I don’t usually sign up for challenges. Cos, well… 1. I’m too lazy; and b) I get bored easily. And there’s also the fact I hate failing. Despite excelling at it so.
However… this year I have inadvertently-on-purpose signed up for two challenges on the reading front.
Firstly I signed up for the Australian Women Writers’ challenge. I’ve actually shared book reviews I’ve written on the AWW site for a couple of years but am always too lazy to get around to ‘guestimating’ how many books I ‘might’ read by Aussie women writers to participate formally.
As it happened last year I read 30 books by Aussie women… which is many more than I expected. In all honesty I can’t remember how many I’ve committed to reading this year but I’d like to make it more than last year’s efforts if possible (though it was a bountiful year for Aussie women writers).
And then this past weekend I discovered a challenge type thingy that is perfect for me… the 2017 Cloak and Dagger Challenge being hosted by Stormi at Books, Reviews, Movies, Oh My! and Barb at Booker T’s Farm. And I’m actually going for the maximum number of books in this challenge – which includes the mystery / suspense / crime / thriller genre…. also-known-as my BREAD AND BUTTER baby!
So my target is 56+ books… the Sherlock Holmes of the genre.
I’m quietly confident as… six of the books I’ve read this month already fall into this genre. So I am literally and figuratively laughing. I think.
Of course, I could get distracted by the odd romance novel, historical tome, or piece of literary fiction. However, I intend to remain true to my FAVE genre as much as possible.
I should mention there are no prizes or public lashings for achieving or not-achieving one’s goals, it’s all good clean fun. Well… so they tell me.
Are you a fan of challenges? Or a lover of the mystery / suspense / crime / thriller genre?
January 23, 2017
I haven’t finished a book in ages but this year i decided to finish one book a month. Currently reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective families. Good luck on your reading challenge! xx
Jacq
jacqwritesworld.com
January 23, 2017
That’s great Jacq and good luck! I probably need to set a goal on the non-fiction front as I don’t read any, but I’ve been contemplating trying to listen to some non-fiction audiobooks!
January 23, 2017
Good luck on both challenges. My challenge this year is to read all The Game of Thrones books.
January 23, 2017
Oh… they’re heavy going I gather! (Not my cup of tea but I hope you enjoy them!)
January 23, 2017
I like reading challenges, if only because it allows me to make lists. And I really love lists.
January 23, 2017
Ha, yes…. bloody lists.
However I’m such a bad challenge participant I can’t even work out how to check my AWW commitment. I’m sure I went low but didn’t really think about how many books I’d read by Aussie women last year until I counted them up on Goodreads.
January 23, 2017
I have just gotten back into reading. We are going away camping so hopefully I will get a bit of me time and finish a book.
January 23, 2017
That sounds great Anne. I realise it’s hard for people to make time to read sometimes with so many other commitments!
January 23, 2017
I’m starting to mix my genres up a little- step outside my literary comfort zones….
January 23, 2017
Yes, I’ve been doing that increasingly. Not quite gotten to non-fiction or fantasy yet, but still….
January 23, 2017
I do enjoy reading challenges. I’ve signed up to AWW too and also to Aussie Author Challenge. Plus I do the Goodreads one every year. I’m impressed by your other challenge — 56 books! But then again, I’m always impressed by how much you read!
January 23, 2017
I’ve never signed up for the Goodreads challenge as I don’t want to stress about how much I do / don’t read. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to read and – though I have commitments to publishers etc – I like to take some time off. (But if I was worried about reading 200 books a year I think I’d be more anxious!)
January 23, 2017
No reading/writing challenges for me. I do what I like in terms of challenges which may interest me but they’re more likely photo based. I admire the goals you are setting etc but I too get sick of things a bit and move on. I am pleased to see you are getting into the books with gusto and trust this continues. And if it doesn’t then that is OK too, right? Life is too short to worry about that! Thanks for linking up for #lifethisweek 4/52 Denyse
January 23, 2017
Yes, I just mentioned to Sanch, that I don’t want to be too rigid with my reading. I’m always nervous the requirement to review will make me reticent to read, but it hasn’t been the case… so I’m hoping that continues and won’t put too many qualifications around my reading.
January 23, 2017
I love reading Deb and I also love challenges. Maybe I should give it a go. I can spend days just reading and I always enjoy your images on Instagram – bubble bath, a glass of bubbles and a book – yes please!!! Look forward to your reviews.
January 24, 2017
You might like the Aussie Women’s Writers’ Reading challenge Sue. It’s aimed at encouraging people to read more Aussie female writers. You don’t need to review books on a blog or anything. Just Goodreads or similar – to help promote the work of Australian writers.
January 23, 2017
I am so glad you signed up for the Cloak and Dagger Challenge! It is a challenge I am sure you will exceed in as you do read a lot in this catagory! 🙂 I am going for Sherlock Holmes too! 🙂
January 24, 2017
Ah yes… when I realised I’d read 6 mysteries (etc) already I figured I’d be pretty safe. I’m looking forward to it and will make sure I check-in each month and keep score!
January 24, 2017
I love a good mystery and I’m partial to a good challenge but as much as I love reading, I just don’t find the time to read for pleasure. Perhaps I need to join the Cloak & Dagger challenge.
January 24, 2017
You really should consider signing up – we have lots of fun!
January 24, 2017
Yes Raych, or even the Aussie Women Writers one. You can also set targets on Goodreads – to read a book a month or something like that.
January 24, 2017
Welcome to the challenge and you can always link things up at my blog @http://bookertsfarm.blogspot.com/. Stormi is great enough to let me co-host with her. I’m sure you’ll easily meet your goals.
January 24, 2017
Hi Barb – lovely to meet you. I had noted your twitter handle on the Challenge logo. Will add your blog link into my post!
January 24, 2017
I am not really one for challenges, that said, I do like making commitments. I have committed to reading more books this year. Every year over the Christmas holidays I remember just how much I love to read, though it is the only time of year I make time for it. This year I will be making more time for what I love.
January 24, 2017
That’s great Nicole. I’ve occasionally had a break from my (obsessive) reading habit and (many years ago) not read for weeks at a time and when I picked up a book again it was like going home and I was reminded how much I love it.
January 24, 2017
We started turning the telly off half an hour earlier and reading before sleep instead. It’s been a game changer in the sleep department and I’ve rediscovered my love of books. I often pack my book into my bag for a sneaky read on the train and enjoy a power read (much more fun than a power nap) at some time during the day. I haven’t committed to a reading challenge per se, but I am planning to read 100 books as part of my new list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. Does that count?!
January 24, 2017
That definitely counts Sammie and it sounds great! I like the idea of a read before bed as well!
January 24, 2017
Love reading and love challenges but not a cloak and dagger style fan. I wish I even tracked my reads but never do and have no idea how many I read in a year (plus I chop and change so have many started books). Currently reading The Other Side of the World which is Aussie Female writing yay. Also started Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld which is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice
January 24, 2017
I’ve read The Other Side of the World too Deb and recall that I enjoyed it.
Before I started book blogging I used to track my reading in Goodreads (though I only started in 2012) because I’d accidentally borrow the same book from the library or forget newly discovered authors. I still really only use Goodreads for tracking my reading – though a lot of book bloggers engage with others there.
January 24, 2017
I don’t think I could sign up for a reading challenge right now, Mainly because reading is actually a challenge in itself. As soon as I open a book I fall asleep! Even the best book, The one I’ve been waiting for and am actually loving. Open to the page and … zzzzzzzz ….
I’m kinda glad you didn’t do that book club yet because your biggest cheerleader would be failing miserably.
January 24, 2017
Ha yes… that’s a good excuse for me to hold off Leanne!
January 24, 2017
I love to read – currently it’s The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin. I really love this trilogy. I’m generally not very good at reading challenges though as I don’t like the pressure of having to read a book in a particular time – sometimes I can devour a book in a few days, other times it can take weeks and weeks. Good luck with your reading challenge! #teamIBOT
January 24, 2017
I actually received that but hadn’t read the series and it’s not a genre I read so I gave it to a friend who LOVED it.
I’m a pretty fast reader. If my time’s my own I could read most books in a sitting, but I limit myself time-wise but get through most in a couple of sittings.
January 24, 2017
The closest I have to a genre is ‘interesting non fiction’. But I’m struggling to read at the moment – I think I still have that post uni excess reading fatigue!
January 24, 2017
I’m always agog when people talk about enjoying non-fiction but know many feel the same about my genre-loving tastes.
January 24, 2017
Challenges not so much…but love crime / suspense / thriller 🙂
January 24, 2017
Yes, same!!!
January 24, 2017
I think all the books I’ve read this year have been by Aussie women, but not even on purpose!
January 24, 2017
That’s great Amy! I was surprised at how many I read last year as it wasn’t something I set out to do.
January 24, 2017
I am impressed. 56 + books that is hardcore. I’m almost finished my fourth book this year and I’m pretty chuffed with myself considering I probably only read four in total last year. I love reading. I needed to remind myself that I do. I think the challenge is a great idea!
January 24, 2017
Ah yes, it can be hard to find the time to read unless we consciously put some time aside for it.
January 27, 2017
I am a fan of challenges, but that got me in trouble the last two years. I was too involved. This year I simplified to just my Goodreads goal, Alphabet Soup (which is just fun), Shelf Love, and an audiobook challenge. I’m still doing participating in my monthly and quarterly BINGO games, but just like with Alphabet Soup, it’s just for fun for me right now. I’m not going out of my way to try to win those. I might do Cloak and Dagger next year.
January 28, 2017
I’ve never done any reading challenges before, but figure these are doable. I’m happy to read more Aussie books (including Aussie women) and of course I read crime fiction anyway, so that’s a no-brainer. I’ve stayed away from setting Goodreads goals though as I hate the idea of reading becoming some sort of numbers game!
February 2, 2017
I did the Goodreads challenge last year. I went for a meager 20 books which I achieved. Yay! I’m aiming for 25 this year. I wish I could aim higher but two books a month is realistic for me at the moment.
February 3, 2017
Most definitely Jodi. Any reading is a good thing in my books! (tee hee!)