I’ve been seeing everyone joining in on #blogtober and I was feeling a little FOMO even though it was my fault/choice to not be more organized and join in from the start. If you haven’t heard, Blogtober is a month of blogging every single day, and thanks to Anniek and Haf, we’ve been gifted with a list of autumn/halloween related prompts for every day this month! Even though I’ve already missed out on the first 10 days, I thought I’d finally join in for today’s prompt on my Reading Challenge Update!
I don’t normally participate in reading challenges throughout the year because I’m generally just weak when it comes to sticking to any sort of TBR as a mood reader. I also feel like I’m not organized enough to continuously check in on my progress against the set out prompts as the month or year goes on. If there’s one reading challenge that I always set for myself at the beginning of every year it’s the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I set my first reading challenge in 2017 when I started to use Goodreads more frequently. Since then, I’ve set myself a goal that has steadily increased as the years have passed.
At the start of 2019, I set my reading goal to 75 books (I think, my memory fails!). I really surprised myself when I managed to achieve that reading goal quite early on in the year, after which I decided to bump my goal up to 90 books. I’ve always managed to “beat” my reading goals by reading way more than I thought I would, but this year really takes the cake especially since we’ve still got a few months to go and I’ve already far exceeded my own expectations for how much I’d read and could read in one year!
This year has been an absolute whirlwind of ALL THE BOOKS and although I’ve always loved to dive into books and relied on them to keep me company at night, I’ve never been as into books as I have this year. I know that my reading 160 of 90 books by this point in the year is in large part due to my involvement in the book community through my book blog and bookstagram, not to mention the e-ARCs through NetGalley; although as international blogger the list of ARCs I read still pale in comparison to the new releases/backlist books I read. I know that there’s a little bit of ‘negativity’ around the Goodreads Challenge because it sets up some negative vibes when people take things too seriously and see it as a show-off competition, but I’m not bothered by how much other people read. I set my goal for me, and not to compete with anyone else, and while the rest of my life is a hot HOT mess, I can at least say that I’m proud of what I’ve managed to accomplish when it comes to books. And that makes me happy 🙂
Wowow friends, that got way deep way quick. Sorry! 🤣 Thanks for tuning in and listening to me blather on!
Do you set a reading goal for yourself every year? How is your reading challenge coming along? Leave me a comment below and let’s chat!
dinipandareads 
Huge congrats on reading so much this year! That is an incredible number. I’m aiming for 100 books this year, and am at 71 or so. Will probably focus on some of the shorter TBR titles toward the end of the year and hopefully make it. 😀
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Thanks hun! I’m so surprised that I’ve read this much before the year is out because this hasn’t ever happened to me before 🤣 It’s definitely all thanks to being part of the book community and being surrounded by all this bookish love that keeps inspiring me to read continuously 😍 Tbf I did read a lot of graphic novels at the start of the year when I was trying to get out of a slump! You’re not too far off your goal either–you can totally do it! 🙌🏽
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Wow, congrats!! I’m so behind on my reading challenge, you’re making me jealous!! I’m genuinely afraid I won’t make it this year…
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I saw your post! It looks like you’re reading a lot thicker books this year, but I think as long as you’re enjoying what you’re reading and you’re still continuously reading, that’s a great accomplishment on its own (whether you make your goal or not this year)! There’s still time though–who knows what’ll happen in the next few months?! 😊 You got this, E! 🙌🏽
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Lol, I read 5 short comics yesterday so I’m in the game again! (Or at least the number of books I’m behind is in one digit only) I won’t beat last year but 100 should be managable
Thanks for the encouragement, Dini! 💖
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Great job on your reading challenge! I’m currently at 149/160.
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Thanks Ali 🥰 Aah, you’re so close to achieving your goal! You’re doing awesome 🙌🏽
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I love setting a reading goal 😀 Just for me. I’ll read like a mad thing (seriously, I don’t think I have a life without books) regardless of the challenge but this is the first year I’ve actually counted so it’s a bit fun 🙂 I’m glad you enjoy it too! Jen
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Yeah, I reckon same here! I’d still read just as much probs, but I think it’s just a nice way of keeping track of my reads and it’s an easy way to look back on what I read in a particular year. I know that a lot of people take things too seriously these days and make it into some kinda show-off accomplishment, but 🤷🏻♀️meh
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I’ve done the same as you, where I’ve just been slowly ratcheting up my goals as I read more and more each year! But OMG your 2019 numbers! I’m astounded. 😮 I want to read all the books this year, too, but I’ve hit some rocket moments during the year. I’m still all set to hit (and exceed) my goal of 100 books this year, and I’m so pumped and impressed to have made it! Like you said, the important thing is that it’s a competition with *yourself*, not everyone else.
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