Reading Challenge Met!
I signed on with GoodReads mainly to keep track of my books. I so enjoy being spared of the agonizing “Okay, it had a yellow cover and the author only published this one novel…” or some such scenario of “which one and who wrote it.” GR has become my tidy little techno Rolodex of titles.
While keeping track of my books is indeed a boon for this Book Booster, I realized after reading other people’s blogs I was missing out on one other amazing feature (there are still quite a few I’m discovering): The Reading Challenge.
This feature has completely revved up my reading habits. Even though I am voracious reader, I am usually unaware of my volume. Not that it matters, but I would like to know how many books I go through in the course of a year, just because. It’s not that I’m addicted to reading, yet I notice when I don’t have a book to read I’m not feeling quite aligned. For instance, I paced myself and read a long book on my trip (North and Southt) and on Sunday found myself book less because I hadn’t gone to the library to stock up for my return reading afterwards. The reason? I do this odd thing of returning all library books, whether or not I’ve read them, before going on a trip. Even if it’s a just for a few days. I suppose my imagination believes I will fall into a black hole before my return and I don’t want to inconvenience the library of harboring missing books. As a result of my odd ritual of travel preps, I ended up with no book for my usual Sunday nap and read session. Ghastly, I know. On the positive side, it did free up some reflection time for books I have read this year because…
I have met my reading challenge of 50 books way before expected.
Going through the list I created these stats for myself-I wonder if WordPress would consider loaning their stat monkeys out to GoodReads…
Total pages read:14, 288–I’m not sure if that is profound or pathetic
Average pages: 285–this balances fairly well, since I eclectically read books like The Little Prince, which is 11 pages, and then sit down with books like North and South, weighing in at around 500.
Most popular genre: this surprised me–I consider myself one who favors fiction and read non-fiction sparingly, yet I came up 11 non-fiction books! That’s getting upwards on my list. Gobstoppers! The other genres are 16 historical fiction/classics; Juvie/YA 13; and 12 for contemporary/popular. The numbers add up to 52, so obviously I counted one for two categories–no doubt those Darcy-type books snuck into the historical popular categories.
Fastest cover-to-cover: Little Prince–yet it’s not really a quick read, especially when I stop to investigate and reference all the lovely information found on so many LP dedicated sites.
Longest to read: those 500 page books do drag a bit, yet if they can keep the pace they go by quickly. Ink heart needed a firm editing in parts, considering it’s a Juvie, the pace moored down to boots in molasses at times–don’t kids prefer snap, crackle, action?
Most attractive cover:this is a toughie because attractive is so subjective, and there is that emotional aspect of expectancy involved–for now I’ll say Go Set a Watchman, due to it hearkening back to the original cover of TKAM, of which I am so fond.
Best jacket blurb: Slight Trick of the Mind–what would Sherlock be like in his waning years? I had to know.
Worst jacket blurb: this is actually my 51st book but it should have been the 50th (I won’t bother you with the details). The Guersney Literary and Potato Pie Society sounded like a quaint, character-driven epistolary novel about a quirky group of book boosters. However, as I became more involved in it, it became clear it was more of a historical reference on the Nazi occupation of Guernsey. I tend to shy away from these books having helped edit my mother’s own wartime memoir, and am now over-saturated with the destruction and sadness of this war. Light-hearted is what seemed promised, and what I really needed at that point in my schedule, and I end up crying upon learning about the further cruelty of WWII victims. It had lighter moments, but became too heavy in horrendous wartime details for my comfort.
Top five favorites:
- The Great Gatsby–a reread and I truly appreciate the symbols and metaphors so much more now that I teach AP Literature. This time around it was on audio tape, although a newer version is needed (pops and skips *grr*)
- A Slight Trick of the Mind (Mr Holmes)–Cullin truly treated Sherlock with dignity and the plot is quite plausible
- The Bookseller–not a raging favorite read, but the premise is fascinating and a page-flipper
- My Salinger Year–a lovely memoir of the yesteryear of publishing
- The Little Prince–so charming, so profoundly simple
Anyone else in the midst of a Reading Challenge?
Pam Webb 
I’ve set a GR reading challenge of 50 books too. I’m not sure where I’m at exactly, but I know I’m ahead of schedule so that’s good. 🙂
I like how they set up the graph. That steady percent acted like an encouraging cheerleader. Rah rah! Read more books!
Congratulations! It’s such a sense of achievement to hit the reading target. This was my first year to actually reach my reading goal, so I completely understand how you feel right now.
Had you read ‘North and South’ before? It’s one of my favourite books. In so many ways I find it comparable to ‘Pride and Prejudice’, but in many others I think it’s far superior. I like how it shows what life was like for more than one class. And John Thornton…he has my heart.
Hmm, I liked it but not as much. I wearied of Gaskell’s politics. Sometimes I grew weary of all the tears. The dynamics between John and Margaret reminded me of Rochester and Jane Eyre–that was well done. The suspense at the end was immense. Gaskell kept us hanging, didn’t she?
Sometimes the challenge is just finding the time to read. I admire your eclectic book read ign congratulations for smiting your challenge. The Guersney Literary and Potato Pie Society sounds interesting…
What can I say? I’m interested in all kinds of topics. Guernsy was interesting especially since it was an audio read with multiple characters.
Doesn’t it feel so great to finish a reading challenge with so much year left? You will have so much freedom to read whatever now!
I loved Guernsey! But I can see how for you it might just have been too much war. I love North and South so much. I took it out from the library so I don’t own a copy which just devastates me. You liked The Bookseller eh? A friend leant it to me and I keep going to read it and then I don’t. Maybe I will give it a try next.
Bookseller wasn’t perfect, but quite engaging. I’m going to focus on frothy for a bit. Maybe get into a batch of Juvie reads or a slew of picture books.
Bravo, honey! I’m amazed at all of you 50+ Reading Challenge bookworms! I didn’t make it to my 25 books goal last year, but I think I’m gonna do it this time. To my credit, I read a ton of blogs and write/edit my own novels constantly. 😉
That should count. Maybe GoodReads will get into a Blog Challenge.