Striving for Check/Book Balance [2012 Challenge]

[Sarah]

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Duration: Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2012

Total books read: 154

Purchased & Read: 38



Owned & Read: 50



Borrowed & Read: 34



Given & Read 32



Scale Status:
38/50\34\32

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Glad so see so many brave souls. LOL! I know my scale will be wildly leaning to the purchased side. I certainly have enough books on-hand to balance it though. Let's see if I can manage it or not.

Should be fun. Welcome, everyone! Happy 2012!

[Alyssa]

*bounces up and down* I'm in too!

I don't think I'm going to be buying near as much as I did last year. Hopefully it will mostly be books that are continuing series.

Thank goodness Borders can't close again or something. I went a little nuts then. You know how in cartoons sometimes they have $_$ for eyes? I had _ <---(Books for eyes.... Hehe...)

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge

Total books read:

Purchased & Read:


Owned & Read: #
(in progress)

Scale Status: P 0 | 0 O

[Barbara ★]

I'm going to opt out of this challenge as I didn't realize the intent. My goal for 2012 is to NOT purchase any books and strictly read what I own or borrow from the library. So this is counterproductive so I will just wish everyone good luck!

[Audrey]

I will opt in ... I am curious to see how many books I purchase and read them right away verse reading books I already own.

*2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge*
Duration: Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2012

Total books read: #

Purchased & Read: #
[insert cover art for all books here]

Owned & Read: #
[insert cover art for all books here]

Scale Status:
This part will vary depending on your #s.
If equal use: #|#
If tipped use: #\# or #/# <--to reflect which way your scale is leaning

[Christine]

Alyssa wrote: "*bounces up and down* I'm in too!

I don't think I'm going to be buying near as much as I did last year. Hopefully it will mostly be books that are continuing series.

Thank goodness Borders can't..."

LOL! I hear you. My TBR pile went from a hill to Mount Everest during the Borders liquidation sale. Even so, I still find myself cruising the book aisle in every store that has one. But I'm going to try to be good this year.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

LOL Alyssa!

No worries, Barbara. Good luck! We'll see ya 'round the other challenges, I'm sure.

[Susan (susayq ~)]

I'm in for this! CaroB mentioned this challenge in another group when I said I was going to try not to buy any books till at least my birthday in March.

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Total books read: 125

Purchased/Acquired & Read: 45



Owned/Library & Read: 80



Scale Status: 45/80

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hi, Susan, welcome to the group! Good luck w/the challenge!

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Thanks, Steph!

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Steph wrote: "The goal of this one was to read as many owned books as purchased books in 2012. Library books and those borrowed don't really fall into either, but are closer to owned in that no $ was spent on them."

Question: if I get a book for free on Amazon in 2012...does it count as a purchase?

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Well ... it's free, but then you didn't "own" it as of 12/31. Hmmmm ... what's everyone else think?

[Josie]

I think it depends on the main aim of this challenge. Is it to spend less on books or is it to read more off of the mountain that is the TBR shelf?

[Lina]

lol, for me it's both, but probably more of the latter. Maybe this should be a personal thing? I'll be counting all "acquired" books in 2012, but think not everyone would be interested in doing the same.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Total books read: # 15

Purchased & Read: # 1


Owned & Read: # 14


Scale Status: This part will vary depending on your #s.
If equal use: #|#
If tipped use: #1\#14 or #/# <--to reflect which way your scale is leaning

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Steph wrote: "Well ... it's free, but then you didn't "own" it as of 12/31. Hmmmm ... what's everyone else think?"

I was wondering that very same thing, as I've acquired a whole heap of kindle freebies in the last 2 weeks. None of which I've read yet.

Not sure which way to jump but I do like the personal freedom angle to individually decide.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

This challenge is something. I want to join.

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Total books read: 13

Purchased & Read: 4


Owned, Borrowed & Read: 9


Scale Status: This part will vary depending on your 4/9.

[D.G.]

I'm doing terrible! So far I haven't read any book owned this year. All of them have been from the library!

[D.G.]

I'll consider all those freebies as purchased too. For me, the whole idea is to read those books that have stayed in the TBR for a while. ;)

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

True...what is acquired and owned in 2012, being free or not...I will consider as 'new'.

[Christine]

D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ wrote: "I'm doing terrible! So far I haven't read any book owned this year. All of them have been from the library!"

Me, too! I'm on my third library book and have yet to read a book I actually own.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Josie wrote: "I think it depends on the main aim of this challenge. Is it to spend less on books or is it to read more off of the mountain that is the TBR shelf?"

Exactly! Thank you, Josie. I couldn't have said it better. This one will certainly have a different purpose for us all. :)

[Vivian]

Ladies - nothing wrong with library books, better than purchased in 2012 :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

If you like you could probably do a -

Library & Read: stat

Cause library books could be a major part of some peoples TBR list, if they were lucky enough to have access to good books :)

[D.G.]

Heather - I think I'll do like you and post the borrowed books. :)

[D.G.]

SOS: Serious Overload of Series
2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Total books read: 3

Purchased & Read: 1


Owned & Read: 0

Borrowed & Read: 2
(For my calculations/information only)

[Sarah]

Just to throw my two cents in about the freebies being a purchase or not, I'd say no. The point of this challenge, IMO, is to try to balance out how many books you buy and read with books you read that you already own. Or to read more books you own than you purchase. If it's a budget thing then freebies don't count since technically there was no money spent. But I can see where it's a fine line because you are acquiring a new book.... hmmmm... maybe I'm not quite sure where I stand on that one lol

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Sarah, you can also look at it in the perspective that:

1 - if you 'add' to the TBR pile with newly purchased books (be they free or not), then you further your imbalance in the books you already own.

2 - if you think strictly in monetary terms...then freebies would not pose a problem... only a slightly bigger TBR pile in the end.

It really depends what you wish to accomplish in this challenge. Personally I like that there is 'no set rules' and I can read whatever I like.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hopefully everyone can make this one fit their purposes and enjoy it throughout the year.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Total books read: # 19
#3\#16

Purchased & Read: # 3


Owned & Read: # 16

[★Meghan★]

Late but I am in!


2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Total Books Read: 3

Purchased & Read: 0

Owned & Read: 2


Scale Status: 0\2

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Glad you've joined in Meghan :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Sandra wrote: "2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Total books read: # 19"

Dagnabbit! I always get so jealous when I see your totals. LOL! Here I was feeling all good about my 10, then I see your double that already. I wish I had more time to read! Waaaahhhhhh!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

LOL

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Don't feel bad Steph.....I'm only on #5. I'm such a slacker!

I had to add a section for the books I'm receiving....otherwise I'll never remember which ones I already had and which ones came to me this year!

[★Meghan★]

I am on # 4, 5, 6, and 7 right now so don't feel bad you are doing awesome!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Cindy (eclecticfirefly) wrote: "Don't feel bad Steph.....I'm only on #5. I'm such a slacker!

I had to add a section for the books I'm receiving....otherwise I'll never remember which ones I already had and which ones came to me..."

Yep, I've done the same Cindy :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

>;) Thanks, Ladies!

I'm going to have to do that as well. In fact, I'm in the process of trying to remember which ones I snagged while on holiday in the US, so I can throw them into my "owned" stack.

[Audrey]

Dang! I'm only on #2. Talk about being a slacker.LOL

[Lady Jaye]

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Duration: Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2012
#0/#6

Total books read: #10

Purchased & Read: #0


Owned & Read: #6


library and read: #4

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Lady Jaye...no purchased yet...you rock!

[Lady Jaye]

Lol, Valerie. It's only because I am broke! :) So I'm keeping my nonexistent money for upcoming releases I haven't preordered.

[Audrey]

I wish my library had as good of a selection as your does Lady Jaye . I live in a small town and I guess for a town this size it has a pretty good selection. Just not much in the paranormal genre.

[Lady Jaye]

Yeah Audrey. I am lucky to have that library - they let me use my card for Philly's library system. I am going to die the day they figure out that I've moved countries and so am not eligible to get ebooks anymore. My new country's libraries are not half as good. :(

[Christine]

I finally read a book I own. Now back to the library books.

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge
Scale Status: (purchased/owned) 0/1

Total books read: 4

Purchased & Read: 0

Owned & Read: 1


Borrowed & Read: 3

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Striving for Check/Book Balance 2012 ~ YEARLY
Yrly Total & Monthly Breakdown

Total books read: 114
Yearly Scale: (Purchased v. Owned) 33\63

Monthly Breakdown:
January 4\20 (28)
February 6\16 (26)
March 11\19 (33)
April 8/6 (20)
May 4\2 (7)

Purchased & Read: 33


Owned & Read: 63


Freebie & Library Loans/Read: 18

[Joann]

SOS 2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge

Duration: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Total books read: 11

Updated 01.13.12

Purchased & Read in 2012: 0

Owned & Read in 2012: 11



Scale Status: 0/11

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hey, Joann, how was Fairy Bad Day? I've seen that one at the library.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

2012 Striving for Check/Book Balance Challenge

Total books read: 15
Scale Status:4/11.

Purchased & Read: 4


Owned, Borrowed & Read: 11

[Joann]

Steph wrote: "Hey, Joann, how was Fairy Bad Day? I've seen that one at the library."

Once I got past the first half of the book, it really picked up and caught my interest; the last quarter of the book was great. I just struggled through the first half - the main character spent too much time time being overly whiny... :)