2-3-4 Challenge discussion

It’s that time to begin thinking about the new year! Hopefully, you have already given this some thought and are ready to start stating your goals for our challenge in the coming year.

Since we all have different numbers of series with variable numbers of books within each series, it's impossible to set plain "number of series" goals for comparison. And, we all have different approaches to tackling our TBR shelves and series. But! We have a common objective in making a dent in those shelves.

So, tell us what you're hoping to achieve with this challenge in 2021? I'll set them up in the Reading Tracker as they're added here.

The only challenge I've given up ever having success with( meaning actually getting to the goal number) is Completed series.
Up-to-date, and advanced? I love those. it and of force me to not forget any and make sure I actually make progress.

now I just need to set my goals for them.

My 2021 book goals are:

1: Read 35 books
2: Read 10 cozy mysteries
3: Read 1-2 nonfiction books

2021 Goals

Average 20 Books a month

5 -2-3-4 selections
5 New releases, new series
5 Challenge books
5 mood reads

30 - completed series
10 - Up to date

30 completed❓❗ that alone needs luck

I'm still trying to get a list together

Michelle wrote: "30 completed❓❗ that alone needs luck

I'm still trying to get a list together"

I have so many series started it is actually pretty easy. That and I read a bunch of trilogies.

Aahhh. Make sense.
I always forget about the trilogies.

My 2021 goals

Read 300 books
20 series up to date
5 - new authors
10- new series.

I should probably have divorce author /series( you know those that are just going on with no end in sight but have lost its excitement etc) ,
Trilogies/duets and advance in series but I already have 4 other challenges I'm trying not to make me crazy with 2021 challenges.

I would like to diversify my reading a bit this year, so I've decided on the following goals:

1. Read 10 books by AOC
2. Complete 5 series in different genres
3. Complete 5 stagnated series

You have all put some great thought into developing your goals! I love how they’ve become more tailored to your own individual reading styles. And, you’ve given me some ideas!

I’m adding trackers that should cover your goals (except those covered by the Goodreads Reading Challenge). Let me know if I haven’t got you completely covered.

Lauren wrote: "I would like to diversify my reading a bit this year, so I've decided on the following goals:

1. Read 10 books by AOC
2. Complete 5 series in different genres
3. Complete 5 stagnated series"

Lauren, do you have criteria for stagnated series? One year? More than one year?

Laura wrote: "2021 Goals

Average 20 Books a month

5 -2-3-4 selections
5 New releases, new series
5 Challenge books
5 mood reads

30 - completed series
10 - Up to date"

Laura, help me out with mood reads. Are these those that aren’t on your plan and/or shelf?

Every year I’ve had the same goals and this year I’m changing things up. I still want to track those series where I’m up to date and completed, but I’m lowering the completed goal significantly as authors don’t seem to want to end a series anymore.

I also like the idea of authors of color/different culture and want to focus on reading more by writers in this category. I also learned that it is extremely satisfying to read standalones. As much as I love my series reading, the “one-and-done” reads provide a high level of satisfaction.

1. Series Completed - 5
2. Series Up to Date - 10
3. Authors of Another Culture - 5
4. Standalones - 24

I'm always surprised when I read a standalone. I somehow don't find a lot of those or I'd joined you Jonetta.

I'm fascinated by the authors of another culture. That sounds interesting.

Michelle, I’ve become fans of quite a few authors who only write standalones (Lisa Jewel, J. P. Delaney, Liz Nugent, Fredrik Backman,etc.) and they all seem to release books annually. I’m grateful to friends who’ve introduced me to a whole new arena of writers.

Oh Jonetta. What would we do without those friends? Besides the recommended the reviews. And those roundups? They lead me to some interesting places.

Oh, those roundups are dangerous!

Jonetta wrote: "Laura wrote: "2021 Goals

Average 20 Books a month

5 -2-3-4 selections
5 New releases, new series
5 Challenge books
5 mood reads

30 - completed series
10 - Up to date"

Laura, help me..."

Books not on my plan.Maybe a new rec I get, or something new on KU, or an unplanned binge. I sometimes felt chained to my list this year, so I’m giving myself permission to run amuck.

Thanks! Okay if I name the tracker Unscheduled/Mood Selections?

Jonetta wrote: "Thanks! Okay if I name the tracker Unscheduled/Mood Selections?"

Sure!

My goals for 2021:

1. Read 110 books.
2. Complete/Up-to-date on 20 series.
3. Read 20 Standalone books.

Jonetta wrote: "Lauren, do you have criteria for stagnated series? One year? More than one year?"

At least 2 years, usually more.

Jonetta wrote: "As much as I love my series reading, the “one-and-done” reads provide a high level of satisfaction.."

Yes! Sometimes I just need it to be over in one book.

I'm probably going to stick with what I had this year:

Read 60 books
Read 23,000 pages
Read 5 books that have been made into movies/TV shows
Read 3 trilogies
Complete 3 series
Get up-to-date in 3 series

This year with everything that's happened I got caught in an awful reading slump and I've failed all kinds of challenges, so for next year I'm not setting many goals:

Read 52 books
Complete or get up to date in 5 series

And I want to copy Michelle's suggestion and go through my list and abandon any series I don't feel like continuing any more.

I've done remarkably well with my 2020 goals....a bright spot in this trying year for sure. With that thought I'm not going to change my goals all that much except I do like the idea of reading stagnant series. I have tons of them.

Progress 0/90

Read 100 Books in 2021 of which....
--30 of which are Galleys (5/30)
--30 of which should be already owned (0/30)
--5 or more should be Kindle Freebies (2/5)
--Make progress in 20 series focusing on stagnant ones (0/20)
--Finish 5 series that are completed (0/5)
--Get up to date in 5 ongoing series (0/5)

You’ve been missed, Giulia! Smart of you to not set yourself up to fail.

Well done, Christina!

~ Giulia ~ wrote: "And I want to copy Michelle's suggestion and go through my list and abandon any series I don't feel like continuing any more"

Better luck this year, Giulia!

I agree with Michelle's suggestion too. I've been going through my TBR every so often and removing those books from series I am never going to continue as well as trying to read the next book in series that I do want to finish.

Christina T wrote: "I've done remarkably well with my 2020 goals....a bright spot in this trying year for sure. With that thought I'm not going to change my goals all that much except I do like the idea of reading sta..."

Way to go, Christina! You've had a great year reading wise.

My Goals for 2021

1 book for each week. So a minimum of 52 books for 2021

I wasn't great at reading series last year. I don't think I read more than one book in each series (with the exception of duologies, where I reread the first)

So, 2021.

⚪Read more sequels than series starters (rereads count)
⚪Catch up/complete 6 series - trilogies or longer (true goal is 3 and 3, but I will be happy with 6 total)
⚪At least 50% of books read borrowed or owned pre 2021
⚪Read 25,000 pages
⚪Advance to book 3 in 5 new series (as in, read book 2)

My goals for 2021:
- read 60 books
- read 15 books I bought before 2021
- read at least 50% of the books I buy in 2021
- finish 4 series
- get up to date in 2 series
- Advance in 10 series (includes new started series)
- Read 20 series books (includes everything)
- Read at least 13 books over 400 pages long

1. Finish/Catch up (new this year) 4 series
2. Catch up or Stay Caught up with all series that are current
3. Start no move than 5 series. ✔
4. Complete 104 books total. 10/104
5.Read the next 5 books in Agatha Raisin 1/5
6. Read the next 2 books in Seaside Knitters 0/2
7. Read the next book in 3 series not listed in #1 or #2 ✔✔
8. #unreadshelfproject2021: Read 12 books from my shelves (owned prior to 2021) and donate them
✔
9. Purchase/intake no more than 20 books.

2021 Goals:
153 books read
Get caught up on Karen Rose books
Read the last two books in The Magisterium series
Finish series:
Wilds of the Bayou
Treasure Hunters
The Collectors

2021 Reading Goals (some already set prior to this)

1. Authors to match American demographics by race/visible minority for my first 100 books of 2021 (already started) although they don't have to be American authors

2. read 150 books or more, although I am not sure if I put that many in my Goodreads goals since I may have set it lower earlier in the year

3. Start and finish the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries

4. read 2021 new installments in series I am already reading

5. Read at least two more of the Inspector de Silva mysteries (just read the first before joining, so won't count that one as this one will truly be in the 2,3,4... idea) and of the silly Lacey Luzzi books (really good for meeting certain challenges, though)

6. read at least 21 books that are part of series, and I can start the count here from after today, since I will probably read more.

Karin,

Would the Authors of Color tracker work for your first goal? I think the Series Up to Date tracker would work for your 4th goal.

All of your book reading associated with a series count in this challenge.

Jonetta wrote: "Karin,

Would the Authors of Color tracker work for your first goal? I think the Series Up to Date tracker would work for your 4th goal.

All of your book reading associated with a series count in..."


Excellent! I can use authors of colour for the visible demographics part (I am reading white authors, too, but no more than 57 books from the first 100, which is a bit lower since I rounded up the half percents). I'll add those later, and also the Series Up to Date. Is it okay if some books make both lists? The mystery series where the sleuth in an orchestra director is by a black author.

Those tracker are for your convenience, use as you see fit. I add more if they don’t fit so let me know.

Finished my goals fort he year.

2021 Goals

Read 5 books by AOC
✔︎ 1. Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid
✔︎ 2. Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh
✔︎ 3. Extreme Honor by Piper J. Drake
✔︎ 4. Wicked in His Arms by Stacy Reid
✔︎ 5. A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev

Complete 5 series in different genres
✔︎ 1. Historical Mystery - Kurland St. Mary Mysteries by Catherine Lloyd
✔︎ 2. Urban Fantasy - Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
✔︎ 3. Post Apocalypse - Chronicles of the One by Nora Roberts
✔︎ 4. Historical Romance - Victorian Rebels by Kerrigan Byrne
✔︎ 5. Romantic Suspense - Tall, Dark and Dangerous by Cara Summers

Complete 5 stagnated series
✔︎ 1. The Perfect Gentlemen by Shayla Black & Lexi Blake
✔︎ 2. Breeds by Lora Leigh
✔︎ 3. Midnight, Texas by Charlaine Harris
✔︎ 4. Bastion Club by Stephanie Laurens
✔︎ 5. Darkest London by Kristen Callihan

Great job, Lauren!

Finished my goals for 2021:


1. Read 110 books. (I read 142+)
2. Complete/Up-to-date on 20 series. (My total was 21)
3. Read 20 Standalone books. (I finished 43)

The toughest was the complete/up-to-date on 20 series. I had divided it into 10/10. There were a couple of series that I thought were ending but found out that they will be continuing in the future.

Robin wrote: "Great job, Lauren!"

Thanks Robin!

Robin wrote: "Finished my goals for 2021:."

Wow! You did great.
I'm always of two minds when a series I thought was coming to an end continues. On the one hand, I'm glad there is another book but on the other, it pays havoc on my organization, lol!

Robin wrote: "Finished my goals for 2021:


1. Read 110 books. (I read 142+)
2. Complete/Up-to-date on 20 series. (My total was 21)
3. Read 20 Standalone books. (I finished 43)

The toughest was the complete/up-..."

Well done, Robin! It’s always a “challenge” with marking a series complete.

Lauren wrote: "Finished my goals fort he year.

2021 Goals

Read 5 books by AOC
✔︎ 1. Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid
✔︎ 2. Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh
✔︎..."

Congratulations, Lauren! That is impressive.

I worked on updating my goal progress yesterday and discovered I’d already met them!

These were my goals:
1. Series Completed - 5 (9 completed)
2. Series Up to Date - 10 (16 up to date)
3. Authors of Another Culture - 5 (19 authors, 8 different cultures)
4. Standalones - 24 (51 and still counting)

Read 60 books (will complete this week)
Read 23,000 pages ✔ (currently at 23,744)
Read 5 books that have been made into movies/TV shows ✔
Read 3 trilogies ✔
Complete 3 series ✔
Get up-to-date in 3 series ✔
I also read 11 new releases.

Jonetta wrote: "I worked on updating my goal progress yesterday and discovered I’d already met them!

These were my goals:
1. Series Completed - 5 (9 completed)
2. Series Up to Date - 10 (16 up to date)
3. Author..."

You killed it this year! Great job!

Melissa wrote: "Read 60 books (will complete this week)
Read 23,000 pages ✔ (currently at 23,744)
Read 5 books that have been made into movies/TV shows ✔
Read 3 trilogies ✔
Complete 3 series ✔
Get up-to-date in 3..."

Congratulations on finishing all of your goals!!!