2016 In Review & 2017 Reading Goals
5 Jan
Last year I set quite a few reading goals for myself. Enough to structure my reading year and make me feel accomplished, but not enough to be suffocating. I’m really a mood-reader, and I like my goals to reflect that! And it worked, because 2016 was absolutely my best reading year of all time. Which is nice, because it was kind of terrible in almost every other respect. So let’s look at how I did, and set some 2017 goals!
For 2016 I wanted to read 175 books. I ended up with 268 read, so I definitely accomplished that one! I tend to keep my book number goal low because I end up feeling pressured if it’s close to what I read last year. So for 2017, I am aiming to read 200 books.
Like the previous year I did a series challenge, but I mixed it up a little. Instead of trilogies I wanted to tackle some big ones. Initially I had it at 3 series, but I ended up altering my goals pretty early on and read the entire Culture series and Realm of the Elderlings, along with the new Peter Hamilton duology. I am going to do a series challenge again, and right now I plan on reading the Dark Tower series, the Asian Saga, and possibly Kushiel’s Legacy.
My TBR Challenge went much better than what I expected! I set it at 50 books and reached an even 70, so for 2017 I am bumping it up to 75 from my TBR and 25 physical owned books I haven’t read. My Goodreads TBR is massive (over 300 books!!), so I should have no issue picking mainly from it. I’d really like to cut down on impulse reading this year and stick mainly to owned, TBR, and Netgalley books.
In 2015 I attempted a Big Book Challenge, and I failed. I attempted in 2016 and did… a little better? I mean, I got over 200 pages into Infinite Jest, so that’s something. I was supposed to read that along with Gravity’s Rainbow and Ulysses, though. After 2 years of getting nothing done I need to admit that this particular challenge is not working for me. I get intimidated when I feel forced into reading massive classics: I still want to get to them, but I think setting them as a goal made me less likely to pick them up.
I also did an Around the World Challenge, which entailed reading books from authors from 15 different countries. This was both easier and harder than it thought it would be. It was easy to hit 15, but I found that I don’t read as widely as I thought. I got to 27 countries which is good, but not as good as it could be. For 2017 I will not be setting a specific goal or challenge, but I will still track where I read from.
In the middle of the year, I also impulsively picked up Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge, because I realized I’d already accomplished about 2/3rds of it without trying. I finished it, and you can find my full list in the gallery below the jump! I had a lot of fun going out of my reading comfort zone with some of these, so I will be doing the 2017 version of the challenge as well.
And that’s it! It may seem like a lot, but for the most part I’m just trying to structure my reading around things I know I’ll enjoy. Looking back on this year, a lot of my lowest-rated books were ones I picked up because I read one good review or saw it mentioned in a video. Picking things mainly off my TBR or to-read piles makes a lot more sense!
Tags: book challenge, Books, Reading Challenge
Is it okay if I add you on Facebook?
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your blog.
You have some really good posts and I think I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write
some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please shoot me an email if interested. Thanks!
First off I would like to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do not mind.
I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind prior to writing.
I’ve had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out.
I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the
first 10 to 15 minutes are generally lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or tips?
Many thanks!
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your
post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write
content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind composing a post or elaborating on many
of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome weblog!
All forms of investments come with sure risks.
This is true for investment advice as effectively.
Thanks to your interest in Investment Advice.
A financial advisor is your planning partner.
Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss and would love to
have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would appreciate your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
Buyers do pay direct and oblique costs.
This is true for funding recommendation as effectively.
Thank you for your interest in Investment Advice.
I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else
experiencing issues with your site. It looks like some
of the text in your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if
this is happening to them as well? This might be a issue with my browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Thank you
Schwab Clever Portfolios invests in Schwab ETFs.
Thanks for your curiosity in Funding Advice.
Schwab Clever Portfolios invests in Schwab ETFs.
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable experience
concerning unexpected feelings.
And that is an investment threat value taking.
And that is an investment risk price taking.
This is the perfect website for everyone who wishes to understand this topic.
You know a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa).
You certainly put a new spin on a topic that’s been written about for a long time.
Great stuff, just excellent!
This paragraph will assist the internet visitors for setting up
new webpage or even a weblog from start to end.
Hi there, I read your blog on a regular basis.
Your story-telling style is witty, keep doing what you’re
doing!
Financial advisors business is folks business.
I go to see everyday some web pages and information sites to
read articles or reviews, but this web site provides quality
based writing.
Thanks to your curiosity in Investment Recommendation.
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was entirely right.
This post truly made my day. You can not imagine simply how much
time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
This is my first time go to see at here and i am actually impressed to read all at
single place.
My developer is trying to convince me to
move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on a number of
websites for about a year and am anxious about
switching to another platform. I have heard great things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can import all my wordpress posts into it?
Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
Yay google is my world beater assisted me to find this outstanding website ! .
Schwab Clever Portfolios invests in Schwab ETFs.
A financial advisor is your planning companion.
And that is an funding risk value taking.
I simply want to mention I am all new to blogging and site-building and truly savored your web site. Likely I’m planning to bookmark your blog . You really have awesome posts. With thanks for sharing with us your website page.
All sorts of investments include certain dangers.
Consider investments that offer speedy annuities.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!? This web site is mostly a walk-through for the entire information you wanted about this and didn know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and also you l undoubtedly discover it.
And this is an funding danger price taking.
Private proxies and most useful rates: 50 discount, free proxies and special deals – just on DreamProxies.com
All kinds of investments include sure risks.
Contemplate investments that supply immediate annuities.
Financial advisors business is folks enterprise.
Link exchange is nothing else but it is simply placing the other person’s website link on your page at appropriate place and other person willalso do similar for you.
Think about investments that provide speedy annuities.
what is some fun online sites to blog on and make fun posts besides facebook and tumblr?
All varieties of investments include sure dangers.
A monetary advisor is your planning accomplice.
How to get your customized blogspot to appear on google search?
Financial advisors enterprise is individuals enterprise.
All varieties of investments include sure risks.
Thank you for your interest in Funding Recommendation.
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios invests in Schwab ETFs.
These drivers may even change tires on automobiles.
How can I transfer firefox settings from one computer to another?