The 2015 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I sense either a typo or a rather drastic sense of optimism for which I applaud you.

Egads! Never noticed. I've now edited the original post.

[HomeInMyShoes]

34 books is very impressive.

[Tarana]

I'm currently reading the first in the Game of Thrones series and am finding it hard going, despite having seen the tv series. I don't think fantasy is really for me!

Don't abandon fantasy yet. Once you've finished as much of GOT as you plan, look for other subgroups within the genre. Don't base a whole genre on one book. Try several in different subgroups before abandoning it. For instance Robert Asprin or Piers Anthony are quite a bit different from GOT. These are older authors (Asprin's been dead a while), but you get the picture. Terry Pratchett should never be ignored. While it is true some people don't care for his stories, so many people who only read general fiction are often amazed and become fans of his even if they read no other fantasy stuff.

As far as my stuff, my Goodreads calculator says that I'm 8 books ahead. I've read 3 magazines and about 15 short stories. So, I'm plugging along mostly because I've been doing a lot of SHORT stuff. I'm holding off on Game of Thrones until Spring. I need something to listen to when weeding.

[Dngrsone]

Finally finished the memoirs of Eugène François Vidocq... and did my mid-term on Persepolis, so now I can read the second book of that series.

[Luffy]

I've taken the decision not to pursue completing my reading challenge. I'll complete the sub challenges of 5 books over 700 pages and 10 books over 500 pages...maybe so. I need to step back from reading during all my free time. I'm finding books disappointing and I'll take up other hobbies to its detriment. I will read only for 2.5 hours a day. It will be weird not to complete my Goodreads challenge. Next year I'll set the counter at 20 books. That will be manageable. A lot of the decisions of my life are coming together - wake up earlier, lose weight, treat a 'condition' of mine - and reducing my reading time is a smart choice.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Luffy

I need to step back from reading during all my free time. [...] I will read only for 2.5 hours a day.

That sounds like more than enough. I hope you enjoy what you read!

[Dazrin]

I certainly understand needing to make a change.

You might consider just stepping your goal back here significantly to help prevent yourself from completely stopping reading if you think that is a concern. I know that was an issue for me for a while, if I didn't have the goal I didn't find the time to do any reading. Of course the opposite can also be true - too high or a goal = more reading than is good for me and my family - so setting a realistic goal with other priorities in mind is important.

[BelleZora]

Sometimes we need to back off. About once each year, usually after several books which felt like work to read, I just quit reading or slow way down for a couple of months. Seems the proper response when we're no longer enjoying something that we have loved. After a few weeks I'm happily reading again. Strangely, I still seem to complete the challenge effortlessly even though I've always given myself permission to just forget it.

The important thing is to enjoy the books we choose to read. Otherwise, what is the point?

[Stephjk]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Don't abandon fantasy yet. Once you've finished as much of GOT as you plan, look for other subgroups within the genre. Don't base a whole genre on one book. Try several in different subgroups before abandoning it. For instance Robert Asprin or Piers Anthony are quite a bit different from GOT. These are older authors (Asprin's been dead a while), but you get the picture. Terry Pratchett should never be ignored. While it is true some people don't care for his stories, so many people who only read general fiction are often amazed and become fans of his even if they read no other fantasy stuff.

Thanks for the suggestions

[jbcohen]

Have you ever had series fatigue? I am reading a series called the Richeous by Michael Wallace. They are very well written and interesting books, however by the fifth book I am getting a little tired of the series and the fundametalist mormons that the series is about.

[pdurrant]

I think it's common. Take a break and read something else for a book or two.

[PandathePanda]

I've taken up the reading challenge on GoodReads.

But found that with me reading both "retail" books and fanfic ( mostly fanfic with anything between 30k and 500k+ words) that my Reading challenge lags behind. (Me wish there was a way to update the reading challenge with other data)

[Dngrsone]

My reading has taken a bit of direction from NPR's Top 100 Scifi/Fan books/series list. I am at 55 now and I have two more in my TBR. No, three more, because I remembered that I have the Sandman series in a box...

[DrNefario]

I've been contemplating the idea of a "dry" month, where I don't read any science fiction or fantasy for a whole month. I've been a bit SF&F-heavy lately, due to the nature of my other challenges, so the idea of making a break into a mini-challenge appealed to me. I was thinking April, since it only has 30 days, and I've already missed February, but I'm not yet sure about it. The Hugo shortlist will be announced at the start of April, which really won't help.

This has also led me to the idea of a women-only month, where I don't read any books by men. I don't think I want to combine the two, although it would probably help with my Agatha Christie backlog, so that will have to wait until later in the year.

[Tarana]

Luffy, you can also reset your challenge goal at Goodreads. I suggest doing so. Keep in mind that many people only read 30 minutes to an hour a day. For many years, I only read during my commute (bus/train). Don't beat yourself up over it.

Dr Nefario, I keep planning on having a month of just westerns and inevitably, something happens to prevent that. Last year, it was multiple surgeries and the pain killers. The year before, it was a family member's severe illness. The year before that was something else. So, my suggestion is to just make a list of the next 10 books you want to read and make 80% of them your specialty genre. You have a chance of succeeding then.