The 2014 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread!

[CRussel]

Oh, it's worth while, I don't doubt that. I did it in 2012, and it was instructive. But it really is something I have to follow through on daily, or I lose track and it becomes hopeless. And I'm not real good at those sorts of things. It's why I got really good at automating and scripting in my IT career. It meant I didn't screw up and forget something critical. But web fora don't lend themselves to scripting, unfortunately.

[Dazrin]

We are at the 1/3 mark for the year, how is everyone doing? I am just over 40% done with my challenge, so doing ok, but given how each month I have finished fewer and fewer pages I am still a little concerned.

My projected pages for the year keep plummeting each month, so until my reading levels out a bit I am going to keep my original goal.

[Geralt]

I'm 43% through my reading challenge.
4 books ahead.
And right on 1/3 of my page challenge.
This month I read 3 books, around 1500 pages total, one great fantasy book (Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb) and one great sci-fi book (The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester). The third book was a flop.

But, 1/3 of a year behind and I read 13 books, 5000 pages, and my sub challenges (Fantasy and Sci-fi series) are going well.

I would say I'm doing damn good so far.

[Bookpossum]

Goodreads tells me I am two books ahead of schedule at the moment, so I think I got my target of 60 about right.

[Tarana]

Goodreads says I am 3 books ahead, so even though I read fewer books this month, I'm still on target for my 120 goal. I am very behind on short story/novella goal. I've read 16 and I should have read about 35 by now.

I am very close to halfway on my age goal, so that is going well. Certainly, in June, I will have to start selecting books with specific publication dates, but for now, they seem to be filling themselves in.

The budget will be over plan at least until July. I do hope to get some good Kobo coupon to pick up Baen ebooks since I've skipped a couple of bundles.

[CharredScribe]

Still working on Robert Goddard's Past Caring. Been reading it for about two weeks - unusual that I take so long for a novel (but it is a very lengthy book). I have been working longer hours than usual, so things have slowed down a bit, though I am still on track with my target.

I'm holiday next week, and my plan is to basically just read. What bliss it will be!

[DrNefario]

I'm doing okay on my sub-challenges. I have all the books I need to complete them now, but I keep chopping and changing which ones I'm including in which challenges. I've read 19 of a projected 50 books in my SF/F challenges, which is a couple of books ahead of schedule. That also includes the longest book in the list, Surface Detail by Iain M Banks, which I finished about a week ago.

I'm a little behind on my TBR challenge, but not too worried yet. (Actually, I might have forgotten to add a new book yesterday, too. Damn.)

[treadlightly]

I have reached 40% of my total book challenge, reduced my purchased book balance by 30% but need to read more Historical Fiction, Mysteries, and Science Fiction to keep my carousel on an even keel.

@CharredScribe - Sounds like the perfect holiday! Enjoy!

[CRussel]

I'm at just over 39% of my goal, which is good given how little time to read I've had. I expect to make my 120 without issue. Need to keep a focus on not buying, since I'm definitely acquiring faster than I'm reading. Of course, some of that is because Patricia Wentworth is PD here in Canada, and the rest is because of that wonderful Kobo coupon. But still, I need to let that filter back into my other purchases and hold back as much as possible.

[Rev. Bob]

I completed my subchallenge (read 12 books I've owned for over a year but have not read) over the weekend, but I'm still about a dozen books behind on my overall challenge.

[pdurrant]

After four months, I'm now only $13.27 over budget. I expect to go a little bit more over budget in May, but I should be back under budget, and stay there, from June onwards.

Reading has been going particularly well this year, with 85 book completed, 15 up on this time last year, meaning that I might make it 250 this year, considerably more than in the past four years that I've been keeping track. I think it's the commuting that is doing it.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

After four months, I'm now only $13.27 over budget. I expect to go a little bit more over budget in May, but I should be back under budget, and stay there, from June onwards.

Reading has been going particularly well this year, with 85 book completed, 15 up on this time last year, meaning that I might make it 250 this year, considerably more than in the past four years that I've been keeping track. I think it's the commuting that is doing it.

Excellent! Regarding commuting. if I didn't commute as long as I do, I am quite sure I would read well less than 1/2 of what I do now. Maybe 1/4 as much. Most of my reading time is on the train. Very nice distraction at the end of the day and lets me reset myself from "work mode" to "home mode".

[CharredScribe]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

@CharredScribe - Sounds like the perfect holiday! Enjoy!

Thanks. I'm making sure my Kobo is well-stocked (which is half the fun).

[jbcohen]

My experience is darzin is right on about commuting. I spend probably two hours a day on the road going back and forth to work and I read a lot. Those of us that are lucky enough to have short commutes or work at home probably do not read as much.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

My experience is darzin is right on about commuting. I spend probably two hours a day on the road going back and forth to work and I read a lot. Those of us that are lucky enough to have short commutes or work at home probably do not read as much.

I read more than I ever did, now that I work at home. But I listen to audio books far less. Which I don't like. I enjoy audio books, especially for some authors.