Stories, Stress and Starlight - My GoodReads Reading Challenge
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So, not really thinking about it, I set my goal to 50 books. Keeping in mind, that year was super stressful for me, and paired with a 3 month reading slump, I obviously wasn't able to do it. (I think I read around 30 books that year).
I remember feeling quite sad, unaccomplished, especially when I compared my reading to my Goodreads friends'. (Btw, add me as a friend!) I had friends that had read hundreds of books that year (how?). And I just felt that this comparison wasn't good for my mental health at all. Especially because it was my first ever year-long reading challenge, I was kind of hesitant participating for another year.
At the beginning of this year I had quite a few things going on: I was writing my Abitur (my high school exams), had a four week holiday planned in July and a work and travel for October. All that, while working part - time. But I was sure that the reading challenge would help me get my reading in order, reflect on what I read and maybe motivate me. So again, I set my goal to 50 books.
Obviously, the first few months (during my exam period) it wasn't going as well as I planned, but I was sure that in the long free time after my exams I would be able to catch up again. Somehow, when that time came, I was way too exhausted to focus on reading, and I fell into a reading slump. I did occasionally write and did lots of knitting during that time.
(This scarf was knit during that time.)
So yeah, there I was, with all the time in the world, nothing to do, and no motivation to read. I maybe was at around 15 books at that time (April).
Then I went on my holiday to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. I was extremely excited (not only for the holiday, but also for finally reading again) and broke through my reading slump! YAY! So I was reading all day, every day. On the Subway to the city, during lunch, before I went to bed ... I massively caught up on my reading challenge. (Thanks to my eBook-Reader, which allowed me to take as many books as I liked on holiday and didn't add any extra weight.)
And now, I'm here. All alone in New Zealand, with probably too much time on my hand. And what am I doing? Exactly, not reading. Well, I am on 38 books right now, which technically means that I need to finish at least 1.9 books a day! Anyone have any suggestions how to do that? The last few days I've been massively catching up (we're talking one book a day here).
But, most of the books I've read this year were really good (if we count out The Cruel Prince, which took me incredibly long to finish, I literally started it in March and finished in September).
So, what I am trying to say is, while I'll probably not win my challenge, I did have a very successful reading year. Or a really successful year in total. So yes, GoodReads did not only stress me, it motivated me and helped me grow my reading.
What about you guys? Are you participating in the GoodReads challenge? If so, what is your goal, did you meet it?
Thank you guys so much for reading through my rambling!
(Also, did anyone notice that I used nearly the same quote for the last two posts?)
" Take time to do
what makes your heart
happy. "
For two years now I have participated in the GoodReads reading challenge. I think all of you are familiar with the concept. At the beginning of the year you set yourself a goal of how many books you think you'll be able to read. I remember my first reading challenge, I was so sure I would be able to read 50 (or even more) books that year.
So, not really thinking about it, I set my goal to 50 books. Keeping in mind, that year was super stressful for me, and paired with a 3 month reading slump, I obviously wasn't able to do it. (I think I read around 30 books that year).
I remember feeling quite sad, unaccomplished, especially when I compared my reading to my Goodreads friends'. (Btw, add me as a friend!) I had friends that had read hundreds of books that year (how?). And I just felt that this comparison wasn't good for my mental health at all. Especially because it was my first ever year-long reading challenge, I was kind of hesitant participating for another year.
At the beginning of this year I had quite a few things going on: I was writing my Abitur (my high school exams), had a four week holiday planned in July and a work and travel for October. All that, while working part - time. But I was sure that the reading challenge would help me get my reading in order, reflect on what I read and maybe motivate me. So again, I set my goal to 50 books.
Obviously, the first few months (during my exam period) it wasn't going as well as I planned, but I was sure that in the long free time after my exams I would be able to catch up again. Somehow, when that time came, I was way too exhausted to focus on reading, and I fell into a reading slump. I did occasionally write and did lots of knitting during that time.
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| Platform 9 3/4, London |
So yeah, there I was, with all the time in the world, nothing to do, and no motivation to read. I maybe was at around 15 books at that time (April).
Then I went on my holiday to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. I was extremely excited (not only for the holiday, but also for finally reading again) and broke through my reading slump! YAY! So I was reading all day, every day. On the Subway to the city, during lunch, before I went to bed ... I massively caught up on my reading challenge. (Thanks to my eBook-Reader, which allowed me to take as many books as I liked on holiday and didn't add any extra weight.)
And now, I'm here. All alone in New Zealand, with probably too much time on my hand. And what am I doing? Exactly, not reading. Well, I am on 38 books right now, which technically means that I need to finish at least 1.9 books a day! Anyone have any suggestions how to do that? The last few days I've been massively catching up (we're talking one book a day here).
But, most of the books I've read this year were really good (if we count out The Cruel Prince, which took me incredibly long to finish, I literally started it in March and finished in September).
So, what I am trying to say is, while I'll probably not win my challenge, I did have a very successful reading year. Or a really successful year in total. So yes, GoodReads did not only stress me, it motivated me and helped me grow my reading.
What about you guys? Are you participating in the GoodReads challenge? If so, what is your goal, did you meet it?
Thank you guys so much for reading through my rambling!
(Also, did anyone notice that I used nearly the same quote for the last two posts?)
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