One thing that fascinates me every new year is the number of reading goals and challenges that pop up everywhere. I’d love to know whether you participate! Let’s do a survey to find out!
I admit I don’t set a reading goal, mostly because I think it would stress me out if I fell behind.
I’ve never entered a reading challenge, for the same reason I don’t set a reading goal. I’m the kind of person who would stress about getting it done instead of just enjoying it.
I’m not a book tracker, aside from in my memory (which can admittedly be faulty at times!).
My church has a book club that I would love to join, but the time doesn’t work out for me right now. Maybe someday!
Feel free to tell us more about any of your answers in the comments: your specific reading goal for the year, how you set your reading goal, your favorite reading challenge you’ve done, a way to track books, what you loved about your book club…I want to know it all!
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
Admittedly, I usually fail all of the reread goals that I set. Last year I read around 20 children’s chapter books, trying to get out of a reading slump. In the end, I was kind of glad to read womens fiction again. I did get out of the slump however. In 2021, I read 52 books, approximately 16,000 pages. For 2022, I read 65 books, and approximately 19,000 pages. My goal for this year is more monthly goals, than yearly, because that seems more manageable. I found a list of monthly reading prompts, and picked out books that I already own (though there were two books that I bought). I want to try to read 6 books a month, and hoping that translates to 72 books, 20,000+ pages, at the end of the year. I started my own small business in high school, which really cut back the amount of time that I had to read. So this year I’m trying to schedule reading in daily.
I set a low goal for the same reason you don’t set a goal I get stressed. I use to read close to 150 a year now 40 is an exceptional year. I set the goal at 20 knowing thats achievable and will increase as I reach a goal. I had added it to 40 last year and then had a Dec where I was having a major dental flareup and in so much pain, not sleeping and hence not reading. If not for the devotionals I wouldn’t made my goal. This year I doubt I will read anything much til mid February as I am having the tooth out via iv sedation. And struggle when tired to read.
I have done a couple of challenges my favourite was reading a book from all 50 States. I have to say a few states are always hard like Utah. and on year Mississippi. Any challenge where I have to read a certain genre or era or trope (or read a classic, re-read) i would struggle with. I don’t often re-read or read much non fiction. I dont like some genres and rarely read anything rather than CF. so really need challenges with options.
PS I do love these types of surveys they are so easy to answer and I don’t need to remember the questions. Its also easy to see what others like or do without having to read all the comments.
Ausjenny! I agree with you. Nice survey and I enjoy seeing what others enjoy doing or reading. Easy to participate early in the morning, as I get ready to take my granddaughter to school. Enjoy your day.
Good morning Valerie! Thank you for a fun, easy to take survey with questions that readers want to discuss with other readers. As a German immigrant, in 5. grade I discovered the Boxcar Children and became a reader. As a mom, pastor’s wife and teacher I usually only read about 10 books a year for pleasure. Didn’t have much time for Book Clubs either; but as a high school English and AP German teacher there were lots of book discussions in my classes. Since retirement I have been part of two book clubs, which I attend with another grandma. The Lake Bluff Book Club is sponsored by the local library and forces me to read books outside of my usually genre. I keep track of my reading on Goodreads and my yearly goal is 150 books a year. Since I often read in the morning with my 3. grade granddaughter in the school drop off lane, I also include children’s and YA books. Happy Reading to All.
I have set a goal of 250 for this year. I’ve upped a bit from last year. I’m also doing 4 challenges set by others as well as 3 set by myself. Whew!!! We shall see. That hardest challenges are those when I have to read a book way outside my genre. I enjoy reading thru the 50 states. This year I’m attempting reading thru the continents. Not sure how that will go. Last year when I noticed someone’s post mentioning that I began looking at what I had read and realized I only had 2 continents to go. I didn’t make it…So trying again this year. One of the things I enjoy about doing these challenges is finding new to me authors!
I don’t set reading goals, and I didn’t keep track of how many books I read until 2020. Last year I read 231 books (actually over that, as I didn’t count the ones I read twice) and started the 232nd one. Since I proofread/edit, I don’t know how many books I’ll get for the year, and since I also read ARC’s, I don’t know how many of those I’ll get, either. So, I’m just happy that I actually read, and the number is kinda fun to know at the end of the year, but I’m not going to stress over whether or not I read a certain amount, or one that fits a certain box on a form. Reading should be fun, and while the challenges can be fun, they can also take the fun out of reading. If you find a balance that works for you, that’s the main thing!
Hi Valerie,
For recreational purposes, I simply read when I have time, typically before I go to sleep. However, I listen to CCR audio books frequently (daily).
The reading and listening goals I do set are my Bible reading plans.
Hi Carol. Enjoy your challenges. The Book Girls’ Guide website has book lists for the 50 states, decades, and continents (countries around the world). Might give you some ideas for the continents you are missing. I enjoy browsing the lists of titles, so I can do additional research on the books listed. Best wishes and happy reading.
That’s a great idea! Monthly reading goals do sound much more manageable. Finding time to read can definitely be tricky. Glad you got out of your reading slump!
I’m glad you enjoyed the survey! It was fun to make. :) And I hear you on setting a low goal–you can always raise it later if you want. Whereas not meeting a high goal can just be stressful. Sorry to hear about your dental pain. I hope it improves soon so you can enjoy reading again! (And I totally hear you about struggling to read when you’re tired…I’ve nearly dropped my book or tablet on my face plenty of times, lol.)
Hi Renate! I’m glad you enjoyed the survey. :) Oh, the Boxcar Children…I didn’t discover them until I was an adult and read them with my own children, but they’re such fun books. It can definitely be hard to find time for reading at different stages in our lives, but I’m sure you really enjoyed those book discussions with your high school classes. Your book club sounds like a lot of fun–and a good way to challenge yourself to read in other genres. I love that you read with your granddaughter in the school dropoff lane! My husband and youngest often listen to audiobooks on the drive to school, and she loves it.
Oh, wow! You’re going to be busy, lol! Reading through the continents sounds fun. I imagine some are easier to find than others!
Great points, Trudy! That balance will be different for everyone, as far as whether challenges are fun or take the fun out of reading. (I suppose that applies to a lot of things. My husband, for example loves learning platforms like Duolingo, where he gets points for completing lessons, whereas I wouldn’t really be motivated by that kind of platform because I wouldn’t care about the points). I’m sure it’s fun to see how many books you’ve read at the end of the year though.
I’m so glad to hear you’re listening to CCR audiobooks daily. There are more and more available all the time. :)
I know what you mean about reading when you have time–most of my reading is before bed too. Bible reading plans are great!
Since I have retired, I read more than I used to. I don’t follow any guidelines. I have authors that I enjoy reading. And in the last year and a half (especially the last 7 months) I have come to know many Christian authors whom I love. I have been scarfing up books like crazy over the past several months. Now it is a bit overwhelming to decide what to read next. Oh, what a problem!😂
I love you surveys, by the way.
I have been keeping track of the books I read per year since my junior year of high school…and I turned 70 in November! And I could go upstairs and pull out those little spiral notebooks with all those lists right now!! Yes, I lean just a tad toward the OCD side of things, I admit!
So glad you enjoyed the survey! And we all love to hear that you’re scarfing up books and have come to know many Christian authors you love. :) Having to decide what to read next is the best kind of “problem,” lol!
I love it! What a neat record of your reading interests over time!
Me too! My mood has really improved since I started reading everyday.
The only time I did a reading challenge was Summer Book club in Elementary School! It was a great success! I read 50 books each summer and loved it! Nowadays, I usually only have time to read at night and just on my Kindle, so that’s how I keep up with them. I love to read series by my favorite authors, Valerie M. Bodden and Kimberly Ray Jordan. Between the two of them, I usually have a current book to keep me going. ❤️
The pain is good right now when it flares its bad but I get time between them. 3 weeks it will be out and I am hoping it will also redude the earpain I get. We have put it down to referred pain from my Occipital Neuralgia (which is nerve pain) but having a tooth out last year it did reduce but currently it is back up which makes me hope the tooth is the issue seeing as its right along the lining of the sinuses.
I did start novella last night its about a guy who has a fear of cats.
I enjoyed the survey, it’s really interesting to see what everyone does!
I’ve never set a reading goal (I agree with people who think it’s stressful) or tracked my reading (too disorganised lol) or done a reading challenge, although those do sound fun. I do tend to re-read my favourites, particularly when I’m tired, so maybe a challenge would be good to find some new favourites!
Aww, I’m so glad! My kids have participated in lots of Summer Reading Challenges at the library, and that’s always been fun. Except I’m always jealous of how much time they have free to read, lol. :)
True! Challenges could be just what you need to find some new favorites–but then again, old favorites are always great too. :)
I started keeping track of my books because I was buying them on 3 different platforms at the time. Playbooks, iBooks and Amazon! (Whichever was cheapest!) So I really needed to know if I already owned the story I was looking at buying, and if so, which of my 3 libraries was it in!! The spreadsheet has saved me money several times, lol.
Nowadays it’s mostly Amazon that I buy, and it kindly tells me if a book has already been purchased.
I do find my spreadsheet good for several reasons, so it’s well worth the effort.
That’s a great idea! It’s nice when a platform tells you that you’ve already purchased a book–but if you’re using multiple platforms, it doesn’t cover that. Your spreadsheet sounds very organized! :)
don’t do them
Thank you so much for sharing. I set a goal last year of 40 books. I read over 80. I raised the number to 50 this year. I did not want to go to 80 because my Mom is in Hospice care. She is declining quickly. I am like you that I do not want to make a commitment that I cannot keep. God bless you.
That’s fair! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! It’s great that you surpassed your goal! I will continue to keep your mom in my prayers. 🙏
I loved seeing how other readers answered these survey questions!
My favorite part of surveys like this!
I’d love to join a book club but there aren’t any among the Christians I know and I don’t want to join the secular clubs at my university…as the world is I’m almost afraid to touch the secular books on the bookstore except for the bookshelf of the classics
Not to mention romance clubs, secular romance is becoming less and less like Christian romance even in its basic ideals (sacrificial love? is lust not love? is lust a sin? nonsense!) so I better stay away and neither I know a lot of fans of clean fiction *sighs*.
That is the tough part! It can be hard to find a Christian book club–and you never know what books a secular group might be reading. There’s always the option to start a book club for fans of clean fiction–although I know that would be a lot of work, both to run it and to find the people to join. There might be some clean reader book clubs online otherwise!