On reading and authors and genres

Journal and fancy writing setTo try to spur my reading this year, I signed up for the GoodReads reading challenge, setting my goal at the fairly doable one book a week level. Fifty-two books in a year? No problem.

Now, I have some rules for myself. I can count books I started before this year but only finish this year. I do not count books I read with my daughter, no matter how wonderful such books (like Ursula Vernon’s Castle Hangnail, Hamster Princess, and the whole Dragonbreath series) are. Serials only count as a completed set, not individual episodes. Books that I don’t finish don’t count. And for every library book I read, I have to read at least one book on my Kindle or Nook app (mostly because of how many I have piled up on them — far more than this year’s reading can account for).

I’m actually trying to do a little better than 52 for the year, and I’ll let you know how that works out.

I’m also (inspired by Jeffe Kennedy) trying to put together an actual list of what I have to read, both electronic and hard copy, with notes about genre and how I came by the book (friend wrote it, saw it recommended, was looking up the genre on Amazon, whatever). I’m probably not going to post the actual list — I would be much too embarrassed — but it will be a good reference going forward, and possibly a reminder that buying more books will be counterproductive. (Will I let that stop me? Um …)

I’m also trying (prompted by Connie’s post) to remember to actually review the books I read. Signing up for the GoodReads challenge makes that easier because to get credit for the book, I have to go to GoodReads and mark it read. While I’m there, I can add a bit about what I thought without too much effort.

Don’t want to cross-post my reviews here, but I would like to talk about the kinds of things I’m reading. So what I’m thinking is taking Wednesdays to talk about a rotation of genres/subgenres, and different authors in those genres. For example, urban fantasy, steampunk, SF (may break this down more), paranormal romance (maybe even other romance!) … The point of the posts will be to highlight why an author fits into this genre, what notes they hit that readers look for (or at least that I do!), and where good starting points are to jump into this author’s work.

I’ll be honest. That can get intense, a lot to get written up, especially when I have both work and writing deadlines to deal with, so there may be weeks I don’t get the post up, or I may wind up tapering off or even giving up halfway through the year. We’ll see how this goes.

But if you have suggestions for genres you want me to include in the rotation, or authors to recommend (because really, I was kidding about having enough to read, right?), feel free to drop them in the comments. Or tell me what you’re reading right now that you’re really enjoying.

Meanwhile, I leave you with this bit of humor from when my son was doing a Google search. (No, I don’t remember what he was actually looking for.) Pretty sure that third one requires a getaway car.
Google search autofill

Bookmark the permalink.

8 Comments

  1. Nice! I look forward to watching your Goodreads progress. 52 – completely doable!

  2. I do not understand why books read with your daughter don’t count… But it looks like a good plan. I have tried to track all the books I’ve been given, but I know I’ve lost a few over the years (the method whether or not I’ve read them already). I think you’re smart to set the guidelines. Good luck with the genre posts :).

    • Because if I can sit down and read it between the time I get up and the time the kids are off to school, it just feels too short to be legit. Not that I won’t read and recommend them, but I won’t count them for the challenge. 😀

  3. Go Erin. LOL, I’m still slogging through a book I started in September. It’s a nice book, well-written, just not my fav genre. I’ll finish it and give the author a good review when I’m done. Sigh, 52 books in a year? I’m afraid I couldn’t do that.

    • Hugs on the slog!

      I managed the 52 a couple years back, but I know I did some graphic novels in there, so this is more of a challenge. Trying to get a few of them front-loaded in case of slippage later. 😉

  4. Ashe Elton Parker

    Good luck with your reading challenge. I’ll be lucky to read the 12 books I slated for myself this year on FM. I get too caught up in rereading books I’ve read before–and reading my own stuff over and over.

Comments are closed