The 2013 Annual Reading Challenge - Discussion Thread!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by aceflor

ISo next year i think I should track the number of pages read because right now I feel slightly ridicilous with my 36 books among you guys.....

Whether it's 120 books a year or 12 books a year, the important thing is to enjoy the reading, and have fun with a challenge.

[Geralt]

Some people enjoy being competitive I see nothing wrong with that.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by aceflor

PS: Do you know whether there is a nice goodreads tracker to use on other pages ? Looked for it but can't seem to find one...

They have a Challenge widget. On GR, go to Edit Profile, then switch over to the Widgets tab. The Challenge widget is way down that page.

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by aceflor

I reached my fairly unambitious goal of 36 books this year. But I did cut down on what I call "crappy books" (the ones you know are going to be bad, but you enjoy reading, you know the ones...) and read either classics or Lit Prizes, mostly big books.

So next year i think I should track the number of pages read because right now I feel slightly ridicilous with my 36 books among you guys.....

Congrats on reaching your goal! You've read a good deal more than most people and met your goal of improving the quality of books read. But there is nothing wrong with interspersing those fun "crappy books" with all the heavier classics. It's what I do.

Comparing yourself to others, especially on a forum of people in dissimilar circumstances and stages in life, is useless and counterproductive. Stay your own course!

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

They have a Challenge widget. On GR, go to Edit Profile, then switch over to the Widgets tab. The Challenge widget is way down that page.

Yes, I have had the Widget for a while and since I track my readings with GR, I thought they might also have a tracker, which I could use here as a sig. I am not sure I am clear in my explanations...

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Yes, I have had the Widget for a while and since I track my readings with GR, I thought they might also have a tracker, which I could use here as a sig. I am not sure I am clear in my explanations...

Ah, I see. No, I wish they did. They really do need more / better widgets to choose from. One the right size for a sig would be handy. They are entertaining the idea of tickers, but who knows if / when they would be implemented.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Ah, I see. No, I wish they did. They really do need more / better widgets to choose from. One the right size for a sig would be handy. They are entertaining the idea of tickers, but who knows if / when they would be implemented.

Thanks.

I have to add: I just luv your avatar !!

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Thanks.

I have to add: I just luv your avatar !!

Thanks! I've gotten rather attached to my little red devil. She's become my MR alter-ago.

[Xanthe]

Originally Posted by aceflor

I reached my fairly unambitious goal of 36 books this year. But I did cut down on what I call "crappy books" (the ones you know are going to be bad, but you enjoy reading, you know the ones...) and read either classics or Lit Prizes, mostly big books.

So next year i think I should track the number of pages read because right now I feel slightly ridicilous with my 36 books among you guys.....

And I have only read non-classics and non-Lit prizes.

It's not what you read or how many you read; we are only competing with our own expectations for ourselves, after all, and set our target goals on that basis. I know that I'm not trying to out-read anyone; I'm just trying to read at a pace I know I can achieve.

[jbcohen]

I am trying to out read myself. Every year my next years goal post are set at where I wound up the year before. I finished up 2012 at 85 books and this year looks like I will not come anywhere near that. Next years goal post will most likely be a lot closer then they were in 2012 due to my inability to hit the goal posts this year and I will measure the number of pages read next year like this year.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Years Completed: 44/44
Books Read: 71
Pages Read: 21,867
Distinct Authors: 57
New Authors: 36
Paper Books: 51
E-Books: 20

I think I've officially shelved this year's reading now and am resting and preparing for next year's challenge. I might fit in Dubliners this month, but I'm really focusing on resting my reading mind.

Next year's challenge is: 70 books and 18,100 pages.

I hope it is doable. My last two years have been over 20,000 pages so I think I'm in good shape for that, but it's a lot of books to stay focused on. I've purposely tried to keep the titles a little shorter to allow myself to fit more countries in for my geography challenge.

I am really excited to start next year's challenge. When are the new threads going to be up here? When does Goodreads post next year's challenge widget?

[ucfgrad93]

Looks like I'll fall a little short of my 50 book goal. I am currently reading my 39th book and will probably finish it plus one more. I have read just under 18,000 pages so far.

[treadlightly]

19 days to go and 13 books remaining...

[mcrow]

I will be in on the next one for 2014, I read a lot of books this year but didn't keep count.

[orlok]

I'm thinking I'll set my challenge for 2014 at 70 books (it was 52 this year, and I have easily exceeded that, but then I didn't want to put pressure on myself to hurry my reading). Yet to decide on any more granular sub-challenges.