2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Hi,

I'm Helena and will also be joining for 2014.

I've always loved books but I really neglected reading while I was in school. I'm definitely changing that and making up for lost time now!

I completed my first 50 Book Pledge and I'm now hoping to end the year on 60. My goal for next year is 75.

I like all sorts of different genres. I'm very excited to chat with you all and discuss our books and challenges.

Talk soon!

Helena

Welcome everyone to the group!


Kimberly I often get stuck in a genre rut too. For a while it seemed like I was reading so many YA books and kept being disappointed in them. I love how a few of our Yearly Challenges for 2014 encourages people to try different genres. My goal this year is to read more non-fiction books.

Welcome welcome welcome all new members who joined 2013 & 2014 Reading Challenge this past week!!!

I hope you love this group as much as we do. I really enjoyed reading all of your introduction posts -- it's great to get to know a bit about all of you, with so many unique and interesting backgrounds and diverse reading tastes. I wish I could respond to each new member personally but am strapped for time - just know we are all really excited to have each and every one of you :D

Hi, I am Molly and I live west of Sydney in Australia. I'm a bit obsessed with books, but haven't actually read a lot recently and what I have read I haven't really enjoyed. I'm hoping to change that in 2014 by reading a whole bunch!

My fav genres are Sci-fi/Horror but I'll read pretty much anything, so long as its not a full on romance novel. Romance is not my cup of tea. :s

I love stories with a twist, or that put a unique perspective on a topic and I also like reading Graphic Novels and Comics.

I'm looking forward to participating here (I've already started to read the current monthly read) but I'll probably be quiet to start with as I'm a bit shy and this place seems really big and busy (but friendly too, which is good.)

Hi, I'm Dee :)

This years definitely hasn't been my year reading-wise, but I'm slowly getting back into reading regularly again at the moment, and I'm planning to do a lot more reading in the next few weeks and then into the new year, so I can try to complete the 50 books challenge again next year (and hopefully try to read more than that!). I have a huge love for challenges and keeping things logged, so I'm hoping this group will help me keep on target in my reading next year :)

For me whether I'll read a book depends on the style and quality of it, rather than the genre, so I read basically any genre, but do have preferences towards fantasy, adventure, and YA (though I'm getting a bit bored of YA currently, so I'm not planning to read much YA next year). I'd really like to read more epic fantasies, graphic novels, and sci-fi next year, though, because they're all genres I've not delved that deep into before, even though I've been wanting to.

I'm really looking forward to participating in this group, and maybe finding new books and friends through it! :)

Hello everyone! I'm Nay and very new to both the group and Goodreads. I'm 22 years old, pregnant with my first child and engaged. Back during my school days (prior to college) I was a pure bookworm, but fell out of sight with books due to social media. Now that I'm nearing my due date, I figured why not get back into reading!

I love reading any type of novel that will grasp my attention and keep me wanting more. I usually read Urban Fiction novels, but I'm expanding to other genres and I'm enjoying it.

My December reads so far:
- Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson
- The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

Currently Reading:
- The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham.

I'm definitely interested in any good book recommendations and just meeting new people.

Nay wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm Nay and very new to both the group and Goodreads. I'm 22 years old, pregnant with my first child and engaged. Back during my school days (prior to college) I was a pure bookworm..."

Hi Nay!

How did you like The White Princess? I've only read one Philippa Gregory book (The Constant Princess) and I really didn't like it, so I've been curious about her other stuff. Was that your first Gregory book, or is she a regular of yours?

Congratulations on everything going on in your life, and welcome to Goodreads! I've been around here for a bit over a year, but I'm just now starting to really become involved in the community around here.

Good luck with your challenges, and motherhood, and marriage!

Erin

Hi, I'm Deborah. I always have a pile of books. I read a lot of YA, cozies, and Urban Fantasy.

dee wrote: "Hi, I'm Dee :)

This years definitely hasn't been my year reading-wise, but I'm slowly getting back into reading regularly again at the moment, and I'm planning to do a lot more reading in the next..."

Hi Dee!

I wanted to take a moment to suggest just one more YA book before you take a break. Have you ever read Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life? My stepson (he's seven, and an amazing reader) had the book recommended to him by his teacher. He may be seven, but he reads at a very high level, both skill and comprehension, otherwise I wouldn't recommend a book that a first grader is reading. :D

Anyway, I read what he does a lot of the time so that we can talk about it as he goes, and this one was pretty great. If you haven't, you should give it a shot!

Good luck with your goals,

Erin

Hi, I am Anushri from India. I am a newbie at reading and I've finished reading just 16 books so far this year. I look forward to reading more books next year. I like reading fiction and non fiction.

Hi everyone, I am not really a new member of the group but a returning one. I´m 29 years old, from Finland and a new mom for a 4 month old little girl Emilia.

In 2012 I read more than ever, 71 books. This year only 13 books so far. After the huge amount of 71 I could not read for a while at all. Then I just did not have much time since having the baby. I read all sorts of books mostly in English.

Here´s a few of my favourites:

Hi, I'm Vania and live in Italy. I'm 39 and reading is my passion since the age of 8

Welcome, all! And it's good to have you back, Johanna!

Hi my name is Karen and I have never done a reading challenge before but am really looking for to doing one for 2014!

@Karen Welcome! We have tons of reading challenges for you to try out for 2014 -- take a look around and try some out! It's a great and fun way to track your way to reaching your 2014 reading goal.

@Tim Welcome! I am also really looking forward to getting some new books off of my Christmas wish list -- just in time for the new year and our group's new 2014 yearly reading challenges.

Everyone take a look at our "Prepping for 2014" folder if you feel like getting started early on tracking your reading goals. Happy reading!

@brian. Thanks! I posted my challenge in the 2014 folder. I am going to go for reading a book that was published every year since I was born which will bring me to 26 books. Although I'm thinking I might end up exceeding that due to the amount of books I would love to read!

Karen wrote: "@brian. Thanks! I posted my challenge in the 2014 folder. I am going to go for reading a book that was published every year since I was born which will bring me to 26 books. Although I'm thinkin..."

Karen I loved the every year challenge. I wasn't successful this year in completing it but I am going to try again in 2014. I have all my "every year" books planned out to try to keep me on track.

Welcome to the group, and enjoy the challenge.

@Jodi. I have my list all planned out too! Granted there is more more than one book I want to read per year so I will have to choose one and then hopefully repeat years when I get to the end!

Hi, I love to read and have been hovering in 'Groups' for a few weeks trying to find a good fit. I think you're it!

I read around 10 - 12 books per week, no tv, no car, my Mac and PC died last month, so I've lots of time to read. I'm a widow with no kids so once I walk my dog I'm good to sit for a couple of hours.

I read pretty much anything but have a penchant for sci fi and mysteries; it depends on what's available at the library. I read lots of series and love discovering new authors.

My quirk is I have to start with book one, whether it's a series or a new author. I can't get started until I find the very first book, and then I have to read them in order unless there's a very good reason not to do so, e.g. Catherine Asaro's series.

I'm looking forward to the challenges and to all the nice chats.

Happy reading all! --mh

P.S. If I don't respond right away, it's because I have to wait for the library to open or until I get to work to access the internet.

@M.H. Welcome to our group! I hope you do find us a good fit. I am 100% the same way as you are when it comes to reading books that are part of a series. I MUST read them in order and start with Book #1.

Some of my friends try to recommend books that are later on in a series, but nothing, no amount of coaxing me with "oh they're really just stand-alone stories" can convince me. I don't know why it is - I guess it's a mild OCD quirk?!

I'm the same way with TV series too - I must start with Season 1, Episode 1 pleasedonotaskmetowatchsomerandomepisodeinseason4thanks! :P

I hope you have fun discovering more new series and authors with us - take a look around at some of the fun challenges we have if you'd like!

Hi, I'm Sarah, 23 and in the UK. I'm in recovery for depression and anxiety and reading is an escape. I've always been a bookworm and have enjoyed taking part in Goodreads since February of this year.

My favourite genres are fantasy (any involving witches, magic, ghosts, dragons, werewolves and vampires) as well as historical fiction.

I'm excited to join in with this group, I think it's a really great idea to have your own corner and look forward to taking part in the challenges to come =D

@Sarah Welcome to our happy reading family! I have been in recovery from (and sometimes still struggle with) depression, anxiety, and panic attacks that were at their worst exactly one year ago. Only in the past few months have I found some peace and a few ways to cope and feel somewhat better by making some major and much-needed changes in my life. Some of the minor and easy ones, like reading a lot more, were a huge help for me too as an escape. Running has also really helped clear my head. I started training for a half-marathon a couple weeks ago which has been brutal but makes me feel a lot better when I complete a new goal. Anyway, my heart goes out to you and hope you come out of this smoothly and find your inner peace.

I love fantasy as well, and actually our group read for the month of December combines both fantasy and historical fiction. I finished reading it but am still responding to any discussion topics when I can - though no pressure at all to read it, just thought you might like to give it a try if you like magic, fantasy, and historical fiction. The depictions of the Lower Manhattan neighborhoods, sights, and parks of 1899 New York City so vivid, dreamy, but also realistic.

Take your time, browse around, and participate in any of the new 2014 yearly challenges that suit your fancy. Then you can track them in your corner! Aaand that reminds me... I still need to create one!

Hey group. I'm Kevin. I am new to the book club thing. Never really understood the questions at the backs of books like "discuss the waterfall in chapter 7 and Harry's need for his mother's Loveland how they coorolate". I just like a good story, something that keeps my mind active even when I am sleeping. I am huge fan of Irving, Wally Lamb, Chabon, and Steinbeck. Love the classics. Always looking for a good historical fiction.

Welcome Kevin,

Irving and Wally Lamb are two of my favourite authors. I have a new Irving book on my night stand ready to read.

Hello everyone! Even though its one in the morning, I'll still introduce myself. My name is Lisa Russo and I'm excited to be a part of this group and challenge myself in a way reading has never before done so for me therefore i am truly grateful for this group. It's one thing to do it on your own, but another to document in public.

I am bilingual in Parisian French and English and prefer French. I had a strict teacher from the Sorbonne who I have befriended outside of school and in school got 100 as my term grades and mid terms. School came easily and I love to learn and am really impressed and saddened by the late author, David Foster wallis's death. He was brilliant and had incredible ideas. What I learned from one of his interviews was when he said he reads something familiar and comfortable, it was a warning. Another words , if the world is getting bad and you read something depressing and are finding a comfort, something in you is depressing. I know some may find it obtuse, but if you want to become a better person, I'd want to know about myself that only books can bring out in you. I enjoy as entertainment John Irving , Jodi Picoult and "book-award" books because they truly stand out among all the writing out there. I may have an eclectic back ground in books, but I choose to remain well rounded and generally the stones I've been picking up lately have been historical fiction even though i am a die hard literary fiction girl. I also consider myself a born-again reader. In other words , I believe we are all seasoned for books that come into our lives that at other times we would eschew. Back when, Emma and Austen bored me to death. I found it painful. Now I inhale it like a starving latté in the morning. Can't get enough!
Personally, I do not have tots because of health reasons and have grown out of my stage of wanting them. It's hard work. I do desire, however and badly a AKC golden retriever and hope to have Alexis this year. I further enjoy beside a great read, decorating, especially shabby chic in NYC (but not the ratty junky look) and shopping. I do temper all with wise budgeting however especially books. I also enjoy european travel, but not huffing it in the wild and love the water and all the sports that come with it along with diligent exercise and eating healthy daily. I also believe in a lot if reading, its good for the soul and mind and my goal is to read a book a day and to have read all of the classics. I feel like the character in"a tree grows in Brooklyn". I'm kinda like her when it comes to book stores and libraries. I just want to read every book I can on the shelf, one by one. Hopefully I will! I'm certainly motivated enough through good reads and friends on this site:-}! Lis

Hello! I'm Martha. I'm a wife, mother & grandmother who retired at the end of June. I have enjoyed the extra time with family and books more than I can say. Unfortunately, it hasn't been as much as I had hoped due to increased time spent in doctor's offices for myself, my husband & our adult developmentally disabled son who lives with us. Hopefully, we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. My husband and I have been truly blessed with good health for the majority of our lives so this is new to us and a little disconcerting, but just taking it a day at a time will get us through. And we can read in the waiting rooms. This group was mentioned in another group and looked interesting. I love challenges. They put a bit of fun into my reading schedule.

Hello, I am Sara. I am excited to join this book because I enjoy book group discussions and I know that it will help me with my ultimate challenge. My ultimate challenge is called And Then There Were None, a two year challenge to read all if not most of the books I own. I am in my final year of the challenge. I need that push to pick and finish books.

Hi I'm Ashley and I'm 28 and live in beautiful Vancouver, BC. I mainly love reading literary fiction, historical fiction, memoirs, and some mysteries, but I read pretty much anything that seems interesting. Reading has been a passion of mine since I was little. I'm looking forward to discovering new books in genres I may not have read before.

Hello. I'm Robert....new to the group. Love reading all types, fiction/non fiction, mystery, crime thrillers and right now my favorite authors in this category are Preston and Child.

Ashley wrote: "Hi I'm Ashley and I'm 28 and live in beautiful Vancouver, BC. I mainly love reading literary fiction, historical fiction, memoirs, and some mysteries, but I read pretty much anything that seems int..."


Ashley, I live in Vancouver too! Welcome to the group. Take a look around and ask if you have any questions.

Hi - my name is Nancy and I sometimes go by NancyK18 on goodreads. I hail from New Jersey, USA and am a former high school teacher. I love to read like all of you but find I talk more about books these days than actually read. That said I did manage to read 150 titles this year.

One quick question - I may have more so this my first LOL - for my Corner do we only list challenges found at 2013 & 2014 Reading discussions or can we add some of our own there like A to Z Authors and Million Page Challenge.

Looking forward to talking books with all if you fellow readers.

Hello! My name is Berglind and I'm from Iceland. I'm planning on reading 100 books in 2014 and I need support :)

Welcome Lisa, Martha, Sara, Ashley, Robert, Nancy, and Berglind!! We are so happy to have you all and very excited about getting so many new members recently.

It's awesome to know that so many people are just as motivated as we are to read more books in 2014 by setting personal goals and striving to complete reading challenges.

Feel free to ask any questions, browse the forum threads, create a personal challenge page or member corner, and otherwise jump into any discussions you like.

Hello! My name is Sandra and I live in Richmond, VA. I love to read, all types of books. My goal was 140 books in 2013 but we moved this summer (same town) and I didn't read much for 2 months. So I've only read 114, so far, this year. I'll try again next year!

Hey guys! I'm Elizabeth. I was born on December 20th. I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I love reading and writing and I do a little drawing here and there. I am hoping to be an author someday! Nice to meet everyone!

Hi Elizabeth! I'll think about you tomorrow then, and I hope you don't receive combined presents all the time ;). Have you ever written a story as a present for yourself?

Hi Sandra, I had the same thing this year, though not because I was moving. It was really hard to get back into reading again. Good luck with your challenge next year, I hope you'll make it :).

Sandra wrote: "Hello! My name is Sandra and I live in Richmond, VA. I love to read, all types of books. My goal was 140 books in 2013 but we moved this summer (same town) and I didn't read much for 2 months. ..."

I have had a great year of reading. I finished 150 books but now feel as though I've hit a brick wall. Funny but I like to end the year with an even number of books read and also start and end the year with an important book to me which I did - I Heard the Caged Bird Sing by Maya Angelou but what do I do for the next 12 days? I either read two books or none and while I am at a reading standstill, I still have to have something to read. Maybe short stories or plays?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Nancy wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Hello! My name is Sandra and I live in Richmond, VA. I love to read, all types of books. My goal was 140 books in 2013 but we moved this summer (same town) and I didn't read much ..."

Nancy, shorter works are great for that purpose. Not only short stories or plays, but also poems or essays. I really got into reading essays one time when I couldn't focus on novels.

Yes, I remember times when I really suffered from reader's block and mainly read magazines.

Hi my name is Kathy and I just discovered Goodreads about a month ago. I love the opportunity to track what I read and share my passion with others like me!

Hi, I'm Kim!!

Hi there, my name's Marina and I'm from Ancona, Central Italy. I'm 31 and work as a freelance translator and editor.
I love reading almost everything and anything, especially fiction of any kind. My favourite author is the Bulgarian-born, German-writing Elias Canetti.
I read in Italian, English, German and French.

Hi there, I'm Yan, new to the group and reading challenges. I like fictions, non-fictions, and various genres from thrillers to chick-lits to spiritual books. It's fun checking out what other people in the group have read and will read and get some ideas.

For me, once I start reading a book, I usually hurry up to finish it and sometimes speed read. It's ok with entertaining books like thrillers. The moment I finish reading a book feels so rewarding. But because I read a book so quickly, I miss a lot of deeper meaning and content of a book, especially classics. So in 2014, I want to focus more on quality than quantity.

Welcome Christine! Every time I feel like I get a handle on my TBR shelf, the number jumps to some outrageous number. All I can do is keep reading. I find that joining challenges usually helps me read faster. I hope you enjoy the group.

Hi everyone :) I'm Melissa. I feel like I'm a "born-again" reader because I used to LOVE reading, but in recent years I just haven't read very much (pretty much just read the last HP books in college and that's it) Luckily I've started once again :) I work full time and do grad school part time so I don't have lots of free time, but I'm trying to replace Internet/Smartphone time with reading time. I just bought a used Kindle and I have been using it at work during lunch and on breaks. I'm on a YA kick, but I'm going to tackle the Millennium trilogy once I'm done with the Divergent series. Looking forward to becoming active with the group :)

Hello everyone! My name is Chritina. I really enjoy reading cozy mysteries! Oh who am I kidding, I read pretty much anything! Reading is one of my favorite things to do!

Welcome, Christina! You're in the right place as we love reading too:)

Hi, my name is Amy and my daughter Paige (13 years old) are avid readers. We read on average 2-4 books a week. We are always available for a book suggestion and willing to take them well.

Hi! I'm new here . My name is Diana. I;m going to be 15 on 2014 and I'm from Malaysia ! :D

Welcome to all the new members. I am looking forward to discussing books with you all and hopefully joining buddy reads and challenges with you too.