Mark Twain

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Saturday, January 9, 2016

Get Reading - A 2016 Challenge

I have been a member of Good Reads for many years, but never an active participant.  I would visit the web site, look around, occasionally get some ideas about books, once in awhile I would update my reading list.   Really ... not much of a 'member' ... more of a window shopper!

This year I decided to get more engaged - more engaged with everything - and I decided to join the 2016 Book Reading Challenge.  To join this challenge you pick a goal of how many books you will read in 2016.  The books are logged on the Good Reads web site and you can track your progress.  I added a tracking device to my blog on the right.  I picked 26 books - or a little over 2 books a month - which I felt was reasonable goal.

I sincerely had no clue how many books was a reasonable number for me.  I frequently read or listen to books.  Listen more than read.  A few years ago I got a Kindle Paper White - and my actual reading dramatically increased, but still listening outranks reading.  I can listen to books while doing many other things.  But I never tracked how many books were completed.

This year will be different.  And shockingly - today, January 9 - I have already finished 3 books.  I have two others in the works.  I suspect my guess-timate of how many books was reasonable is way way off.

But I won't be changing my first estimate.  I will stick with 26 books for 2016 and see just how far off I am.  If I had to guess what my final total will be ... (you know, just between you and me - and not Good Reads), I will probably complete about 100 books this year.

It will be fun to look back and see what the total actually turns out to be.

Are you on Good Reads?
  Are you doing a reading challenge this year?
  If so, what is your goal for 2016?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

lol...I don't need a challenge to read.....I read at least two a week.

Una said...

I've just bought an ebook reader and am amazed that I already prefer it to printed books. I think my reading will increase. I'm just off to check out Good Reads as it is new to me.

Terra said...

I post reviews of some books I read on Good Reads, but I don't do any reading challenges. I like to pick books I am in the mood to read, and without any pressure. I write down all the titles I read and don't even count them, maybe I should. I guess 80 books a year for me.

happyone said...

I do a book challenge at a site called The Library Thing.
Don't pick the book titles ahead of time though. My goal is to read 50 books. Last year I fell way sort with that goal and only read 25. Usually 50 isn't hard for me. Just too busy doing other things!!
I just read real books that I can hold. : )

Retired Knitter said...

Well they call it a challenge for those who like to compete. I think of it as a way of seeing just how many book I do read in a year (no idea) while using the Good Reads site to explore titles and read reviews. Sort of like the way I use Amazon.

Retired Knitter said...

Book title are not picked ahead of time on Good Reads. Just log what you do read. Probably the same kind of program, just on a different site.

One of the reasons I can 'read' so many books is because I listen to books while I am doing other boring things, like cleaning or driving in the car. I started with audio because of my husband, who is limited to audio because he is legally blind now. Not sure I would have used audio otherwise. But I love the convenience of it now - and some of the readers are really sensational.

And as for the Kindle - I felt the same way - read only books I can hold in my hand. But I found the Kindle superior in many ways - easy to download lots of free books without even leaving the house, more light weight than a real book which I really like especially while I am in bed, in HC you can download/borrow books from the library directly to your Kindle, and I can have a whole library of books on my Kindle with ease - which fits easily in my purse so it goes everywhere with me. Once I got the Kindle and my audio account - my reading totals shot way up. I also used to like owning books - but now I am glad to have fewer books in the house. I seldom re-read a book. Only books I buy to keep are reference books like knitting.

Retired Knitter said...

Actually I don't think there is any pressure to this 'challenge'. You still can read whatever you want, but it is a way to log what you read to get an idea of what and how much. You aren't competing against anyone. But you are setting a goal, i.e. 30 books in a year, to reach by the end of December. No one is keeping track except the participant. But it is nice to set a goal and see how close you get. In my case, I think my totals will be far greater than I set.

Retired Knitter said...

Una, Good Reads is just one such book reading site. I am sure you will find many others if you Google it.

A Day in the Life on the Farm said...

I joined the Foodies Read 2016 challenge. I average between 30 and 40 books per year.

Paula said...

Good to see you on Goodreads Elaine. I sent you a friend request. I set my goal at 35. I didn't make it last year. I do not do audio books. Maybe I should. Then I would be forced out of the recliner instead of sitting there to read. LOL! I can get lost in reading. I cannot believe you have already logged 6 books!!!! Good for you

Retired Knitter said...

Yes, I am a little surprise that I have 6 already. There are two primary ways I "read." I listen to a great many, and I increased my reading a lot when I got my Kindle. But how many is a "great many." Good question.

I also kind of go in fits and starts on the listening. I also follow a lot of pod casts so although I am plowing ahead right now, there may be a few weeks when I am listening to pods casts.

Candace said...

I am usually reading 3 or four books at a time. I thought about tracking it last year, but decided that I know I read a lot and that is enough. I did track one year and read well over one book a week.