2-3-4 Challenge discussion

November 2024 marked the 10th year this group was originally formed. It was an outgrowth of an old Shelfari group where we focused on making a dent in our series reading.

Over the years we’ve certainly done that! Without your participation, I don’t think I would have developed a path to complete series with regularity. And, it’s been so much fun to discuss them as a group and discover new talented writers.

It feels like it’s time to evolve how we achieve that objective. Many of us belong to other groups who are also doing group reads and it’s becoming hard to keep up. In the past, we’ve kept lists here, done monthly updates to share our progress and developed tracking tools to use to monitor that progress. But, it feels like a lot of work these days, especially with the challenges of this site, detracting from reading time.

I’d like brainstorm how we can keep this group going but make it easier to communicate. One thing that seems to still work for most of us is the folder for our reading plans. I for one love seeing what you are wanting to read whether you get to it or not. Sometimes I see titles that I want to add. Let’s make it a guilt free zone where we are not inhibited by what we haven’t achieved for that month.

I used to be religious about keeping my series lists up to date but have become lax in doing so. I’m thinking I’ll just keep an alpha list and not worry about having a comment box for each. Is it still working for you?

It seems to be a good idea to have yearly goals but the tracking might be better left to each individual to created their own topic in one folder for everyone. For example, the folder would be Goal Tracking and everyone would have there own topic to design and populate as you see fit.

I still love the series group reads but I was challenged in 2023 to keep up and I saw others struggling to keep up the reading here in 2024. Your feedback is welcome and don’t hold back!

Those are some of my top line thoughts. Any other ideas? Please…they are very much welcomed.

I love the "Monthly Reading Plans". It is the one most useful tool in helping me focus on what I want to read each month. If I don't get a book read off this list, I simply add it to the next month. I never feel guilty for not completing my list, it is simply a tool to help me focus.

My second most useful tool is the "Individual Lists" where I have listed the series I want to conquer. Now I do feel that I don't make much headway on this list each year, but it gives me a place to go when I am looking for a book to read and it gives me a place to list those series that I am interested in reading. Simply shelving a book as "Want To Read" gets it lost in a great never-ending void.

I too like seeing what others are reading and I love reading the reviews. I get excited when I find a new book or author to try because one of my book friends read it and loved it.

I love the monthly Reading Plans too. And I keep my individual series list up to date.
I think I don't post in any other topics, but I like reading what everyone has read and the reviews.

The monthly reading plan keeps me on target even when "life" gets in the way. Like the others, I enjoy seeing what everyone is reading. I often go back to see the reviews, and pick my next read from others' lists.

I use the series lists occasionally, but I'm always behind. While I don't update regularly, I do update throughout the year, It is a good reminder.

Thanks for the great feedback!

Are you all in agreement that we table the group reads for now?

Since several other groups have group reads, I can live with one less.

I do love group reads, especially of a series I'm reading; I also like to find new authors from what is suggested for monthly reads. I don't always manage to get to them all, or to comment, but I do like to read what is posted.

I have nothing to contribute as I haven't participated yet. But I've been meaning to and pop in to see how everyone else is doing.

I'm in several groups and have ongoing challenges, sometimes I get overwhelmed by them so I think my hesitation was feeling I was taking on too much.

So I think I need to reframe that because I do go through my series and it would be nice to have all that info in on place

I agree with everyone else about the Monthly Reading Plans and Individual lists. They are essential for helping me choose books and track, especially with FictFact a thing of the past.

I enjoy seeing what others have chosen and adding books to my TBR.

I also agree that the Group Reads are overwhelming with the other challenges and books in other groups.

Thanks, Jonetta, for everything you do to make this such a fantastic and fun group.

Like everyone I love the monthly planning & individual lists. It helps me not only keep track of my reading but with my challenges as well.

A few times I've started a threat here for a buddy read as it was easiest to have a central point everyone can get at. Those I'll admit is me trying to get through a series with help from the rest of those participating (Sharon you star you).

Jonetta and Sandra thank you, thank you for always keeping us on track and the wonderful work in keeping this group fresh. This and the other group is fantastic and fun.

I love the idea of a "2025 Goal Tracking" folder where everyone can start their own topic under their name and make their own goals to track for the year.

Like everyone, I use the monthly planning and individual lists to keep my series straight. I love the Group Reads also, but I'm one of the people who had a hard time keeping up this year. I have enough group reads in my other groups to keep me busy.

I am not a fan of challenges; I prefer to read what I want to read without trying to fit a specific criterion.

I love the group reads and the discussions we have after. It is kinda like being in a book club.

Charlene wrote: "I do love group reads, especially of a series I'm reading; I also like to find new authors from what is suggested for monthly reads. I don't always manage to get to them all, or to comment, but I d..."

I love the group reads, too, and can always count on you to participate, Charlene. That’s why I’m recommending we simply table them for a bit. We can revisit in a few months, do a weather check. I’ve loved the discussions, too, but have noticed people struggling to keep up. Maybe starting the year off with a few months reprieve would help.

Tina wrote: "I have nothing to contribute as I haven't participated yet. But I've been meaning to and pop in to see how everyone else is doing.

I'm in several groups and have ongoing challenges, sometimes I g..."

Thanks, Tina. We will still keep the series list folder. It’s flexible enough for you to tailor to your own personal needs.

Lauren wrote: "I agree with everyone else about the Monthly Reading Plans and Individual lists. They are essential for helping me choose books and track, especially with FictFact a thing of the past.

I enjoy se..."

Thank you for that and for being my backup in the group, Lauren. It matters!

Michelle wrote: "Like everyone I love the monthly planning & individual lists. It helps me not only keep track of my reading but with my challenges as well.

A few times I've started a threat here for a buddy read..."

Thanks, Michelle. I think you were referring to the JDR & TDD groups as Sandra isn’t a moderator here (Lauren is!).

You’ll notice I made no mention of changing the Buddy Reads as it’s used organically by members when they want. Highly encourage others to consider during our pause.

Robin wrote: "I love the idea of a "2025 Goal Tracking" folder where everyone can start their own topic under their name and make their own goals to track for the year.

Like everyone, I use the monthly plannin..."

Will definitely make that change to the folder for 2025! You’ve been a stalwart of the group reads so I know it was hard to get behind on the group reads. Will do a check in later in the year.

I will do whatever anyone wants. I think we can table the group reads for a couple of months, but I do like the discussions.

I will join in individual buddy reads, but I never come up with the thought provoking questions that you do.

Anita wrote: "I am not a fan of challenges; I prefer to read what I want to read without trying to fit a specific criterion.

I love the group reads and the discussions we have after. It is kinda like being in a..."

I hear you about the challenges. My head is in a different space about them. I play but I don’t make reading decisions based on the challenge…mostly😏 (I recently read a true crime story to finish a challenge but it was on my TBR and turned out to be five stars.) Love them but I used different criteria for reading choices.

You’ve been a rock star with the group discussions so it’s just a tabling for now. In the meantime, we might figure out a different way of selecting the series as so many voting in the polls don’t participate. I welcome any ideas. We have such a great history of loving the series we read as a group.

Thank you everyone for engaging. I knew we could count on you to provide useful insights. You are the heartbeats of the group and I don’t take that for granted.

I just want to say thank you to Jonetta for your leadership and the countless hours you devote to this group and others. I know, personally, you have greatly enhanced my reading experience, and I have read many of your recommendations.

I have also noticed the problem with the selection of the series reads. I don't have a ready solution, but I know it is a problem when you vote for a series and then don't follow through with the read.