2017 Reading Challenge Update & a 2018 Challenge ~ @AuthorKristina Knight

I started the year with two book challenges going and I'm ending the year...with one. Although I'm still working my way through the abandoned challenge. It all started with Wrangler Liz: she announced her 50 books in a year challenge, and I thought, sure! I can read 50 books in a year...that's a little less than one book each week - no problem! I read all the time! Then, I decided to add a bit more of a challenge and joined in Roni Loren's 2017 challenge, which was a read/watch challenge with themed months, thinking I'd add some genres I don't normally read. You know, expand my reading horizons.

Turns out, some reading horizons aren't for me. And some - some that I'd thought were definitely NOT for me - very definitely are. Who knew, right?

So, the year end report: The Read/Watch challenge was abandoned in about March. I attempted to start it back up in July, but I just couldn't get into the theme for that month and so...I dropped out. Again. Here's what I did like about the challenge, though: the themes. Well, okay, some of the themes...but I digress. The themes were what got me reading outside my comfort zone. I picked up a couple of true crime novels (they were murderous and scared me. Turns out, True Crime is not for me), I skipped right over the horror because if True Crime is going to make me want to sleep with a gun under my pillow, horror is going to insist I add a butcher knife...and who needs two deadly weapons in bed? I mean, RadioMan was getting a little nervous, you know? But then I hit on memoirs and found that I L O V E memoirs! I thought I hated them. Again, who knew? So, as I attempt to finish the Read/Watch challenge, I'm adjusting to fit my reading palate while still keeping me out of that comfort zone.

The 50 books challenge: also a bust, although I never abandoned it. I simply fell behind and could never get fully caught up. I'm ending the year (well, as of December 19) with 41 books under my reading belt. I'm proud of that 41 book mark. I think I've read more in a year than 41, but I didn't also write (and edit and revise and edit some more) 4 full length novels and 2 novellas at the same time. So this challenge, I'm calling a success...and I'm adding on to it for next year with a THEME. Because, the read/watch challenge showed me that themes can make reading fun.

I went searching for a theme for my reading this year and stumbled a couple of lists of the 50 best books set in each state. Here's a link to the 50 Best Books Set in Every State and here is a link to the 50 Most Famous Books Set in Every State. The lists are nearly identical, but there are a few differences; I'm going with the 50 Most Famous list, and I'm even making a couple of adjustments. For example: substituting Stephen King's On Writing rather than Carrie (because horror movies are very much NOT my thing and I figure On Writing is also set in Maine), and substituting The Help for Faulkner's The Sound & The Fury (because I read that book in high school AND college and hated it both times...I'm not going for a 3rd!).

So, that is my reading plan for 2018 -- what are you going to be reading in the New Year? ~Kristina 

PS: Glynis was my winner from last week's rafflecopter - watch your email, Glynis!