2-3-4 Challenge discussion

Before we start doing our roundup of our May reading, let's take some time to just talk about our reading in general.

A couple of months ago, I expressed how tedious my reading was becoming and so many of you reached out and inspired me out of my doldrums. The same thing happened to Tracey and looks like she's been revived with your help.

I LOVE to read and it scares me when I'm not enjoying doing it for any reason. I can handle the occasional dull book but that's not what was the matter.

So! Let's take a minute. How's everyone doing? Are you reading what you want no matter the challenge? Is it still satisfying? This group is all about celebrating the joy of reading while catching up on those series we want to read. What's working for you and what's not?

Love your response. Nothing corny about it.

You've expressed some things I've heard from others on Goodreads. While challenges are fun, readers should be careful in joining them and should select those that fit their goals. I learned this really quickly, thank goodness.

It's amazing the pressure we put upon ourselves.

You also seem to have put your reading participation on Goodreads in the right perspective. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It makes a huge difference!

I have to love what I am reading! When I pick my series that I start to read, I study up on it to see what others thought of it before I start reading it. If I dont like the first book in the series, I usually dont go through reading the rest of the series unless others are bragging how good the rest of them are then I usually move forward. The only thing that might stop me from moving forward is if I dont care for the genre. I love reading a good series. If I dont like one of the books in a series, I will probably stop reading it the next month, then go back to it the next month.

I love this group and love the challenge. I have read more books in a month than I usually read before I joined this group. Audiobooks has really enhanced my reading. I think that is why I can read more books a month than I previously did. Also having a plan really does help me. I dont follow it all the time but I try to.

I do agree with Stephanie about posting everything when doing challenges. It can get really tedious. I think thats why I love about this group so much is because I love the series challenge the most of all challenges. I love posting my monthly reading plan and my series list and putting a checkmark on each book that I have read when finished and watching the series come complete and it helps me focus more on what series to complete. Its such a good feeling for me to accomplish completing a series or coming up to date. I think thats why this is my favorite group because I love reading series and it is not tedious for me at all to post in this challenge. I reaaly enjoy doing it.

I know what you mean, Mary Beth. I only do serious updates in two groups and this is the first one I do because I see immediate results:)

Thanks for being part of this group and sharing your experience.

I love my reading at the moment :)

Haven't caught up on a lot of series but I'm getting there. Besides getting up to date/finishing series I'm also trying to read books that have been on my TBR for too long (before January 2015). And I'm making progress with that so that's good.
I started with a monthly plan a few months ago and I like making a list for the month to come. I don't mind if I don't stick to my plan but I like putting a checkmark in front of a book :)
But I intentionally make a place to put my unplanned books in my monthly plan, so I can easily add them to my plan.

I'm active in two groups on GR and on a forum, I don't want to be active in more groups/challenges because that would take to much time and I'm afraid reading would get to much of a chore.

I really like this group because of the support people give each other and I like reading about the series/books everyone is reading.

Wonderful thread! Thanks Jonetta.

I'm one of those people who was having trouble getting into the books I was reading at the end of last year. I love challenges and planning ahead, but I soon realized that this was exactly the problem.

I, therefore, dropped out of all challenges (except the SRC because this one lets me read whatever I want) and made a limited plan that I don't always stick to. It's made all the difference not having any pressure and I'm even reading more than I did before and progressing with my series.

I've also decided to give up on series that I'm not enjoying and focus on the ones that I am. So those series don't get finished - so what!

I hope everyone is enjoying this year of reading and the participation in this wonderful group as much as I am!

Valuable lesson learned you can't join all of the challenges no matter how fun they seem. I definitely do better with a flexible plan and unplanned reads sprinkled in. I was starting to not enjoy reading due to trying to find books to fit specific tasks and needing to be finished on a schedule. I was able to read alot this month but didn't enjoy myself like usual. I'm am happy that I was able to get to some books/series that I have been wanting to read for awhile.

Lieke wrote: "I love my reading at the moment :)

Haven't caught up on a lot of series but I'm getting there. Besides getting up to date/finishing series I'm also trying to read books that have been on my TBR fo..."

Lieke, it's so wonderful to see you've protected your reading experience so well. Keep enjoying and thanks for contributing here.

Lauren wrote: "Wonderful thread! Thanks Jonetta.

I'm one of those people who was having trouble getting into the books I was reading at the end of last year. I love challenges and planning ahead, but I soon rea..."

That's fantastic, Lauren! I'd noticed you were in a lot of challenges and wondered how you managed them all. Really glad you're in a good place.

Thanks for offering this insight. It's so helpful as I couldn't tell you were struggling.

Delitealex wrote: "Valuable lesson learned you can't join all of the challenges no matter how fun they seem. I definitely do better with a flexible plan and unplanned reads sprinkled in. I was starting to not enjoy r..."

I hope your flexible planning makes a difference this month, Delitealex! I'm seeing a common element here regarding challenges. We'd all be wise to be careful. Thanks for sharing this.

Oh wow! I love this thread Jonetta, thank you!!!! I am at work now so will read the posts in detail when I get home and absorb them.

Yes I really struggled last month and I still have work to do on taking the pressure off myself! I think I fell into the trap of just reading books to complete series and I wasn't enjoying them. As Lauren says above "so what if I don't finish a series". This needs to be my new mantra!

Let me say that I really appreciated everyone's thoughts and words when I was feeling a bit low about my reading.

I love this group and I will probably just actively participate in this group for a while and see how I get on. I have dropped all challenges and I am trying not to think about my original goals for 2016. I may replace it with something like "read x% of books that are from series". This is to try and give a balance between series and standalones (they were taking a backseat) plus it doesn't define how many books I want to read. Also no pressure to finish / catch up on series!

Kudos to you, Tracey, for doing what's necessary! I love having you here and we share so many of the same books on our shelves. I always appreciate your insights.

I am no longer laser focused on meeting goals and since I adopted that attitude, I've just so happened to have exceeded them. But, the point is the reading is what's important. I remember having crafted my goals to fit what I was interested in. Getting back to my heart has me loving my reading again...with a vengeance. I'm hoping the same for you as that feeling before was just awful and don't want you there.

We're going to keep this thread going. Let's just consider it our support discussion. If you're struggling or feeling great, share it and I'm certain others will benefit from your experiences or offer encouragement.

You all are pretty wonderful.

I love coming to GR and discussing books, finding new authors to try, chatting with fellow readers. That's all good. That said, I'm also one of those who fell into trying to do too many challenges. And one of my issues with those is that I am very much a mood reader, so even with those challenges that offer a lot of flexibility for me to fit in books that I want to read...I may not be in the mood to want to read the book at that particular time, to meet that challenge. I've stopped participating in monthly challenges because I just don't have enough time or wiggle room to accommodate my reading moods. Challenges that last all year give me more flexibility that way. Overall though I'm doing fewer challenges and focusing more on what I want to read at the moment.

I love the idea of mood reading, Veronica, which fits perfectly with reading for the pure enjoyment. So clever of you to manage your time here on Goodreads so smartly. That takes some fortitude given all the lovely distractions offered by challenges.

My monthly plan is always going to be big to allow for flexibility but I make certain it doesn't look too awful in size (except for the audiobooks). It's so much fun to finish a book and then look at that list and choose based on how I'm feeling in the moment. It's so freeing.

Thanks for your perspective as you've always seemed to be independent in your reading choices. I seriously admire that quality.

Thanks, Jonetta. I don't know if it's so much a matter of independence as it is that I'm easily distracted by the shiny, lol.

I'm the same. Mood and shiny!!

I've always admire those who have a month plan. I'm a seat-of-my-pans girl. yes I have a few that I know I'll read that month but the rest is what peaks my interest.

Don't get me wrong, I've gone through slumps as well either due to over submergences because I didn't stagger my reading of a series. Because I like reading the whole series at once. Or just that everything was so similar or nothing new that I just can't appreciate the brilliance of an author I love. That's when'll do faithful books come out and dusted for enjoyment of reading time. We all have a few of those. Books that no matter what is always enjoyed.

I think the trick it know yourself and be realistic. Not all challenges should be taken up. And with most of the groups I'm in you can always read it at a later time and just drop in on the discussion. We all love chatting or discussing books no matter when it got read.

Veronica wrote: "Thanks, Jonetta. I don't know if it's so much a matter of independence as it is that I'm easily distracted by the shiny, lol."

New and shiny! They get me EVERY time! I just go with the flow...

Lauren wrote: "you can always read it at a later time and just drop in on the discussion. We all love chatting or discussing books no matter when it got read. "


That's what I love too. The idea that I can drop by the discussion any time and there will always be someone to comment :0)

You're so right, Michelle, about not feeling pressured to keep up with group discussions. We like to discuss a book anytime someone resurrects the thread:)

Thanks for weighing in.

Can anyone resist the new and shiny? That would take some steadfast willpower. ;-)

Michelle wrote: "I think the trick it know yourself and be realistic."

Excellent advice! I tend to be a bit of a binge reader too when I like a series but now I'm trying to vary my reading a bit more. That helps to prolong the enjoyment of a series because a downside of binge reading is that once you reach the last published book you have to wait for the next one.

Working at a library -the shiny and new books are not easy to avoid. I bring home so many and then reality sets and I read what I want to and add rest to the tbr list lol.

I dropped a series I was just okay with in favour of reading a series I enjoy a lot but put on the back burner because of time. I love challenges and group reads but I try and keep them informal rather than mandatory. Every group is great with you reading and discussing it later. I also am more willing to stop reading a bad book rather than continue.

I feel like I'm having fun reading especially the last few months. Thanks to Jonetta and everyone on here that make this group so great. It's nice to have a fun and safe place to discuss all things :)

Veronica wrote: "Can anyone resist the new and shiny? That would take some steadfast willpower. ;-)

Michelle wrote: "I think the trick it know yourself and be realistic."

Excellent advice! I tend to be a bit of a..."

I hear you. Binge reading is not good. I just can stop myself. I have a few that I'm waiting for the next instalment.

I think it's also I'm scared that I'll fall out of love with something. I've got a few series. Read a few and then took a break. But then returned and couldn't find the love again. The like was an almost thing sometimes.

Michelle wrote: "I think it's also I'm scared that I'll fall out of love with something. I've got a few series. Read a few and then took a break. But then returned and couldn't find the love again. The like was an almost thing sometimes. "

I've had that happen to me too, Michelle. What I like about binge reading is that I can get fully immersed in the story and in the lives of the characters. Sometimes when I have too long of a break in between books, some of that emotional momentum gets lost.

Kris - My Novelesque Life wrote: "Working at a library -the shiny and new books are not easy to avoid. I bring home so many and then reality sets and I read what I want to and add rest to the tbr list lol."

I'd love to work in a library though I'd probably be in the stacks perusing books so often that I'd not be much help to the patrons. Actually, my dream job would be to own one of the nice architectural buildings downtown, run a bookstore out of the bottom floor, and live in the apartment space above it. Of course, I'd probably have to drag my noisy family with me and that would sort of ruin the dream of tranquility, lol. Not to mention that I think independent bookstores are, sadly, a dying breed.

Stephanie wrote:" I have an issue where my eyes are bigger than my stomach with books! :D I want to read them all NOW and being overexuberant can make me feel more like I'm ticking books off of a list instead of enjoying.."

Yep that's me!

Jonetta wrote: "I love having you here and we share so many of the same books on our shelves. I always appreciate your insights.

Aw thanks Jonetta! Yes we do have a lot of books in common.

Kris, I don't know how you resist while working in a library. Too much temptation.

This sums me up!

Lol! Tracey, don't EVER join NetGalley. I'm still digging out.

Jonetta - you have no idea. When we get the new books my co-workers ask how many were on hold for me, lol!

For me, it would be akin to being in a bakery...I've never been able to resist cake of any kind:)

I worked in my high school library for two years and it was the most wonderful experience. Today, with what I've learned here, I'd be in trouble.

I feel like I am doing pretty well in my reading. I try to read series book but i try not to stress myself out if i am reading series book and read a standalone book instead. As long as i am enjoying reading!!!

Tracey wrote: "This sums me up!

"

Perfect! lol

I'm satisfied with my reading at the moment. I've really cut down on my one clicking (which I am happy about)and am utilizing the library and overdrive for 3/4 of my monthly reading. but I am sort of at the mercy of when my holds come in though, and sometimes it gets a little hairy when numerous books come in at once. I have 2 library cards and usually have the max on hold that I can. It is like my own personal challenge and I treat it like a game. For the moment anyway.
I do have a bad habit though of having one eye on my current book and my other eye on what I want to read next. There are too many great books out there and too little time. That is what I stress about.
As far as challenges go I have cut down on those as well, although I do think they are fun. I do some monthly ones here and there.
I love this group also, I'm a list maker so this fits me , I love checking books off.

Laura wrote: "I do have a bad habit though of having one eye on my current book and my other eye on what I want to read next. ..."

Oh I am so glad I am not the only one!

Sadly Veronica I think your right. Bookstores are a dying breed. And sadly I'm one of the reasons. I almost exclusively read Ebooks.

And as for libraries. I haven't been in one for ages. Primarily because my local one never carries a full series. ,which I have never understood. The secondary reason being that it's a dual language library and I found that the other language was predominantly updated with new offerings. And I just got another reason. Most of the authors I read I wouldn't be able to find in my library. Okay enough about that.

I've always wanted to know. How does netgalley work? Do I have the an avid reviewer? If so never mind. I'm not yet at a please were I write reviews. I don't think I'll ever get there.

Viki wrote: "I feel like I am doing pretty well in my reading. I try to read series book but i try not to stress myself out if i am reading series book and read a standalone book instead. As long as i am enjoyi..."

I think you're doing great, Viki!

Laura wrote: "I'm satisfied with my reading at the moment. I've really cut down on my one clicking (which I am happy about)and am utilizing the library and overdrive for 3/4 of my monthly reading. but I am sort ..."

There's something very satisfying about crossing things off a list:) Juggling library rentals can be an art in itself! That game can be fun but you're right, it can get stressful when a whole batch frees up at one time.

Michelle wrote: "Sadly Veronica I think your right. Bookstores are a dying breed. And sadly I'm one of the reasons. I almost exclusively read Ebooks.

And as for libraries. I haven't been in one for ages. Primaril..."

Amazon delivered the first blows to brick and mortar bookstores, not just for eBook sales but the ease in online ordering of print books. Barnes & Noble's survival had a lot to do with their online platform being competitive. Had the same impact on toy stores.

If you want to participate on NetGalley, you have to write reviews. That's the whole purpose of the site...publishers and authors offering advance copies of books prior to release to a community of readers who in exchange will write an honest review and post it here and on Amazon (and blogs, if applicable).

Thanx Jonetta. That's me out. One day I'll trust myself to write a decent review. .

Tracey wrote: "Laura wrote: "I do have a bad habit though of having one eye on my current book and my other eye on what I want to read next. ..."

Oh I am so glad I am not the only one!"

Haha, I do the same thing!

Laura wrote: ". I have 2 library cards and usually have the max on hold that I can. It is like my own personal challenge and I treat it like a game."

I have three different library cards and it does get a little challenging trying to keep track of what I have on hold where, what books are due when and from what library, etc. I may need to start a spreadsheet or something. lol

Veronica wrote: "I may need to start a spreadsheet or something. lol ..."

Or a list:)

That would probably be easier, yes. ;-)

There is a site called library elf - http://www.libraryelf.com/ - and what this site does is keep track of all your library cards. You sign up and then put in your Library, card # and maybe pin. It will send you email reminders when things are due and is also a place to see all your things at once. It used to be free but I think you now have to pay for some services. My friend uses it and mentioned it to me - so I don't know all the details.

That sounds like it could be useful. I'll have to check it out. Thanks, Kris!

Veronica wrote: "Laura wrote: ". I have 2 library cards and usually have the max on hold that I can. It is like my own personal challenge and I treat it like a game."

I have three different library cards and it do..."

3 cards Wow, I'd be really stressed.I like it though.

Kris - My Novelesque Life wrote: "There is a site called library elf - http://www.libraryelf.com/ - and what this site does is keep track of all your library cards. You sign up and then put in your Library, card # and maybe pin. It..."

I will check this out. Sounds helpful. Thanks for sharing.

No prob! Sorry I don't know more.

In BC, Canada we can apply for a library card in almost any city in BC. Each city has their own rules of course and different resources of course.

A little secret - I also use my mom and dad's library cards for holds ;)