Tag: challenge

Posted in Book Talk

Library love check in

Posted on by Jennifer

Hey y’all! Around halfway through the year, so I took a look at my progress on the 2021 library love challenge. Last year I blew my goal out of the water, and it looks like this year will be similar, actually. 🤣

I had planned for 12 this year, since I was planning to read more from my shelves and have a full time job again (pandemic reading was crazy). But, of course, I’ve already read 28 books from the library this year. I guess I’m aiming for the 36 tier now, because last year I didn’t even hit 48 so it seems unlikely I would beat it this year. Clearly I’m terrible at estimating my goals though, so who knows. 😊

Progress!

If you’re interested as well, go see the full post and sign up link from the hosts! The levels for the challenge are:

  • Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books (my goal)
  • Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
  • Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
  • Library Addict: Read 48 books
  • Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books

My reads:

Continue reading “Library love check in” →
Posted in Book Talk, Chatty

A- Z Challenge 2020 Complete!

Posted on by Jennifer

Hey y’all! I know it’s almost the end of January, and that 2020-related posts are practically passe by now (I guess?), but I still have a fab one left for you. Yay! 😁 In 2020, not only did I read a totally bonkers amount of books by my standards, but I also successfully tackled the A-Z title challenge, or the alphabet challenge, or whatever you want to call it! Meaning for each letter of the English alphabet, I read a book with a title that started with that letter.

“But wait!” you cry. “What about those crazy end letters, like V and X and – my god – Z?!“

Yep, I got those covered too. Actually, one of my last letters I got was P, and I was surprised by how many options there were for Y and Q. Who knew? X’s are still an untapped market though. Come on, authors, take your cue!

Anyway, I did manage to do it! Below is a lovely little gallery of 26+ covers from books I read spanning the alphabet. There are some letters that have more than 1 book listed because I just couldn’t choose. Some books felt too important to my overall reading experience of the year to leave them out! You’ll find a little about each book after the gallery listing, too, in case you’re curious. I’m confident there will be titles that few people have read or heard of, so get excited! 🎉

The gallery of A-Z

Continue reading “A- Z Challenge 2020 Complete!” →
Posted in Book Talk

2021 Library Love Challenge!

Posted on by Jennifer

Hey y’all! Last year, I learned of a challenge that was able to wholeheartedly embrace, despite my usual struggles with reading challenges! My impulsiveness will not hinder me for this one, since it’s the 2021 Library Love challenge! Hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart, the goal is simple: read books from the library!

Who doesn’t love the library? When I move to a new place, I always go to the library to check it out and get a card within a day or two of moving in. Usually before I’m even fully unpacked. Priorities, right? 👌🏼

So this year I’m joining the 2021 Library Love challenge and going to shoot for at least 12 books (the lowest tier). Admittedly, last year I blew that goal out of the water, but I’m planning on using a lot of this year to read backlist books on my shelf, so if I’m doing it right then I won’t be seeking out external sources as often! ☺

Progress!

If you’re interested as well, go see the full post and sign up link from the hosts! The levels for the challenge are:

  • Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books (my goal)
  • Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
  • Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
  • Library Addict: Read 48 books
  • Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books

My reads:

  1. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas
  2. Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida
  3. Librarian Tales by William Ottens
  4. A Wife in Bangkok by Iris Mitlin Lav
  5. It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura
  6. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
  7. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 3 by Ryan North
  8. If I Tell You The Truth by Jasmin Kaur
  9. Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds by Ian Wright
  10. The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
  11. Love in English by Maria E Andreu
  12. Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon
  13. When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson
  14. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
  15. 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr
  16. Eldest by Christopher Paolini
  17. The Mermaid From Jeju by Sumi Hahn
  18. Songs of Nature by Sarojini Naidu
  19. Citizen Illegal by Jose Olivarez
  20. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
  21. Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin
  22. Strange Planet by Nathan Pyle
  23. Fangirl Vol 1 by Sam Maggs / Rainbow Rowell
  24. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
  25. The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill
  26. Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite
  27. Thanks a Thousand by AJ Jacobs
  28. Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
Posted in Book Talk

2020 Library Love Challenge is COMPLETE! :)

Posted on by Jennifer

Hey y’all! In April last year, I stumbled upon my favorite reading challenge ever, the Library Love reading challenge! Hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart, the goal is simple: read books from the library! And boy, do I ever do that!

2020 was probably even more library-heavy than usual since I had so much time to read and also couldn’t leave home for bookstore browsing and impulse buys. 😂 Instead it was like impulse loaning, which is much more budget-friendly. Thanks, libraries!

Here are the tiers that were established from the hosts for level of reading:

  • Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books (my goal)
  • Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
  • Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
  • Library Addict: Read 48 books
  • Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books

My original goal was twelve books, because apparently I forgot who I was for a minute. 🤷‍♀️ So, where did I end up?

Continue reading “2020 Library Love Challenge is COMPLETE! :)” →
Posted in Book Talk, Chatty

2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Posted on by Jennifer

Hey y’all! I gave a way more in-depth look at the stats and numbers for my year in reading in 2020 in this post a few days ago, but here’s the Goodreads side of things! Once again, this number of books that I read is FAR above my average (60ish) because of the craziness of last year. But let’s get started! 🙂

The 11 page book by Mindy Kaling was weird because there was an actual whole length book, but for some reason it was broken up into separate pieces on Amazon. So I ended up reading each separate section of the regular book as it’s own book. Not sure why they did it that way, but whatever! And, of course, Paolini’s grand return. Look, *I* was a fan of this, and yes some of that is probably my excitement about Paolini. But I don’t typically like space stories, and this one…. I was fully sold on this one.

Continue reading “2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge” →
Posted in Book Talk, Chatty

November 2020 TBR: obligations and explorations

Posted on by Jennifer

Hey y’all!

I’ve got a plan again this month for what I’ll read. These plans are sometimes a bit silly though, because by the time I write this post to share it, I’ve usually already finished a few of them. 😂 Today is no different, but I’ll include the books here anyway as I’m excited about them! It’s a tidy planned set of nine this month. 😊

The best obligations

These books are each ones I’m reading for A Reason Not Only My Own. I mean, to be real, I’m still the one deciding and benefiting here, but they’re in the list for more than just “I wanted to” reasons!

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson is one that I already finished because I couldn’t resist plowing through it once I had started. I went in somehwat blind from a recommendation from my friend Elise (thanks again!), and WOW was this a fabulous recommendation! I really love it, as you can see in my review. 🙂

Continue reading “November 2020 TBR: obligations and explorations” →
Posted in Book Talk, Chatty

Library Love Challenge Update — things are going well!

Posted on by Jennifer

Hey y’all! In April I found and decided to join the library love challenge hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart. With a pandemic going on, I knew I wouldn’t be able to physically go to the library for a while, so I thought this challenge would be a reminder to leverage the digital resources they have as well! I usually do already, but I’ve branched out even more.

My goal was to read twelve books from the library. At the time, this was pretty reasonable because it averaged out to about a quarter of the books I read a year. Now… I‘ve already surpassed my usual reading goal by a lot, and I’m not slowing down. 😅 So I’ve definitely completed the twelve book tier, and am now working towards the next tier of 24!

Progress!

If you’re interested as well, go see the full post and sign up link from the hosts! It’s never too late to join. 😀 The levels for the challenge are:

  • Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books (my goal – complete!)
  • Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books (my new goal!)
  • Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
  • Library Addict: Read 48 books
  • Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books

My reads:

  1. Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
  2. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
  3. The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin
  4. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
  5. Illidan by William King
  6. Akin by Emma Donoghue
  7. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
  8. Brunch and Other Obligations by Suzanne Nugent
  9. Rascal by Jean-Luc Deglin
  10. Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu
  11. Beach Read by Emily Henry
  12. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
  13. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
  14. The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
  15. Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Posted in Book Talk, Chatty

A year complete in under 6 months!

Posted on by Jennifer

Well, I officially finished my Goodreads goal for the year of 52 books!

I’d been expecting this, just based on the fact that I was furloughed from my job and most days were spent reading for several hours. It was an easy guess that I’d blow through them pretty quickly. 😂

Like I’ve said before, I don’t plan on changing my goal to be a higher number, but instead am working on creating other reading-based goals for myself. Here are a few of my new monthly goals:

  • reading a recent or upcoming Indie or self-published book, to help authors who need it
  • read an ARC from NetGalley or Edelweiss (I’m not behind, but I like to keep up with upcoming releases)
  • read a book from my decade-plus-long TBR that I’ve been excited about forever and just never got around to

I’m also pushing myself to read books that are outside my usual picks. Genres I don’t read much of (like thrillers and mysteries), or classics I’ve never read (like The Iliad), or books that are just really freakin’ long (I’m finally going to read Kingdom of Ash and finish the Throne of glass series. This beast is 984 pages long!!!).

If you’ve got any favorites that are in one of those categories or that you might otherwise want to challenge me to read, let me know in the comments so I can check it out!

Posted in Book Talk

2020 Library Love Challenge!

Posted on by Jennifer

I recently learned of a challenge that I think I can wholeheartedly embrace, despite my usual struggles with reading challenges! My impulsiveness will not hinder me for this one, since it’s the 2020 Library Love challenge! Hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart, the goal is simple: read books from the library!

Who doesn’t love the library? When I move to a new place, I always go to the library to check it out and get a card within a day or two of moving in. Usually before I’m even fully unpacked. Priorities, right? 👌🏼

So this year I’m joining the 2020 Library Love challenge and going to shoot for at least 12 books (the lowest tier). This whole pandemic thing has lowered what my usual goal would be, since I’m buying a lot more books from local shops right now to try and support them during these difficult times. My library branch has also been closed since last summer in the longest ever construction project for nothing important (don’t mind the salt…), so I was already to a lower start with library visits this year. Ah, well.

Progress!

If you’re interested as well, go see the full post and sign up link from the hosts! The levels for the challenge are:

  • Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books (my goal)
  • Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
  • Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
  • Library Addict: Read 48 books
  • Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books

My reads:

  1. Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
  2. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
  3. The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin
  4. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
  5. Illidan by William King
  6. Akin by Emma Donoghue
  7. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
  8. Brunch and Other Obligations by Suzanne Nugent
  9. Rascal by Jean-Luc Deglin
  10. Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu
  11. Beach Read by Emily Henry
  12. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
  13. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
  14. The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
  15. Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez