The 2015 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread

[Stephjk]

Originally Posted by BelleZora

I'm only about a quarter of the way through The Iliad, one of the few specific books I'm planning to read this year.

I think The Iliad took me about 3 months to read!

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by Stephjk

I think The Iliad took me about 3 months to read!

I'm reading the beautiful Robert Fagles translation. It is to be savored, not hurried through.

[treadlightly]

I'm 6 books behind. My excuses are the arrival of a new kitten to the family, an increase in my yoga class attendance and the promise of the delivery of a knitted scarf to a loved one before the end of the coldest winter in 114 years.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^You've got plenty of time before the next winter.

I can sympathize with the cold. We had the coldest one for many decades last year. The overnight low on March 1st was -38.8C.

This year not so bad, although -17C and a -28C windchill this morning is not making me think Spring.

[sakura-panda]

According to Goodreads, the 12 books I have completed so far leave me 3 books behind schedule.

However, since I read 5-6 books at one time -- I leave my books where I'm likely to be reading rather than taking them around with me -- I could get caught up at any time.

March is reading month for the kids -- they have to read and log 15-30 minutes of reading every day. This year I have two reluctant readers (and another in Book Bowl) so I have decided that we are going to have a half hour of family reading time every day. Hopefully that will help fill out my challenge list!

[HomeInMyShoes]

Woohoo. I have now read at least one book in all my challenges for this year.

Canada 7/6
TBR: 4/5
Second Chance: 3/5
Bookclubs: 3/8
World 1/6

I need to pick up the pace on the World reads. I'm just barely on schedule for that one.

[pdurrant]

Congratulations!

[Fbone]

I've read 5 books and purchased 2. However, 3 books were freebies so I guess I'm even so far this year.

[Dazrin]

I am almost a month ahead of my page goal which is good, but I haven't managed to read anything for almost a week which is bad. Hopefully I will be able to get back on track next week.

I am also looking forward to the March book club. All three leading contenders at this point sound interesting. At the very least I will also be reading Timeline since my hold just came in.

[sun surfer]

Congrats HIMS, Paul and everyone else doing well so far!

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

I am currently ahead of the game, despite school, averaging nine books a month.

I am not slacking off, though-- I am halfway through a biography of J. R. R. Tolkein, have started on a memoir of an 18th century crook and cop named Vidocq, and have to read Persopolis for ENGL 44B. On top of the regular reading assignment which I should complete today (if I weren't engaged in other activities...).

I really enjoyed Persepolis and found it very unique.

Originally Posted by BelleZora

...The great thing is that every book read this year has been engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable...

Sounds wonderful - I wish I had it so good! Not that I'm complaining - I've read my fair share of great books this year so far.

[pdurrant]

Since I'm going through my backlog of unread purchased books, I must admit I've had a larger than usual number of rather poor books, but ten years ago from Fictionwise, and either not yet read, or I've forgotten that I read them!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Since I'm going through my backlog of unread purchased books, I must admit I've had a larger than usual number of rather poor books, but ten years ago from Fictionwise, and either not yet read, or I've forgotten that I read them!

Dare I suggest that you give up your quest and move on from the junk? No point in compounding the error of buying them by wasting good reading time on them. There's probably a reason they've been unread for ten years or been forgotten. Read what appeals to you most. Look at the ten year-old also-rans as you do the books in a bundle you don't want; they were part of a buying agenda that saved you money overall.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by issybird

Dare I suggest that you give up your quest and move on from the junk? No point in compounding the error of buying them by wasting good reading time on them. There's probably a reason they've been unread for ten years or been forgotten. Read what appeals to you most. Look at the ten year-old also-rans as you do the books in a bundle you don't want; they were part of a buying agenda that saved you money overall.

Tempting, but what I think I'll do is be much more ruthless about abandoning them. And there should be some gems in there.

[Hampshire Nanny]

I'm making good progress toward the overall goal of reading 200 books and/or 50,000 pages this year. Also doing very well toward a goal of borrowing at least 50 books from the library. Not progressing as fast toward completing the remaining books in 3 series.

Jan/Feb stats:

Books read: 34 (goal: 200)
Pages read: 8812
Library books: 20 (goal: 50)
Elm Creek Quilts series: 0 (goal: 13)
Brother Cadfael series: 2 (goal: 16)
Kris Longknife series: 0 (goal: 6)

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by Hampshire Nanny

I'm making good progress toward the overall goal of reading 200 books...

Books read: 2 (goal: 200)

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