Category: Miscellany Page 13 of 15

Catching up on things like this is a nice way to spend a day off, I guess. Earlier, I checked-in on my 20 Books of Summer Challenge, and now let’s take a look at the rest.

One of the few concrete plans that I shared back in January 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?

The good news is that I’ve read most of what I’ve bought this year, I’m just not whittling away at the older things. But I do fully expect to see a noticeable change in the physical and e-book numbers by the end of this quarter. Actually, I’ll probably see a noticeable change in the audiobooks, too–I have a handful credits set to expire soon. Well…this is discouraging.

I’m doing a little better with the rest of my plans. A little.

Let’s move on to the Reading Challenges…
2022 Book Challenges

12 Books
I’m still on track for finishing this one with no effort (although I didn’t finish the one I’d earmarked for June in the month, but I should have it done by the end of today/mid-tomorrow)

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.:
2. A book of non-violent true crime.: I have an idea or two about this one.
3. A book with a cover you don’t like.: I have a couple of contenders for this one. It’s possible that when I read them, they’ll win me over, so I’ll hold my ifre on this.
4. A historical fiction novel not set in Europe.: I’ve read a couple already this year that would technically work, but I’m going to see if I get a more straightforward historical fiction.
5. A book with a character’s name in the title.: I’ve got With Grimm Resolve coming up this month.
6. A book featuring paranormal activity (fiction or non.):
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.:
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. That it also comes close to disclosing more personal information than I want to share.
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

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

Well, this was a humbling post to work on. I’ve got work to do!

One of the few concrete plans that I shared back in January 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?

I’m doing a little better with the rest of my plans. A little.

Let’s move on to the Reading Challenges…
2022 Book Challenges

12 Books
I’m on track for finishing this one with no effort–. I still need 1 more recommendation, by the way. (hint, hint)

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 it because of a checklist–and even more awkward about discussing it.

(still think it’s a good idea, 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.:
2. A book of non-violent true crime.: I have an idea or two about this one.
3. A book with a cover you don’t like.:
4. A historical fiction novel not set in Europe.:
5. A book with a character’s name in the title.:
6. A book featuring paranormal activity (fiction or non.):
7. A book with a number in the title.: Citizen K-9 (starting it this week, which is Quarter 2, but eh…)
8. A food related memoir.: I have no idea
9. A book that’s won an award.:
10. A middle grade novel.: How to Save a Superhero by Ruth Freeman
11. A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign.:
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 even managed 1 Stretch Goal. You’ll note how this isn’t helping that much with my reduce the TBR plan.
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

I’ve already started planning the 20 Books of Summer Challenge, mostly books that I told myself I’d read in January/February.

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

Thanks to Facebook’s On This Day, today I was reminded of my 2014 New Year’s Reading Resolutions. Boy Howdy, did I do a lousy job with those. Of the 12 specific resolutions, I still need to accomplish at least 5 (there’s room for interpretation on a couple of them)—I still want to accomplish 4 of them. Maybe this reminder will help?*

* Yeah, I’m not counting on that, either. But it’s nice to dream.

So, I’m reticent to get into calling my shots, as it were, too much anymore—there’s a project from 2020 still hanging over my head, too. And a few others, too, I’m sure—I just don’t want to go spelunking through the archives to find more personal failures (minor, to be sure, but technically failures).

So, here’s what I’m going to shoot for around here in the next 12 months.
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)—one of the Book Challenges this year should be a fun way to help.
I’m going to finish my Classic Spenser series and maybe find another Classic to do a project read-through. We’ll see about that. (I added this one after scheduling this post, but you know what? I’ve been kicking myself for ages for dropping this…)
Be pickier in the Book Tours I participate in—I’ve already started this (Damp Pebbles Blog Tours ceasing operations helped, too—no slight intended to the Tour Organizers I still enjoy working with, but Emma was better at getting me to take risks). I still like Tours, they expose me to things I wouldn’t normally read—and I’m going to keep doing them. But I’m going to be pickier about them.
Similarly, I’m doing fewer Book Challenges. I like the ones I’ve picked out—but they’re concrete things, no more of these “Read as Many of X as You Can” challenges. They don’t move the needle one bit for me as far as picking books—I read as many as I’m going to anyway, just with a count. But Challenges with specific targets can be fun. I’ll talk about those in a minute.
Get better at proofreading—apparently, there’s a need.
Try to interview more authors (maybe others, too?), and get better at that, too.
There are a few other ideas, but they’re harder to explain than to just do. You’ll know them if you see them.

2022 Book Challenges

12 Books
Perhaps you’ve seen this on everyone’s timeline this last week or so—12 months to read 12 books recommended by 12 friends. This looked like a great way to read something out of my wheelhouse—and so far, it should be. Only 1 of the 9 recommended so far is something that I’d have really considered. I still need 3 more recommendations—so hit the comments, folks!

2022 “Support Book Bloggers” Challenge

This just looks like fun, mostly things I should be doing anyway. Go check it out.

2022 While I was Reading

I’ve done this one for the last few years—and Ramona’s done a great job of stretching me. And will continue to do so—this year’s categories are more challenging than I’m used to (I have to figure out authors’ astrological signs?).

Your TBR Reduction Book Challenge

I dig the way this one is organized—if nothing else, my TBR should go down by 12. 🙂

I’ll also undoubtedly do the 20 Books of Summer Challenge…that’s been pretty fun.

That’s everything I have planned, I can’t wait to see what unplanned things happen around here. Hope you’re around to join in the fun!

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