Annual Reading Goal Challenge for 2016 - Come and join us!

[MochaDrinker]

I have to ask: for all of you that manage to do 80-100 books a year, how do you do it? I'm in awe. I couldn't do 50 and I consider myself a pretty fast reader.

I figure that there are 52 weeks in a year and I can get through a book in about a week, unless it's something like Outlander, of course, which will take me awhile. I read about an hour a day which is all I have time for. Maybe that's it, I'm not reading enough? So how do you do it? Speedreading, reading several hours a day, short books?

I am a naturally fast reader, for an example it took me less than four hours to finish the last Harry Potter book. I also don't work due to disability so I have hours of reading time every day for fanfic and books

 

[willowsnn3]

Welcome aboard. Bad Country is on my Amazon wish list. If you read it, I will be interested to see how it is. The Accident? Is that the C. L. Taylor one? That is on my 'to read' list too.

Bad Country is "in transit" at my library so hopefully it will be there is a couple days if not sooner.
The version of The Accident I am reading is by Chris Pavone. Four chapters in and hasn't pulled me in yet, but it is all I have til the others come in so hoping it will get better. There were tons of books with that title on my library site, maybe we should try them all, lol.

 

[dizluvah]

I would like to join again this year. My goal is 50 books. I am currently reading #1 of 2016 The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery
I am 50% through this book and enjoying it. It is light, chick-lit about 3 friend's trials and tribulations in love and life.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#1 Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington
Tells the true story of three aboriginal girls who are forcibly taken from their families in 1931 to be trained as domestic servants as part of an official Australian government policy. They make a daring escape and embark on an epic 1,500 mile journey to get back home - following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects the Australian continent - with the authorities in hot pursuit

I read this book because I had just seen the 2002 documentary film by the same name. There was a whole lot of differences between the book and the movie. And I just found on another website that most of the happenings in the movie were very fictionalized. So much for a true story, lol.

Recommend? Not really

 

[wilma-bride]

I would like to join in

My goal is to read one book a month - so 12 is my goal not including uni texts.
I have a lot of uni reading but need to make time to slot in some fun reads as well

Welcome, we are glad to have you

I always assumed really short books.

That's what I thought - however my friend and I used to read the same books and she still read much faster than me. I think some people are just faster readers.

Last year I found myself reading more YA novels just to get through them quickly, so I won't be setting a specific goal, but will follow this thread and review what I read.

Yeah, YA novels are quick reads. Enjoyable though - I mean, the Mockingjay series are among my favourite books ever and they are YA right? I look forward to reading some of your reviews

I'm going to aim for 15 books. I count audiobooks in that goal. I'm going to do a mix of fun and self-development books. I'm on the 2nd book in the Outlander series right now, so I'm looking forward to finishing that series.

Audiobooks are still books. Welcome

I read very quickly. I once picked up a book on developing faster reading skills from my mom's desk, in which the first chapter instructed readers to time themselves on a specific set of pages. It said the average reader would take 5 minutes, I took less than 2. Needless to say I didn't bother finishing that book! LOL

Also, probably 1/3 of my reading in any given year is young adult fiction and of course that goes faster than adult fiction and much faster than non-fiction. My 14yo daughter likes to have someone to talk to about her books, so I get a lot of suggestions from her, and English is my 17yo's weakest subject so I usually read the books on his required reading list along with him so I can answer any questions he has and help him with his assignments. And I tend to get a little obsessive when I start a story I really enjoy, so when I'm really into a book or series I spend every free minute on it.

Like I said above, some people can read quickly. Half my problem is I tend to read late at night and fall asleep while reading, then the next day I can't remember half of what I've read and have to go back and start again

I definitely want to participate, I've a very avid reader! My goal is 50! And I can't think of a fave book from last year lol

Thanks for joining in. Sometimes I have difficulty remembering what I've really enjoyed, that's why I like this thread as it is a useful reminder.

I want to sign up again, but like several other posters, I'd like to keep my goal open-ended. We have a wedding (DGD's) and a 50th wedding anniversary celebration (mine!) to plan and carry out, so I'm not sure how much time I'll have for pleasure reading.

My favorite book last year was "Come Rain or Come Shine" by Jan Karon. She writes the Mitford series about Father Tim Kavanaugh, an Episcopal priest serving in Mitford, a small town in North Carolina. I've read all the Mitford books, and this one had me sobbing with happiness for these people, whom I have come to adore.

The book I'm most looking forward to reading is "Dead Water: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania" by Erik Larson. Even if I wasn't already fascinated by WWI history, I'd want to read it simply to savor Larson's brilliant writing. He wrote, and I recommended several times on the previous two years' reading challenge threads, "In the Garden of Beasts," about the family of the US Ambassador to Germany living in Berlin at the start of WWII, "The Devil in the White City," about a serial killer in Chicago at the time the World's Fair was being constructed and how the two were connected, and "Thunderstruck," a story of the invention of the telegraph and its role in capturing a murderer trying to cross the Atlantic after a killing spree in England.

I got six books for Christmas and bought four more with a honkin' big book store gift card I received. I also downloaded three books to my new Kindle, including "Street Stalker" by Rainy Kirkland, the third of the Florida Heat mysteries and a book which (she said modestly) I just happened to edit. If you like mysteries, you may want to add this series to your reading list.

Happy Reading!

Queen Colleen

Great to have you here. No problem with not setting a goal. I seem to recall, when I participated before, we had a similar taste in books so I am looking forward to seeing what you read this year

I'd love to join in this year. I found myself more than once last year coming back to this thread looking for some new book ideas, so I might as well participate. Can you put me down for 35 books? I've never tracked how many books I've read in a year, so I'm just guessing, but 35 sounds good. I've been in a huge YA kick lately and my favorite series in 2015 was the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. My DD is just now starting to get into some YA series and I find it's nice to be ahead of the curve with her and know what she is reading.

Thanks for joining us and happy reading

Hello! I would like to join!!

I have a Goodreads goal of 35 books this year. I am currently reading Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon.

Last year I read 45 books and my favourite book of all of them was The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde. It's young teen fiction, but the author's voice is so addictive, that I ended up reading all of the books in the series (the last one is coming out this year!) and ended up buying more of his books (his other works are adult novels) when I see them at the used book stores.

Welcome and thanks for the book recommendation

May I join please? I've read these threads in the past but never participated, it's about time I joined in!

Could you set my goal to 30 please? It might be highly ambitious; just in the next 3 months we're moving house and I'll be giving birth to baby number 2, but I'll give it a shot!

DH bought me a $250 Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas and I'm heading to the nearest store this afternoon to stock up. I'm so excited! I don't have anything in mind right now, just going to see what takes my fancy.

Of course you can join, the more the merrier - although you should make the most of it as I doubt you'll have much time for anything once your second arrives

I am a naturally fast reader, for an example it took me less than four hours to finish the last Harry Potter book. I also don't work due to disability so I have hours of reading time every day for fanfic and books

While I don't envy your disability, I certainly envy the time you have available to read. Even when I tell myself I am going to sit and do just that something else always seems to need doing.

Bad Country is "in transit" at my library so hopefully it will be there is a couple days if not sooner.
The version of The Accident I am reading is by Chris Pavone. Four chapters in and hasn't pulled me in yet, but it is all I have til the others come in so hoping it will get better. There were tons of books with that title on my library site, maybe we should try them all, lol.

Yeah, we should read them all and see which is best

I would like to join again this year. My goal is 50 books. I am currently reading #1 of 2016 The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery
I am 50% through this book and enjoying it. It is light, chick-lit about 3 friend's trials and tribulations in love and life.

Welcome and thanks for joining. Gotta love a good chick lit book

Goal 72

#1 Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington
Tells the true story of three aboriginal girls who are forcibly taken from their families in 1931 to be trained as domestic servants as part of an official Australian government policy. They make a daring escape and embark on an epic 1,500 mile journey to get back home - following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects the Australian continent - with the authorities in hot pursuit

I read this book because I had just seen the 2002 documentary film by the same name. There was a whole lot of differences between the book and the movie. And I just found on another website that most of the happenings in the movie were very fictionalized. So much for a true story, lol.

Recommend? Not really

I have seen the movie and didn't actually really enjoy it so maybe I might like the book lol

By the way, I absolutely love the Minnie in your avatar. Is that a Jim Shore?

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #1 of 50 - Someone Out There by Catherine Hunt

From Amazon: Laura Maxwell appears to have it all – perfect career, perfect husband, perfect life. But how well do you really know the people around you? All it takes is one tiny crack to shatter the whole façade.

A series of accidents causes Laura to believe that someone is deliberately targeting her, trying to harm her. Fear starts to pervade every part of her life, affecting her work and her marriage, and she feels increasingly isolated.

If no one believes Laura’s story, who will be there to protect her when her attacker closes in for the kill?

I enjoyed this book but didn't love it. There are a couple of twists and turns and it is essentially a good story and a quick read, but the OCD/perfectionist/grammar Nazi in me was not happy about the incorrect use of some words and phrases, to the point where it annoyed me. If it hadn't been for that I probably would have enjoyed it more.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Do you require the actual reading or can you listen to the books?

 

[wilma-bride]

Do you require the actual reading or can you listen to the books?

There are no rules, if you prefer audio books that's fine

 

[usnuzuloose]

There are no rules, if you prefer audio books that's fine

Thank you! I need to find some books.

 

[camreesmom]

I'd like to join. I'm going to make my goal 15 because I didn't make my goal last year and I'll be even busier this year. This thread did make me read more last year though.

 

[xlsm]

I've been wondering about this thread!

Joining in for my third year in a row. My goal in 2014 was 45, my goal last year was 46...so this year it's 47 (I'm not much of a risk taker, lol!)

I finished my 2015 goal at 11:42pm on New Year's Eve. Nothing like the last minute, right?

My favorite book last year by far was Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. This is technically a kid's book, recommended for middle grades, but I loved the main character Mo, and it just struck me in a way I haven't felt in a long time.

I'm starting the year by catching up on my Stephanie Plum (21 and 22) and reading Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King.

Other books on my "to read" list this year are: The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, Murder House by James Patterson, and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

And as always, I'll probably get behind and then cram in a bunch of cozy mysteries that are quick to read!

Looking forward to reading along with you all, and doing a better job of posting my progress than I did last year!!

 

[wilma-bride]

Thank you! I need to find some books.

Just let us know whenever you want to join in

I'd like to join. I'm going to make my goal 15 because I didn't make my goal last year and I'll be even busier this year. This thread did make me read more last year though.

Anything that encourages us to read more can only be a good thing. Welcome

I've been wondering about this thread!

Joining in for my third year in a row. My goal in 2014 was 45, my goal last year was 46...so this year it's 47 (I'm not much of a risk taker, lol!)

I finished my 2015 goal at 11:42pm on New Year's Eve. Nothing like the last minute, right?

My favorite book last year by far was Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. This is technically a kid's book, recommended for middle grades, but I loved the main character Mo, and it just struck me in a way I haven't felt in a long time.

I'm starting the year by catching up on my Stephanie Plum (21 and 22) and reading Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King.

Other books on my "to read" list this year are: The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, Murder House by James Patterson, and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

And as always, I'll probably get behind and then cram in a bunch of cozy mysteries that are quick to read!

Looking forward to reading along with you all, and doing a better job of posting my progress than I did last year!!

Welcome back. WTG for increasing your target

 

[swimchick1984]

My goal this year is 60.

I am participating in the A year around the world in 52 books on the Goodreads website.

I think it's a unique challenge, each week has a different theme, but I find a book to fit that theme.

I have read two books this year (well finished one that I started in 2015).

 

[wilma-bride]

My goal this year is 60.

I am participating in the A year around the world in 52 books on the Goodreads website.

I think it's a unique challenge, each week has a different theme, but I find a book to fit that theme.

I have read two books this year (well finished one that I started in 2015).

Welcome. If you could give a quick overview of each book as you finish it, that would be useful. It's always good to have recommendations

 

[threeboysmom]

Thanks wilma-bride! Now I don't have to feel so guilty when I can't get on the DIS as often as I should to keep this thread going.

My favorite book for 2015 was one of the last ones I read - I had already posted how the year was kind of a "ho hum" for me. But that changed when I read All Our Yesterdays! LOVED it! Crossing my fingers it becomes a movie someday.

My first book for 2016 is Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I'm already about 3/4 through it - really enjoying it! 2016 is off to a fantastic start!

I recently just added The 5th Wave to my winter read list since I heard it was coming out as a movie. So guess you could say I'm looking forward to reading that one this year!

 

[threeboysmom]

My goal on Goodreads is 200 so put me down for that.

WHOA! I am impressed (and VERY envious of you!)

 

[BonnieF]

Hi all-
I'll join up again - and keep my as-yet unreached goal of 40 books. I was soooo close last year - it firmed my resolve for 2016. But, I'm approaching the goal as more fluid this time.
Thanks to wilma-bride, for keeping this going, and to threeboys mom for all your work! I'm adding your favorite book for 2014 to my list.

1/40 - A New York Christmas, Anne Perry - the daughter of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt enters the family business. Another in her continuing Christmas series - perfect to read over the holidays (if a murder mystery can be !) It's quick and interesting.
2/40 - Honeymoon in Paris, Jojo Moyes - another quick read. A prequel to The Girl You Left Behind - Moyes gives us insight to the wonderful characters in that book.

 

[A Small World]

Books number 1 and 2 read - Christmas Gifts at the Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond which is a follow on to Christmas at the Beach Cafe which I read at the weekend.

Both are nice easy reads which don't need much concentration

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I would like to join. I got a lot of great book recommendations by following the group last year.

I am going to set my goal at 30. I am starting on my National Board Certification (I'm an elementary teacher) next week, and I don't know how much of my free time that will take.

 

[Neesy228]

I've followed these threads looking for recommendations, but I think I'm going to jump in this year. I always feel like I'm sitting in front of my computer too much and not reading enough, so maybe this will help!

I'll set my goal at 12 books and raise it if I surprise myself!

I'm currently reading:

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson which is my-stomach-hurts-from-laughing-so-hard funny (but it is crude and has some language, just a heads up)