ONTD Book Club discussion

Post your reading goals and books you'd like to read in 2016!

in 2012 I read 43 books
in 2013 I read 37 books
in 2014 I read 25 books
in 2015 I read 15 books

It's been dropping steadily. My current 2016 book goal is bumped back up to 25, praying I can do it.

Also goodreads made us these silly things so post them:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

Go to any of your bookshelves and click the "See your 2015 in books" banner

I'd like to hit at least 30 books this year. But my real goal isn't exactly a book count, more like I want to continue to force myself out of my "I only read brain candy" rut that I fell into the last few years. I want to read classics and non-fiction this year.

(there's nothing wrong with brain candy- I just haven't been reading anything else in between them to challenge myself.)

Ahria wrote: "I'd like to hit at least 30 books this year. But my real goal isn't exactly a book count, more like I want to continue to force myself out of my "I only read brain candy" rut that I fell into the l..."

What sort of classics are on your list?

My goal has always been 50 books a year (not included re-reads of old favorites)
2013: I read 54
2014: I read 52
2015: I read 63

I think I was able to read more in 2015 because I read more YA, which are easier to digest. Curious to see how 2016 will shape up!

I've upped my goal to 50 this year even though I didn't make my goal of 30 (?) last year. This year I'm determined to get through all the books I missed in 2015. That includes YA, Science Fiction, modern classics, historical non-fiction, and plenty of other commercial and genre fiction.

I managed my goal of 35.

It probably should have been 36, but I finished the last one in the early hours of this morning so it's gone on 2016 instead so I'm already one into my challenge this year.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

I'm going to try and read less fluff this year, but it probably won't happen, I always end up reading when I want to unwind and fluff is so much easier.

I hit my goal of 50 for 2015 (just finished....yesterday). I don't count re-reads in my book count, so I'm going to try to cut down on that in 2016.

My new goal is going to still be 50, and I'm going to try to branch out a little more instead of sticking to familiar subject areas. I also want to read more of what I already have at home!

I also joined this group a few months ago but haven't yet participated in discussions, so that's going to be my big goal for the year.

Edit: here's my 2015 -
https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

Caitlin wrote: "I also joined this group a few months ago but haven't yet participated in discussions, so that's going to be my big goal for the year. "

That's wonderful! :D Please do!


Also I need to see more charts, show me more charts everybody!

I want to read 35 books next year. I also want to finish reading Harry Potter in German (my German isn't very good so there's a challenge) and I want to read books form more different countries . http://ayearofreadingtheworld.com/ I stumbled upon this blog and as a smug European I thought I did read books from a lot of different countries....well...not so much...pretty much everything is from the UK, US or NL....any recs from other countries? I like chick lit, historical books and (auto)biographies.

For the first time in the 3 years I have done this challenge I've finally managed to reach my goal of 50 (actually read 51 so yay!)

Also this is my first time commenting on this group, and I'm looking forward to many book posts and recommandations from you all :)

Here's my 2015 in books: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

And Happy New Year btw!!

Caitlin wrote: "I hit my goal of 50 for 2015 (just finished....yesterday). I don't count re-reads in my book count, so I'm going to try to cut down on that in 2016."

I think rereads also take away from the year you read them before if you do do that, so I'm going to try not to do that this year.

Wigs wrote: "Also I need to see more charts, show me more charts everybody!"

Here's mine: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

Hey it's my first post! I'm scarlettletter7 on lj & ONTD (and I've been lurking and commenting sparingly since 2007 oop)

Last year was my first reading challenge cuz I was in a slump during and after university (I was a Lit major so reading for fun was just...too much)
My goal was 25 books and I read 62!
Got introduced to graphic novels and re-introduced to YA. Also found booktube and got a lot more active on goodreads!

My Year in Books!

My reading goal for 2016 is 30 books. I'm applying to masters programmes so I know I'm going to be super busy with work (I'm a teacher) and applications and everything. If I get to 30 I'll be happy. Also want to read more of the classics that have been on my tbr and actually participate in a read-a-thon.

Wigs wrote: "in 2012 I read 43 books
in 2013 I read 37 books
in 2014 I read 25 books
in 2015 I read 15 books

It's been dropping steadily. My current 2016 book goal is bumped back up to 25, praying I can do it...."


Thanks for maintaining this group! I'll try to be more active this year!

Wigs wrote: "What sort of classics are on your list? "

I recently read Persuasion by Jane Austen and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, so probably more by her. Also interested in reading Sherlock Holmes, The Time Traveler, 1001 Arabian Nights and Wuthering Heights are some off the top of my head.

ETA: My 2015 list (or most of it): https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

I don't count comics, novellas or short stories in my "official" count.

Hi everyone! This is also my first time commenting in this group, even though I've been a member for a while :)

I set my reading goal for 2015 at 50 books and I ended up with 67 books total so I upped my goal for 2016 to 65. I noticed that I read mostly new adult/romance books in 2015 with a few YA books thrown in here and there.

For 2016, I would like to go back and re-read a lot of the classic novels that I read in high school/college but didn't appreciate because they were school assignments.

Here is my year in books: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

My 2015 goal was 24 and I finished 53 books- although I don't think number of books matter here. I was really into comics this year and they make an easy reading :)

My 2016 goal is 50. I already bought two books from an old bookstore: "the bluest eye" and "the secret life of bees". I want to finish the game of thrones series with "a dance with dragons". I also want to comple the knife of never letting go series with "monsters of men" Currently reading "the things they carried".

I will definitely continue my comics adventure. I am about the start "awkward" and "halfway home: drawing my way through Japan".

I also have some books heading my way from my home land (turkey).

Also for anybody who is interested: this is Ann Morgan's Ted talk about how she read a book from each country for a year:

My year reading a book from every country in the world
http://www.ted.com/talks/ann_morgan_m...

I want to take some tips from her as well...

Happy new year book worms!

Liesje Leest wrote: "I want to read 35 books next year. I also want to finish reading Harry Potter in German (my German isn't very good so there's a challenge) and I want to read books form more different countries . h..."

Haha this is great. I just post a Ted talk of this blog before I read your comment :)

My goal for 2016 is to read 30 books; I'm turning 30 this year, and it seemed like that should be the number.

In 2015 I finished 36 of my 27 goal. Here's my year in books: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

I posted about this on my FB page, because I always love having literature chat. But then, of course, my townie friends recommend just absolute garbage for me to read. Come on guys- I spend like 3/4 of my time reading classics, stop recommending shit like Dan Brown to me. *eye roll*

Amy B wrote: "My goal for 2016 is to read 30 books; I'm turning 30 this year, and it seemed like that should be the number.

In 2015 I finished 36 of my 27 goal. Here's my year in books: https://www.goodreads.co..."

I see that you read Common Sense by Thomas Paine and I immediately heard the Schuyler Sisters lyrics in my head, lol (I'm wondering if you chose to check it out because of Hamilton?)

I read 61 books in 2015, which is the most I've ever read, so I'm pretty happy about that. I am hoping to be able to match or beat that number in 2016.

I'd also like to participate more in discussions.

Here is my link:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

I read 48 books in 2015. I am going to up this to 65 for 2016.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

I have a personal goal to read Hamilton..

Melissa wrote: "I read 61 books in 2015, which is the most I've ever read, so I'm pretty happy about that. I am hoping to be able to match or beat that number in 2016.

I'd also like to participate more in discuss..."

Wow you win the prize for reading the least popular book! lmao you're the only person who's read it!

I read about 40-ish books in 2014 and 100 books in 2015 and I'm hoping to hit 100 again in 2016. I need to also make sure that I work through some of the books in my to-read, it's getting a bit long!

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

In 2014 I read 125
In 2015 I read 129 books. I didn't count Fools Gold because it was only seven pages lol.

This is my first comment here. My reading goal for this year is 50 books. I think that I'm going to do some re-reads this year since I didn't get around to them last year.

I'm so glad that so many of y'all are new or commenting for the first time! I hope you will consider coming back and staying with us in our discussion threads :D

I read 23 books in 2015, and honestly, 18 of those were in the last 2 months. My husband got me a new kindle tablet, so I can read in the dark now and it has changed my life haha.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

I've always wanted to read 52 books in a year, so this year I've decided to go for it. Quite a jump from my usual 20-30 books a year, but I've added a bunch of books to my kindle that I'm excited to read, so hopefully that will help me stick with it!

(I'm aleksjames, not that anyone knows me)

Good evening, everyone! I've really been enjoying looking at everyone's reading charts; I love seeing that data and learning about new things to add to my reading list. Mine is at https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i....

I'm hoping to read 20 books next year, which may or may not happen. I don't do much of the reading for my grad program, but even though I don't do a lot of *that* reading I feel guilty if I read other things instead! But I still have about three weeks until the semester begins, two more days until my two week vacation from work is done, and an entire summer where I won't have to take a class. So here's hoping!

I had considered starting a book club of sorts for the professional organization I'm the membership chair for on FB, which would have helped one or two toward that goal. But I'm not sure how that would work and wouldn't want it public, so I'm not sure it'll happen since they want to consolidate pages.

I enjoyed the first Glamourist Histories book I read, so I'm planning to finish that series, and maybe will finally get through the Eleanor of Aquitaine book I started a year or more ago and set aside for coursework. I'd like to read more really good fiction, but most of what I have in my Calibre library is nonfiction. But I do have some classics in there too so perhaps I'll start with those.

I read 126 books last year (hitting my goal of 75) and I've decided to do 80 this year. I was thinking about setting it higher but I didn't want to have to force myself to complete it if I start falling behind.

My Year in Books!

Claire wrote: "I read 23 books in 2015, and honestly, 18 of those were in the last 2 months. My husband got me a new kindle tablet, so I can read in the dark now and it has changed my life haha.

https://www.good..."

omg I was looking at everyone else's charts and the average ratings were 3-4ish, and here I am, thinking I'm an overly harsh rater/review because I'm sitting here with my 2.2 average for 2015. But then I saw yours and it's 2.4 so at least I've got someone to keep me company in the 2.something range.

2015- I managed to read 7 books and listened to 5 on audio. My goal for 2016 is to read 15 (I doubled and added one...cos I'm no slacker:)
Thanks for the inspiration, everyone! Some of you are truly amazing with lofty goals! Best of luck to all!

Claire wrote: "I read 23 books in 2015, and honestly, 18 of those were in the last 2 months. My husband got me a new kindle tablet, so I can read in the dark now and it has changed my life haha.

https://www.good..."

I can relate! I live overseas and can't find books in English at the bookstores. As much as I like physical books- I love the ease of a digital book. Reading in the dark is perfection- my eyes never hurt because I can adjust the light :) happy reading!!

Marleen wrote: "I can relate! I live overseas and can't find books in English at the bookstores. As much as I like physical books- I love the ease of a digital book. Reading in the dark is perfection- my eyes never hurt because I can adjust the light :) happy reading!! "

I agree with both of you! I started off very anti-e-reader. But after I bought my e-reader a couple years back, I regretted not having done so before. It was easily one of the best reading decisions I've ever made.

I'm Lindsay and I haven't introduced myself here yet because I never get any of the books read in time (or at all) to comment. But I do WANT to :D

I used to read 50 or more books per year but now I have three small kids and I'm lucky to get one a month read. I couldn't really even tell you how many books I really read this year. I've finally allowed myself to quit books I hate, which I didn't use to do. But my reading time is too precious!

However, I think I'll set a goal of 15 this year and try to push myself more than this last year.

This is my first time posting here. I've set a Goal of 65 books this year. I have a tendency to fall into slumps after a bad/boring read, so I'm hoping I can achieve my goal this year - I'm off to a good start with "Career of Evil."

xx

Hi all!
here is my Year in books link: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...
i set as goal of 55 books this year - i read 61 last year but i took a few train trips which helped me get several extra hours of reading in every few months.
Starting off this year reading Summer of '68: The Season That Changed Baseball—and America—Forever which isnt as great as i expected - it reads less like a novel (which is how i happened upon it) and more like a really long newspaper article.

sraxe wrote: "omg I was looking at everyone else's charts and the average ratings were 3-4ish, and here I am, thinking I'm an overly harsh rater/review because I'm sitting here with my 2.2 average for 2015. But then I saw yours and it's 2.4 so at least I've got someone to keep me company in the 2.something range.."

Tbh that sounds normal to me. You read so many books that there was bound to be a lot of lame ones. I'm pretty sure if I read that many I'd be in the same range, I find myself pretty critical and am having a hard time finding books that jive with me nowadays :/ Half the stuff I read feels so meh and I wish I knew how to weed out the bad ones in advance but there's no telling.

One of the books I hated most of all this year (Horrorstor) has like no bad reviews so I was only too glad to be able to throw my review into the mix to warn people.

sraxe wrote: ""omg I was looking at everyone else's charts and the average ratings were 3-4ish, and here I am, thinking I'm an overly harsh rater/review because I'm sitting here with my 2.2 average for 2015. But then I saw yours and it's 2.4 so at least I've got someone to keep me company in the 2.something range.."
"

I was actually going to comment on my average score haha, a couple of weeks ago I went through my favourite books and upped my ratings to 4 or 5 because I felt like I was being too mean, and I was questioning myself like "do I even like reading?!" it obviously just takes a lot to please me, I guess! the writing, plot, characters, everything has to be perfect or I don't feel right giving a high score. plus the system goodreads uses means 2 stars is "ok" and that's how I feel about most books

Wigs wrote: "Tbh that sounds normal to me. You read so many books that there was bound to be a lot of lame ones. I'm pretty sure if I read that many I'd be in the same range, I find myself pretty critical and a..."

Oh yeah...that's definitely true. That's kind of why I love reviews with spoilers. What they're may think is nbd might end up being what makes me hate the book. Usually the 1-2 star reviews are very generous with spoilers.

But I definitely see what you mean about finding it hard to weed certain books out, especially if all it has are generally positive reviews. Sometimes, if I can't find a review that helps me on GR, I'll go check out Amazon and see if it's mentioned there (in the reviews or on the forums).

Claire wrote: "I was actually going to comment on my average score haha, a couple of weeks ago I went through my favourite books and upped my ratings to 4 or 5 because I felt like I was being too mean, and I was ..."

I go by the GR suggestions as well. Most of my books get a three if I enjoyed them, while only a few get a four, and that's if I really liked them. Very rarely do I give out a five (I only gave out two last year). And I've been guilty of upping ratings too, but I only find myself doing that if the author does something different/unique (like including a POC as their lead). On the flip side, I've also started dropping ratings for things I've just gotten sick of (like May-December pairings with barely legal heroines or manwhore/virgin pairing) or just have become intolerant of (like sexist crap).

What does May/December pairing mean??

Wigs wrote: "What does May/December pairing mean??"

Pairings with large age gaps, so really just older/younger couples but with more than just a couple years between them. (Like a lot of these HW couples in which it's a much older man with a woman in her 20s or something.)

I barely made my goal of 100 this year, so I'm only aiming for 80 for 2016 to be on the safe side, especially knowing that I'll be reading a lot of (long, dense) books for work.

A secondary goal I had was to re-read all of the Harry Bosch series, and in the right order, which I managed to do, as well as read all the other books by Michael Connelly, so I'm pretty pleased with that.

This year I think I'm going to try and focus on three main themes : US politics (in the run up to the presidential elections), German history and culture, and European fiction.

Here are my stats:
2015 - 100
2014 - 137
2013 - 88
2012 - 95
2011 - only 10, but that's because I joined in November

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

sraxe wrote: "omg I was looking at everyone else's charts and the average ratings were 3-4ish, and here I am, thinking I'm an overly harsh rater/review because I'm sitting here with my 2.2 average for 2015. But then I saw yours and it's 2.4 so at least I've got someone to keep me company in the 2.something range."

lol, I just assumed that you read some books that didn't jive with you. It happens, especially when you're reading a lot. I've been doing a book club with one of my lj friends and we somehow keep ending up with books that didn't jive with either of us. We have a bad habit of checking out the reviews after we read them and see that many of them have rave reviews. I guess it's just different tastes at that point lol.

Forgot to add my overview: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...
Funny that the highest rated book on my overview is a book I didn't really care for all that much (highest rated by others)

Carmen wrote: "lol, I just assumed that you read some books that didn't jive with you. It happens, especially when you're reading a lot. I've been doing a book club with one of my lj friends and we somehow keep e..."

Oh, that must suck! But at least you have the excuse of not checking reviews beforehand. Sometimes I'll read horrible reviews (even from friends) and end up getting curious and reading the book anyway. AND--surprise, surprise--I'll end up hating it. Well, at least I have something to say in my review then. (And, imo, it's a lot more fun bitching about books when the person can relate to it and contribute.) I find it so difficult to write a review on something that I ended up actually liking quite a bit.

(And I think I've just gotten ruthlessly unforgiving...I have a total of 71 1-starred books on my shelves, with 38 of those being from this year alone.)

Justene wrote: "My goal for 2016 is again 50, even though I didn't hit that in 2015. No specific books in mind, but making a dent in the unread books on my shelf would be a good start."

Good idea! I'm going for 50 too (5 more than last year) and finally reading all those books i bought last year.

My goal for the year is to finish this Read Harder challenge:

http://bookriot.com/2015/12/15/2016-b...

:)

Damn you guys read so much

Jamie wrote: "Damn you guys read so much "

haha ikr! i didn't meet my extremely modest goal of 33 this year, but caution to the wind i think i'm going to try for 100 for 2016! (makes no sense, i know, but why not try?)

ngl i will have no shame about including graphic novels in that count.


classics-wise i'd like to get around to some russian authors this year, as well as henry james, willa cather, edith wharton...& others :)

Court wrote: "ngl i will have no shame about including graphic novels in that count."

There ain't no shame in including those! I've seen people meet their 100+ goals by including kids books in their challenge.