Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Switched my Audible challenge to a Book Pledge rather than a 2 for 1. My new goal is to listen to all the books already purchased before the anniversary of the challenge. And to listen to new purchases immediately so I don't add to the problem.

As of this weekend, I've read 11 physical books for the challenge since 9/8/17. It's pretty on par with my goal of at least 2 or 3 owned books read per month.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I know!! I'm feeling like I need to downsize a bit to give myself a fighting chance lol."

Woooo hooo! Go Niki.

Rlygirl wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "I know!! I'm feeling like I need to downsize a bit to give myself a fighting chance lol."

Woooo hooo! Go Niki."

Thanks ^_^

So, aside from that one black Friday splurge, I've actually been really good about only buying books I've already read (and rated highly) for the past few years as a result of using the 1500 for 1 method. Since I'm in good habits, I decided to switch it up and go for the book pledge mini challenge.

I started this thread 9.8.2017, and I'm pledging to try to read 50 books from my collection by 9.8.2018. I currently have 19/50.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "So, aside from that one black Friday splurge, I've actually been really good about only buying books I've already read (and rated highly) for the past few years as a result of using the 1500 for 1 ..."

Sounds like a great goal to have and your already well underway!

Tammie wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "So, aside from that one black Friday splurge, I've actually been really good about only buying books I've already read (and rated highly) for the past few years as a result of u..."

Thank you! I think it's doable, and it will feel awesome to get through 50 books from my library. That's like 2 whole shelves!

Physical books: Just updated and am at 26/50 per my goal by Sept 2018. I really appreciate the focus this challenge is giving me.

3/17/18: 30/50 read from my collection since Challenge start.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "3/17/18: 30/50 read from my collection since Challenge start."

Wow, good job!

Great job! :)

Thanks!

Niki Hawkes wrote: "3/17/18: 30/50 read from my collection since Challenge start."

Great job, Niki!

Miche wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "3/17/18: 30/50 read from my collection since Challenge start."

Great job, Niki!"

Thank you :)

Now that I've completed all of my goals within the incomplete series challenge, I'm ready to gung-ho this one. Looking around my library, it's clear that I have a lot to get through. Some of these titles have been around for more than 10 years, but they always get pushed to the back burner in favor of new and borrowed books because I know my books will always be there. The rest of 2018 is going to be dedicated to making a dent in my collection. I'm already encouraged by how many owned titles I've read in the last few months for the ISC.

Goal: to read 100 books from my collection by the end of 2018 (including what I've already read so far towards my goal). Also to donate 50.

Over the next few days I'm going to revamp my first post to reflect these new goals.

Wow, good luck. That's a serious goal.

Scott wrote: "Wow, good luck. That's a serious goal."

Thank you. I can't tell if it's too ambitious or not yet. I do have a hefty number of YA titles, so that should help.

I have faith in you, Niki! :)

Miche wrote: "I have faith in you, Niki! :)"

Thank you! I won't let you down. 💪

Good luck! I'm hoping to read 100 this year total.

Tammie wrote: "Good luck! I'm hoping to read 100 this year total."

Thank you! I already have a head start of 30 titles towards this challenge, so I think 70 might be feasible.

Good luck Niki! That's a great goal! I'm also trying to do the same. :)

Laura wrote: "Good luck Niki! That's a great goal! I'm also trying to do the same. :)"

Thank you! Good luck with your challenge too! we can do it. :)

Good luck. I’m going for 100 too.

I added my 5 for 1 mini challenge back in because I want some new books. :)

Good luck with this Niki! You can do it! :D
I think having the 5 for 1 is a good idea, we all need new books sometimes, no matter how many we already own! 😅

Good luck Niki!

The 5 for 1 is working out great for me. Thanks to it, I finally managed to stop buying that many new titles and am steadily clearing up my shelves. The new books I add are very few compared to last years and I make myself finish 5 of my old titles for each of the new additions. And I still get enough new ones to keep me content. :D

It helped me a lot. :)

Thank you both! I don't know why I stopped doing it, it worked brilliantly for me for so long. There's something super motivating about getting a reward package in the mail. I'm committed to focusing on the books I spent money on haha.
And great job Laura!! I'm glad the system is working for you. It has to feel good to whittle down your collection. :)

It does feel good!!! :)

Just as you said - super motivating! But I'm going to the bookstore instead of ordering through mail. :D

I'd never make it out without all the things. I'd have to save up several credits first haha.

Going to the bookstore really is too much a temptation... too bad I'm working in one xD
You did a complete book buying ban ? I absolutly can't do those. I tried and failed miserabily ^^

Haha that's the worst/best case scenario isn't it? I worked at one for 11 years and rarely brought home a paycheck. ;)

Unfortunately, I didn't complete a ban, I just wasn't holding myself accountable lol.

Yes it is ^^
Oh that's kind of what I did too ^^ the 3 for 1 is working way better for me, although I'm still making some laps...

Elinor wrote: "Yes it is ^^
Oh that's kind of what I did too ^^ the 3 for 1 is working way better for me, although I'm still making some laps..."

It's commendable you're even loosely sticking to 3 for 1 with all of that temptation haha.

I've been reorganizing my library lately with this challenge in mind. I'm putting all my books into one of 4 categories:

1. Read
2. Unread - Free Audio Available (library)
3. Unread - $ Audio Available (Audible)
4. Unread - No Audio

I have 700ish unread adult specfic. It's my intention to experience as many of the "free" titles available via audio as I can before the end of the year. Having them separated into these categories helps me see what kind of work I have ahead of me. Because I only have limited time to physically read (10 mins a day?), I can only get through about 2 or 3 titles from my No Audio section a month, and that's if I don't sign up for ARCS :/.

Separating them all out will help me prioritize what to read next, and possibly enable me to let go of some of the ones I know I just wont get to within the next 10-20 years (I'm hanging onto a bunch of these). I might even line them up on my shelves in order of highest to lowest priority and get rid of the last 10-20% or something. I've been hanging on to some of these for YEARS.

I plan on updating here more frequently. I'm going to treat it like my journal for the project. I'm psyched to get going on this. :)

Side note: I bought some books today. lmao

But it's not as bad as it seems - I've already read most of them, and the 3 I haven't are continuations to series I own and need to read. :)

Purchased (for slammin deals on Book Outlet):
Read:
Havent Read:

The Ilona Andrews were hardcovers, so that's pretty cool. Although I hate the front, the spines are pretty. The only annoying thing is that the first one is only available in paperback.

😁😁😁 So I'm not the only one falling off the wagon this way. :D

But hardcovers are very pretty and the books are nice.

And now you've got a lot of reading to do to atone. :D

Laura wrote: "😁😁😁 So I'm not the only one falling off the wagon this way. :D

But hardcovers are very pretty and the books are nice.

And now you've got a lot of reading to do to atone. :D"

Haha - nope! We're doing it together. ;P I'm thinking with my new focus, as long as I read more than I'm pulling in, I'm good. I'm just not allowed on anymore book websites until I earn some credits. :D

ha ha! Not allowed on the site. - Good luck with that! Especially when offers are there! :D

I know I'd cave at the first notification of S A L E.

Laura wrote: "ha ha! Not allowed on the site. - Good luck with that! Especially when offers are there! :D

I know I'd cave at the first notification of S A L E."

Me too. This is going to be difficult haha.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I've been reorganizing my library lately with this challenge in mind. I'm putting all my books into one of 4 categories:

1. Read
2. Unread - Free Audio Available (library)
3. Unread - $ Audio Avai..."

Good luck! Looks like a good plan. Wow, 700! This challenge has probably been the hardest one for me, especially in tandem with the incomplete series challenge. There are so many books that I need to buy or borrow for that challenge, and that one always takes top priority.

Tammie wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "I've been reorganizing my library lately with this challenge in mind. I'm putting all my books into one of 4 categories:

1. Read
2. Unread - Free Audio Available (library)
3. U..."

Thank you! 700 used to be a badge of pride, but now it's more of a problem I need to fix lol. I had a hard time trying to do both challenges in tandem as well. Like, you can't complete one without messing up the other. Luckily I have my ISC down to a manageable number, and I own most of the books in most of the series I'm planning to tackle. Even so I need to take care not to get too behind on the other one again.

Yay, reorganized library! Good luck with your refocused challenge!

I love reading about your projects, Niki :) I'm def going to stalk this thread and squeal happily at each update ;)

Good luck with this challenge Niki ! Does it mean that you would have to read 5 books from one category to buy one for that category ?

Virginie wrote: "Yay, reorganized library! Good luck with your refocused challenge!

I love reading about your projects, Niki :) I'm def going to stalk this thread and squeal happily at each update ;)"

Thanks Virginie! :) It keeps me motivated to post updates, even more so if I know someone is stalking ;P

Elinor wrote: "Good luck with this challenge Niki ! Does it mean that you would have to read 5 books from one category to buy one for that category ?"

Thank you! :D

I'm not sticking to strict rules for what needs to be read, I think. If I read any 5 from my library I'll be happy. Although I do make it a point to only buy new books that I've already read and loved enough to add to the collection (initially I get them from the library). That requirement has gone a long way in helping me not make my problem worse haha. And I'm only spending money on the things I know I'm going to want to keep (recent purchase nonwithstanding... whoops lol).

Okay :) that would maybe have been a bit to restrictive ^^
(and I will be stalking too. It does motivate me for my own challenge to see updates of others)

Elinor wrote: "Okay :) that would maybe have been a bit to restrictive ^^
(and I will be stalking too. It does motivate me for my own challenge to see updates of others)"

I don't mind the restrictive nature of that - I actually like the idea for when I get things pared down a little bit. Like maybe I'll split adult from young adult. :)

haha cool! Now I'll have to be doubly accountable. :D

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Thanks Virginie! :) It keeps me motivated to post updates, even more so if I know someone is stalking ;P"

Always happy to help lol.

I tried using your 'Tackling the TBR' idea and it's doing wonders for me! I've upped my reading like crazy in May, got back on track with my Incomplete Series challenge, have a much more manageable BR schedule AND I can still get mood reads in!

Your updates really inspire and motivate me :D So I'll be right here, cheering you on ;)

Virginie wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Thanks Virginie! :) It keeps me motivated to post updates, even more so if I know someone is stalking ;P"

Always happy to help lol.

I tried using your 'Tackling the TBR' idea ..."

That's awesome! I've been using that for more than two years now and it's now a religion. I love that it's working for you. Where do you compile your TBR lineup for it? I've been looking for a new way to organize mine. I have the blog post, but I think it might be fun to actually lineup the books somewhere in my house.

and thank you. ^_^

I'm doing it on my BR tracker. I was already keeping a list of "medium to high priority" books other than BRs (comment #3) so I'm just copy-pasting the links to the first comment.
First line are audiobooks, second line ebooks/physical books. I'm very rarely reading physical books so sadly, I can't have the lineup in my apartment :/