2025 Reading Challenge discussion

I'm going to do something a little different for my challenge this year. I'm going to set a page goal rather than a book goal because I want to take on some big chunksters this year. (I'm looking at you Bleak House and Middlemarch!) My goal is going to be 16,000 pages. In 2017 I've surpassed this goal with over 50 books, so I think I can do that and still read at least 40 books in 2018.

April wrote: "I'm going to do something a little different for my challenge this year. I'm going to set a page goal rather than a book goal because I want to take on some big chunksters this year. (I'm looking a..."

Sounds like a plan April! Wishing you the best of luck with your goal and happy reading!!

That's a great plan, April. And 16,000 is a realistic goal if you're going for the chunksters in 2018 :)
Best of luck and happy reading! May you discover some great books.

Thanks, Susy and Lisa. I've been wanting to dig into these bigger books, so I'm hoping this gives me the freedom to take them on without being anxious about getting to a certain number of books.

Best of luck with your challenge!

April wrote: "Thanks, Susy and Lisa. I've been wanting to dig into these bigger books, so I'm hoping this gives me the freedom to take them on without being anxious about getting to a certain number of books."

I get that :)
It's the main reason why I love the "Let's Turn the Pages" yearly challenge. Helps me stay on track without having to actually focus on the numerical goal.

Lisa wrote: "It's the main reason why I love the "Let's Turn the Pages" yearly challenge."


Lisa, thanks for the info. I wasn't aware of this challenge. I'll check it out.

Lisa, I'm having trouble finding the "Let's Turn the Pages" challenge. I've used the search function for groups, but it doesn't come up. Could you supply a link?

April wrote: "Lisa, I'm having trouble finding the "Let's Turn the Pages" challenge. I've used the search function for groups, but it doesn't come up. Could you supply a link?"

Hi April, you can find the Let's Turn Pages challenge here.

When you click on 2018 Yearly Challenges, you can see all Yearly Challenges. They're not all visible from the group's home page.

Thanks Susy for jumping in :)

April, the group also has Quarterly Challenges and Monthly Challenges you can check out and join if they sound interesting :)

Hi April, you can f..."

Thanks Susy and Lisa! It's hard to find when you don't know your way around. I think I could find it now without your helpful link. (I think! LOL)

April wrote: "Hi April, you can f..."

Thanks Susy and Lisa! It's hard to find when you don't know your way around. I think I could find it now without your helpful link. (I think! LOL)"

Haha, it does take a little while to get used to everything :) When I joined around this time last year, everything seemed overwhelming and confusing. Luckily there are a lot of helpful people, so don't hesitate to ask if you get lost again :)

So, since I have now found the "Let's Turn the Pages" challenge, I want to edit my goal for this year. My goal for books read will be 40 books for 2018. Do I need to record that somewhere else in order to get it to start recording my stats?

Good Luck with your goal in 2018!

April wrote: "So, since I have now found the "Let's Turn the Pages" challenge, I want to edit my goal for this year. My goal for books read will be 40 books for 2018. Do I need to record that somewhere else in o..."

Yes, in the upper right corner, if you click on your photo a list will emerge starting with your profile. In that list you will see "Reading Challenge". That's the place to record your goal so GR will start counting every time you finish a book.

1. The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill ****

I gave this book 4 stars because I thought it had an interesting premise and was well done, but it wasn't my cuppa.

2. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith ***

An easy-listening audiobook.

3. The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash ****

An interesting story based on the true story of Ella May Wiggins who worked to integrate and unionize mills in Gastonia, North Carolina in 1929.

4. The Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch ***

5. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue ****

April you are making great progress this year keep it up!

6. Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 by David McCullough *****

You are doing great! Hoping March is a great month for you.

7. Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens *****

8. Provenance by Ann Leckie ***

Looks like you're off to a great start, April! How are you coming along on your page goal?
Keep it up and have a great weekend!

Lisa wrote: "Looks like you're off to a great start, April! How are you coming along on your page goal?
Keep it up and have a great weekend!"

Hey, Lisa, March is going great. I read two big chunksters in February that I didn't finish until March, so my page count will take a big jump at the end of March. Take care!

9. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead *****

A reread for book group.

10. Elmet by Fiona Mozley ****

Wow, just wow! I feel like I've been run over by a train.

11. Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper ***

I just needed something light after the last 2 books.

Kristin wrote: "It looks like you've read some really great books this year, April. Any that you would recommend over others?"

Hi, Kristin. Actually I feel like I'm having a really strange reading year so far. There are some books on this year's list that are really unusual choices for me. I had a very strange reaction after a very close reread of The Underground Railroad followed by Elmet. I was so exhausted emotionally by the violence that it almost felt physical. I tried to find something light to read after, but both choices just made me tired. Etta and Otto and Russell and James was fine, but sad. Now, I've just finished Ten White Geese by Gerbrand Bakker and it was draining. I need something on the light side, but not brainless. Any suggestions? My favorites have been Our Mutual Friend, The Underground Railroad, and Path Between the Seas (we're going on a cruise through the Panama Canal next month!)

12. Ten White Geese by Gerbrand Bakker ***

13. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle ***

Kristin wrote: "I read a lot of emotionally difficult books the past few years and now, so I have actually been reading children's books again and I think it really helps. I am almost finished with The Girl Who Ci..."

Thanks for the suggestions, Kristin. Those look great. I loved The Night Circus, and I'm familiar with Like Water for Chocolate, but I haven't read the others. I'll check them out. Thanks, again!

14. The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas ***

15. Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow ****

A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. I hope that April brings you many more five star reads.

16. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens ****

17. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin ****

“Reading brings us unknown friends” While the warm weather is coming I hope you make some new friends in May!

Kristin wrote: "How was The Immortalists? I see it got 4 stars from you, so I'm guessing it was pretty good. I've had it on my list for a while and it's on hold from the library. Have you found any..."

Krisitn, I enjoyed The Immortalists. I have a few quibbles about it, but I think you'll enjoy it.

I seem to be out of my doldrums after the heavy reading I did back in March. I wouldn't say any of my "lighter" reads have been helpful, but at least I'm moving forward. You'll laugh when I tell you I'm reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich! I started reading it in high school and decided I needed to give it another try. I'm also reading Twain and Stanley Enter Paradise by Oscar Hijuelos. I almost quit reading this one. The first part of the book was so much like Great Expectations--a coming of age story--that I just didn't want to go there again. I persevered, though, and the story changed course, so I decided to finish it. It seemed a pity not to finish a book by Hijuelos. Hope your reading year is going well!

Kristin, I don't think I'm going to get to Middlemarch this year, either. I have to tell you about one of the book tubers over at You Tube. Her name is Katie and she posts her videos as Books and Things. She's a British gal who got her degrees in Victorian Lit. A couple years ago she led a reading of Our Mutual Friend. They read the book in publication order, and since it was originally serialized they read one section per month. She would post a video once a month covering just the section that was published that month. It took about 18 months for the group to read the book. I discovered it after they had finished, so I read the book in the serialized sections, only I read one section each day and then watched Katie's video. It was a great way to read the book. She's doing that again for Bleak House. I'm going to wait until they're finished and then read it like I did Our Mutual Friend, but there's a group here at Goodreads called Victorian-style Dickens Readalong--Bleak House. Check out her videos. They weren't super in-depth, but I really enjoyed how watching them added to my reading of Our Mutual Friend.

18. Twain & Stanley Enter Paradise by Oscar Hijuelos ****

19. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert ***

20. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz ***

21. 1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose *****

19. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz ***

20. 1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose *****

21. A Higher Loyalty by James Comey ****

22. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert ***