2-3-4 Challenge discussion

Let's take a look at our results for 2021:

1. How did you do with your goals for the year?
2. What were your most outstanding series that you read during the year?
3. What were your most favorite books read (series and standalone)?
4. What were you the most proud of accomplishing this year?

1. How did you do with your goals for the year?
Goal of 60 completed on 12/31!

2. What were your most outstanding series that you read during the year?
Bone Grace series by Kathryn Purdie
The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Bishop Security by Debbie Baldwin
The Dark Artificies

3. What were your most favorite books read (series and standalone)?
See above list.
Standalones:
The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben

4. What were you the most proud of accomplishing this year?
I completed all my goals. I had a hard time finding series to get caught up on and complete. I started looking early for 2022 and know what I want to do this year.

Congratulations, Melissa! I know what a big deal it is for you to have met that 60 books read goal. Love that you identified your series targets for 2022.

1. How did you do with your goals for the year?

This is my best year ever. I completed 192 books.

My goal for 2020 was 150, but after my granddaughter died, we were so devastated for months, my brain couldn’t concentrate on reading. I set a goal of 150 books again for 2021, but the depression and inability to concentrate on a story carried forward. Instead of participating in the buddy reads at the beginning of the year, I pulled out Naked in Death. Robb and Ericksen pulled me into the Eve/Roarke world completely. I continued with a re-listen to the entire series. This series put me back in the right frame of mind for a regular reading routine. Three Cheers for JD Robb/Nora Roberts!

2. What were your most outstanding series that you read during the year?

I love the following series that I carried forward from previous years:
In Death
Kim Stone
Sebastian St. Cyr
Will Trent
Lucy Kincaid

New Series that I found in 2021 and love.
Troubleshooters
Max Revere
The Anna Albertini Series (Complete)
Maggie Hope

3. What were your most favorite books read (series and standalone)?

Every book I read in the series listed above. I will continue with each series. I also loved the Karen Rose series. There were many five stars for me.

My favorite standalone was The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by Paul McCartney. It is a unique way to write an autobiography. I’ve only read the first book in the duet so far, but each page brings back wonderful memories.

4. What were you the most proud of accomplishing this year?

I am most proud of my reading time with my granddaughter. It was fun to help her pick out books and read along.

Also, completing the 20 + 21 challenge and the Mystery sub-genre challenge. I started all the challenges late in the year and didn’t think I would complete any of them. I was close on several others, but Thanksgiving to Christmas was more family time than reading time. I'm not complaining. I have a beautiful and loving family.

1. How did you do with your goals for the year?
I set a goal of 101 books for 2021, and ended up reading 143 which the most I've ever read in a year. I think it is the addition of more audiobooks that gave me the extra books.

2. What were your most outstanding series that you read during the year?
My outstanding series were:
D.I. Kim Stone by Angela Marsons
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan
Callahan & McLane by Kendra Elliot
Bishop Security by Debbie Baldwin
Morgan Dane by Melinda Leigh

3. What were your most favorite books read (series and standalone)?
Along with books from the above series, other favorites are:
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Once Upon a Time Travel by Sariah Wilson
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens
Girl Blue by Maggie Stevens
Open Country by Kaki Warner
No Hiding in Boise by Kim Hooper

4. What were you the most proud of accomplishing this year? I'm happy that I finished all of my challenges this year. I cut it close and finished my goal of completing 10 series the last week of the year.

1. How did you do with your goals for the year?
See my rundown below

2. What were your most outstanding series that you read during the year?
I've had several 5 star books last year. With series they tend to be some great and some average and a bunch in between but here are my favorites so far (some series I haven't finished)

Troubleshooters by Suzanne Brockmann
Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris
Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger
Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson
Spindle Cove by Tessa Dare
Search and Rescue by Katie Ruggle
Colorado Mountain by Kristen Ashley
Mystic Bayou by Molly Harper
Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore

3. What were your most favorite books read (series and standalone)?
Gone Too Far Suzanne Brockmann
Hot Target Suzanne Brockmann
Timeless Gail Carriger
Changeless Gail Carriger
Gone Too Deep Katie Ruggle
The House in the Cerulean Sea YJ Klune
Love and Other Words Christina Lauren
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

4. What were you the most proud of accomplishing this year?
I liked the number of books I read this year. It wasn't as much as the year before but in 2020 my job (like many) was closed for 3.5 months so I had a lot more "vacation" time than I did this last year. 221 in 2020 compared to 168 in 21.

Full break down.....

These were my goals for last year. I ended up putting my goal for GR at 200 for some reason...but only 100 here LOL.

Progress 168/100

Read 100 Books for the year in 2021 of which....
--30 of which are Galleys (9/30) this was terrible
--30 of which should be already owned (83/30)
--5 or more should be Kindle Freebies (7/5)
--Make progress in 20 series focusing on stagnant ones (41/20) (12 stagnant ones)
--Finish 5 series that are completed (3/5)
--Get up to date in 5 ongoing series (5/5)