Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I always start with 52 (avg 1/wk) but I usually end up between 65-75
I "read" both books (mostly ebooks) as well as audio about an even split but have found that books counts don't mean as much if you read bigger books or short stories.... so I keep track of pages and hours as well.

As the past few years one goal is to get through the books on the Kindle I inherited from my deceased mother. There are still over 190 unread on that although I have determined that they are not all to my taste so I have been averaging about 10/yr at this rate the kindle will die before I get through them.... Plus there are over 35 unread books on my Kindle that I need to get through as well.
I am an avid user of the online library systems- All my audio books and some ebooks that someone may have recommended.
I also have some physical books on my shelf that I need to either read or give to someone else to read.

I've tried theme /topic goals- thought about joining a book club but I never find something that really meets my need which is to escape into books/stories. I finally decided that life is too short to read a book that you are not enjoying, so if its not pulling me in then I just put it away. -- in theory -- I am quite stubborn so I tend to stick around longer hoping something will happen to turn things around - I have been surprised before - several times in fact - so its more likely that I give up if I am getting annoyed -- by the main characters , the voice of the narrator in audio books, or if I feel that way the book is being written in not conducive to my peace of mind.

This will be the link to this years list where you can access actual reviews etc too https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I love this synopsis of your reading pile and your habits :)

Good luck on good reads for 2023!

Jan 4 books

ebooks 419 pp
I finished Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon total pg 969- 419pp in 2023

audio 31 hrs
I finished The Overstory by Richard Powers 23 hrs - 8 were in 2023
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 11 hrs
Long Shadows by David Baldacci 12 hrs

Feb 5 books

ebook 939pp
Curfew by Jayne Cowie 312 pp
The Deadly Mystery of the Missing Diamonds by T.E. Kinsey 324 pp
The Hope Chest by Carolyn Brown 303 pp

audio 16.75 hrs
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

pback 325 pp

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
325pp

Mar 6 books

ebook 1 books 360 pp
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd 360 pp

audio 5 books 46.25 hrs
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 11.75 hrs
Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose 12.7 hrs
Dismissed with Prejudice by J.A. Jance 9.8hrs
Stand Down by J.A. Jance 2 hrs
Queen Anne's Lace by Susan Wittig Albert 10 hrs

Q1 Totals
15 Books
1 pback 325 pp
5 ebooks 1718 pp
10 audio 94 hrs

April 9 bks

I decided to join the St Jude Challenge to read 30 minutes a day in April to raise money for the hospital. I am going to truely spend time reading at least 30 minutes a day but on those days where it is not possible I will be listening to an audio book at least that long

ebook 3 bks 1 SS 1112pp
Meru by S.B. Divya 435 pp Prime First Read
Signal Moon by Kate Quinn 57 pp Prime First Read
A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear 462 pp moms kindle
Always by Carol Rose 158 pp moms kindle

Audio 4 bks 1 SS 50.25 hrs all from library
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny 14 hrs mostly listened to in March but finished the last couple hours the first few days of April
Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco 12.25 hrs
Glass Houses by Louise Penny 13.5 hrs
The Hangman by Louise Penny 1.5 hrs
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman 9 hrs

Carol wrote: "April

I decided to join the St Jude Challenge to read 30 minutes a day in April to raise money for the hospital. I am going to truely spend time reading at least 30 minutes a day but on those days..."

That's very cool! Congrats for doing something so awesome! (When I was in elementary school, I used to LOVE when we did the St. Jude mathathon every year :) )

May 5 books total

ebook 2 bks 369 pp
Angle of Investigation by Michael Connelly 92 pp moms kindle 3 short stories
A Day Like This by Kelley McNeil 277pp Prime First Read

audio 3 bks 30 hrs all from library
The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams 8.5 hrs
Death Overdue by Allison Brook 9.5 hrs
A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn 12 hrs

June 6 books

Ebook 3 bks 1241pp all from moms kindle
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende 337 pp
Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress 295 pp
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton 609 pp


Audio 3 bks 30 hrs all from library
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel 5.75 hrs
Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny 12 hrs
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 12.25 hrs

Q2 Totals
20 Books
8 ebooks +1SS 2722 pp
10 audio +1ss 110.25 hrs

1H Totals
35 Books
1 pback 325 pp
13 ebooks +1 SS 4440 pp apppx 183pp/wk
20 audio 204.25 hrs apppx 7.85 hr/wk

July 4 books

e-book 1 bk 336 pp
Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen 336 pp

Audio 3 bks 37.95 hrs
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde 12.25 hrs
A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas 13 hrs
Prudence by Gail Carriger 12.7 hrs

August 4 books

ebook 2 bks 708 pp
The Twisted Spiral by Arlene Cabus Poerio 300pp moms kindle
Lost Library 408 pp free d/l

Audio 2 bks 22.9 hrs
A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner 9.9 hrs
Murder at Queen’s Landing by Andrea Penrose 13 hrs

September

E-Books 3 bks 994 pp
America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray 624 pp moms kindle
The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne 299 pp Prime
The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner 71 pp moms kindle


Audio 4 bks 66.83 hrs
Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon 24:20 hrs
A Better Man by Louise Penny 13 hrs
All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny 14 hrs
The Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag 15.5 hrs

Q3 Totals
15 Books
5 ebooks +1SS 2038 pp
9 audio 127.68 hrs

YTD Totals
50 Books
1 pback 325 pp
18 ebooks +2 SS 6478 pp apppx 166 pp/wk
29 audio 331.93 hrs apppx 8.5 hr/wk

Audio hours are higher but we have been taking longer vehicle trips where my husband and I listen together

OCT 4 books

Ebook 658 pp moms kindle
Girl Jacked by Christopher Greyson 224 pp
Blossom Street Brides by Debbie Macomber 434 pp

Audio 46 hrs library
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith 33 hrs
Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon 13 hrs

Hit 52 book goal 10/10- a little behind last year but pretty much on par. and my hr count is definitely higher than most of the past years.

Carol wrote: "Hit 52 book goal 10/10- a little behind previous years"

Well congratulations anyway!

Nov 5 books

ebook 935 pp
The Captain's Daughter] 576 pp moms kindle
An Invincible Summer by Mariah Stewart 359 pp Prime First read
Audio 31 hrs library
Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine by Janet Evanovich 8 hrs
The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry 13 hr
The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz 10 hrs

Dec 5+

Ebook 927+
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng 298 pp

skimmed through Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings to refresh my mem on some characters

The Good Byline by Jill Orr 289 pp

Also read 340 pages of The Girl You Left Behind but i will be finishing it in 2024 so while i will include the page count it doesn't get added to the book count

Audio 26.9 hrs
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Revelations by Lydia Sherrer 5.9 hrs
Love, Lies, & Hocus Pocus: Allies by Lydia Sherrer 10 hrs
Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall 11hrs

Q4 Totals
14 Books
6+ ebooks 2520pp
8 audio 103.9 hrs

2024 Prelim Totals
64 Books
1 pback 325 pp
26 ebooks 9143pp apppx 173 pp/wk
37 audio 440.85 hrs apppx 8.48 hr/wk

My GR Year in books report

additional data
All Audio are from local online libraries (58% of total)
The ebooks 16 came from my mothers Kindle and 11 I had on mine
Those on mine more than half came from Amazon First Reads or Goodreads giveaways , 3 I got from Amazon Prime Library and 2 I had purchased.

mystery 21
time travel 7
series 22
historical-fiction 12
Non Fiction 1
Female author 54