Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Hello!

It's just about the end of the third quarter of 2013. Which means it's time for everyone to report on their progress toward reaching your 50 Book Challenge goal. Tell us how you're doing. Are you halfway? More than halfway? Done? Wondering why you took on this crazy challenge to begin with?

Also, of the books you have read this year, did you return to one of your favorite authors and if so, who is the author and what book of his/hers did you read? How was it?

I'm looking forward to your check-ins!

DON'T TELL ME IT'S 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR! *DO* *NOT* *SAY* *THAT*!! *cries*

I'm soooo far behind on my reading. My pile of 30 old books still seems so large... as in I haven't really read much of it. I think I've read 18 or 19 from that pile. Ugh! And I'm not really even close to 50, so I don't know what in the world I've been doing with my time this year. I'm completely bewildered. I know I still have 3 months left, but I just don't see either goal (the 30 books in the pile or the 50, overall) being reached. *sigh*

But I did read an F. Scott Fitzgerald book (The Crack-Up) this year, which reminded me how much I love Fitzgerald's style and flow. I also (re-)read some pretty decent Hawthorne short stories, which I usually enjoy.

hi!

yeah i've read l books but i am mmmm pages behind
guess that's what i get from reading asterix, mad, and children's books including Roald Dahl's

i managed to get my hands on the last iii Michael Crichton books, namely Next, Pirate Latitudes, and Micro
i did enjoy them, but then it's sad that there won't be anymore to look forward to

My challenge was 75, but at 80 maybe I should change to a 100.

Hi, I actually function on the academic calendar, which puts me at the beginning of my first quàrter. I completed 3 books in September, which would put me at 36 at year end (August 2014). I realize that I will have to step it up to a book a week at least in order to make my goal of 50. I have returned to favorite authors Philippa Gregory, Betty Smith and Dan Brown recently. Though the genres of each author are quite different, I find I like their style and main characters. My favorite genre is historical fiction, and I do believe that Philippa Gregory is outstanding in this genre. I also plan on rereading a few favorites. I am always amazed at the details I overlooked the first time around. Thanks for the challenge--it has been fun. Thanks also for the opportunity to share and read other book lovers choices. It has been a great way to find new authors to explore.

I've completed 61 books towards my goal of 60. I wanted 40 of those to be adult (as opposed to young adult) and only 29 are so far. Thus I still have 11 more to go.

I'm at 82 and aiming for 100 now but I just start the whopper of Reamde so that might halt progress for awhile - along with my impulsive decision to read Les Mis at the same time.

I'm at 42 of 50 books at the end of 3Q. It's been a little slower going this year, especially this summer, but I'm still on pace to make 50, though my goodreads reading challenge for the year is 70 books. Not sure if I'm going to make that but I'll keep trying.

I did return to an old favorite author this year. Actually, his book was #42. Jim Butcher and his Dresden Files series is one of my favorites, and book 7 in the series didn't disappoint at all. I have also returned to Raymond Chandler this year for the final two novels in the Philip Marlowe series. The Little Sister was a different in a way I still can't put my finger on, and I'm in the first few chapters of The Long Goodbye which is also different. We'll see how it turns out.

Hi!

I actually completed my challenge! I didn't think I would, so I'm pretty excited about it. I increased my personal goal to 60, but maybe 75 would be better.

Good luck to everyone still working on it :)

To answer your question about whether we returned to favourite authors or not, I am always rereading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Earlier in the year, I finished the latest book in the series again, in anticipation for the release of Book 8 in the spring. She periodically writes shorter stories/novellas set within the same world, so I've read some of those, too!

I just reached 50 yesterday so yay! And my personal goal was always 60 so I have ten more in the next three months.

I have revisited my favorite author, Mary Renault this year. I always enjoy anything she writes.

Just made my goal last month...now working on my stretch goal of 65..

Congrats to all those who have made their goals already and Shout Outs to all those who are still on their way on making it to your goal - 3 more months to go!! you still got time!

I'm at 42 right now and I'm sure I'll make it to 50, but the last two years I read over 70 books. I'm not sure I'll equal that this year. I've read some really good books this year, but right now I'm not feeling very inspired and I'm reading pretty slowly. I had a week at the beach this summer and right now I'm missing the sound of the surf and the tranquility of reading on the deck or the beach with my friends. I'll get over it.

Naomi wrote: "I'm at 42 right now and I'm sure I'll make it to 50, but the last two years I read over 70 books. I'm not sure I'll equal that this year. I've read some really good books this year, but right now..."

You can do it! Want to trade? I'd be happy to leave the beach, and constant sun and heat behind for cooler regions, especially if mountains and biking are involved. ;)

Alicja wrote: "Naomi wrote: "I'm at 42 right now and I'm sure I'll make it to 50, but the last two years I read over 70 books. I'm not sure I'll equal that this year. I've read some really good books this year,..."

i have no mountains to offer. i'm in the flatlands of chicago. i'd love to go to the beach again, but, alas, i have a job and a husband; both demand my presence here now.

I am a bit behind; changing jobs, moving and general life hecticness has slowed my progress. I am an evening reader, but for the past few months, I've been so tired in the evenings that when I sit down to read I nod off pretty quickly!

One positive about moving: I have rediscovered my box of childhood favorites, which I've enjoyed re-reading, particularly Ruth Gannett's "Dragons" series, any and all Meg Cabot, and Lloyd Alexander's "Westmark."

I'm at 40 so I think I can make it! I'm pretty impressed with myself that I've gotten this far between work, 2 kids (1 and 3 no less!), a husband who works fulltime and is in college partime, and our hectic schedules! I've read a lot of easy Janet Evanovich novels this year so that has helped push the numbers faster but I've thrown in a few heavier reads too (Doctor Sleep right now).

I just started school again so I'm way behind on my reading! About 7 behind to be exact. So far I have read 31 books though! More than last year. I'm determined to meet my goal.

All i have to say is Im so far behind its not funny! But if I get through Les Miserables by December 31 it will be a success for me.

Hey random question but what happened to group reads? I think I missed a post or something on them being gone ?

I hit 50 pretty early on so I've been increasing my target as I get close to it. I'm at a target of 140 with 137 completed. I think I'm going to leave it at 140. I never thought I read so much, I mean I knew I loved to read but it's a little bit mad seeing the total so far.

Tima wrote: "Hey random question but what happened to group reads? I think I missed a post or something on them being gone ?"

I wondered the same thing a few weeks ago. I don't remember if I found an answer, or if I just got distracted by something before I could try to figure it out :)

I just hit my 50 book challenge this month. Yes!!

I actually hit my goal today which was 50,000 pages, not 50 books. It took 200 books to hit that total. So four times completed on the 50 book challenge as of today.

Kent wrote: "I actually hit my goal today which was 50,000 pages, not 50 books. It took 200 books to hit that total. So four times completed on the 50 book challenge as of today."

WOW, Kent! That's quite an accomplishment. Congrats on completing your goal.

So it's almost over and I've still got 22 books to go. Doesn't look like I'm going to make it. Oh well. Can't get worked up about it. I have read some good books, and I still have 6 weeks left to read some more.

Jacque wrote: "So it's almost over and I've still got 22 books to go. Doesn't look like I'm going to make it. Oh well. Can't get worked up about it. I have read some good books, and I still have 6 weeks left to ..."

Awesome attitude, Jacque! As a lot of us say, it's about the journey and the enjoyment, not necessarily about the number. (And I have to remind myself of that every time I see my pitiful little number for the year.)

im at book 20 done. Maybe 21. But my goal is 30. Ive been reading Les Miserables since June and am halfway through. I got slowed down by some new characters and history stuff. Now it just got back to where i am understanding it so hopefully it will go faster now. I just finished a bible study and during that A Clash of Kings got put on the backburner. Hopefully I canfinish all those along with The Last Song and Assassins Apprentice by December 31. Thats my goal now. Getting involved in too many group reads while I am already reading 2 huge books. Not doing it again!

I changed my goal from 50 to 100 when i hit 50 mid june- I am at 84 by mid November just finishing Anna Karenina and in the middle of Fall of Giants - not sure if i will make up the remaining 16. but i have to say reading some of these more complex novels has made some of the fast reads not as satisfying as they once were.

I totally fell off this reading challenge for the year. Too many things prohibited me from achieving this goal but I will definitely try again next year. I'm still reading but I am not going to make it by December 31st. I'm glad to see that many of you that are on this challenge have surpassed it. It makes me really want to do it next year

I'm responding a bit late to this one, but by the end of September I was at 38 books. I didn't return to any favorite authors, but did discover a new series. It's the Chet and Bernie series of mysteries. Bernie is a private investigator and Chet is his dog. The stories are told from Chet's point of view. So far I've only read one, but I intend to read more. It was a charming read. By September I also discovered a number of interesting non fiction titles too.

In looking over my list again I have to take back my statement about not returning to a favorite author. In 2012 I started reading the Flavia De Luce books and the Mrs. Pollifax series. I continued with those in 2013.

Juli