In its first month, the Fall Into Reading Challenge is off to a roaring start!
Several of you – like Barb and Rachel – have already posted that you’ve had to add MORE books to your list because you were zipping right through your initial picks. I am impressed!
Others – like Shalee and Jennifer – have been sharing book reviews as you go. I love reading about the books everyone is reading, seeing your impressions and thoughts…and of course, adding to my own list of “books to read at some point.”
As for myself, I’m making progress. Five down, seven to go (not counting books to read with the kids). And four of those are already “in progress.” I think I’ll be adding a few more books to my list, but I am not “allowing” myself to do so until I get through the initial ones in any category. When I cross of the last non-fiction book, I’m allowed to add more non-fiction, etc.
I must admit that while I’m still sneaking in a chapter here and there from non-list books, the challenge has helped me to stay on track and get through the books that I’ve committed to reading. And while I haven’t loved every book I’ve read, I have appreciated the discipline and the accomplishment that come from sticking to the challenge.
So how about you? Where do you stand one month into the challenge? Has the challenge helped you? Do you need to add more books to the list? Or maybe take some off? I’d love to hear how everyone’s doing!
At first it seemed that I wasn’t making progress, but then I realized that I am just one-third into it, and also that I will get a good deal of reading done on our long Thanksgiving drive and weekend. I think that I will finish, and I have not been as disciplined as you. In fact, I have almost finished 2 non-listed books, but I think that I am good. We’ll see.
In spite of the fact that I have veered off-list, it really has helped me continue to focus on my goal of reading more, and my goal of reading these specific books.
This is pathetic! You remember I couldn’t decided what to include so I made a very short list. Well, I finished Aunt Dimity and Cure for the Common Life. I returned one to the library unread but will pick it up again soon. Am not much further through the Shannon Ethridge book but that’s at the top of the pile. But I’ve read plenty others in the meantime . . . so maybe it’s not so bad after all. I’ll say one thing, I have “finished” more books this past month than usual, so that’s a good thing!
I finished 5 books (one not on my original list), have 3 in progress, and 4 more left. I think I’m keeping pretty well on track and may add some more, depending on how it goes. I (probably unwisely) left 2 of the non-fiction, non-story ones — it always takes me longer to get through those, so I probably should’ve incorporated them in alongside the fiction or biographies.
I’ve enjoyed the fact that I am getting to some classics I always wanted to get into, just by having them on my list. Usually I decide what to read by going to the Christian bookstore and seeing what new fiction is out.
Nothing wrong with that, but I like the idea of setting goals that this “Fall for Reading” has encouraged.
I have been wanting to review the books I’ve read, but haven’t decided whether to do it month by month or all at once at the end. Even if I do the latter, I think I should make some notes to myself as I complete each one — otherwise I might forget some of my impressions.
Thanks again for hosting this! I am enjoying it.
I just updated my reading list at my site. I’ve really enjoyed seeing what everyone is reading!
I just posted my 4th review today =)) Doing good. I think this “Fall Into Reading” has helped me to reamin focused and challenged. I am so glad you did this.
I’m getting there! Posting a review here & there as I go along… : ) Loving the challenge!
Funny, I posted on this very thing today. Had to veer off my list because a few books finally came in at the library that I’ve had on hold for months. If I let them go who knows when I’ll get them again. So my list has changed up a bit.
I am adding WAY more books to my list!
I’m doing pretty well – five books finished. However, I changed my last two:) After reading the Zion Chronicle series I couldn’t bear to not read the Zion Covenant books. So I switched. However, that does add four additional books, so I feel better:-) I love this challenge. It’s lowering the height of the precariously stacked books I have on my closet shelf!!
I’m not redoing the list yet (there were 13) but I’m about 1/3 of the way thru #2. It’s fiction so it’ll go faster. About half my list is non-fiction and they don’t tend to be fast reads, not for me at least. I’m not ready to cry uncle, I just keep grabbing the book I’m on every chance I get. Great challenge and it’s at least keeping me on task, albeit a slow one. xoxo
I thought I wasn’t doing so well, but went I went back over my list I realized I have completed 7 out of 16 books. Not bad…A little less than halfway there! I am adding more books that I want to read. Focus, focus…
Well I’m doing the pitts I must say. Haven’t finished one of my books yet. I got sidetracked reading the new Karen Kingsbury book and now I’m reading one of Lori Wick’s. Help me…I’m a slave to fiction and the non-fiction I’m supposed to be readying is collecting dust. Should I keep trying or do you suppose I’m just not meant to read those books? I really do want to though. Okay I must focus and STOP GOING TO THE LIBRARY!!! Thanks for the vent..lol. Laura
I’m making progress. I finished a few of the fiction books and cancelled a couple on the list as I just wasn’t getting into them. It’s harder for me to get through non-fiction so that is more of a challenge for me.
Okay, I just went to the library yesterday and got not one, not two but EIGHT more books! To be fair, 3-4 of them are career-related and I’ll probably just peruse them for the info I need.
I’m doing ok on mine, close to halfway through my stack I think. I do great with the fiction…that’s no problem. The non-fiction I struggle more to read and I so want to read something else but I hope the challenge will help me keep focused on at least trying to read them!
I think I have posted one update and am working on a 2nd update post.
I’m doing pretty good, but I took the easy way out and only put fiction books on my list. Not very challenging to myself, I know, but I really only enjoy reading fiction. I added one to my list a couple of days after I made it, and am about halfway through (have read 6 of 11). I haven’t been putting reviews lately because three of the last books I read are part of a series, and I am waiting to finish the series to review the whole thing. They are good, light books though, and I’ve really been enjoying all of them!
Have a wonderful day!!!
I’ve been doing great on the fiction side, not on with my non-fiction! My update is posted here:
http://onthewingsofaneagle.blogspot.com/2006/10/fall-reading-challenge.html
I have found that I have switched books on my list. Is that allowed? When I posted my list, I was just under the wire to get it out there, but I was finding I couldn’t get as into a couple of them, and ended up finding two others I just am loving (yes, I’m sort of reading two at once.)
That was funny about the adjective overload…I’m a wanna-be writer (but haven’t done much lately) so that was a good reminder. Though, I usually find I need to throw more of them in than take them out!
Great job, everyone. I, too, struggle with finishing the non-fiction, while novels are so much easier to complete. That’s where the challenge is helping, though, I think – I’m certainly reading much more of the non-fiction books than I would have otherwise.
Oh and remember, there are no rules – you can change your list, adjust it to fit your schedule, interests, etc. As long as you keep reading!
Laura – you can do it!! You can read non-fiction. Just put that library card in a safe place where you can’t. get. to. it. And pick up that non-fiction.
(But you’re allowed to read fiction at the same time…)
Tammy, I’m the same way. My few attempts at fiction have been very “spare” – I put hardly any adjectives or description in. I could probably write a full length novel in 12 pages!
12 books read, and more and more that I want to do. I’m loving the challenge – thank *you* so much for setting it up!
And thank you also for your game reviews – I just bought one of the games (Sleeping Queens) for the kids for the holidays.
I’m enjoying keeping track of my books and also reviewing them. It’s been a wonderful experience
I finally updated on mine today.
http://herdofsteph.blogspot.com/2006/10/fall-reading-challenge-update.html
I’m doing about as well as I expected. Getting through the books, hoping to finish my list on time but definitely enjoying the books as I read them. It’s also fun to see what other people have to say and learn about new books.
My latest review is up at http://mdessy.blogspot.com/2006/10/book-review-every-mother-is-daughter.html
i’ve read 12 out of 18 books. i’ve posted reviews on them, and there have been a couple more i’ve read too. just 6 more to go!
and if anyone else wants more books (and still clicks on this post) i’m having an ongoing contest on my blog til jan 31 and i’ll be having another giveaway starting wed!
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/