Let's Get Reading!

 


    All good book nerds enjoy setting new reading challenges at the start of every year. I've done some really fun A-Z challenges, Bingo variety, reading from different genres, the good old Beat the Backlist (even though I never make much of a dent in my backlist because new books just somehow keep finding their way onto my TBR.) My intention last year was just that, to clear out my bookshelves, read through as many of my paperbacks and then, once read, donate them to our office library at work. I did make a little progress but not nearly as much as I'd hoped. 

    One thing COVID has given me is an appreciation and greedy appetite for free e-books from the library. I had been a hardcore, in-hand book junkie for the greater part of my life. Until I took a serious look at the number of books I owned, calculated by how much each cost...that was a real eye-opener. Especially considering most books are typically only read once then passed along. And, yeah, kudos to you philanthropic folks out there who live to pass on free books to other gracious readers. I just realized it was time for me to be more budget conscious and not buy more books when the library so generously offered them for free--and I didn't even need to leave the house, mask up, social distance and sanitize to get more! Apps like Overdrive and Libby link to local libraries and you simply log in, search and select, and bingo--you can borrow books for up to three weeks--FREE! Book nerd nirvana!

    Still, I have over 150 paperback books on hand to read. This number does not include art books, writing books, Buddhism/Chakra/Crytsal/Reiki/Spirituality books, running books, or gardening/home project books. That also does not include the books on my Kindle and Nook. I do plan to move again and that is just far too many, way (weigh) too heavy books to keep lugging from state to state to state. So I really do need to buckle my behind down and read through these stacks to lighten the load for our next relocation.

    I think most folks are familiar with Goodreads and setting personal reading goals every year on their app. I set my goal to seventy-five books for the year, half of my on hand TBR. Recently I created a master list of each title's star-rating score from Goodreads (I told you I'm a book nerd!) and am planning to tackle from the best to the worst. So, kicking off this year's challenge is Brent Week's Night Angel trilogy. I love epic fantasies and Brent is one of my favorite fantasy authors. 

    So if you're looking for some fresh reading challenge inspiration, there is the list to end all lists of reading challenges over at GirlXOXO, so many your head will swim wondering where the heck you should first dive in! From audiobook challenges to world reading challenges and everything in between, there's a challenge fit for every reader. And don't forget to share your reading goal on Goodreads! And any great recommendations right here as well...Let's get reading!



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