So I pick up reading challenges every year, ever since the first time I discovered Goodreads' book reading challenge. It's such a simple challenge of just choosing a number goal and reaching it--it gives new readers a chance to push themselves to read more books, and it gives seasoned readers a chance to read EVEN MORE books.
For the past few years, the number of books I've read has steadily increased. According to my stats:
- In 2012, I made a goal to read 25 books and completed my goal by reading 27.
- In 2013, I started my goal at 50 books and met that goal in June, so then I increased my goal by 25 and met that goal not long after. I further increased my goal to 100 books and completed the goal at 103 books read! That's a huge difference from 27 books the previous year, so I got really confident.
- In 2014, I started my goal at 100 books! By May, I was nearing my goal with 90-ish books, so I increased my goal by increments of ten for the next two months, landing on 120 books... and then I really overshot that goal by reading a grand total of 178 books!
- In 2015, I increased my goal to 150 books... while my total was 177, I'm not sure I really accomplished as much as I should have.
- In 2016... well... I started with a goal of 150 books again. In October, being so much closer to my goal with somewhere around 130 books read, I increased my goal to 160 books. As of today, three days from the end of the year, I have finished 155 books... So I'm not sure if it counts as completing my goal.
For 2017, I'm going to keep a constant. I will set my number goal at 150 again. But this time, I will keep it at 150 and not increase or decrease it. 2016 was a fairly good year for reading, but at the same time, it seems as if I had slowed down quite a bit.
For one, I might have bit off more than I could chew. I cut down on reading challenges, but at the same time, I picked up a fairly difficult to complete reading challenge. It may or may not have hindered my progress a little bit. Meanwhile, small challenges that took place within the span of one month, two months, or one whole summer, jumped out at me, and I knew wanted to participate in almost everything. But with other year-long challenges taking priority, my reading life became more of an obligation than pleasure.
So while I will still participate in some reading challenges in 2017, I think I'm also going to take it easy. If I don't overburden myself with too many challenges at the beginning of the year, then I'll be free to choose some of the short challenges interspersed throughout the year.
For a full summary of all the challenges I will be participating in, I will keep track of them at my 2017 Reading Challenges page. The link will remain at the top of my blog. I will update this post with said link when I actually get a chance to create that page.
Meanwhile, here are the challenges I am already participating in, as well as a forecast of other bookish activities I am looking forward to or may try to participate in:
Goodreads Reading Challenge
My Goal: 150 books
GR shelf: 2017 Reading Challenge
On a side note, I usually participate in the Booklikes Reading Challenge, too, simultaneously. But to be honest, I'm not sure if that's necessary, as both challenges are the same thing. And also, with the slowness of Booklikes at intermittent times, I'm not sure if I care enough to update my book stats regularly at Booklikes.
2017 Reading Assignment Challenge
hosted by Because Reading and Fantasy is more fun
My Goal: Reading Level 2 // 24 books (2 books/month)
GR shelf: 2017 Reading Assignment Challenge
My 2017 Reading Assignment Challenge Summary Page
2017 Mount TBR Challenge
hosted by My Reader's Block
My Goal: Mount Vancouver -- Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
GR shelf: 2017 Mt TBR Pile Challenge
Romance Bingo 2017
hosted by Obsidian Blue and Moonlight Reader (also find them at Bookish Pursuits)
GR shelf: 2017 Romance Bingo
My Romance Bingo 2017 Summary Page
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These are less intensive challenges I have pre-chosen for 2017. There will probably be more, but for now, this is it. I'm considering other such challenges as COYER or any other series challenges that may come up. Obsidian and Moonlight may put out more Bingo cards throughout the year, and sometimes another random reading challenge may strike my fancy.
Mainly, though, I just want to keep it light and fun. While some challenges in 2016 were fantastic, others started feeling a bit heavy when I couldn't keep up *coughcough*Bookish-Resolutions*coughcough*; though to be fair, maybe I over-estimated my own commitment or determination.
So for 2017, it's just going to be laid back and fun! That is all!
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