2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] discussion

I am curious if anyone else is thinking this, but although I really enjoyed the challenge and had fun picking books, I felt a bit rushed and I am still behind. I am thinking of not doing next year's reading challenge, how about anyone else? :)
This topic can be general thoughts about taking a break from the challenge for the year and pros and cons surrounding that.

I think I took on too much by trying to do this challenge plus another. So next year I will likely finish this one before expanding it. But no one is saying that the entire challenge must be completed. There's a few people who decided to shorten the list. I think as long as you're challenging yourself, either through the number of books or the topics chosen, the number doesn't matter so much.

I'm not a fast enough reader, nor do I have enough free time that I can get through 52 books in a year. I'm picking and choosing the topics that appeal to me or expand my reading list. Mainly, I've used the challenge as motivation to actually get through some of the books on my ever expanding to be read list, and to keep myself reading throughout the year.

My goal this year is to get 25 books completed.

My plan will be similar next year - use the challenge to keep myself motivated and hopefully get through a higher number of books.

This was my first challenge and I have already completed it. While I thoroughly enjoyed it and have appreciated the way it has expanded my reading universe -- forever, I believe -- I also found myself yearning to read whatever book struck my fancy at the moment. So I have pretty much decided to take a break from an actual challenge next year and see how much of a dent I can put in my TBR shelf. Of course, that would require that I stop adding books which isn't likely. :)

Jessica, that is understandable. I'm behind myself and maybe I will finish, maybe I won't. I think next year's challenge is a little more flexible than this one so I think it will provide the right amount of challenge without being overwhelming.

The idea, of course, is to have fun and challenge yourself however that is comfortable for you. Tailor the challenge to your life if you're still interested and enjoying it. :)

I joined this year's challenge really late (in September) so I'm excited to do next year's challenge from the beginning. I've never done a reading challenge before but I can see myself needing a break at the end of next year's.

Jean wrote: "This was my first challenge and I have already completed it. While I thoroughly enjoyed it and have appreciated the way it has expanded my reading universe -- forever, I believe -- I also found mys..."

YES, that is exactly it! I really enjoyed expanding my reading universe and reading books I don't normally pick up. The problem is, I am very much a completionist, so even though people say that I can be as flexible as I want with the challenge, I personally cannot.
My TBR list is always growing too, haha.


Emm wrote: "Jessica, that is understandable. I'm behind myself and maybe I will finish, maybe I won't. I think next year's challenge is a little more flexible than this one so I think it will provide the right..."

Flexible would be fine, though I enjoyed attempting to find books within the the confines of this list to try out genres I wouldn't normally read. Maybe I will start in the middle of the year and just do half next year :)

For this year, I chose 28 books which were not in my reading list before the challenge (and probably would't make it without it). It was a bit annoying as there are lots of other books I wanted to read, so I'd lots of side reads. However, I discovered books I really enjoyed a lot (Big Little Lies for example) and I read too classic books (I didn't enjoy them but it's nice to know what's inside), so no regrets.

I'll totally do the challenge next year, but probably with short books for difficult topics as I will be more busy, and with most of the books from my huge new reading list (and from the 2015 GR choice awards as the 2014 ones I used for my list were pretty interesting).

I joined this years challenge at the end of February and have really loved participating in it. I'm still like 16 books behind schedule for this challenge, but I've done a lot of side reads so I've read more this year than the last 2-3 years combined which is a big deal for me because I'm not the fastest reader in the world. I'm definitely participating in next years challenge and hopefully I'll stick to it better than I did this year, but I have that problem of "BUT I REALLY WANT TO READ THIS RIGHT NOW!!!" so that usually wins over the challenge lol

Im almost finished with this year's challenge, only three books to be read. This was never my "main" challenge, as I participate in other goups' challenges, monthly and group reads. So jumped around and mostly filled the weeks with books that I read for other purposes. I usually read around 200 books per year, so this challenge is only about a quarter of all of my reads. When I look at the books I've read or will read for this challenge, most of them were from my TBR list, and only 13 of them I more or less read because I needed to fill in a week in this challenge (although I did use them for other challenges as well, but the main reason for reading specifically that book was this challenge).
I also noticed that some of those books that I read only to fulfill a task here and that were outside my normal reading genre I ended up not liking. This concerns most specifically the play and the graphic novel; I sort of feel good that I tried, but I also decided that those genres just aren't for me.
So I will join the challenge again next year.

I did half the year respecting the order of the weeks, and half jumping around and I have to admit that jumping around is much nicer. At the beginning, I felt a bit frustrated at moments to be reading something that didn't exactly fit with my mood. That's why jumping around is great: I scan my idea list (with multiple possibilities for each week) and I select the book that appeals to me the most at the moment. If I don't feel the urge to read one of them, I pick up a side read (exactly what I'm doing right now) and come back to the list later.

If I didn't do that, I don't think I would be participating next year, as I don't like to be frustrated while reading. It is one of the things that bring me the most joy, so I want to be able to read whatever I want whenever I want.

Aside from that, I think that next year's challenge is more flexible and it's going to be easier to fit TBR books in it. Also jumping around allows you to fill a category later, for example if you don't have a book in your TBR to fill this week's category, you wait and maybe 3 or 4 months later you discover a book that would fit perfectly, and you add it. It takes away the pressure of finding absolutely an unknown book to read next.

I was a jumper for the whole year, as I figured that the challenge itself wasn't officially weekly (though I understand why the group uses weeks for discussions) - like Sophie, I found that made it much more enjoyable as I could read what I felt like reading rather than being stuck with a particular book each week. I also changed my list around an awful lot!

I've definitely found some new favourite books as a result of the challenge, so I'm definitely going to do it again next year - who knows what I'll find? :)

I'm like Sophie and Jody is regards to jumping around. The way that I did this challenge was to read the books that I wanted to read than see what categories they fit. I would then go back and see what categories I need to fill in and that helped me to choose some books which I never would read.

I do understand where you're coming from as I've definitely had a few moments over the year where I've let it frustrate me that I'm so far behind but over the past few months I've luckily managed to calm myself down and not worry about it too much. I would still like to finish the challenge this year but it's very obvious to me that I won't and so I've kind of now allowed myself to think 'well I'm not going to finish the whole challenge this year so I might as well just relax and see how I get on and then try again next year'.

I've loved doing the challenge though, and it's pushed me to do more reading which was my main goal and it's also pushed me to try books that I might not have otherwise read. I also found new favourites among my challenge this year so I'm looking forward to what I might discover next year. I've decided to just go into next years challenge with the 'I'll just do my best' mind set which I was kind of lacking this year. I've also chosen quite a few shorter books or books that I know will be a bit faster paced which will help me to not get too far behind.

I've also been a jumper since the start. I was already reading a book at the start of the year and wanted to fit that into the challenge but it didn't fit any of the earlier categories. Then I did attempt to do it in order but after I read the first book, I just didn't feel in the right mood to read a book for the topic of week 2 so I just read the book for whatever topic I felt in the mood to read. If there are any books I don't end up managing to read from this years challenge, that I still really want to read and haven't just added them to the list to fill a category, then I'll probably try and fit them into next years one.

I might not join in on the challenge if there's another one after next years one but I'll wait and see how I get on with next years one before I make that decision.

I'm not sure if I'll do the challenge next year either. If I participate I dont think I'll make a plan but instead do as Camilla and just fill the weeks with books I read for other challenges.
When a book has been on my list for a long time I find myself loosing interest. That's why I haven't completed the challenge this year already. I've read plenty books, but I just can't be bothered reading the ones from my challenge-list. It's the same with my TBR-list. I keep reading other books than the ones on the list.

So all in all I guess I've learnt that I'm not a fan of planning ahead when it comes to reading.

I'm not sure if I'll do next years challenge either. I was doing well with this year, then in July I decided to head back to University, so my spare time is taken up with study now instead of reading for pleasure. Right now I'm about 5 or 6 books behind, though I've read more than 52 books. Might see if I can fit any of those books into categories that aren't yet filled.

Maybe I'll try for a half challenge? read every second topic, or just pic the 26 that take my fancy, kinda like how I've been reading them this year.

I was thinking the same, especially because I am a slow reader and everything I have read this year had to fit in one of the categories of the challenge. I have already a long list of books that I want to read, but have to wait until next year, because they don't fit in the challenge!

Anyway, it has been really fun doing the challenge and read everybody's comments, so what I was thinking to do was to continue with the challenge but just in a partial way. I mean, I will take the list and set a lower goal just to myself, let's say 12 books from the 52 in the list and choose those in a ramdom way, so in this way - I hope - I will have the time to read whatever I really want to read, even if they don't fit in any category and at the same time discover new things thanks to the challenge :D

I just joined this group but had been doing the same challenge on my own. I have about 16 books left for the year. The only way I can get 52 books done during a year is by listening to a few audio books during my commutes, walks, etc. A book per week normally isn't doable for me, especially when they are longer or more difficult books to read.

I will probably need to do the 2016 challenge the same way. I will physically read the majority of the books on my list but do a few on audio as well.

Debra, audiobooks are a fantastic way to go through books (especially long ones!). I've become quite addicted to them and can't imagine any drive longer than 15 minutes without my book on ;)

I've started my first audiobook ever! I'm doing the Book Riot challenge as I've finished this one, and one of the challenges is an audiobook. I'd always avoided them, but I am loving listening to something other than music while I'm going on a hike - it helps to move me along & make the walk seem much easier. I think I'm going to listen to Stephen Fry's Harry Potter readings next - I'm so familiar with the books that I think it would be nice to approach them from a different angle.

I am a jumper so that helped me get through this years challenge. I read books according to my mood so I knew if I tried to read in order I wouldn't finish. Also, when I make my plan I make sure to fit in some of the books I really want to read. For next year I am adding multiple books for some categories so I have more flexibility. I switched out a few this year too because I read a side read that would fit a category. It's your challenge read as many as you want you don't have to do them all and you don't have to stick to your plan. As long as you are challenging yourself that's all that matters.

Marina , I am right there with you. I spent so long last year making my list and then I would get tired of having something there for a long time and change it anyway. I have a pretty extensive TBR so I feel like if I really want to read something then I read it right away. Otherwise it just sits on my TBR and I look back and it doesn't even seem appealing anymore.

It's the same way with my Netflix queue...

I am also a jumper, I fit my readings in the challenge and pick up a few for those that don't fit. I got a bit obsessive so I decided that if I am not doing a challenge read because I am reading something else, that's completely ok. What's important is the challenge keeps my mind on reading.

I really enjoyed the challenge. It made me read a lot of books I wouldn't have normally considered. However it's kind of taken over my life!

I think next year I'll set a personal goal to read the books I own that I haven't read yet. I have about 30 actual books and many more on my Kindle.

Jody wrote: "I've started my first audiobook ever! I'm doing the Book Riot challenge as I've finished this one, and one of the challenges is an audiobook. I'd always avoided them, but I am loving listening to s..."

Jody, I love the Stephen Fry HP audiobooks so ridiculously much.

Peter wrote: "I'm not a fast enough reader, nor do I have enough free time that I can get through 52 books in a year. I'm picking and choosing the topics that appeal to me or expand my reading list. Mainly, I've..."

I'm on the same boat. I don't have the time or frankly the ability to read 52 books in a year. But I use the challenge to motivate me to read, so I only pick the topics that would interest me.

My goal this year is to read 15 books for this challenge and 20 for the whole year. I'll try my best to increase that number next year, but chances are I won't be able to go above 20.

That being said I'm not pro the idea of a gap year. I like the challenge it gives me a reason to read on a more regular basis and the topics make me consider books I might not read otherwise.

Yea, my work schedule just doesn't allow for it, and a lot of my time off is spent doing things around the house or with family so it limits my time for reading. I agree about using the challenge to keep me motivated. Even though I know I'm not going to hit 52 books, it has gotten me to read more this year than I have in the past.

I am not sure I'd do it again as there were other challenges I had to skip, if I were to focus on this one to completion. And I'm still not sure I'm going to finish this one as there are books remaining in categories that were harder or less interesting to me to complete. With the holidays approaching, so much can happen to throw off the schedule as I prioritize people and activities over books and solitude for the season. I'm proud of myself for keeping up this far - was hoping to make it through to the end of October and so far, so good.

The first category of a book 500+ pages proved impossible for me at the start of the year and other titles have captured my interest, so likely that category will be last to finish, if I'm able to keep to the end of this challenge within 2015. I think that one should have been a summer read category when the schedule may be more leisurely.

In the future, it's likely that if I did a challenge like this one again of a book a week in specific categories, that I would select more YA books and read and discuss them with my kids.

At the beginning of the year, I believed that there was no way I could read 52 books with my life and work schedule - my usual has been around 35. Therefore, I chose a different challenge. However, I finished it in July and decided I needed something just as motivating for the rest of the year, so I plugged my books already read into this one and went to work on the other categories. Now I am on my last book, and I am absolutely amazed at myself and am so ready to do it again in 2016.

Joy wrote: "At the beginning of the year, I believed that there was no way I could read 52 books with my life and work schedule - my usual has been around 35. Therefore, I chose a different challenge. However,..."

Congratulations Joy! You did great!

I feel the same way, Joy!! I used to feel this way at the end of a college semester when I checked off my classes that I needed for my college diploma. SUCCESS!! I have really enjoyed this challenge.

I got distracted this year by a whole lot of books that were NOT on my list for the challenge. This year I plan to do the challenge again but I've made some different choices so I hope to keep up better.

I started the challenge based on the goal to read one book a week. However the topic allowed me to have a great experience picking book. I'd never leave my confort zone (Easy reading fiction) if it were not for this challenge. Now, I love biographies and memoirs. Throughout the year I changed the list and some topics I 'cheated', for example, for the hometown topic, I read a history book about the continent. I'm right on schedule and I haven't been able to add side book or anything else. But I'm really proud keeping up the reading list and I'm excited for next year.

Amanda, I know what you mean about reading books you normally wouldn't. My biggest surprise was the graphic novel! I loved it!! Stitches

For those who won't do the challenge next year, you are welcome to join the book discussions if you want (or do a half-challenge for example).

Yes, join us!

Yes we are open-minded, we won't judge you if you only read a few of the books or discuss books you read before ! The more the merrier...