Thursday, November 03, 2016

Update to the Reading Challenge 2016 Running List

updated:  November 1, 2016

Well, this should have seen a nice little update at the 9 month mark, meaning the end of September, but that didn't happen.  So it is now the beginning of the 11th month...yikes.    

A reminder:  the challenge is to read all the books I buy in the year 2016 and as a bonus to read some from the ones that didn't get read going back to June of 2015.  I chose the 60 - 80% category to try and accomplish.  

Right now I am sitting at 58% of 2016's purchases being read but I want to be up closer to the top end of the goal by the end of the year.  As for going back to June 2015, the story is a little bleaker at this point dropping my score to  40%.  (I kinda went nuts with some really good sale books at my library and on bookoutlet last year apparently.)  This count includes the couple of books I didn't finish.  I'm just at a point in reading where if I'm not into it by a certain point I'm moving on.

So hopefully I can finish off the last couple of months here with a really good push especially on finishing the books purchased this year.


updated:  July 3, 2016



So as of July 3, 2106 I'm not doing quite as well as I had hoped with getting these
books knocked off the list and out of my closet.  
I chose the 60 - 80% category to accomplish.
Yikes!!

There was this little thing happen with my daughter
called "Let's get married in a month"
that stole a good month and a half of reading time.
And then I hit a bit of a slump with two DNF books and
one that was started but just couldn't get into at the time...
I'll try that one again later.
And then the darn library got me with a chunker 
of a non-fiction I'm now trying to wrap up.
But next week I'm hoping to be right on track
and crossing a whole bunch more books off this list.
And I am now on a book buying ban
until I finish the ones I've bought so far this year!

I best get a move on!



Back at the beginning of January I decided this year I wanted to really read through the piles of books that I already own.  They are forever growing and I seriously need to make a concerted effort to knock the pile down.  In perusing different challenges on pinterest I finally decided on the Read the Books You Buy Challenge.  Perfect because it was to set a percentage goal on not only actually reading the books you purchase in 2016 but it allowed you to go back to June 2015.  

I decided I would just post a little update each month or so adding any new books I buy and also crossing off the ones I finish.  I'm hoping this helps me to stay motivated.  I'm trying hard not to drop by the adult section of the library too often as that always tends to throw out the window all my good intentions of trying to make the piles of books in my closet a little smaller.  I cannot resist bringing home more from the library and then my books take a back seat as there is a deadline on the library books.  But not this year.  Nope.  I'm determined!

Books purchased June 2015 - December 2015

Bathseba: Reluctant Beauty by Angela Hunt      (reviewed here)

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister     (reviewed here)

The Titanic Enigma by Tom West    (reviewed here)

The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan    (reviewed here)

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg     (reviewed here)

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen    (reviewed here)

Man Alive by Mary Kay Zuravleff   DNF - could not get past the language though I did try to continue twice.

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan   (reviewed here)

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin 

Where the River Ends by Charles Martin   (reviewed here)

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion  started but just couldn't get into it...will give another try sometime later

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

 The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Chatharina Ingelman-Sundberg

 Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline

 The Offering by Angela Hunt

 The Truth Teller by Angela Hunt

 The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler

 The Aloha Reef Series (book 1, book 2, book 3, book 4)  by Colleen Coble

 One Good Thing by Kevin Alan Milne

 Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Prunty

 The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain


Books Purchased January 2016

-The Lake House by Kate Morton    reviewed here

-Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt    reviewed here


February and March 2016

No books purchased as it was all things wedding around here


Books Purchased in April 2016  (great sale at Books.com.  50% off scratch and dent books making these books any where from under $2 to no more than $5) 

 Above All Things by Tanis Rideout     reviewed here

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant      DNF due to graphic content and too many liberties taken with the actual biblical story


The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

The Promise by Beth Wiseman   (reviewed here)

Malice by Keigo Higashino

Mary Coin by Marisa Silver


Books Purchased in May 2016  (I really need to stop now!  Yikes!)

The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas    

Sisters of Heart and Snow by Margaret Dilloway

Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

The Sign Painter by Davis Bunn    reviewed here




Books Purchased in June 2016

The Dog Who Saved Me by Susan Wilson

Ocean Beach by Wendy Wax    (review here)


Taken by Dee Henderson


Books Purchased in July 2016

The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows    (reviewed here)


Books Purchased in August 2016

Unspoken by Dee Henderson


Books Purchased in September 2016

Books Purchased in October 2016


Books Purchased in November 2016

The Ringmaster's Wife  by Kristy Cambron

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner


Books Purchased in December 2016












10 comments:

Faith said...

wheres the FFF?????

i have read several of the books you mention. LOVED midwifes confession! and chasing fireflies!!!

i dont buy novels any longer unless a classic....i go to the towne library because i am getting rid of "stuff"! it feels soooo good!!!

Wendy said...

Sounds a good idea. I have a pile of books TBR but I also take part in two online book clubs which involves checking out new ones so the pile never seems to go down!

nikkipolani said...

I think it was you who got me started on Charles Martin (listening to Water From My Heart now). I realize I haven't bought any books in years. My aunt used to funnel them to me (she has great library sales in her town) and I'd borrow ebooks from the library. Plus, with my commute, I've a pile of audiobooks to listen to (library and Audible). So... no TBR pile for me, but it's fun to see your lists ;-)

Karen said...

This is a great idea. Lots of books I haven't heard of, but I like the titles. I'm looking forward to your reviews. I have read Persian Pickle Club and The Red Tent and LOVED them both! Can't wait to hear what you think. PPC is a fun read.

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

You're making good progress and you made me smile! I have a lot of books I haven't read...yet. We have to live 'til we finish all our books right? Tee hee!

It's so nice to meet you!
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

shortybear said...

good reads

Kathryn T said...

You've read a fair few of the ones you've bought. And really the DNF's should be counted because you've given your best shot at them. I have The Lake House on my list and hope I get to read it soon!!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

I like the way you listed your books...and then crossed them off as you finished them.

I'm just keeping a running list of books read and reviewed on my challenge page....and I haven't chosen a percentage. Just going with the flow...as best I can.

Hang in there!

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I have been trying to do some reading during my commute to and from work....I take public transportation.

Barbara H. said...

That's an interesting challenge. I tend to put newly purchased books on the back burner to get to the ones I already have stacked up, but sometimes it's fun and you get more out of it by capitalizing on the excitement and reading it right away. Then it avoids becoming part of our TBR stack, LOL!
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