Do any of you have any reading or book related goals set for the new year? Are you participating in any of the reading challenges?

I've been looking at some of the new challenges being done on the blogs, but I don't think a challenge would work with the way I read in binges about certain subjects. The challenges look like a lot of fun though. Maybe the alphabet challenge here would be a good one to try.

I have set one goal for myself this year - I want to send out more books than I bring into the TBR pile. I am not going to buy any more new books until I have read and sent out fifty books from my TBR. Also, I am going to try to read more of the books I have had here for ages. The basic goal is to get more books out of the house!

Hmm, maybe we should take odds on that one, lol.  Good luck!

As usual, I am trying to "read up" some things that are around here but then I seem to replace them.

For '09 I'm finishing my 101 books in 1,001 days thing I started in Feb, I'm doing the author A-Z and I'm starting and finishing a series with more than 5 books in it.

I wish I could do the sending out more than bringing in thing but I would be kidding myself to think I could.  I can't even stick to the building up 5 books before I post them so I can mail them all at the same time (since I'm usually sending WLed books).  Here's hoping you have more willpower than I do Valli!

Valli - Pretty lofty goal for a book addict!  LOL!  [wink, wink]

I have no specific goals for reading in 2009 other than to keep doing it, scale Mt. TBR and continue on checking in here at PBS and especially here at the HF forum.  I enjoy this place so much.  I'm sure HF will continue to dominate my reading habits, as I just can't get enough!  Finishing up Sarah tonight and will start the second book in Marek Halter's Canaan Triliogy tomorrow. 

I think I will start a "ticker" in my signature line listing the number of books I've read in 2009.  I may even break it down by genre', just for kicks!  LOL!

BTW, not that I'm interested, but where are these challenges posted?  Perhaps we should come up with some sort of HF challenge? 

Happy New Year to all!! 

Shelley if you go under the games forum and click on the one on the top that says swaps taking sign-ups there will be one in there titied "2009 reading challenge".

Edited because I can't spell

Valli, you sound just like me! I did a deal and have sent out 50 books, since we are getting ready to move. I actually sent out books that I hadn't even read yet, thinking that with my credits, I could probably re-order them eventually. Wouldn't you know it, I have still ordered a few more. This has got to stop!!

I am not a frequent contributor to this forum but I love reading what you folks have to say. Perhaps my goal for 2009 is to tackle the Dorothy Dunnett books that I have (only 2 so far) and see if I can get into them. I know some of you just love her, but the language is throwing me off.

Good luck to us all and Happy New Year!!!

I can't imagine why you guys don't think I can stick to my goal, lol. As I was leaving a party at 3:30am, my friend gave me a package with three books in it and I'm trying to decide if bringing those books home means I have already broken my goal, or if the goal didn't start until sunrise this morning. Hmm...

Shelley, you and Diana have given me an idea. I think I will start a new thread for a historical fiction challenge. Diana pm'ed me with the challenge of a mystery group and I think that with a few tweaks, it would work great for historical fiction. It's a smallish challenge that anyone would have time to do over the next year. I'm working on tweaking it a bit and I'll post about it later this afternoon. I think it will be fun! Stay tuned...

Jeanne, I really need to empty some bookshelves. The books are taking over! The books of Dorothy Dunnett are a real challenge! I started the first book in the Lymond Chronicles three times before it "took" and I was able to finish it. I thought that the first two books were hard to get into, but once you get past those, the story goes much more smoothly and it becomes more fun to read. I probably wouldn't have read the series at all if I were not so stubborn. Her book about Macbeth, King Hereafter, is a favorite of mine and I think I did better with her series after reading it to get more used to her writing style. Good luck with them!

Thanks for the encouragement, Valli. I have had the first book of the Lymond Chronicles sitting next to my bed. After reading about 50 pages, I put it aside and went to other books. I keep looking at it, and looking at it.... So, after all I hear about how good her books are, I will get back to it!

Jeanne, the people on a Dorothy Dunnett website I read say that you have to read the Lymond Chronicles, then read the House of Niccolo series, and then go back and re-read the L:ymond Chronicles to catch everything you missed during the first reading. Whew... I don't know if I'm willing to work that hard for my fiction, lol.

Well, Valli, it would probably cut back on my book ordering if I did that. Dunnett's books obviously aren't going to be "fast reads". And you know?... I do have a problem with working that hard on something that's supposed to be "enjoyment". I'll try again, but I think my expectations of myself are fairly low on this subject, although, I too, am pretty stubborn. Maybe I should try that book entitled "King Hereafter" that you mentioned. I'll give all this some thought.

Holly - Thanks for directing me to the challenges.  The whole games forum baffles me. I have no clue what they're doing or talking about.  LOL!  Think I'd better steer clear!

Valli - Thank you for starting an HF challenge!  Looking forward to reading the details.  Remember to keep it simple - I'm an idiot!  LOL! 

I read the "Niccolo" books first since those are the ones I stumled across initially.  I did read the "Lymond" series much later as I could find them.  Yes, there is a little that relates to the two series', but I don't think you need you need to read them back and forth to enjoy either set.  I can see where "obsessive fans" like myself might want to, but it sure isn't required reading! 

PS.  I like the Niccolo books way better!

Shelley: I have just about finished designing our challenge, and I don't think it's too complicated. Actually, I don't think my brain functions well enough to make it too complicated, lol. I decided on a longer challenge for those who read a lot and a "lite" challenge for those who are more busy. That might sound complicated, but I thought it would work best to give everyone the option to choose what is best for their lifestyle and time restraints.

I just hope others join in so it doesn't end up with just you and me challenging each other.   LOL!

Now that we have enticed Jeanne into posting, maybe she will join us. No pressure, Jeanne, okay, maybe a bit of pressure...You should join our challenge! :-D

Cheryl, I got that bit of info from a website full of  "obsessive fans", lol. Of course, I own every book in both sets, as well as both of the companion books, and King Hereafter, so who am I to call anyone else obsessive?! Ha!

I'm going to get to Niccolo one of these days...

Well, Valli and Shelly,  I will be more than happy to join the challenge ( never did that before) as long as I can keep aside some time to get us packed for a MOVE! If I don't, my husband will probably burn every book I've got left - lol. I will keep checking this forum to see what you come up with. What ambition!!!!!

I have a goal to read at least a book a week in 2009. I actually think I can read more if I get back in the habit of reading every day. But I'll start with the goal of averaging a book a week and see how I do.

2008 was a terrible reading year for me. I only finished 14 books. Ugh! I've got to finish more books if I'm ever going to get out from under the TBR pile. I'm already halfway through my first read of 2009! (It's only 250 pages, but still ...) It's helping that I have until Monday off from work.

Valli, I am waiting with anticipation to see what you've come up with for a challenge! ;-)

I've got both the companion books too, so I figure any tidbit I have missed in my 3 plus readings of both sets and Hereafter I can ferret out with both tomes!  I don't mind being obsessive!!