This Week’s Topic:
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
With the new year comes my time to declare my challenges, but first, let's see how I did last year.
For the record, I actually increased my challenge, and read more books in 2020 than I did in 2019. I read 462 total, but I attribute my increase to being able to listen to more audiobooks while working from home.
I signed up for Terrifically Talkative (31 - 40 posts). I really was doing well until the pandemic hit. I just started feeling like I was screaming into the void and sort of gave up on discussions. I posted 22 discussions, and therefore FAILED this challenge.
If you ever visit me, you know I am constantly lamenting the lack of books set in the middle of the country. I had to listen to some books I didn't really love, but HECK YEAH! I read all 50 states.
A to Z Reading Challenge
I sort of went against my own no-rereading rule for this one. I was one away from completing this challenge, and I just could not find a Z book that sounded interesting to me. I cast my rules aside, and re-listened to Zac and Mia which was still sad and beautiful.
Diversity Reading Challenge 2020
Another success with this challenge. I think reading a lot of YA lends itself to diverse books in general, but I love the extra challenge I get from the monthly prompts.
Monthly Keyword Challenge
Monthly Motif
While I Was Reading Challenge
I gave up on this challenge. There were a few prompts I just could not find anything that fit and interested me. I think I did all but two prompts, which isn't terrible, but I don't usually give up. So, I FAILED this challenge.
2021 CHALLENGES
I am, more or less, sticking with the challenges I did last year. I hope to throw in some seasonal bingos to spice things up, but I feel these push me the right amount, while still keeping my reading enjoyable.
I will once again participate in the Discussion Challenge. I am hoping to be a Creative Conversationalist with 11- 20 discussions.
In addition, I will also be doing:
Now it's your turn!
What do you look for in a reading challenge?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
I love seeing what you were able to accomplish in 2020. I wish I could have stayed at home for my job, but am a front line worker so not plausible but I am envious. Audiobooks really help in increasing your numbers of book reading. I only did Romanceopoly last year and did okay with it, but my reading suffered but am making a goal to read as much as I can this year.
ReplyDeleteHope you have great successes in 2021!
I was lucky my job found a WFH position for me. I function is actually essential, and half my team is in office. I think riding the trains and buses would have been really stressful for me. Good luck with your reading!
DeleteYou did awesome on your 2020 challenges, even the ones you "failed." 22 discussion posts is probably more than I've done my entire blogging career! I might unofficially do the Literary Escapes Challenge, just to see where I read. Good luck with your 2021 goals!
ReplyDeleteI sort of lost my discussion mojo at one point, but I am ok with that. At least my reading didn't suffer. The only challenge I actually join is the Discussion Challenge. I just do the others "unofficially".
DeleteI don't really do a bunch of challenges. I do the GR one and a couple that are in a group on there. I used to do the New Adult challenge, but the person who ran that one stopped blogging. This year I'm making it a point to read more books hidden in the depths of my kindle. Good luck on all of your challenges.
ReplyDeleteI like more focused challenges, prompts and stuff like that. I find it sort of fun to find a book to fit each requirement.
DeleteWow first kudos to you for your excellent tracking, I always forget.
ReplyDeleteALSO OVER 400 BOOKS.
Empty nester moms have a lot more free time, you know.
DeleteYou really crushed your Goodreads goal! 462 books is just... wow! And I'm impressed you managed to complete books for all 50 states, too. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteIt's those audiobooks. I love listening to them all day as I work, and it really adds up. The 50 states was so hard. I had to choke down some books I was not that keen on, but I did it. Here's hoping we get some great books for the "middle" this year.
DeleteYay! What you did do in 2020 was amazing and you read a phenomenal amount of books! Here's wishing you all the luck on completing your 2021 challenges!
ReplyDeleteJen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog
Thanks! I probably read some great books I otherwise wouldn't have because of these challenges.
DeleteGreat job on all of your reading challenges in 2020. You did fantastic. And you might not have gotten as many discussion posts as you wanted, but 22 is still pretty fantastic. I still need to sign up for that one, and hopefully I'll actually do more bookish discussion posts this year. I have good intentions! LOL
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I look forward to you joining us in the discussion challenge!
DeleteYou did really well! This is my first year actually embracing challenges other than Goodreads. I’m joining you on the Literary Escapes one!
ReplyDeleteLiterary Escapes has proven to be quite a challenge. Sometimes I find great books for those middle states, but sometimes it's really hard. Good luck!
DeleteWow, 365 books and you read 462 last year! I'm happy if I'm able to read 150. I don't usually join challenges other than the Goodreads and Audiobook challenge Kimberly hosts. I just can't keep tract. I barely have enough time to read and blog with my schedule. Good luck with all your new challenges!
ReplyDeleteBeing able to listen to audiobooks as I work really pump my numbers up. I can knock out 4-5 per week. The only challenges I officially join are GR and the discussion challenge. The others, I simple track. I like having some guidelines, and I have definitely read books I wouldn't have otherwise due to challenges, finding some gems along the way.
DeleteHoly cow! When did you sleep in 2020?? I'm super impressed with the goals you met!
ReplyDeleteI don't watch TV. I have set reading times in the morning and evening, and I get to listen to audiobooks as I work. I was keeping a 9-10 book per week pace (5 books, 4-5 audiobooks)
DeleteWow, you did so well with your 2020 goals! Good luck with your 2021 challenges!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Happy reading to you!
DeleteYou still did great at the discussions! Also there was a pandemic, so I'd think in the circumstances it's still a success - you tried your best, and I think you did well overall! Good luck in the challenges in 2021!
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, I actually gave up on discussions. Traffic was down so much with so many bloggers disappearing. It just didn't seem worth the struggle. I already scream into the void with my reviews. Discussion posts were worth it, because of the interaction. With that almost gone, I just lost my motivation. Thanks! Good luck to you in everything you do too!
Delete462 books?! That's amazing, Sam! =D I also failed the 2020 Discussion Challenge (I'm too scared to see how much I failed).
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your 2021 challenges.
Happy readings!
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? 2021 is a new year for us to try and hit our discussion challenge goals.
DeleteYou had an amazing year of reading! I am always amazed by how many books you are able to read. Good luck with all of your 2021 challenges!
ReplyDeleteI have no kids or husband. I don't watch TV and I listen to audiobooks as I work. You can knock out a lot of books that way.
DeleteI wanted to try more audiobooks since I enjoyed them when I tried Scribd last year. So I'm really considering officially subscribing to it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all your reading challenges!! The amount of reading challenges you list looks quite overwhelming and somehow I'm just amazed by that.
Good luck with your 2021 challeges!
I am so lucky that my library has a great selection of audiobooks. They are really expensive and every time I do a subscription plan, I find I never use it (RIP KU). Many of those challenges are one per month, so they are not that overwhelming. The state and AtoZ have overlap. It gets tough towards the end of those two, but it's so satisfying when I complete them.
DeleteI really have no idea how you can read more books than days in the year Sam! Now I have halved my challenge on Goodreads this year to 50 as I want zero pressure ;-)
ReplyDeleteI told you - audiobooks! My reading time is separate from my listening time. I usually listen as I work, shop, drive, do chores. Reading is after I wake up early in the morning and before I go to sleep. I think it's important to set your challenge to something doable, that's why I kept mine the same. Never know what the year will bring.
DeleteI think you did better than most of us with the Discussion Challenge. 2020 was just... yeah. Hopefully 2021 will be better (though we haven't gotten off to a good start. Yikes!).
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I hope I can handle one discussion a month.
DeleteI think you did great on all of your challenges, even the ones you deemed as fails. Even though I saw lots of great ones out there, including the ones you're doing, I decided to go the no-challenge route this year, aside from Goodreads. I have some personal reading goals I want to achieve though so I'm counting those as challenges.
ReplyDeleteI have a bit of a competitive nature and the challenges have been fun. I had done Popsugar before, and that one was no fun for me. It was challenging, but a bit too challenging and it felt stressful. Needless to say, these are all manageable for me.
DeleteWow such an impressive amount of books and challenges! I too failed at the Discussion Challenge, if it helps you at all. I wrote two discussion posts. TWO. I shouldn't even be allowed to co-host, sigh. I am gonna try for 3 this year bwhahah. Also reading 50 states is HUGELY impressive, I cannot believe you found them all, let alone read them all! Good luck with your 2021 challenges, but I am certain you'll do awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou really only wrote two discussion posts? Huh, seemed like more. The 50 states is such a struggle sometimes, and you know I am cheap, and have to find the book on my shelf or in the library, which makes it a bit more challenging, but what a rush when I did it.
DeleteOh my! I'm so impressed with your accomplishments, as well as your organizational skills! ;) Even your fails don't really seem like fails. I'm sure you'll crush it in 2021! <3
ReplyDeleteThanks! Appreciate the encouragement
DeleteWell done with last years reading! Seriously, that's an extraordinary number of books. Wishing you lots of luck with this year but I'm sure you'll boss it. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicci! It's about all I accomplished last year. LOL
Delete