An Arbitrary Reading Challenge for 2015

Obligatory: Enter my 2014 Favorites Giveway!

I decided not to complete or host any reading challenges in 2014, other than the annual Goodreads Challenge. I was happy with this decision, because it gave me the flexibility to read whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, in whatever format I chose.

For 2015, I’m creating a personal challenge. It’s somewhat arbitrary, though I think my explanations for “exceptions” will make sense to other word nerds.

The basic premise of my Arbitrary Reading Challenge:

Read books (mostly) published within 2015.

Exceptions include:

• Rereads/relistens.
• Anything selected for writing research, regardless of genre.
• Non-fiction books that pair well (example: The Plantagenets and The Pillars of the Earth).
• An author’s previously published works, since I may want to binge-read (almost) everything (s)he’s ever written.
• Books currently in my TBR pile (both physical and digital, aka my Amazon wish list/Kindle queue).

I think those are pretty fair parameters so far. I’d also like to add some additional goals for incorporating more diverse authors/subjects in my reading, but I’m waiting until the end of the month to tally everything up.

Are you entering any reading challenges this year? Which ones, and why?

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Bout of Books 9.0 | Sign-up and Daily Progress

I decided to participate in Bout of Books this year! Several book bloggers I follow are participating, and I’m down for any reason to read.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

The Books:

• The Heroine’s Bookshelf: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder by Erin Blakemore
• Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford
• And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman (Audio)

The Goals:

• Finish at least one of the e-books
• Complete the audiobook

Daily Progress:

• Monday, 1/6: Read most of The Heroine’s Bookshelf (I toggled from chapter to chapter, which I almost never do!)
• Tuesday, 1/7: Finished The Heroine’s Bookshelf!
• Wednesday, 1/8: Read a small portion of Songs of Willow Frost
• Thursday, 1/9: Read a small portion of Songs of Willow Frost
• Friday, 1/10: Listened to And When She Was Good
• Saturday, 1/11: Finished And When She Was Good
• Sunday, 1/12: Weekend detox

Anyone else participating?

2013 Reading Challenge Progress – The Final Tallies

It’s the end of another quarter and the year, so let’s see how I wrapped up my 2013 reading challenges.

The challenge: 2013 Audio Book Challenge
Hosted by: Teresa’s Reading Corner
Challenge overview: Listen to audio books (pretty self-explanatory)
My goal: 24 audio books
My progress: Completed, at a staggering 45 for the year!

The challenge: 2013 Genre Variety Reading Challenge
Hosted by: A Daydreamer’s Thoughts
Challenge overview: Read a variety of different genres throughout the year
My goal: 12 books from different genres
My progress: Completed, with 17 different genres.

The challenge: 2013 EBook Challenge
Hosted by: Workaday Reads
Challenge overview: Read ebooks
My goal: 25 ebooks
My progress: Completed, at 28 ebooks for 2013.

The challenge: New Authors Challenge 2013
Hosted by: Literary Escapism
Challenge overview: Read books written by authors whose work you’ve never read before (do not have to be 2013 debut authors)
My goal: 12 books by new (to me) authors
My progress: Completed several times over, with 48 books!

The challenge: 2013 Book to Movie Challenge
Hosted by: Doing Dewey
Challenge overview: Read books and then see the film adaptations
My goal: 3 books/movies
My progress: Almost – I read 4 books, but only saw 2 of the movies.

The challenge: 2013 Classics Catch-up Challenge
Hosted by: Quirky Bookworm
Challenge overview: Read classics (from the list)
My goal: 6 classics
My progress: Abandoned. Again. I think I finally need to accept that I am not a fan of the classics.

The challenge: 2013 Southern Literature Reading Challenge
Hosted by: The Introverted Reader
Challenge overview: Read Southern books – taking place in the South, written by authors from the South, with a Southern vibe
Why?: This was one of my favorite challenges from 2012. Also, full disclosure: I’m Southern.
My goal: 4 Southern books
My progress: Completed, with two books to spare for a total of 6 Southern books (y’all).

The challenge: 2013 2nds Challenge
Hosted by: Darlene’s Book Nook
Challenge overview: Read follow-ups by an author you’ve only read once (or the second book in a series)
My goal: 5 second helpings
My progress: Completed, with 10 “seconds” read so far!

The challenge: 2013 Banned Books Challenge
Hosted by: Buckling Bookshelves
Challenge overview: Read books off the ALA’s frequently banned books
My goal: 5 challenged books
My progress: Abandoned? Kind of? The challenge ended after Banned Books Week in September, and I only read three books that counted. Womp womp.

2013 Books About Books Reading Challenge | December Wrap-Up

Here are this month’s wrap-up questions. Please feel free to post a comment with responses to one, some, or all of these questions:

Which book(s) did you complete? What were your overall impressions?

How did your choice(s) inform your love or appreciation for books?

Would you recommend your book(s) to others? To whom would you recommend the book(s)? Why?

How were this month’s books similar to or different from past months?

Happy Reading in 2014, everyone!

— Justice

2013 Books About Books Reading Challenge | Thank You!

Thanks to those of you who participated in the inaugural Books About Books Reading Challenge!

It was…interesting hosting my first challenge, and I appreciate those of you who stuck with me until the end. I learned a lot about myself, my reading habits, and my blogging preferences. I also gained some new online friends 🙂

I’ll post our monthly wrap-up on December 31st. Please look out for more details about possible 2014 challenges!

Happy Reading!

— Justice

2013 Books About Books Reading Challenge | November Wrap-Up

Here are this month’s wrap-up questions. Please feel free to post a comment with responses to one, some, or all of these questions:

Which book(s) did you complete? What were your overall impressions?

How did your choice(s) inform your love or appreciation for books?

Would you recommend your book(s) to others? To whom would you recommend the book(s)? Why?

How were this month’s books similar to or different from past months?

Happy Reading in December, everyone!

— Justice

2013 Books About Books Reading Challenge | October Wrap-Up

Here are this month’s wrap-up questions. Please feel free to post a comment with responses to one, some, or all of these questions:

Which book(s) did you complete? What were your overall impressions?

How did your choice(s) inform your love or appreciation for books?

Would you recommend your book(s) to others? To whom would you recommend the book(s)? Why?

How were this month’s books similar to or different from past months?

Happy Reading in November, everyone!

— Justice

2013 Reading Challenge Progress – Q3

Wrapping up quarter three, let’s see where I am with the reading challenges I signed up for this year!

The challenge: 2013 Audio Book Challenge
Hosted by: Teresa’s Reading Corner
Challenge overview: Listen to audio books (pretty self-explanatory)
My goal: 24 audio books
My progress: Completed, at a staggering 39 total so far!

The challenge: 2013 Genre Variety Reading Challenge
Hosted by: A Daydreamer’s Thoughts
Challenge overview: Read a variety of different genres throughout the year
My goal: 12 books from different genres
My progress: Completed, with 15 different genres under my belt already!

The challenge: 2013 EBook Challenge
Hosted by: Workaday Reads
Challenge overview: Read ebooks
My goal: 25 ebooks
My progress: Easily on track to meet this one – I have 19 e-books read this year already!

The challenge: New Authors Challenge 2013
Hosted by: Literary Escapism
Challenge overview: Read books written by authors whose work you’ve never read before (do not have to be 2013 debut authors)
My goal: 12 books by new (to me) authors
My progress: Completed several times over, with 41 books!

The challenge: 2013 Book to Movie Challenge
Hosted by: Doing Dewey
Challenge overview: Read books and then see the film adaptations
My goal: 3 books/movies
My progress: On track – I’ve read 4 books, but only seen 2 of the movies.

The challenge: 2013 Classics Catch-up Challenge
Hosted by: Quirky Bookworm
Challenge overview: Read classics (from the list)
My goal: 6 classics
My progress: Abandoned. Again. I think I finally need to accept that I am not a fan of the classics.

The challenge: 2013 Southern Literature Reading Challenge
Hosted by: The Introverted Reader
Challenge overview: Read Southern books – taking place in the South, written by authors from the South, with a Southern vibe
Why?: This was one of my favorite challenges from 2012. Also, full disclosure: I’m Southern.
My goal: 4 Southern books
My progress: Completed, with two books to spare for a total of 6 Southern books (y’all).

The challenge: 2013 2nds Challenge
Hosted by: Darlene’s Book Nook
Challenge overview: Read follow-ups by an author you’ve only read once (or the second book in a series)
My goal: 5 second helpings
My progress: Completed, with 6 “seconds” read so far!

The challenge: 2013 Banned Books Challenge
Hosted by: Buckling Bookshelves
Challenge overview: Read books off the ALA’s frequently banned books
My goal: 5 challenged books
My progress: Abandoned? Kind of? The challenge ended after Banned Books Week in September, and I only read one book that counted. Womp womp.

2013 Books About Books Reading Challenge | September Wrap-Up

Here are this month’s wrap-up questions. Please feel free to post a comment with responses to one, some, or all of these questions:

Which book(s) did you complete? What were your overall impressions?

How did your choice(s) inform your love or appreciation for books?

Would you recommend your book(s) to others? To whom would you recommend the book(s)? Why?

How were this month’s books similar to or different from past months?

Happy Reading in October, everyone!

— Justice

2013 Books About Books Reading Challenge | August Wrap-Up

Here are this month’s wrap-up questions. Please feel free to post a comment with responses to one, some, or all of these questions:

Which book(s) did you complete? What were your overall impressions?

How did your choice(s) inform your love or appreciation for books?

Would you recommend your book(s) to others? To whom would you recommend the book(s)? Why?

How were this month’s books similar to or different from past months?

Happy Reading in September, everyone!

— Justice