Cover to Cover Challenge discussion
1/4 way into year-how are you feeling?
Not quite 1/4 of the way through and more than 1/3 done. I'm confident I'll make it.
Photojim wrote: "Not quite 1/4 of the way through and more than 1/3 done. I'm confident I'll make it."Thats why I said nearly a quarter-
Just over a week till end of march which is the third month of the year.
12 months in a year so a quarter of 12 is 3. 3 months each quarter
we will be a third way through at the end pf april 4th month of the yr -roughly 121 days into the year
I think people are seeimng to feel more confident
I'm feeling quite optimistic! When I told my husband about the challenge he said "That's three books a week!! No way!!" but I'm pretty much on schedule. I am proud of myself for not "cheating", too. If I don't finish something I don't count it.
Mary wrote: "I'm feeling quite optimistic! When I told my husband about the challenge he said "That's three books a week!! No way!!" but I'm pretty much on schedule. I am proud of myself for not "cheating", too..."Congrats
just thought of something else
HAs it changed your reading habits? what were you averaging before
Dessa wrote: "I'm kinda sucking this year at getting close to 144 books. I'm thinking over the summer I'll do better though. I think if I had a job working overnights that would help too."read all day work all nights!!
Well some months have been better than others. Have had a terribly stressful Feb and March, so I don't always feel like reading. Hoping that improves! :)
I haven't been reading as much as I usually do. But I will probably be up to speed by summer.
How have my reading habits changed? I'm reading way more than I have in recent years. I was one who joined the challenge thinking I wouldn't make it, so I broke it down into 10 mini challenges. I've been feeling quite stressed. Unless I read more in the summer than I have now, I won't make it. I've got to start focusing on 2-3 challenges to even make them. I've been reading "across the board." Reminds me of "teaching across the curriculum."
I didn't think I could read 144 books this year and I still think that way. I am reading on average 2 more books a month than I did and I am very happy with that. I don't think that my reading habits have really changed, I just have been more able to read faster for some reason.
I probabaly won't make it but i'll have fun trying. So far it's been pitiful but there has also been alot of stress to. One income and 2 teenagers plus a 5 yr old and a9 month old puppy equals alot of distraction.
I'm reading my 69th book now so I'm almost halfway through the challenge. I've always been a bookworm but I would go through stages. That changed when I joined GR and joined various challenges. I'm certainly reading a lot more, and consistently, now than I was two or three years ago.
I'm on track. I've read 30 books to this point so I need to read 6 more in the next week and a half - definitely on track to do that.I've actually increased the amount I'm reading this year, but it's closer to the amount I used to read.
I don't know if I will make it or not...I have read only 26 books so far this year. Some of the books are going slower than I would like and others are going faster. Maybe in April, I will finally hit the 12 a month and every month afterward.
well done to all those who have found that it helps them with their reading. Sometimes a goal in mind helps you focus however for those stressing don't. Its a fun challenge to see how much you cna read and and maybe appreciate the time spent and give you time to yurself,Also you hae the summer to catch up.
In jan I read 18 in feb 7 and am now on my 11th and 12th for this month.there will be good and there will be not so good
Er Afsana--I think what Jim was saying was that even though we weren't quite at 1/4 of the way through the year he'd already read 1/3 of the 144 books for the year. Not that we were coming up on 1/3 of the year or anything, just that he was 1/3 of the way through his challenge. Me, I never had any doubts about reaching the 144. And I still don't. Er, of course, the fact that I've read 80+ books so far--despite having almost zero time in Feb. for reading--might have something to do with that optimism. :o)
Today hasn't been a good day--I have arthritis, and the weather today has had me barely able to move. And I don't think I can even HOLD a book right now without dropping it. As soon as I wake my hubby up (he's on night shift right now) and get him off, I'll probably go back to bed and rest my book on a pillow so that I CAN read some.
Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "Er Afsana--I think what Jim was saying was that even though we weren't quite at 1/4 of the way through the year he'd already read 1/3 of the 144 books for the year. Not that we were coming up on 1..."I am sorry to hear that your arthritis is bad
What about one of those book stands?
Oops I see what you mean re not quite a quarter of the way and 1/3 done- My read it all wrong was in one of those moods
Sorry Jim
Doing pretty good, I think. By Sunday night, I had 36 books read, which would average it about 12 a month, which was my goal in the first place. So I guess I'm doing okay, LOL! I should have a couple more done before the end of the month, which means I'll be ahead of my goal, and that's what I want.
I always start the year out a little slow. It's a busy time at work with several of my stores taking inventory and I do more traveling for work this time of year but I'll pick up. I always think I'm not going to make it and then come the end of the year I've read 200. And if I don't make it this year... there's always next year! :)
I'm doing better than I thought I would. I'm on #36 - so I'm getting at least 12 in a month. Being part of the challenge has help me some, but mainly I was just ready to step it up. I'm trying to stay a little ahead in the count because I know there will be a time that I need it. Right now it helps that I have a great pile of TBR's.
I'm doing pretty well. I am up to 49 books. Just under half are audio. Thank heaven for them!
I'm feeling pretty good about my goal. I've only had one I didn't finish and I didn't count it. I'm on # 45 now and will finish tonight.
I'm on track, but I find that when I feel behind or want to have a surplus of "finished" books I reach for the easy reads that I'm not terribly interested in. I've read quite a few Nicholas Sparks books lately or Sue Grafton mysteries and thus have stayed on task for 12 books per month.... but there are other books I'd rather read. They just take longer to get through. Oh well, at least I'm reading, right?
Jen wrote: "I'm on track, but I find that when I feel behind or want to have a surplus of "finished" books I reach for the easy reads that I'm not terribly interested in. I've read quite a few Nicholas Sparks..."you learn by reading
you do still enjoy the books you are reading?
I find the same sometimes but more because I am trying to clear my older books on my tbr
I think I'm doing pretty good, which is astounding because I used to only read 3-4 a month, so shooting for 12 a month is a huge goal for me. I'm having a blast getting back into an old addiction - hey, worse things than reading to be addicted to, right?? LOL! So far, I think I just finished up book # 33, so pretty much right on track for 12 a month! :)
Tiffiane wrote: "I think I'm doing pretty good, which is astounding because I used to only read 3-4 a month, so shooting for 12 a month is a huge goal for me. I'm having a blast getting back into an old addiction ..."That is a massive jump-congratulations.
For those who are having trouble or wanting to read more can you explain how you achieved this?
I gave up TV time to read more. Reading is better than TV anyway, so it works for me!
Tiffiane wrote: "I gave up TV time to read more. Reading is better than TV anyway, so it works for me!"yes.
My time eaters is computer and my daughter!!lOL!
No offense taken Afsana. 49 done and four underway.
I don't know whether to be pleased or appalled by my reading increase. I, too, used to only read 3 or 4 books a month. I've started reading instead of watching t.v. And apparently I've given up dusting,too. You can not only write your name in the dust, you could plant a small crop of vegetables! :)
Afsana wrote: "Now we are nearly 1/4 of the way into the challenge I was wondering how people were feeling regarding achieving the target of reading 144 books in 2010"About the same way I felt when I signed up: Very little chance of me hitting the 144, LOL! I'm not saying "impossible", but I'm almost an entire month behind pace. Life has been... uncooperative of late ;p Still, I've enjoyed what I have been reading (I've resisted the temptation to choose books based on length as opposed to interest which probably has a lot to do with that) and I'm on track to beat my last year's total. Still calling it a 'win'!
I'm about 55 into it. So I'm pretty confident. Though the weather is getting better and my time to read will start to dwindle. I'm trying to make up for my slow spring/summer months by going crazy now :)
I'm nearing 60 books so I'm sure I'll finish the challenge with time to spare but my reading level will drop significantly once the weather turns nicer. I'll start listening to audiobooks more since I bike a lot and it takes twice as long to listen as to read.I'm reading way more this year than last year because of all the great recommendations and reviews. I used to always run out of things to read and now I have a TBR with almost 400 books on it. There's no chance of ever running out of things to read around here!!!
I finished #38, almost finished with #39 & getting ready to start #40.
I'm on pace to meet the challenge. I'll probably read more over the summer and toward the end of the year so I'm confident I'll make it. I'm reading more than usual. Being in the challenge is a great motivator. The other change for me is listening to audiobooks in my car instead of music CDs. I am thoroughly enjoying all of it! I especially like getting other people's updates which often lead to great suggestions for new authors.
I was doing well in January, but I hit a couple of books in February that slowed me down, good books but difficult to get though. I seem to be getting back on track. Reading a series helps!
I just remind myself this is a challenge to myself, and not a competiton with others : ) I am on track at the moment with 35 done, and 3 more that are fast reads right now. The important thing for me is I am getting books read that I have been meaning to read for a long time and my BIG goal is to get current on the oh so many series i have in progress. Come summer I know my reading picks up the kids have baseball at least 4 nights a week and they love to swim. So I sit on the deck and read while they have fun with friends
I'm on #37 so on track for 12 per month, though I'm doing the readathon this weekend so hopefully that will boost my count a bit more. I'm a full-time carer for my Mum so some days I'll have time to read, some days I don't and some days I do have time, but I'm so wiped I end up falling asleep! I'm definitely reading more than last year though, and more consistently. Heck, I'm even reading classics! :)
so at least no matter what everyone has boosted their reading which can olly be a good thingWell apart from the dust- but have the same problem here
Yes, and we won't regret having a dusty house when we're gone but we would certainly regret having missed out on a great read.Read on.
I'm at 37 so far, and so are pretty confident I'll get there. BUT I will say, I had a book that I really, really, REALLY tried to finish but at over half-way thru, I finally threw in the towel when pages started falling out . . . I figured that was a sign! Now that we're on a challenge, I feel so ripped off by that author.
Cindi, I hate getting halfway through a book and it fizzles. The pages fell out? Yes, that is a sign!Love your avatar. Yum.
Cindi, I know the feeling. I finally gave up on THREE books. I was floundering & decided, there are other authors & books out there!!
lol, I just finished Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer and realized--they had a character in this from a previous partnership. The one eyed gator that also appeared in Don't Look Down. lol, loved that old gator. She has a habit of eating one of the bad guys in each of the 2 books she's appeared in.
I knew when I started that I should be able to read at least 100 books since I have done it the last couple of years. I wasn't sure about the additional 44 books. So far I have had a couple of books that have slowed me down. Then on top of that this week is Spring Break here so grandson is slowing me down...he thinks he needs to be entertained while he is here during the day which is cutting into my reading time. I am also trying to get some of my Christmas gifts for this year made so that is cutting into my reading time. On the whole though I am satisfied with how much I have read so far this year. I am sure in April I will be able to catch up with my reading and get back on track. The read-a-thon should help also.
Cover to Cover Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
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The Scar (other topics)
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Perdido Street Station (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Laurell K. Hamilton (other topics)Jennifer Crusie (other topics)
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I remember how amajority of people pre 2010 were thinking they would not make it but will enjoy the challenege
How has your feelings changed since signing up for the challenge?
Do you still think it is achievable/ not achievable and apart from the read-a thon is there anything you are going to do to enable you to make the challenge?