Weekly Geeks 2009-23: Reading Challenges

This week's Weekly Geeks topic was suggested by Sheri of A Novel Menagerie. She writes:

"Reading Challenges: a help or a hurt? Do you find that the reading challenges keep you organized and goal-oriented? Or, do you find that as you near the end of a challenge that you've failed because you fell short of your original goals? As a result of some reading challenges, I've picked up books that I would have otherwise never heard of or picked up; that, frankly, I have loved. Have you experienced the same with challenges? If so, which ones? Do you have favorite reading challenges?"

As we pass the halfway point of 2009, how are you doing with your reading challenges? Did you participate in any challenges this year?

My answers

Do you find that the reading challenges keep you organized and goal-oriented?

Organized? Not so much. Oh, I can try. I always have good intentions for staying on top of reading challenges and lists. But end dates always tend to sneak up on me.

Goal-oriented? I'm not so sure I'm a goal-keeper. I have general goals for my reading: more, more, more. And I can do the occasional specific goal: read this book by Monday. But I'm not a good juggler. I can't have twenty goals at a time.

Or, do you find that as you near the end of a challenge that you've failed because you fell short of your original goals?

I fail at challenges all the time. The audio book challenge? The one where you're supposed to listen to twelve audio books in 2009? How many have I read? 0. The Unshelved Reading Challenge. The one I was hosting. How many books did I read? 0. Sometimes I sign up for a challenge and forget about it. But I never sit and wallow in the failure of it. Life's too short for that.

As a result of some reading challenges, I've picked up books that I would have otherwise never heard of or picked up; that, frankly, I have loved. Have you experienced the same with challenges? If so, which ones?

Yes and no. Yes in that it follows the blogging trend. I see reviews of books on blogs and when I see the book at the library, then I want to pick it up and give it a try. I don't know that it is just reading-challenge books. It's just books in general. Sometimes reading challenges have expanded my reading, increased my comfort zones. I might enter a challenge thinking that 'those kinds of books' aren't my thing. But I'll find out that 'those kinds of books' are my kind of books. So reading challenges motivate and encourage me to try new things.

Examples of this would be the Once Upon A Time challenge and the R.I.P challenge.

Do you have any favorite reading challenges?

Yes. I like many reading challenges. Love them. I don't know that I can name names.

How am I doing with my reading challenges?

Some I'm doing well in. Others not so much. I am NOT trying to compete with anyone when it comes to reading challenges. I'm not trying to match what I did in previous years. I've finished twenty-one so far this year. And two or three more will be ending in the next week or so. The Banned Books Reading Challenge. The Victorian Reading Challenge. The Second Canadian Reading Challenge.

I am keeping up with most of my challenges on my blog Behind The Scenes With Becky.

I am definitely signed up for a lot of challenges in 2009.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews