Who's Your Author? discussion

Did anyone set any reading goals this year?

I am not sure what mine will be this year. I did up the number of books for my GR annual challenge to 250.

Right now I am considering reading some of my favorite UF books in a different language to increase my literacy. Also considering reading more classic books.

I'm trying for 300. I met that in 2013 so I'm hoping I'll be able to do it again this year :)

I need to finish up series I've started. I've got a lot of the books already, just need to make time to read them.

@Carolyn great goal and I wish you the best of luck even though I doubt you will need it :-) I would love to read 300 books in a year. In the summer I read so little it is tough for me to imagine it could happen.

@Sandra That is tough because there is always a new book to be read lol

My goal for 2013 was 175 which I made then exceeded by 33. This year I'm shooting for 225 which I'm trying to divide up by books I already own, prize winner/nominees (man booker, whitbread, etc) and a few others.

100. I know it's not as high as some, but for the past couple of years I haven't been able to make it! (Which I used to 100 so fast!) I was 9 short last year and I mean to make it this year.

Also, I need to catch up on series and I want to write reviews for every book I read this year!

Excellent goal Shera, wish I could be bothered to write reviews, but I don't generally bother. Someone else has usually done it better than I could anyway.

My reading goal this yr is 350. I did 400 in 2011 & 12 & 350 in 2013, and I think it is a better fit.

Sandra wrote: "Excellent goal Shera, wish I could be bothered to write reviews, but I don't generally bother. Someone else has usually done it better than I could anyway.

My reading goal this yr is 350. I did 4..."

That is awesome! I had a hard time completing my 230 goal last year. I missed it by one. This year sticking with 200.

Like Shera 100 is definitely my goal. Even then the people around me are like "How do you find the time?" The hardest part is trying to write an honest review. Especially if it's a book that has taken me more than five days to complete. I just lose all the flavour.

Ha-ha!! Exactly LastBreath!

I don't write a lot of reviews. Especially as there are some talented reviewers here on GR, and if they've read the book before me, I think, why bother.

100 or 200 books is still a hellavalot of books. I only read so much cause I don't have kids and I'm not working. Believe me I didn't always read so much when I was working, though I did get to read on the commute :)

I agree Sandra 100 books is a lot that is like 2 a week??

I am a binge reader there are times throughout the year where I read a book or two a day then comes summer and barely finish one a week.

Anyway as for the review I like them for me - I forget why I like or dislike a book especially over years

I set mine for 50 or 60... I changed it only because I've been reading a lot of novellas and have a few for ARRs & ARCs. I think my goal is for 70 or 75. I can read 2 or 3 novellas in a day some times.

I think 100 is a lot too, but when I thought of reading goals I couldn't settle for anything less. It's just a lovely round number. I thought at two books a week I would never have time for anything else, but I'm managing so far. I think that's going to change as life gets busier but we will see.

Good Luck Lola :)

I think I've fallen into a trap. Rather than just picking up a book because I find it interesting, I search out the reviews before choosing. My curiosity is now a thorn in my literary life.

Woe, is me and my lot!

Melodramatic? Perhaps. But life is too boring without a little flavour :)

Does anyone else suffer from something similar? (influenced reading that is)

Lastbreath, I do. Reviews influence to a point. Especially if their are 1 star & 5 star reviews for the same one. I'm more influenced by friends and gr friends with similar tastes.

I'm breaking out of my reading rut and reading outside my comfort zone. Thank goodness for free reads lol.

LastBreath wrote: "I think I've fallen into a trap. Rather than just picking up a book because I find it interesting, I search out the reviews before choosing. My curiosity is now a thorn in my literary life.

Woe, i..."

LOL yep sometimes.

The feed is where I get a lot of books from...a friend will give a book 5 stars and of course I want to know why lol

I try not to read reviews of books I'm going to read anyway. Sometimes they put me off reading it, at least until I've forgotten the review. LOL.

If its one I haven't heard of before I go looking, but still try to read only those I know will be fair, if possible.

I tend to read reviews when I've already read it just to see whether my friends agree or disagreed with me :)

And yes the feed provides a lot of info & books for me to check out.

Sandra wrote: "I tend to read reviews when I've already read it just to see whether my friends agree or disagreed with me :)"

Oh YAY I thought that was just me lol

Stephanie wrote: "Lastbreath, I do. Reviews influence to a point. Especially if their are 1 star & 5 star reviews for the same one. I'm more influenced by friends and gr friends with similar tastes.

I'm breaking o..."

I do read reviews especially 1 star reviews. I have bought a lot of books because of 1 star reviews. That being said most reviews generally tick me off, because they don't say anything, even if they are three paragraphs long.

I have noticed lately that a lot of "no nonesense" reviews have effected they why I feel about a book while I'm reading it.

Sometimes I try to avoid reviews if it's a book I've been really looking forward to.

Other then that I rely heavily on them.

Being the moody reader that I am it is hard for me to truly use reviews. To often I have found books everyone loves I hate and vice versa. Personally I find it best for me to read the description and if I can honestly read a few pages then I can probably finish the book. What I really enjoy is like Sandra said after reading a book then reading the reviews and getting different points of view.

I am going to go for 200 i hope

Tammie wrote: "I am going to go for 200 i hope"

You can do it!!

Dawn wrote: "Tammie wrote: "I am going to go for 200 i hope"

You can do it!!"

I hope so

Earlier this year I set a goal of 100 reads (currently sitting at 34) and I feel like a cheat. Does short reads even count?

Yep, they do to me :DDD

What I also do is look at the # of pages I've read, always hoping to better the years before total.

Phew! Now I don't feel so bad ^-^ Also I've picked up a few graphic novels written by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Laurell K Hamilton a welcome reprieve from the norm. Yet to try audio, now that'll be interesting

They'd better! Because I'm already way behind!

LOL

lol I hear you Shera

I recently realized I need the short ones to balance out the ones that take FOREVER to read. (The goldfinch! Ugh!)

Exactly! Though so far that isn't my problem. I got the flu and for some reason I couldn't look at printed words, the computer, and the TV without getting sick.

It really messed up my reading!

Lola wrote: "I recently realized I need the short ones to balance out the ones that take FOREVER to read. (The goldfinch! Ugh!)"

Totally especially when the books are over 500 pages.

I am so far off my reading game it is not even funny. Not sure I will make my goal but we shall see you never know.

Good luck Dawn! It's still the beginning of the year, we can do it!

Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "Good luck Dawn! It's still the beginning of the year, we can do it!"

Thanks :-)
Yes we can!!

I've reached 52 of my targeted 100 books whoop-whoop! Now I've gotta knuckle down with my Kelley Armstrong Challenge.

Better yet our local library should invest in doubles of all her books. That way I wont be waiting for donkeys on the booking list

LOL

Way to go LastBreath!