Bookworms Unite! discussion

Well, it is almost that time! I have been really pondering if I should change my reading goals for 2013. 55 was my goal for this year, but it included some 'heavy' reads and made it not so fun. I am thinking of keeping it the same, but really want to challenge myself. mmmmm..... whaddya' think?

I set mine at 50 for this year originally and then bumped it to 75. I am almost at that goal but I am probably going to scale it back a little for next year due to some of the big reads I have lined up. I am thinking maybe 65 for next year.

i don't i will plan most of my reads like i did last year. i had 3 separate challenges with 3 different groups and 2 actually were finished... but i am struggling on the 3rd. i finished the challenge itself, for goodreads, but that last group challenge, i am not so sure about... :O

I read 52 books last year, and I think I'm reading book #51 for this year right now. My goal will be 53, so I can beat last year's "score."

..and beat it you shall... i think i want to see how much i can do by the end of this year and may add 2 or more. this will be my first full year participating. i joined GR in august of last year and read 26 books, so i figured i could double and be safe... :O

I'm going to stick to 52, that was this years goal and I'm at 70 now, but I will probably have less time to read next year. I also chose a lot of shorter novels this year, and I don't want to limit myself by wanting to boost up my numbers...

Marc-Antoine wrote: "I'm going to stick to 52, that was this years goal and I'm at 70 now, but I will probably have less time to read next year. I also chose a lot of shorter novels this year, and I don't want to limi..."

wow; 70 is great; but i hear you on sticking with a safer number. I did 55 and will stick with that as well. I could see falling behind due to poorly chosen books or door-stoppers. :O

I chose 50 for this year, I have read 59 so far and am currently on my 60th with 2 more group reads and 3 more buddy reads before the end of the year. So, I am thinking I may up mine to 75 for next year.

I think I'm sticking with 50. I didn't get to this year, but still want to try!

I started late this year but will start on time for 2013. So since July I read 40. I am not sure what I will challenge myself with now. I am thinking 75.

Well this year I feel as if I cheated and read a few short stories which counted towards my goal. Things at work are changing and I might not get to listen to my audio books much anymore, or use Kindle on my phone. So I think next year I will start lower and if I get close early just adjust it. Kind of have to wait and see.

Short stories do not count as cheating... at least not in my opinion. You read it, it counts. But I am taking that into consideration for my goal.

You could also say the reverse and say collections should not count as 1 book. I mean Different Seasons is 4 Novella's - should it count as 1 book or 4? So there is some give and take in my opinion. LOL

Chris wrote: "Well this year I feel as if I cheated and read a few short stories which counted towards my goal. Things at work are changing and I might not get to listen to my audio books much anymore, or use Ki..."

Hi, Chris!

I don't think of reading short stories as cheating, either. Reading is reading, IMO.

Alondra wrote: "Well, it is almost that time! I have been really pondering if I should change my reading goals for 2013. 55 was my goal for this year, but it included some 'heavy' reads and made it not so fun. I a..."

Hmm.. 55 sounds like a fine goal, Alondra, but if you're up for more of a challenge, I say up it to 60 or something.:)

Thanks Lee and Dustin, I'm glad you guys don't feel I cheated because I was thinking I should have stuck with novels and not counted my novellas and short stories. I really appreciate you guys setting me straight. :-)

Oh, no problem, Chris. You are very welcome!

This year, I was originally trying for 80 (I was trying to beat my all-time high of 76 in 2010), but thanks to my back surgery earlier this year, I am definitely not going to make it. I ended up changing it to 50, which I think I will safely make. I'm hoping for a better 2013, but I'm not sure what # to pick. :\

Dustin wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Well, it is almost that time! I have been really pondering if I should change my reading goals for 2013. 55 was my goal for this year, but it included some 'heavy' reads and made it..."

i am barely scraping to get to 60 now.... mmm, maybe 58; a little more but not too much more!! :O

I've actually done quite well this year. Much better than last year, anyway. My original goal for 2012 was an even dozen, which I surpassed. Then I upped it to 15. Now it's at 17, which I will meet and possibly surpass, as well.:)

Dustin wrote: "I've actually done quite well this year. Much better than last year, anyway. My original goal for 2012 was an even dozen, which I surpassed. Then I upped it to 15. Now it's at 17, which I will meet..."

Congrats, Dustin. I know its hard with family and real-life. At least you do get to read; i feel sorry for those that hate reading or don't see the point. i work with a few of those folks.

Awesome Dustin! I met my goal again and have not changed it again. I may change it to 45 for this year, that would mean another 4 books for me, which I can easily do since I have a few more buddy reads. I stay home, so I have an advantage!

Alondra, I dont understand how people can't like to read lol. Oh well what can you do. I wish my youngest daughter would strive to read more, and my son.

I have started my 2013 shelf. Still not sure how many I wanna read for this next year.

Janie wrote: "Alondra, I dont understand how people can't like to read lol. Oh well what can you do. I wish my youngest daughter would strive to read more, and my son.
"

My hubby doesn't read and has never enjoyed it; so I just cast him to the fiery pit of book despair..

my daughter reads more now than she used to; but still not as big a read as i am.

My boys read more when they were younger, but when they entered the dreaded teens all bets were off! My older one (23 now) does still read but here and there, and my younger one (17 now) has discovered graphic novels which he devours. I'm just grateful they still are reading as much as they are and hope they get more into it as they get older.

Alondra wrote: "Dustin wrote: "I've actually done quite well this year. Much better than last year, anyway. My original goal for 2012 was an even dozen, which I surpassed. Then I upped it to 15. Now it's at 17, wh..."

Aw, thank you so much, Alondra and Janie! I really appreciate that!! And yeah, I'm very thankful to be reading at all. I don't understand how reading doesn't to appeal to everyone, and I also feel sorry for them. They have NO IDEA what they're missing out on, on a daily basis!!

I wish my two stepsons would read more, too. It's a pity they don't, because they're both great readers.
My wife, Tanya, loves to read, but doesn't do so on a regular basis. She's more of what I'd call a "sporadic reader." I could never do that..


Kathy- do you still read the same books as your youngest?

My son has actually recommended books to me and recently read The Road at school. he said they were discussing it in class and he said, "I shed a tear, but acted like my allergies were acting up!" bwahahaha.... Brian is a mess. He is an avid reader and loves the hard stuff.\

I remember when he read The Adventures of Captain Underpants... (I did too )

Alondra wrote: "My son has actually recommended books to me and recently read The Road at school. he said they were discussing it in class and he said, "I shed a tear, but acted like my allergies were acting up!" ..."

Wow, The Road is some very heavy stuff, Alondra! What grade is your son in?

Dustin wrote: "Alondra wrote: "My son has actually recommended books to me and recently read The Road at school. he said they were discussing it in class and he said, "I shed a tear, but acted like my allergies w..."

He is a Junior (11th) this year. He reads pretty serious stuff, but will then turn around and read some Redwall.. gotta love 'em. :D

Dustin wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Dustin wrote: "I've actually done quite well this year. Much better than last year, anyway. My original goal for 2012 was an even dozen, which I surpassed. Then I upped it to 15. No..."

Yes, Dustin. I read everything he reads for school and anything else he asks me to. I've read quite a few graphic novels that I never would've picked up otherwise. And I enjoyed them!

You two are awesome! I just think it's so great that you're taking an active role in reading the same books as your kids! Really, just awesome!
I kind of wish my mom had done that with me, growing up..

Dustin wrote: "You two are awesome! I just think it's so great that you're taking an active role in reading the same books as your kids! Really, just awesome!
I kind of wish my mom had done that with me, growin..."

my parents did not read to me either, but both were readers. my dad moreso. me? i read everything in sight, and passed off the same to my kids. they are not as voracious as i am; but cannot see a life without books surrounding them. we have more books than clothing...

Neither of my parents are readers, sadly.. I'm glad yours had a positive impact on you!

Kathy that is awesome that they at least read something, My youngest daughter will start to like a book/series, but once she finishes she is off of books again. LOL My oldest daughter reads more now than she ever did in school. My hub has started reading a lot more this year. And my son, well once in a great while.

Dustin wrote: "Neither of my parents are readers, sadly.. I'm glad yours had a positive impact on you!"

that is the thing; i never really saw my mother sit down with a good book when i was little, not until i became an adult. same with my dad. not sure if real life got in the way or what? I always made time, and my kids always saw me with a book.

I can remember when we were kids, we would go visit the library all the time. Mom read A LOT. Dad did not read at all, accept maybe a newspaper or the TV Guide. LOL I can remember when we were allowed our library cards and would bring home several books at a time.

Alondra wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Neither of my parents are readers, sadly.. I'm glad yours had a positive impact on you!"

that is the thing; i never really saw my mother sit down with a good book when i was little,..."

I think it is very important to make time for those thing that are important (need I say 'essential'?) to the individual.

My original goal for 2012 was 15 and I changed it to 20 and I think I'm at 24 or so now. Since life is one of those unpredictable things, I'll probably keep mine at 20 again and then adjust as I get close to that.

All right, way to go, Michelle!!:)

Michelle wrote: "My original goal for 2012 was 15 and I changed it to 20 and I think I'm at 24 or so now. Since life is one of those unpredictable things, I'll probably keep mine at 20 again and then adjust as I ge..."

that sounds like a plan.. i understand about keeping it manageable. good luck

Well, 82 was my goal last year and this year, and the first year was down to the wire, finished book 82 right on New Year's Eve. This year though I finished with 3 weeks to spare, so I'm thinking about bumping it up to 84 for next year. On the other hand, I don't know what next year's going to bring. We're supposed to be moving, and I might be going back to school, so I just don't know if I'm going to have as much reading time. So I might just stick with 82. :)

Kit★ wrote: "Well, 82 was my goal last year and this year, and the first year was down to the wire, finished book 82 right on New Year's Eve. This year though I finished with 3 weeks to spare, so I'm thinking a..."

Either way, that's still VERY impressive, Kit!

This group inspires me. My 2013 goal is 100 books.

Damn and I thought I was pushing the limit at 75 this year. Wow.

This was a slow reading year for me. My original goal was 80, but back in April I had back surgery and I couln't focus on reading until July. Sad, huh? A lot of pain and crazy pain meds will do that to you. I just couldn't focus. So, I had to adjust my goal to 50. I'm pretty sure I'll make it, but w/ seconds to spare, I'm sure. Looking forward to making up for last time next year! :)

Kathy wrote: "This was a slow reading year for me. My original goal was 80, but back in April I had back surgery and I couln't focus on reading until July. Sad, huh? A lot of pain and crazy pain meds will do ..."

I've no doubt that 2013 will be a much better year for you, Kathy.:)

I have established a list of books to read in 2013. Here's the link:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

How does that sound, everyone?

Dustin wrote: "I have established a list of books to read in 2013. Here's the link:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

How does that sound, everyone?"

Great list Dustin!

Thanks, Dustin. I appreciate the encouragement. And I love the list!

Kathy wrote: "Thanks, Dustin. I appreciate the encouragement. And I love the list!"

You are very welcome, Kathy!:) I know you can do it! And thank YOU.

Tracy wrote: "Dustin wrote: "I have established a list of books to read in 2013. Here's the link:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

How does that sound, everyone?"

Great lis..."


Thank you, as well, Tracy!

I am starting off with 12+ book challenge. But reading via this kindle,it may be more books!!!!