Hola folks, and Happy New Year!
Hope this year has started out well for you guys. It sure has brought a lot of positivity for me, just hoping that it sticks through this year.
Since this is my first post of 2017, I thought it would be appropriate for it to be a ‘goals’ post. Even though I am planning to do away with yearly goals in most areas of my life, and stick to quarterly ones – my reading life is the one area where yearly goals make sense, and work well for me.
So without further ado, let’s get on with it.
Read 35 Books
This obviously is the customary number goal. I had set a goal of 30 books last year and read 39, so I guess reading 35 books is a safe goal for this year. Someday I would like to set (and reach) a goal of reading 50 books a year. That I believe would be my ultimate ideal.
I don’t ever even dream of reading 100 or 150 plus books a year, because that’s just unrealistic for me, and if I do that, I don’t think I will be able to enjoy the reading experience as much, as I am prone to book hangovers, and need the breathing space to obsess over a favorite book, or mourn the death of fictional characters..so you see..
Finish the Bingo for 2016
A lot of people have asked me why I am not doing the Bookish Bingo for 2017. And honestly, there are two main reasons for that.
The first one being that over the years, I have realized that I don’t like starting new projects, if I have unfinished business I need to tend to. So without completing Bingo 2016, I couldn’t bring myself to even draft Bingo 2017.
And secondly, more importantly, I am just in a different head-space this year. Mostly because, I analyzed my reading life over 2016 (which by the way was a great reading year for me), and while evaluating it – I have noticed certain patterns – some of which are great, but some not so much.
So this time I have tailor-made some of my goals (namely goals #3, #4, #5) to address the areas that I am slacking in, but are still important to me.
Having said that, Bingo was too fun to be just a one year wonder, so I am definitely bringing it back for another year, hopefully 2018, and hopefully after I have completed all 5 of my goals for 2017.
Also Read: My Top 3 Tips for Setting Realistic Reading Goals
Complete 3 book series start to finish
If you have been a reader of this blog for long, you know about my love affair with book series’. There are very few things that I love more than escaping to another world while marathoning a series.
But the flip side of this is that, I can never NOT marathon them. I need all the books to be out/published, and I need to read them back to back. No exceptions. So there are times when I just don’t pick books in a series, because I feel intimidated by the commitment to so many books at one go.
Which is why, I have made reading series’ a goal of mine for 2017. I feel like this would give me the perfect excuse to read series’ guilt/intimidation free. I know this might sound a little convoluted and crazy , but trust me, it makes perfect sense in my head, and that’s what truly matters, right? Right?
Now there are many series’ on my wishlist, but I feel the most intimidating among them are Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan and The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.
I would be overjoyed to knock out even one out of these three this year. But that is just wishful thinking, not a compulsion for marking this goal complete.
Read My Own Damn Books
There used to be a time, when I bought books and read them right away. That time used to be a long time ago. These days, more often than not – I buy books and they promptly find their new home on my bookshelf, but then for the most part, we ignore each other, and move on with our lives. Sad, sad state of affairs, I know.
So after what seems like ages of lurking through other people’s posts about #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks Challenge by Andi, I have finally decided to dive in and take it on myself.
In all, I have 19 unread books on my physical TBR pile, and 5 unread books on my Kindle. I know that it might sound like a ridiculously low number to some, but for me it’s huge. Because like I said, I have always been a Zero TBR kind of person.
So the goal here is to get my TBR to 5 books, if not to the elusive Zero TBR, by the end of 2017. I think it’s doable, but then I am ever the optimist, especially when it comes to me.
Participate in the community through Readathons and Buddy Reads
This is something that has always on my wishlist, but I always end up slacking here, thanks to life. But life is going to happen anyway, and how much can we procrastinate the things that we really want to do? Okay well I can — indefinitely. But the thing is that I don’t want to anymore.
So I am taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, and making this a priority, and planning for it in advance, so that when life happens, it doesn’t blow out all my well meaning plans.
I already have a few buddy reads lined up, and as far as the readathons go, these are the ones that I am really interested in – Dewey’s 24 hours , AuthorAThon, BorrowAThon, Diversathon & OwnVoices October Readathon.
Hopefully I will be to get to most of them, if not all of them. Fingers crossed.
That’s all from my end folks. Have you guys set goals for 2017? Reading or just general life goals? Do share. I would love to hear them.
Sreesha
This year I have decided to read as few books as possible – maybe 10, because of the same book hangover that you mentioned. I read close to 80 books last year, and that’s not counting the re-reads. So yeah, I need a palate cleanser.
I had started off Outlander last year. It began really well, very engaging. But like you said, lengthwise, it’s a little intimidating and I kinda lost patience with it.
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Shanaya Tales
Oh I know what you mean. I don’t have anything against big books and long series’, but the Outlander books take the big & long to a whole new level. So intimidating!
I don’t think there is any way I can marathon that particular series, without having to pack up and migrate to Outlander land for a good part of the year. And that is a commitment I am not willing to make – yet.
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Vishal Bheeroo
It’s realistic reading goals for the year and I’ve set myself to read 50 books this year after failing with 40 books for the challenge of 100 last year. I am also trying to catch up with TBR that I left during the past few years. An interesting post on reading goals.
Shanaya Tales
Ah yeah..I know..I am forever playing catch up when it comes to reading books. So many books, so little time – right?
Wishing you a great 2017 – reading and otherwise. π
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Naz @ Read Diverse Books
“Read My Own Damn Books” hmmm, that’s something I should definitely commit to in 2017, but I just can’t. hahah Maybe next year ;D
Glad to see you’ll be doing more readathons this year. They’re soo fun. Hope to see you Tweeting about #Diverseathon next week!
Shanaya Tales
They are, right? I have shied away from readathons because I am a slow reader, and for a week-long readathon, I would only ever be able to finish one, at the max two books. But I am planning to take part anyway this time, because it is just too much fun to miss.
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Modern Gypsy
I love reading series too – and I also read them only after I know all the books are out, so I can lose myself in them. The only exception was The Song Of Fire & Ice series – I love the books so far, eagerly waiting for the next one though!
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Shanaya Tales
The only exception in my case was the Harry Potter Series. π
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Shilpa Garg
I am planning to read a few series too. Cliffton Chronicles from Jeffrey Archer, Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, Harry Potter Series (Re-read)… I have to Read My Own Damn Books too. LOL π There are too many of them on my book shelves.
Good luck with your reading goals, Shantala.
Shanaya Tales
Thank you, Shilpa, and wish you the same. π
P.S. I am curently reading (and loving) Cinder – Book 1 of The Lunar Chronicles.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness 2016: A Look Back + Fitness 2017: A Roadmap
Damyanti
Admirable goals and just 15 TBR books. I’m envious. Plan to read 100 books this year…let’s see.
Shanaya Tales
19 to be precise, and that is only counting the physical books. Which, I know, is also a relatively low number, but that is quite a lot for someone like me, who forever aims for TBR Zero. π
Coming to your goals – 100 books in 2017 – that is such an impressive goal! Wishing you the very best in accomplishing all your goals in the coming year. π
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SHALINI BAISIWALA
I so totally get you when you say book hangover!! I need breathing space too to savour and probably go back to re-read a few lin s or pages again!
50 seems a good target but 3 books a month is the best average to work on and build from there – no big expectations so no big let downs either π
I will try to get into a buddy read this year- never done it before; so will need to find someone as passionate about it as me.
Best of luck with your reading goals!
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Shanaya Tales
Thank you so much, Shalini. Looking forward to our buddy read later this year. π
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Jenny @ Reading the End
I am so impressed with you for only owning 19 unread books. I don’t have the huge piles that some book bloggers have, for sure, but a LOT of my nonfiction books are ones that I bought on impulse and never got around to reading. Way to go having only 19, and good luck on reading that pile down in 2017!
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Shanaya Tales
Thank you so much, Jenny. I know 19 looks like a ridiculously low number, but here is some perspective – for years and years – I had either zero books on my physical TBR or possibly 3- 4, if they were a part of the series I was reading. So from there to 19, in the last two years, is a big leap for me. I don’t hope for zero TBR anymore, but at-least hope to read my current pile down as much as I can.
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Sreeja Praveen
Hiya !
You seem so realistic when you list out your goals π I sincerely appreciate and admire the way you say that you can’t begin something new when the old business is unfinished. It makes sense with respect to books because a piling up TBR is a permanent tension π and space constraint is a bane π
Wish you good luck with your goals.
( If you haven’t read the Princess Trilogy yet, try it. You may like the books. )
Shanaya Tales
True true. My blood pressure rises in direct proportion to the unread books pile and the pending review pile. So for my own sanity, I need to do this.
The Princess Trilogy by Jean Sasson?
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Vinitha
Good luck and happy reading! I don’t have a number goal but I have some author goals and such. List is in my blog. Take a peek
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Shanaya Tales
I read your list. A very interesting way to approach reading in the coming year. I have un-official author goals too, but they did not make ‘The’ List this year, because I was just overwhelmed with what I had already committed to. So possibly these will feature in the next year’s goals.
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Beloo Mehra
All the best for your reading goals, Shantala! I am sure you will surpass your own expectations. I am a very selective and slow reader these days, so I am nowhere in the vicinity of setting any number targets or anything. But reading your post I am inspired to spend more time with my physical TBR shelves π
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Shanaya Tales
Glad to be of help. π Wishing you a great year 2017, Beloo – reading and otherwise. π
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Rajlakshmi
Your goals are so systematic. You sure are one disciplined girl. I simple picked a goal of 60 and now I am dead. I downloaded a whole series of Agatha Christie and James Patterson… So lot of fast read crime tales this year. I think I need to do that readmyowndamnbooks challenge… Sigh… That story is same for all the booklovers. Wish you good luck. Btw Percy Jackson series is really nice and fast.
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Shanaya Tales
Oh good. That gives me the much needed motivation to read Percy Jackson. Thank you, thank you.
And happy reading to you! π
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Lata Sunil
Yeah..lets get the pleasure back in reading instead of a race to finish. I have been doing that consciously and reduced books I take up for review. I would follow your reading journey and look out for the recommendation. Have a Happy New Year.
Shanaya Tales
Oh reviewing is a whole different ball game..the stress of pending reviews! I try to be all caught up, but that seems like a distant dream. Though I tweak my system a little every now and again, hoping to reach that balance between reading and reviewing. Someday..
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Mithila Menezes @fabulus1710
If you like Percy Jackson, there’s also the Kane Chronicles by the same author. It’s based on Egyptian Mythology, and I personally find it better than Percy Jackson, all thanks to the cute, funny, sarcastic dialogues between the two main characters who are siblings π
And the #ReadYourOwnDamnBooks challenge is way too interesting π
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Shanaya Tales
Oh yeah! I have stalked that challenge for quite a long time, finally decided to participate. π
Also, I have heard so many great things about Kane Chronicles, but since I haven’t read The Percy Jackson one, I have held off on the Kane Chronicles. Hopefully, I will get to all of them soon. π
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Maliny Mohan
I would love to be kept updated about the books you find good, Shantala. I shall be frequenting this place to know more about them. Here is wishing you luck to complete the Bookish Bingo in 2017 π Please do update on your favourite movies too π
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Shanaya Tales
Thank you so much for your constant support, Maliny. I truly appreciate it. I typically do a monthly wrap up, and include movies in there, but of late, I am finding so many great movies, that I feel they deserve their own section. So, will definitely have dedicated movie reviews soon. Thank you for reading. π
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Avada Kedavra
You have just 15 TBR books. That’s really awesome. I don’t even want to mention my embarrassing unread books count π even I am planning to reduce my TBR pile this year. Planning to go on a book buying ban too. Even I plan to finish some series this year.
Avada Kedavra recently posted…More favorite reads from 2016
Shanaya Tales
19 to be precise, and that is not counting the virtual pile on my Kindle. And I know even that number sounds ridiculously low, but I have always been a Zero TBR kind of a person. The unread books pile stresses me out, and sends me on a guilt trip, which I want to avoid, hence the #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks challenge this year.
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