Third Quarter Check-In: 2022 Plans and Challenges

One of the handful of things I dropped the ball on recently was this check-in. I appreciate—and can use—the time to plan and organize, and hopefully, someone enjoys reading them.

I didn’t have many concrete plans for 2022, but one that I mentioned was “Cut down on my Goodreads Want-to-Read list and the unread books that I own (a perennial project, but I made some strides last year).” How am I doing on that?

That’s…not good. I did have to burn a few Audible credits…and then there was this sale, and…and…ugh. Other than that, I’m still doing pretty well at reading what I buy this year. But, this is really not what I’d hoped to see at this point of the year.

Let’s see how I’m doing with the rest of my plans and move on to the Reading Challenges…
2022 Book Challenges

12 Books
I’m doing well with this one, but am a little intimidated by the book I have slated for November—it’s a little on the longer side and if it’s as good as Micah says, I’m going to lose a lot of 2023 to the rest of the series. (a good problem to have)

2022 “Support Book Bloggers” Challenge

I decided to nix this one—I’m working on all the things mentioned here, but feel a little uncomfortable doing these things because of a checklist—and even more awkward about discussing it. But I’m mentioning it again, because I like the idea and want to spread the word about the efforts (it’s just not for me)

2022 While I was Reading

I’m doing okay on this—as usual, I’m not really planning the books for this challenge. When October hits, if I haven’t read everything on the list, I’ll get serious about hunting.

1. A book with a question in the title.: I have an idea for this, but I’m not sure a local library will get it next month when it comes out, and I don’t know that I want to spend money on it. Hmmm…we’ll if I have to get clever.
2. A book of non-violent true crime.: Blessed Are the Bank Robbers: The True Adventures of an Evangelical Outlaw by Chas Smith
3. A book with a cover you don’t like.: Composite Creatures (the style of the art just bugs me)
4. A historical fiction novel not set in Europe.: A Snake in the Raspberry Patch by Joanne Jackson
5. A book with a character’s name in the title.: With Grimm Resolve
6. A book featuring paranormal activity (fiction or non.): That’s like a third of what I’ve read this year…I guess I’ll go with Amongst Our Weapons
7. A book with a number in the title.: Citizen K-9
8. A food related memoir.: I have no idea. Literally.
9. A book that’s won an award.: I’ve read a few of these, I just need to track down a title for this blank
10. A middle grade novel.: How to Save a Superhero by Ruth Freeman
11. A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign.: This one is going to be hard—it also comes close to disclosing more personal information than I want to share—but I think I’ve got one in mind.
12. A book that’s a combination of genres.: Bloodlines by Peter Hartog (I also used this for the next challenge, so I’ll probably replace this on the final list)

Your TBR Reduction Book Challenge

I’m hitting the target on this one—I’ve only managed to hit 1 Stretch Goal (I don’t have many books that apply to the stretches, actually). This isn’t helping that much with my reduce the TBR plan, but it’s not hurting it. So there’s that.

In the months to come, I’m going to have to get creative to find a way to match the challenge with a book. I’m eager to see if I can pull it off.
January – New Beginnings I give you permission to read the most recent book you got on top of your TBR.: Bloodlines by Peter Hartog
Stretch Goal – Read the oldest book in Mount TBR it has waited long enough: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
February – Valentine’s Day Gift
Is there that book by an author you love you picked up and still haven’t read because you do not deserve it just yet? Other items got in the way? You have for this challenge to pick that book up and read it: Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
March – Fresh blooms
For the beginning of Spring I want you to open a book in the TBR pile by an author you’ve never read before: The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson
April – New Openings
April is derived from the Latin for ‘to open’ In Mount TBR there may be the first book of a series. Your challenge is to read: Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker
May – Randommmmm
You MAY pick one random book out of Mount TBR and you must read it: Conjured Defense by J.C. Jackson
June – The Longest Day
Find the longest book in Mount TBR and you must read it: The Border by Don Winslow
July – You Came, You Read and You Conquered
In your TBR there may have been a book you know will be a challenging read. Show it who is the Emperor and read that book until it screams for your mercy and then finish it! AMORALMAN by Derek Delgaudio
August – Holidayyyyy
Pick a book that takes you away to another place. Read it and relax: The Ghost Machine by James Lovegrove
September – Back to School
Pick a book with some link to education. Dark Academia; dangerous school, etc.: The Days of Tao by Wesley Chu (I had a hard time finding something for this prompt, and was so happy when I remembered this started at a summer class)

(Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay)