Challenges Redux: How did I do?
23 December, 2010
Well, this year has FLOWN by amidst the gazillion challenges in which I participated. I don’t know why I was complaining as I’d made lists of all the books I was planning to read anyway, but I guess I’m just not used to planning my reading and sticking to the plan. So let’s see how I did, shall we?
Thriller and Suspense 2010 Challenge: 19/12 – finished
Terry Pratchett 2010 Challenge: 4/4-5 – finished
South Asia Authors Challenge: 6/5 – finished
Women Unbound Challenge: 5/5 – finished
Once Upon A Time IV Challenge: 4/1 – finished
1930s Reading Challenge: 1/1 – finished
R.I.P. V Challenge: 7/4 – finished
Paris in July Challenge: 1/1 – finished
Flashback Reading Challenge: 1/3 – FAIL
TBR 2010 Challenge: 9/12 – FAIL but will be ongoing
Japanese Literature Challenge 4: 2/1 – ongoing
OK, so what I learnt this year is that I’m no good at re-reading except on holidays home where I’m surrounded by books I’ve already read. I had every intention of re-reading Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and have my original copy on my shelf and Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself (which I had promised Aarti that I would try again), but alas, my head was turned by too many other enticing and new titles. I am so weak. I didn’t even re-read one Terry Pratchett book either!
So next year, I’ll probably cut back on some of the challenges so that I can have a less-structured, whim-based reading experience. Of course, there will be some challenges that I will be participating in anyway as there will be certain types of books from which I cannot keep away: mysteries, Japanese, South Asian and feminist. But I have already seen a number of challenges sprouting all over the book blogosphere and am severely tempted… What to do?
I am also planning to read Tolstoy’s War and Peace and embark on a Yukio Mishima reading explorathon. So I think that’s going to keep me pretty busy. And of course tackle the ever-growing volcanic Mt. TBR. Hmm, did I mention I wanted to read more on a whim?
23 December, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I am severely tempted by several challenges for 2011 as well. And honestly, you did a lot better on your challenges than I did!
23 December, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Congrats on doing so well with all of your challenges 🙂
23 December, 2010 at 5:14 pm
That’s a lot of challenges for a year, and what an accomplishment. Have fun reading over the holidays and have a Merry Christmas!
24 December, 2010 at 9:35 am
Congrats! You did quite well. I can never stick challenges out. I might the Chunkster Challenge again next year since I’m planning to attempt some but my brain always switches off once I sign up for a challenge and rebels.
Merry Christmas!
24 December, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Congrats on doing so well! I have failed a few too. But overall you did good.
I’m so inspire to finish the Sea of Fertility next year. Fingers crossed.
24 December, 2010 at 5:36 pm
I’m useless at challenges so well done Sakura. I have signed up for the TBR dare for Jan-Mar 2011 though, and will make a few reading resolutions for fun too. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
24 December, 2010 at 8:17 pm
I think you’ve done great at your challenges – but I totally agree that signing up for challenges becomes like reading for an assignment – reading on a whim would be a different experience all together. Good luck with you new years resolution – and go out on a whim!!
27 December, 2010 at 8:16 am
I think you have done very well. For 2011 I have entered my first challenge – the south Asian one. I think I will be able to get books to read unlike for the other challenges!
29 December, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Thank you for your comments everyone! Looking forward to seeing what challenges everyone will be doing next year:)