Aside from setting my 2012 writing goals, I decided to give myself an additional goal by joining the Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge. After all, to be a writer is to be a reader. Even though I already have a habit of reading a respectable number of books each year, I thought it might be fun to set a number and go for it.
The first six months of 2012 went very well as I averaged about 1 book every week or so, but by summer I got very distracted with writing and craft projects. As a result, I had to start reading like a lunatic from September to December!Β Despite my irregular reading schedule, I managed to reach my goal of reading 30 books before the end of the year. Yay!
In addition to reading 30 books, I made a secondary goal of writing a snapshot review for each book, (see My Bookshelf). Most of the time, I was able to stay on track with this, but there were multiple times throughout the year where I fell behind (most notably November and December). That being said, I’m happy to report every review was completed before the end of December.
While all the titles I read are listed on My Bookshelf, I really love seeing a grid of book covers that shows the wide variety of books I read this year. I read everything from classic literature, non-fiction, and biography to trashy romance novels, young adult, and children’s books. There’s nothing like a little diversity to fire up my muse!
Now, it looks like a I cheated a bit with Mr. Happy and friends, but these books are very special to me. I read them when I was a kid and they were always among my favorites. As an adult, I haven’t so much as seen a Mr. Men or Little Miss book until I went to London in 2011. My love of them was rekindled and so was my desire to read them again. This year I received a boxed set of the first ten books in the series as a gift for Christmas and I was so excited! They are still wonderful little books!
– – –
As for the 2013 Reading Challenge, I’ve already jumped in with a goal of reading 30 books.
Are you up for the challenge? Check out Goodreads and sign up!
– – –
c.b.w. 2012
what do you do to get your goodreads widget to show I can’t work it out I couldn’t do it last year
LikeLike
Are you trying to make the widget work on your blog or on the Goodreads site? There’s a trick for both. Let me know, so we can get you squared away!
LikeLike
on my blog I failed miserably last year at getting it to work and gave up resorting to just the badge
LikeLike
I ran into the same problem last year until figured out what was going on. The widget does not self-update. Every time you add a new book to your goal, you have to re-copy the code (from the widget section on goodreads) and paste it into your widget section on wordpress. It’s a little annoying, but I turned it into a reward system . . . “Yay! I finished a book so I get to re-copy code!” Yeah, I’m a dork.
LikeLike
did you post the widget link on the goodreads widget or as an image?
LikeLike
Post the code using the “text” feature in your wordpress widget section.
LikeLike
I tried that and it just showed the text will try again
LikeLike
A link won’t work – you’ll need the code that’s available in the widget section on Goodreads (it’ll be on your My Books page along the left hand side).
LikeLike
got in now thank you why do they have to make everything so complicated – or is it just me
LikeLike
It’s waaaay more complicated than it needs to be. π
I’m glad you got it to work!
LikeLike
Good going!!! I didn’t meet my goal. I love your book choices. I see I have to add more to my TBR list.
LikeLike
I had a weird assortment of books this year, but it was fun nonetheless. π
Maybe this year you’ll hit the magic number!
LikeLike
Going to have to give this a try.
LikeLike
Yay! I saw you set a goal today. It’ll be fun to do this together. π
LikeLike
WOW! π
LikeLike
LOL! π What can I say? I love to read.
LikeLike
So much achievement! Congrats! I thought about setting a goal for reading this year, and I’m wondering if reading through recipe books checked out from the library (in search of good vegetarian recipes) counts.
LikeLike
Recipe books totally count. Any book counts! π
LikeLike
It is always wonderful to reach a goal–maybe I will jump on the bandwagon with you–Happy New Year and Happy Reading and Writing!
LikeLike
Ooo, if you decide to join the challenge find me on Goodreads. π
Happy New Year to you as well!
LikeLike
I think I may have but I am not sure —
LikeLike
OK, I’m game! You’ve inspired me to take the challenge! If for no other reason than to see those pretty little cover thumbnails spread out across a page so divinely!
Congrats on this well-rounded and impressive accomplishment!
LikeLike
Yay! Let’s see if we can connect on Goodreads. π
The book covers really are fun to collect. I don’t know why, but like you, I love seeing them all in a grid with so much color and vibrancy.
LikeLike
Well done! I love goodness am going to follow your lead and set myself a challenge too!
LikeLike
Good reads I mean!
LikeLike
Yay! I can’t wait to see what you’ll be reading this year. π
LikeLike
Good for you!
I have Goodreads too, but if I’d taken this challenge, there would be no variety whatsoever π
Read quite a few books last year, but almost all of them were by the same author [Erica James + Maureen Lee]. When you find someone you really like … why change a winning concept π
LikeLike
All reading is good reading! π
LikeLike
Awesome! I set my goal for 25 this year…I think I read 19 this last year. I want to know out of the books you read which ones you recommend the most….also…I want to know what you thought of the Fifty Shades Trilogy! I read them but haven’t met too many people around here in Utah willing to admit they read them too π so I we can compare notes!
LikeLike
I gush about the Fifty Shades Trilogy with a friend of mine at work – the only other person I know who has read it and will admit to it. I loved it as an escapist, brain-easy series. It was fun to analyze the characters and immerse myself in the fantasy. No matter its faults, it was a fun read!
Have you read Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series? If you liked 50 Shades, you’ll like these, too. π
As for my favorites this year:
“How to Be a Woman” by Caitlin Moran
“Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper” by Harriet Scott Chessman
“Every Love Story is a Ghost Story” by D.T. Max
Let’s connect on goodreads! π
LikeLike
Congrats! Definitely an interesting mix there. I’ve rediscovered the Mr Men too, via my daughter – they’re great stories!!
LikeLike
I love how universal the Mr. Men and Little Miss stories are. No matter age, gender, or background, they are always wonderful stories. π
LikeLike
You have TOTALLY inspired me to set measurable goals and stick to them this year. I’m so impressed with how many books you read!!
LikeLike
It’s amazing what a to-do list can do for motivation. π I like watching that little bar graph grow and it freaks me out when I fall behind. Call it a personality flaw, but I don’t like to fail. Lol! π
LikeLike
Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’ – a must for every female writer!
LikeLike
I agree. π
LikeLike
Congratulations CB π
Xx
LikeLike
Thanks! π
LikeLike
I jumped in. My goal is to read that many non fiction books so it will be a great challenge for me.
LikeLike
Ooo, that is a challenge. π
LikeLike
Awesome! I was two books short π¦
LikeLike
I thought I was going to miss the deadline but then those wonderful little books showed up under my Christmas tree. π
LikeLike
I am so impressed by your energy and determination. Thanks for inspiring me this year. Get going…is there a novel #3 beginning to take shape?
LikeLike
I started the notes on #3 this week. π As soon as Novel #2 revisions are complete, I’m going to jump right into writing the sequel.
LikeLike