Can you believe 2018 is over? It didn't end up going quite like I thought I did and I definitely fell short on my reading goals for this year. I did learn a lot that I plan to put into work next year and I read a lot of books I really enjoyed so I'm still calling this year a reading win.
Create some kind of system for incoming books - I actually did this and for the most part it's working really well. I cleared out a small bookshelf that is only for incoming books and worked out a fairly simple filing system. My usual problem is that I try to over organize and end up with an overly complicated system which of course fails. I'm pretty proud of myself for keeping it simple and workable.
Create some kind of system for incoming books - I actually did this and for the most part it's working really well. I cleared out a small bookshelf that is only for incoming books and worked out a fairly simple filing system. My usual problem is that I try to over organize and end up with an overly complicated system which of course fails. I'm pretty proud of myself for keeping it simple and workable.
Complete the Modern Mrs. Darcy 2018 Reading Challenge -I completed 8 out of 12 so could be worse could be better. I'm going to do this again in 2019 but focus a little more on the harder for me categories.
Read 200 Books - Nope. I was really sick this fall and that seriously impacted my reading especially combined with a few low reading spots earlier in the year. I made it to 146.
Focus on reading my own books - . I started out okay on this but got overwhelmed fairly quickly. When I wasn't reading review books I was more tempted by library books than my own books which probably means I need to go through my books and clean out my inventory a bit.
Read more nonfiction - I'm pretty sure I read 1 nonfiction book this year so this is definitely a fail
Participate in at least one readathon - Giant fail here. I still love the idea of doing this but this year just didn't quite work out for me. I do have a few ideas of making it happen in 2019 though.
Keep an eye out for independent bookstores - We ended up not traveling nearly as much in 2018 as we did in past years so I wasn't able to make much progress on this. I do plan to continue this for next year and really just in general.
Make progress on a series I've neglected - Yes and no. I've read more books from series that I started years ago but I haven't caught up on any series.
Spend some time using a coloring book while listening to an audio book - I only did this a few times but I really enjoyed it when I did. I'd like to make this more of a habit in 2019 because it is so relaxing and I spend far too much time watching TV when I could be making progress on my TBR.
Stats of 2018:
Number of Books Read: 146
Favorites:
A Brush With Shadows by Anna Lee Huber - I heard great things about this series so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed it but I was thrilled with just how much I loved it.
Caroline: Little House Revisited by Sarah Miller - I was nervous going into this one. I loved the Little House books so I was a bit afraid to see the story through the POV of an adult but I loved it and it really brought the peril of living on the frontier home to me.
As You Wish by Cary Elwes - I love the movie and I love the book. If you can get it on audio. You won't regret it.
Disappointments:
Honestly I enjoyed most of the books I read this year but these are a few I enjoyed less than the rest.
Queen Anne's Lace by Susan Wittig Albert - I loved the ghost aspect and was disappointed it wasn't explored more than it was. As well there was a LOT going on and the mystery felt a bit lost at times.
Say No Moor by Maddy Hunter - I love the idea of a cozy set around travel to exotic locations but the characters drove me crazy and the situation they got themselves into was so past realistic that it was just too much and my standards are pretty low.
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher - I wanted to love this - I really did. And I did enjoy parts of it but I think I was expecting the Star Wars version of As You Wish and it just wasn't.
How was your 2018 Reading Year?
I was disappointed by all the Carrie Fisher books which I read in January. I only reached my Goodreads total because of all the very short stories and novellas I read which bumped up the numbers so I'm disappointed with my reading total. Considering the slumps and illness, you did well to get to 146 I think. Here's to a good reading year next year! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI think you did really well with your goals. I have a shelf and a spreadsheet for my incoming books. That helps me not feel completely overwhelmed by them. Happy 2019!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
146 books is great! I had a pretty good reading year too but readathons were definitely hit or miss for me too!
ReplyDeleteI really need to read (or listen) to As You Wish.
Happy New Year!
Getting sick can play havoc with goals but you did well. I like your idea of colouring while listening to an audio, would be very relaxing. I usually sew and that combines well if the sewing is not complicated. I didn't read all the MMD reading challenge but I don't mind, its the journey that counts!
ReplyDeleteYour organizing system is something I plan to try as well. I want a shelf for tbr reads and library books next year so I know where to go if I'm ever looking to read something new.
ReplyDeleteYou still read a lot of great books! I'm glad you are feeling better now (:
I finished only two series but they were older series so it's something.
That's a great idea to color and listen to an audiobook. I need to either focus solely on the audiobook or be doing something I don't need to focus on too much or I'll miss everything.
My year was meh. I did read a few great books and lots of picture books. I think I'm saying it was meh because I read so many bad books in December but it was actually pretty good but not the reading year I was expecting.
Your year was impressive! Mine was challenging outside of reading (death of my dad in Feb and then caring for my mom who has dementia). Reading was truly an escape!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was more organized like you are! I also had some down spots this year where I was beyond busy or feeling ill and couldn't keep up. I read 102 instead of 100, so I'm happy (numbers don't matter to me but I like to push myself in competitions). I am going to be more thoughtful in my choices this year. I need to slow down my impulsivity so I have less DNFs.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on completing some of your goals! I always set too many for myself and never follow through. I really like the sound of your simple incoming book organization. I need to get better at that myself! Happy 2019!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're focusing on the positive & calling 2018 a reading win of a year, because to me it sounds like you did really well with your goals!
ReplyDeleteHappy 2019!
Enjoyed hearing about your yearly reflections, Katherine. I'd say you did very well in your reading. Over 140 is a wonderful number, one that I didn't make this year. Ah well. Some years more, some less. I always enjoy hearing about what's going on with you and my hope is that 2019 will be wonderful for you in the reading department and also in the health department. Take care. The coloring idea is a great one. I need to try that.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you did pretty good this year and 146 books is really good! :)
ReplyDeleteI started a spreadsheet of incoming books a number of years ago, and it's super helpful. I have books stashed everywhere, so it's useful to know where exactly a certain book has landed. Actual storage of physical books is a problem, though ...
ReplyDeleteI also planned to read 200 books and ended up in the 140s. Oh well. We can try again this year! Good luck to us both.
I like to crochet and listen to audiobooks, but when we turned the living room into a studio my yarn tote got stashed somewhere and I can't find it. I am planning on cleaning out the closets this winter, so fingers crossed. I like the audio coloring combination, too. 🎧
ReplyDeleteMost of the physical books I buy I have already read, but I keep shelving them before I take Bookstagram photos and forget which ones I need, so I went through my odds and ends bookshelf and culled about 125 books for the Friends of the Library's sale and the community Little Free Library. Now I have space to put incoming purchases and physical review books on those shelves, and I don't put them on the main shelves, or in the donate box until I'm done with them. 👍✨
146 books is fantastic! I only read 92!
146 books is a great reading year! It looks like you did pretty good with a lot of your goals this year. I like the sound of your system for new books. Happy 2019!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - I think that 146 books is a very good total, given that you have had such a very hectic year with illness and family commitments, among other things. I hope you have a successful 2019 full of marvellous reads, Katherine:)
ReplyDeleteI started and really enjoyed Huber’s series as well! I’m looking forward to reading more in2019 from it!
ReplyDeleteMy reading (and blogging) didn't go quite as planned this year either, but, like you, I feel good about the way things turned out. You had so much going on this year, Katherine, you really did amazing. I look forward to reading A Brush With Shadows. I just read Huber's This Side of Murder and am in love. It was so good. I hope you have a great 2019, Katherine, in books and in life. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteI like how you color while listening to an audiobook. My mum's into adult coloring books. I hope to get started on cross stitching; it'd be great to do that with an audiobook.
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