 1

Tower of Publication (option 4) - have them all.

Beth - ;)
in Calgary

[Loraine]

Karen wrote: "Wow, Loraine - you are doing great!"

Thanks Karen!

[Loraine]

Beth wrote: "Some are doing well, others not so much.

You and I are missing almost the same letters on the ABC-123.

[Lauri]

I am doing well on the challenges I decided to join

Jan-June
Fruit of the Vine - a little behind on logging but I make a nice vine so far
Tower of Publication - I chose option 4 and completed it rather easily. Perhaps I should have challenged myself more.

ABC/123- I am just a Z away from completing A-titles. Just EUXY away from completing B; I have all the books ready except for X. C - still a ways to go filling in the letters for Locations.

Completed the Complete the Series challenge
Bookshelf Reducer - two books short unless I count the "options" then I filled them all in.
Cover Hunt- didn't read a book with train tracks on the cover, found everything else.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Katrina wrote: "For the Annual challenges I chose 4 to focus on:

Complete the Series 6 - 10 series
I have completed 2 so far. Need to step up to get at least 6.

Make a Statement Rhode Island
Only read one book s..."

LOL on your state selection! We are in similar boats for 24 in 24.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Loraine wrote: "I'm doing pretty well on most of the challenges:

1. Non Fiction - Read 9 so far of my challenge of 20
2. New to Me Authors - Goal 24 - to date read 36
3. European tour - read books for 22 countri..."

Nice work Loraine! You are doing great.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Beth wrote: "Some are doing well, others not so much.

Pick a State - Alaska - 7 so far.

New Releases ( 41-80) - 28 so far.

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller (71+) - 88 already

E-books (61+) I split these into thre..."

Way to go Beth!

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Lauri wrote: "I am doing well on the challenges I decided to join

Jan-June
Fruit of the Vine - a little behind on logging but I make a nice vine so far
Tower of Publication - I chose option 4 and completed it r..."

Lauri, so close on ABC/123! Six months to read the few remaining.

[Beth]

Lauri - this one has train tracks.

Beth - ;)
in Calgary

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

I've got a few challenges that I've already met the goal and will continue to add on to:

Non-Fiction: I've read two and my goal is 1-10
Library: I've read three and my goal is 1-10
Make a Statement: I've read seven so far and my goal is at least one a month.
European Tour: I've read from five counties and have no goal

These challenges seem obtainable by year-end:

Audio: Read 13/Goal 21-30
Decades: Missing 1970s
Classics: Read 0/Goal 1-5
Suspense/Mystery/Thriller: Read 33/Goal 51-70
New to Me Authors: Read 24/Goal 40-60
New Releases: Read 56/Goal 81+

Finally, the challenges that are not looking good for meeting them:

E-book: Read 11/Goal 41-60 (I don't count KU, NetGalley, etc)
Series: Read 4/Goal 26+
ABC/123: Missing for Authors: I, L, N, Q, U, K, Y
Missing for Titles: J, Q, X, Y, Z

[Annette]

I joined this group later in the year so I’ve only participated in two of the challenges..24 in 24 and Tumbling Titles. I’m about halfway through on both of those challenges.

My plan is to participate in a few more of the yearly challenges now that we’re in the second half of the year with smaller goals than I might have chosen at the beginning of the year.

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Most challenges are a lost cause for me (work and lack of reading time seem to be conspiring against me this year). However, I'm enjoying most of the books I'm reading these days, which is nice. Ran into sooooo many couldn't-finish-it books earlier in the year.

[Kelli]

I have so loved Suspense/Mystery/Thriller Challenge for 2024! I have met my goal. Somehow I missed the Suspense 3 mo challenge - will have to do a better job at keeping up with the new challenges!

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

We are nearing the end of September and 3/4 of 2024 completed. How are you doing in your challenges?

[Kate, Challenge Fun Distributor]

I'm mostly on track, but am behind on Listopia, 24 for 24, and don't get me started on the Library Game (stupid 'go home' roll when I was 25 spaces away from done! lol)

[Crystal]

Mom duties have consumed more of my time than usual over the last couple of months. I've also gotten more involved with serving in our church as well as helping with our AWANA program on the military base where we are, so my reading has fallen a bit behind. I had lost hope for the CFD Challenge bc I don't like books about sports or athletes, but I realized Toni Shilohs A Run At Love would work for the spot I'm on, so I have renewed enthusiasm I might actually finish. I am really enjoying the Listopia as well as the Tumbling Titles but don't think I'll finish them by the end of the year. Definitely enjoying them though, probably more than any other challenges to date.

Also, I'm absolutely loving the freedom we have with the Genre Match this year, in selecting our own. As well as having the Author of the Month alternate between a male and female author. I'm very much enjoying that.

Lastly I just want to add, I think Kate has made such a great addition to the team! I just really appreciate her enthusiasm and her little bits of encouragement here and there! (Inserting a heart here!)

[Kate, Challenge Fun Distributor]

stop, Crystal . . . you're making me blush!😉💖

[Simone]

I had a major reading slump in September. I didn't read a single book, and I'm so bummed about that. But anyway, new month, new opportunities. I have made quite a bit of progress on my challenges, but I'm struggling with the 24 in 24 challenge. I will not be able to finish that one. I also started a new full-time job at a middle school. That has taken away a lot of my reading time.

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

I think I've only gotten two or three in the 24 in 24 challenge too. No worries, Simone! Life and work happen to us all at some point. :) Hope you find some lovely books to enjoy in your down time this month.

[Lauri]

Satisfied with my progress on the challenges I joined.
Just a few letters to go with Settings (B,D,U,X,Y) in the ABC/123 category having completed Authors and Titles.

[Karen]

I was doing fairly well but new commitments for the rest of the year have changed my reading priorities and amount of reading time. I would summarize my progress as follows:

18-month challenges ending Dec 31:
Still pretty on track for Listopia & Tumbling Titles
Way behind on Library Adventure and doubt I will finish

18-month challenges ending next summer
I feel like I'm pretty on track for them

1. Non Fiction - Read 14 so far of my challenge of 20
2. New to Me Authors - Goal 40-60 - to date read 88
3. European tour - read books for 5 countries and hoping for 16 more
4. ABC-123 - need to update post but believe I have most for all 3 lists
5. Electronic Books - read 229 of goal 61+
6, Completed Series - Finished 18 of goal 26+
7. Library Loans - Read over 80 of goal 41+ (need to update)
8. Children & Young Adults - Read 43 of goal 41+ (need to update)
9. Classics - ?? - need to update
10. Mysteries, Suspense, Thrillers - Read 101 of goal 70+
11. Make a STATEment - State Maine - Read 3
12. 20th Century by Decade - read books for 5 decades so far, books found for remaining

6-month challenges:
Progressing well, need to update posts

Quarterly challenges:
I've not been as successful as I hoped. Really enjoyed Book Chains and Revisiting a Favorite Author. We'll have to see how I do with the last quarter.

Monthly challenges:
I'm happy with my progress for monthly topics and genre. I'm way behind with monthly author and Pick a Book - not sure if I can catch up by end of the year.

Thanks again to all of you for this year's great challenges.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

End of Third Quarter Update:

Non-Fiction: I've read two and my goal is 1-10 (no change since end of second quarter)
Library: I've read seven and my goal is 1-10 (four since end of second quarter)
Make a Statement: I've read 14 so far and my goal is at least one a month. (Doubled since end of second quarter!)
European Tour: I've read from six counties and have no goal (one added - Netherlands - since end of second quarter)

Goals met during third quarter:
Decades: Have read at least one book from each decade
Suspense/Mystery/Thriller: Read 55/Goal 51-70
New Releases: Read 87/Goal 81+

These challenges seem obtainable by year-end:

Audio: Read 14/Goal 21-30
Classics: Read 0/Goal 1-5
New to Me Authors: Read 38/Goal 40-60

Finally, the challenges that are not looking good for meeting them:

E-book: Read 20/Goal 41-60 (I don't count KU, NetGalley, etc)
Series: Read 13/Goal 26+
ABC/123: Missing for Authors: I, L, N, Q, U, K, Y
Missing for Titles: J, Q, X, Y, Z

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Kelli wrote: "I have so loved Suspense/Mystery/Thriller Challenge for 2024! I have met my goal. Somehow I missed the Suspense 3 mo challenge - will have to do a better job at keeping up with the new challenges!"

Nice work Kelli! Glad you are enjoying the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Challenge.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Kate wrote: "I'm mostly on track, but am behind on Listopia, 24 for 24, and don't get me started on the Library Game (stupid 'go home' roll when I was 25 spaces away from done! lol)"

Glad you are mostly on track Kate! All is lost for me as well with 24 for 24. Pretty sure I've read none of them. Oh well...

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Crystal wrote: "Mom duties have consumed more of my time than usual over the last couple of months. I've also gotten more involved with serving in our church as well as helping with our AWANA program on the milita..."

Thanks so much for your comments Crystal! I agree Kate is fabulous!

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Simone wrote: "I had a major reading slump in September. I didn't read a single book, and I'm so bummed about that. But anyway, new month, new opportunities. I have made quite a bit of progress on my challenges, ..."

Congratulations on your new job Simone! Hope your reading slump turns around for you.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Andrea wrote: "I think I've only gotten two or three in the 24 in 24 challenge too. No worries, Simone! Life and work happen to us all at some point. :) Hope you find some lovely books to enjoy in your down time ..."

Same Andrea! I've not done well with the 24 in 24 challenge. And I had such high hopes for it.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Lauri wrote: "Satisfied with my progress on the challenges I joined.
Just a few letters to go with Settings (B,D,U,X,Y) in the ABC/123 category having completed Authors and Titles."

Outstanding Lauri! Almost there!

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Karen wrote: "I was doing fairly well but new commitments for the rest of the year have changed my reading priorities and amount of reading time. I would summarize my progress as follows:

18-month challenges en..."

Nice update Karen! We've got the fourth quarter remaining to see what challenges our reads will work for.

[Bonny]

I'm doing pretty well as we enter the last quarter!

I have already completed the following annual challenges (although I haven't posted all of them yet):
A-Z Titles: Read 26 (goal of 26)
Nonfiction: Read 31 (goal of 20)
Children's: Read 91 (goal of 50)
European: Read 5 (goal of 5)
Make a Statement - New Jersey: Read 6 (goal of 5)
Audiobooks: Read 22 (goal of 5)
Classics: Read 1 (goal of 1)
Decades: Read 15 (goal of 10)

I've also completed the following Six-Month and Quarterly Challenges:
Bookshelf Reducer: Read 25 (goal of 25)
Cover: Read 16 (goal of 15)
Rainbow: Read 11 (goal of 6)
Names: Read 12 (no goal)

I still need to finish:
Title: Still need "Our" and a flower
Animal: Still enjoying this challenge, so not counting it done yet
Vine: I started this and read many books for this challenge, but never logged it and got bored and stopped recording it, so I just need to wrap it up and post it.

Strangely, I am a little underchallenged this year! I am looking forward to resuming the 50 states challenge next year after a two-year break to give myself more of a challenge next year!!

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Great job!