2019 Reading Challenge discussion

Hey guys,

I’m just checking in to see how everyone is doing with their reading goal. Are you on track so far? How many books have you read so far?

I’m ahead of my goal so far, I’ve read 10 books and I have multiple going at a time. I have an audiobook and a physical book at all times. I’ve been able to listen to the audiobook at 3x the normal speed so I’ve been flying through the books.

Should I start doing mini challenges throughout the year? I’ll open the discussion for the book of the month in a couple days!

Happy reading,
Amelia

I’m really pleased with my progress. I’ve finished 12 books, a good chunk were on the short side/graphic novels.

Here’s what I read so far:

Aru Shah and the Song of Death
Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom
Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom
Cucumber Quest: The Melody Kingdom
Contagion
What Alice Forgot
I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
Dumplin'
Difficult Women
Long Way Down
Schoolgirl Missing
Aquicorn Cove

I’m so impressed you can listen at 3x. I can usually get up to 1.25-1.5x, sometimes 2x, but much higher and I just hear squeaking 😅 I want to keep listening and try to get it up to faster, because I physically read so much faster than I can listen.

I’ve completed 4 books so far, and currently reading numbers 5 & 6. Slightly ahead for my personal goal at the moment.

I'm on book number 3 which I anticipate finishing by the end of the week and probably being half way through 4 by then. So behind in terms of managing 300 but ahead in terms of what I set my goal at and hoping that I will pick up some ground in a week or so and read 15-20 books by the end of the month.

Finished: Thud! and Wintersmith

Now reading: Making Money

Amelia wrote: "Hey guys,

I’m just checking in to see how everyone is doing with their reading goal. Are you on track so far? How many books have you read so far?

I’m ahead of my goal so far, I’ve read 10 books ..."

Mini Challenges or Levels would be good.

So far I have 10 for the year.

Best one as of now was Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

I currently have 3 sitting on my queue, but I should have them done by the weekend! My goal is just to read 24 books this year, but if I keep doing these group challenges, I might swamp that number. Plus, some of the books I'm reading are series.

Rae wrote: "I currently have 3 sitting on my queue, but I should have them done by the weekend! My goal is just to read 24 books this year, but if I keep doing these group challenges, I might swamp that number..."

Challenges always help add to that number, at least for me.

Loving the ucky weather that is letting me read without feeling guilty! Here is my list so far: Emma, Christmas Cake Murder,Pay Dirt, Life Among the Savages,Raising Demons,120 Hot Chocolate Recipes, Pride and Prejudice.

Melissa wrote: "Loving the ucky weather that is letting me read without feeling guilty! Here is my list so far: Emma, Christmas Cake Murder,Pay Dirt, [book:Life Among the ..."

Seems you got a few under your belt so far!

11. Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother's Murder, John du Pont's Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold 1/9

12. Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial 1/10

13. Broken 1/10

14. The Gendarme 1/11

15. Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult, and the Darkness That Ended the Sixties 1/12

16. The Foretelling 1/12

I’m up to 20, and one in progress, so I’m feeling pretty great about how much I’ve read.

A good chunk were smaller books and middle grade, and I have some bigger books next on my TBR, so it should slow some, but I still expect to meet my goal for the month.

The ones since last time are:

Women Talking
The Witches
In an Absent Dream
The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One
The One
A Monster Calls
The Book of Etta
Recursion

Wow Abbie, Elizabeth, Melissa, and everyone else, I am very impressed. You are all doing very well. I have finished two books so far Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling and The Postman Always Rings Twice. I have read about six short stories. I am halfway through two more books. So I am not as far along as most of you, but the short stories put me closer to finishing some short story collection books.

I hope everyone is having fun.

I just finished my first book of the year and I'm about to open up a second one. I think I'm having a book to movie January because I finished the Princess Bride and now I'm reading a Clockwork Orange

I guess I need to find another classic book and movie duo after I'm done with this one

There is always this one The Postman Always Rings Twice, and it is quite inexpensive on Amazon kindle. Oh, and I read The Remains of the Day last year and absolutely loved it.

3 so far.

I've been sick so only finished my first book last night (A History of Film by David Parkinson). Tonight I will be starting Jack Kerouac's "On the Road".

I only read one book at a time :)

Jackie wrote: "I've been sick so only finished my first book last night (A History of Film by David Parkinson). Tonight I will be starting Jack Kerouac's "On the Road".

I only read one book at a time :)"

Feel better! Also great choice of book!

Netanel wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I've been sick so only finished my first book last night (A History of Film by David Parkinson). Tonight I will be starting Jack Kerouac's "On the Road".

I only read one book at a t..."

hope you feel better very soon

Hi everyone !

Here are some news from a French reader. I've read 13 books so far and I'm currently three books at the same time : one that is nearly over, one well on its way and one (a big one ... 920 pages) that I've just started.

On the 13 books read, there is only three graphic novels but big ones ... around 300 pages each so it was almost like read a small novel ;) And there is also four children books so they're quite a quick read.

I'm quite happy with the way my reading goes for January and I hope it stays on tracks :)

17. The Arabian Nights 1/13

I'm to 30, I have been in a serious reading mood and my kids have been cooperating with that - this is looking to be my best reading month, though a good chunk are small or middle grade still. Since last time I checked in

Waves
Lies
Princess Princess Ever After
Lying Beneath the Oaks
The Truth Lies Here
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks
Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
Here Lies Daniel Tate
The Safest Lies

I'm currently on my 4th book of the year (which doesn't sound like I've done much) but considering my goal was roughly 2 books a month I would say that this year is of to a very good start.

Hi everyone
I haven't been reading much because I have started a new job (which is wearing my mind out each day) and my friend has started a new job as well so since going back to work on 7/1 we are commuting together - so instead of reading on my 1.5-2 hour each way commute I have been chatting with her...
I sometimes have one or two books on the go at once, but I prefer to stick to one! I mostly read on an e-reader on the train, or on days when I drive to work listen to an audio book in the car - but I try and have the same book synched in both :-)
I am planning to read the book of the month, but I haven't started yet, so far the plan has only extended as far as downloading the book... and I love the idea of mini challenges and/or the idea of themes to push us to read different things than we may normally choose !

18. Hangman Blind 1/14

19. My Dead Parents: A Memoir 1/16

I have completed the Three Sisters Island Series by Nora Roberts, The Strangeness of Wales, and Kitchen Privileges.

Ellen wrote: "Hi everyone
I haven't been reading much because I have started a new job (which is wearing my mind out each day) and my friend has started a new job as well so since going back to work on 7/1 we a..."

It is not about the number of books that you read Two a month is fine I have just finished 'The Witches Daughter' by Paula Brackston which you might enjoy

I haven't read much lately as I came down with the lurgy going around the office and all I wanted to do was sleep; plus I've had a few nights out and getting home late I thought better of reading before going to sleep so just let the head hit the pillow pretty soon as much as I was home. About to go to bed and read for maybe 30 minutes.

I do most of my reading in bed it helps me sleep either that or on long bus/train journeys Some people seem to think that Good reads is some kind of competition I would like to see it as a forum for discussing books

20. The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War 1/16

21. Codename Villanelle 1/16

22. Behold the Dreamers 1/19

23. Yes Please 1/20

24. Let Me Go 1/20

25. Sword Song 1/21

Just finished number 12: Prometheus Unbound keeping me on track for the 15-20 books I wanted to finish this month!

Lynne wrote: "I do most of my reading in bed it helps me sleep either that or on long bus/train journeys Some people seem to think that Good reads is some kind of competition I would like to see it as a forum fo..."

I totally agree (although this updates page probably isn't the page for that). What book would you like to discuss? (in case this appears sarcastic it really isn't!!)

I finished three!
1. I, Who Did Not Die
2. Small Fry
3. The Return (Hisham Matar)
Average one a week... I'm impressed with myself lol

I'm up to 40, so I'm getting close to beating my best month ever (45)

Come November
Limetown: The Prequel to the #1 Podcast
The Trial of Lizzie Borden
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Station Eleven
The Evolution of Mara Dyer
The Retribution of Mara Dyer
The Silent Land
The Tea Dragon Society
Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 2

I also decided on a personal challenge. Since it's mostly new and popular books that I see recommended on Booktube and Bookstagram (not always, but still) and most of my reading has been things from 2015-2018 or 2019 when I look at my tracker, my new challenge is to choose a random book (that looks up my alley, not just any random book) from one of the sections I am already in when grabbing my library books. This week that one is which I had heard of but hadn't added to my want-to-read list.

I'd love to discuss books, but also, I'd like to connect with people who have similar goals. My goal is for ME, not a competition with anyone else, but it is hard to discuss how I'm doing on my goal with someone who's goal is much smaller without sounding like I am bragging or being patronizing when I am legitimately excited that they're doing well on their personal goal too (no matter the size of that goal) It's nice to have other people with similar goals to check in with in this group :)

26. All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez, the Superstar Whose Life Ended on Murderers' Row 1/24

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm up to 40, so I'm getting close to beating my best month ever (45)

Come November
Limetown: The Prequel to the #1 Podcast
[book:The Trial of Lizzie Borden|4053860..."


Well you have some interesting books finished already.

Checking in again. I am doing a lot of reading right now, 1. I turned Direct TV off 2. I am doing a class (not for credit on Austen) 3. Both knees are in braces 4. I have a lot of free books on my Kindle and finally I just love to read. According to the counter on my page I have competed 28 books so far.

Melissa wrote: "Checking in again. I am doing a lot of reading right now, 1. I turned Direct TV off 2. I am doing a class (not for credit on Austen) 3. Both knees are in braces 4. I have a lot of free books on my ..."

I hope you feel better soon. I am happy for you that you have a kindle full of good reading!!

Today is 1/27/2019, so I may update again this month but this is what I have read so far. (Note: I am not going to count the four short stories that I have taught in class. Honestly, I have reread them so many times now I am on autopilot on them.)

The Murders in the Rue Morgue E. A. Poe 1/5/2019
Just So Stories Rudyard Kipling 1/12/2019
The Postman Always Rings Twice James M. Cain 1/13/2019
From the Earth to the Moon Jules Verne 1/19/2019
Life in the Iron Mills Rebecca Harding Davis 1/19/2019
The Jilting of Granny Weatherall Katherine Anne Porter 1/20/2019
Chess Story Stefan Zweig 1/26/2019
Orthodoxy G. K. Chesterton 1/27/2019

Not all of these are books. "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" is a short story, as is "Murders in the Rue Morgue". Chess Story and Life in an Iron Mill are considered novellas.

You know page counts are a tricky thing. For instance, in the book I read called Orthodoxy, the page counts can vary from 170 to 304 pages depending upon the edition. Also, my book Chess Story had 96 pages including the preface which was almost harder to read than the book itself, but the preface was not included in the page count.

27. Dead Letters 1/25

28. Here & There 1/26

29. Lies My Teacher Told Me 1/26

I took a friend's advice on how to start off the reading year with enthusiasm: by rereading a beloved book. I chose the Harry Potter series, and read all seven, finishing them on Jan. 22. That sure was an enjoyable beginning of 2019!
Then I read The Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett, which I loved. It combined fascinating history of medieval cathedral building with suspenseful court intrigue.
I read The Library Book by Susan Orlean, an interesting history of the LA public library and the 1986 fire that destroyed 400,000 books and badly damaged 700,000 more -- the greatest loss to a public library in U.S. history.
Finally, I just finished a Stephen King novel, The Running Man. Not a horror book, but very suspenseful, with an engaging protagonist.
Today I've started some non-fiction: The Soul of America by Jon Meacham; The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist by Radley Balko and Tucker Carrington; and The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life by David Quammen.
And I'm reading February's book for this group -- Night Owls by Jenn Bennett.
Happy reading, everyone!

I have read 31 books so far, so I am happy to go a bit over, which can be good for days I don't find time to read.

1. The Cruel Prince
2. Gotham Academy: Second Semester, Vol. 1: Welcome Back
3. Man-Eaters Volume 1
4. The Girl King
5. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Vol. 7
6. Love by the Morning Star
7. Gotham Academy: Second Semester, Vol. 2
8. Wires and Nerve
9. 鬼滅の刃 5 Kimetsu no Yaiba 5
10. Alice Isn't Dead
11. The Lost Sisters
12. Firestarter
13. Haphaven
14. Life Unaware
15. Children of the Whales, Vol. 1
16. Children of the Whales, Vol. 2
17. クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 3 Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau 3
18. The Kingdom of Copper
19. Only the Good Spy Young
20. ショートケーキケーキ 3
21. In an Absent Dream
22. A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II
23. Out of Sight, Out of Time
24. United We Spy
25. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
26. The Cerulean
27. Crazy Cupid Love
28. Some Girls Bind
29. 暁のヨナ 16 Akatsuki no Yona 16
30. The Daughters of Salem How we sent our children to their deaths: Part 1
31. The Dead Queens Club

CR: The Deceivers and The Gilded King (hoping to finish by tomorrow)

I have one more to add Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There by Jeff Belanger. This is a wide-page, text rich, "picture" book. The book is stated to have 58 pages plus end-notes, but technically if it were printed in paperback form, the page count would be doubled.

I'm wrapping up January at 50 books - my best month ever, which I am super excited about. I think next month will be the month of bigger books, I want to get my average pages per book up some and not just be tempted into all tiny books to hit high read counts - I've got a few personal goals besides just sheer number of books (average book size, a variety of genres, and choosing some books randomly in the library section I'm in - to avoid only reading the new stuff that everyone raves about, along with some other small things)

Here's what I've read since last update - which includes the rest of my participation in #24in48 (which I did not manage, but was still happy with my progress)

41 Year One
42 Wicked Saints
43 The Prince and the Dressmaker
44 The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells
45 Gathering Blue
46 Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir
47 This is How It Always Is
48 Wildcard
49 Love and Other Words
50 Dreadnought

Ruthsic wrote: "I have read 31 books so far, so I am happy to go a bit over, which can be good for days I don't find time to read.

1. The Cruel Prince
2. Gotham Academy: Second Semester, Vo..."

I finished two more books:
[32] The Deceivers
[33] 暁のヨナ 17 Akatsuki no Yona 17

I am up to 8 so far and starting on number 9.

30. The Searcher 1/27

31. Tales of a Chinese Grandmother: 30 Traditional Tales from China 1/27

32. The Accidental Empress 1/27

33. Rogue Heroes: The History of the SAS, Britain's Secret Special Forces Unit That Sabotaged the Nazis and Changed the Nature of War 1/29