Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Reading Challenges
>
Reading Challenges: What's the appeal?
When I joined Goodreads, I started with the Seasonal Reading Challenge because I wanted to be prodded out of my usual genre. Fortunately, I have a good library system, so am able to 'read & return' a lot of books, but other challenges & threads have encouraged me to buy authors I hadn't previously heard of, so my TBR has grown along with everyone else's. And then there are all those interesting-sounding books at Friends of the Library for 25¢ each!
BJ Rose wrote: "I enjoy the challenges for many reasons: I like the challenge of finding a book for each task;
I like seeing what other people are reading, which gives me ideas for books for a task, and gets me e..."
Exatly my reasons also. :D I also need to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people. The challenges give me a goal and new people to "meet" so to speak. :D
I am doing a 50 book challenge in 2012 because it will give me a reason to not only whittle down my TBR pile that has over 100 books in it right now, but also to feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the year. I know I did a small challenge this year of 20 books and I was thrilled when I got it accomplished. I guess for me, it is just enjoyment.
That's awesome, Rob. I think quality is more important than quantity when it comes to books.
I have started a 100 book challenge in 300 days and I am 12 books down in the last 30 days. The only thing it has made me do is pick up my book instead of watching the idiot box :) Also I make sure my next book is always ready, so I keep looking at different lists, reviews
Whether I can do it or not, and how well they work once i finish my
I think I've just decided that for 2012 I'll have a challenge to finish all of my TBR books, I have around 60..but that's today. there is still a month of 2011 left.
I like challenges because they can help me get organized with books I want to read that I already have, ones I can buy or borrow and encourage me to try new authors, series or subjects. I like longer challenges. I prefer year long challenges or at least 6 months. I will sometimes do 3 month ones but I stopped doing monthly ones because I never finish those.
I always take on more challenges than I can handle but the important thing is now I am reading more than ever so who cares if I finish them all? :)
I need to get organized for next year. I already have joined a few challenges in multiple groups. I need to get it all together LOL.
Awesomevegan (AKA JenReads) wrote: "I like challenges because they can help me get organized with books I want to read that I already have, ones I can buy or borrow and encourage me to try new authors, series or subjects. I like lo..."
I agree. Longer challenges are better for me, but I still have a hard time finishing those. So many good things to read and so many new books that I put on the hold shelf and have to finish before taking back that I rarely have time to read books that fit my challenges. I guess I should start a new release challenge for myself. Lol.
Sashana wrote: "That's awesome, Rob. I think quality is more important than quantity when it comes to books."I agree with you Sashana! I decided 50 books is perfect as I know I can do a book a week. It gets me away from the drone of silly TV etc. It also gives me some great ideas for stories etc as I am also a writer lol. I started setting things up for my challenge today by mapping out the books I want to read for the first few months of the year based on the theme for the month.
I like challenges dice it often makes me read out of my comfort zone. Looking for 2012 challenges to join
I'm not sure if we are supposed to create our own challenges or not. So I'll ask if this sounds interesting. I was wondering if there is or could be some type of around the world challange....ie Read certain level of books from every continent (either author or story location) with a goal of reading multiple countries in each continent when possible. There are always lots of foreign books I want to read, but I'm always in the middle of a series. I need an excuse to get to them.
Thanks, that was what I was looking for. Just couldn't find it.
Hey, Midu! How are you? Did you paint your nails yet?
hehehe nah! I tricked you into thinking I would! Clever, aren't I?
lol! atleast we will all have pretty nails
gin wrote: "we're talking about nails over here too?"ROFL
Since getting involved with the groups here at GR I have found that I love the challenges.Although my TBR has grown into a mountain, I don't buy books to fit into the challenges. I read either what I already own,borrow from the library, or kindle freebies. So the challenges really help me in that aspect of "no buying".
I have taken on a lot of challenges and have been very successful with them. I am getting close to completion on some so I am looking to take on a few more lol.
The challenges keep me motivated to read. Even though I love to read, in the past, I have fallen into reading slumps and would be very lucky if I finished 2 or 3 books a month. But with the challenges I am reading on average 20-30 books a month.
I also have been coming out of "the box" by trying new genres that I normally avoid like the plague. In fact I created my own yearly challenge called Genre Yahtzee for more encouragement : )
Just out of curiosity and I hope someone can answer: Are any of these challenges repeatable? I may be doing them alone but was wondering if I could go back and do some of the expired monthly/seasonal challenges just for the FUN of it?
Robin wrote: "Are any of these challenges repeatable? I may be doing them alone but was wondering if I could go back and do some of the expired monthly/seasonal challenges just for the FUN of it?"Sure, Robin! Go for it.
Thanks!!! I was browsing through them tonight and I see several that have really caught my interest :)
It gieves me a book list when I go to the library.
I never used to be interested in challenges but now I find them really helpful for figuring out what to read next. There are so many books I want to read, deciding is becoming impossible. Challenges help narrow it down.
Currently I'm only in one reading challenges and I want to be in more. I enjoy being tin the one I am now. I feel so proud of myself when I can add the book to the challenge. Haha. I don't really know where to post this question but I was wondering if anyone had any reading challenges suggestions. I don't know what ones I should do. There are so many in this group! I pretty much like everything. And I'm kind of looking for a challenge that goes with newer authors. Like the indie ones? Hopefully I make sense. Thanks everyone!!
Mod
Or maybe we ought to create a new challenge for "New-2-U-Authors"...hmmmm...
Moderators of Nothing but Reading Challenges wrote: "Too hard for me to choose, Jessica. They all feel like our babies. However, to make it easier for you (maybe), I updated Reading Challenges Index.Or maybe we ought to create a new challenge for..."
Hmm, maybe that would be a good one!
I was looking for an FAQ thread (I could have sworn this group had one) but I figured this thread looks good enough.Would I be able to use the title of the series to which a book belongs to count it towards a letter in a spell-it-out challenge? Eg. Brisingr belongs to The Inheritance Cycle, so would it count for an I? I thought I read somewhere that this would be the case, but I can't find the thread where I read that so now I'm wondering if I made this up.
There are so many threads/challenges that use spell-it-out that I didn't want to post this on a specific one. I hope this is alright.
I do that all the time, Sophia, so I would say, "Yes!" I consider the series name as part of the title.
I like the thrill of the "hunt"...finding the books that meet the challenge requirements. Sometimes i panic about not getting all of the reading done. But then i just tell myself that it's all good..read what you want..enjoy what you read...and search for a 12 step reading addiction group ;)
I like to do challenges because it allows me to read new books and check out new authors I haven't read before. I actually managed to check out new authors like Melina Marchetta and Tammara Webber because I did the challenges that involved those books.
Yes, I just discover Melina Marchetts, too. Wonderful. I'll have to check out Tammara Webber.
Lisa Kay wrote: "Yes, I just discover Melina Marchetts, too. Wonderful. I'll have to check out Tammara Webber."Her book Easy is really good! You should check it out!
Ah! Yes, I've heard
is very good, Ronyell.
appeal?!?!?!? it's more like addiction! lol
I think that the challenges force you to open your mind to books you might otherwise not look at before.
Abigail wrote: "I think that the challenges force you to open your mind to books you might otherwise not look at before."This is true for me, Abigail.
Challenges make us more productive!We're more likely to read more, discover new things and leave our comfort zone...
Playster wrote: "Challenges make us more productive!We're more likely to read more, discover new things and leave our comfort zone..."
I agree Playster. Challenges always push me to read more and to vary my reading habits. I've found some wonderful books just because I needed them for a challenge.
I like the idea of a book challenge, but I find the book levels hard to understand.
The book levels are mainly just a way to tell everyone how many books you plan on reading for the challenge. Some people choose a level and some just see where they end up.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Easy (other topics)Brisingr (other topics)
I'm glad I'm not the only one!