2016 Reading Challenges/Goals

Each year I do some kind of reading challenge to make me think about the books I want to read in the up coming year. I do not keep a TBR shelf separate from my read shelves they all intermingle on my three bookshelves and because of this it is sometimes necessary for me to make a list of books that I want to read/need to read because I haven't read them yet.

This year's challenges that I have signed up for are:

The A-Z reading challenge hosted by the Young Adult Book Club
The Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge - my plans can be found here.


Some of my personal reading goals are:

• read at least 5 classics
• read 5 debut author books
• read 2 books by local authors 
• read at least 1 kindle book a month
• listen to at least 1 audio book a month
• finish 5 different series (2 or more books)
• Meet my goodreads challenge of 52 books read

Another one of my personal goals is to cut back on my book buying. I am currently subscribed to Uppercase box and Owlcrate which will give me my monthly fix of new releases so the only other books I really need to purchase is any books in a series I am currently keeping up on. I am working on coming up with a system for book buying and making sure that I am not buying more books than I will ever actually read.

Now, though I have all of these lofty reading goals and challenges that I would love to complete I also need to remember to not to stress about these goals. If I don't meet them, oh well. I want a challenge but I also can't forfeit my career or my health just to meet these goals. I still want reading to be fun and enjoyable for me and a way for me to relieve stress after a long day at work. 

I am really excited to get started on these challenges and I think that these challenges will help me read more diversely as well as help me cut down my TBR pile.

I would love to hear about what challenges or goals you have set for yourself and we can cheer each other on throughout the year!

My 2015 A-Z Challenge Wrap Up!

I started off this challenge with a list of books that fit each letter of the alphabet and that were on my TBR. As you probably know reading a certain book doesn't always fit your mood so I had to take a step away from the reading the books I specified and just read what I was in the mood for. So, I ended up meeting the challenge with a few more technicalities than I wanted but I completed it and I am so proud!

Here is my final list of books from A to Z:

A. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

B. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

C: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

D: Dime by E. R. Frank

E: Everyday by David Levithan

F: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

G: Golden Son by Pierce Brown

H: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff (re-read)

I: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

J.  Joyride by Anna Banks

K. Kagawa, Julie - Talon

L. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (re-read)

M. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

N. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

O. The Outsiders by SE Hinton

P. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (re-read)

Q. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

R. Rogue by Julie Kagawa

S. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

T. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

U. Uglies: Cutters by Scott Westerfeld

V. Very Good Lives by J. K. Rowling

W. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

X. AleXie, Sherman - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Y. Yoon, Nicola - Everything, Everything 

Z. Zevin, Gabrielle - The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

In 2016 I plan on participating in this challenge as well as the Around the Year in 52 Books challenge! You can check out these challenges by going to the Young Adult Book Club group for the A-Z challenge and the Around the Year in 52 Books group both of which are on Goodreads! I am also participating with the A Very Shadowhunter Read Along group in their year long (re)read of all of the Shadowhunter novels.