Holly: I never used to set reading goals/challenges for myself, because I would always end up with reading anxiety when I did. “I’m supposed to read 100 books this year and it’s December and I’ve only read 75!?!?!” Then I’d get so freaked out I’d give myself readers-block (it’s a real thing!) and not be able to read at all.
The last few years I’ve done a number challenge (211, 200, 200, etc), and did pretty well with it. I didn’t freak myself out because I just considered it a way to track my reads, which I’ve been doing for years now. This year, however, I’m going to set a few reading goals. I want to broaden my reading horizons, and get out of my comfort zone more.
In an effort to do that, I plan to continue to read new-to-me authors. I read 48 new authors in 2013 and 46 in 2014. That averages out to about 4 per month. Not terrible, but when you consider I average approximately 20 books per month, I feel like I could be doing better. I’m also going to try to branch out and read things beside contemporary romance. I read 136 contemps in 2014, and less than half that many paranormals. The numbers of historical, rom-suspense and other sub-genres was negligible. I also joined a reading challenge to help me cull down my TBR pile and motivate me to read outside my comfort zone. I found this challenge on Pinterest. Rowena has agreed to do it with me. (I ‘m also considering this challenge, also found on Pinterest. I haven’t decided if I’ll do one or both.)
To summarize, or the TL;DR version:
1. Read more sub-genres
2. Read more new authors
3. Finish the 2015 Reading Challenge
Rowena: 2015 was going to be the year that I take a break from reading challenges. It was going to be the year that I read whatever I want, whenever I want and not be bogged down with review books and whatever else but I can’t help myself. I like reading challenges. They’re good for variety because like Holly, I read a lot of contemporary books so the goals I’m setting are to get me out of my comfort zone and try new to me things. I won’t know if I like something until I try it, right?
I have a tendency to stick to what I know and what has worked with me. So if a new to me author is popular, I won’t try them out until someone I know personally recommends them. And even then, it might take me years. Haha.
I belong to a book club that meets once a month to discuss books and last year, there were a few times that I didn’t read the book and couldn’t participate in the discussion. That ends this year. I will read and discuss every single book that we choose to read as a club.
So aside from the 2015 reading challenge with Holly, my reading goals are:
- Read more new to me authors
- Read more sub-genres
- Read all of my book club picks
- Read more for me and not anyone else
Did you join any challenges in 2015? What are your reading goals?
I don’t like challenges for me – cos then I get reading anxiety and don’t enjoy the books . . and that is my primary goal, to enjoy my reading 😀
I did step out of my comfort zone a little last year and so I think I will try that again this year, maybe pick up on some good new authors. That’s about it 😀
Which authors do you want to try out this year?
No specific authors in mind – open to a good review or an attractive blurb! Which is why I haunt blogs like yours 😀
I keep seeing this thing about read out of the comfort zone and…I don’t get it.
I read for pleasure, why should I force myself to read something I am not comfortable with?
That said, I read pretty much all subgenres of romance equally, all I need is for the blurb to appeal to me, or have someone whose tastes I know talk about the book, and there I go, so perhaps that’s why I don’t feel any need whatsoever to broaden my reading horizons.
As for challenges, I can barely keep up with Wendy’s TBR Challenge, and I don’t keep track of what I read otherwise, so… :grin;
I think the tl;dr version of this comment is: I’m too lazy for these things 😉
I’ve been trying to read outside my comfort zone because I DON’T already read all sub genres, I suppose. I will probably always love romantic suspense most, but I’m trying to broaden my horizons. I’ve certainly come across books and sub genres I didn’t enjoy and won’t be returning to, but I’ve also been surprised by some books I didn’t think I’d like.
Like Jen, I don’t read across all sub-genres. Sure, I’ll pick up the occasional pnr or whatever, but I have a mental block when it comes to reading things outside my favorites. That even includes tropes or plots I don’t favor. I know I miss out on a lot of great novels because of that, so I really have to push myself to read from a more varied range of books.
I love the 26 books challenge
I love this 26 book challenge! I might have to give it a shot myself. Maybe seeing you two do it will motivate me. 🙂
You two should join us in the challenge.
Ok I’m in. I need to publicly state my intent or I’ll never do it!