I suck at reading challenges. I have no idea why I keep entering them because I’ve never been successful with any of them, but I have the best intentions. I always think, “Yes! This is just the thing to keep me honest!” and imagine myself actually reading books within the time frame of the challenge successfully, the TBR melting before me as I stand victorious and smiling before it. Of course, somehow time slips past me, I end up having other things to do that get higher priority and suddenly I am no where near where I wanted to be with a challenge, and the TBR looks bigger than when I first started the whole doomed exercise.
I know I’m not the only one. Right?
On that note, I’ve entered the following this year! They all have the benefit of being “participate when you can” sort of things.
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Calico Reaction’s Book Club:
This one is a club where participants read the monthly selection (selected via poll & calico_reaction) which is presented in alphabetical order. So far the books have been:
January: Lois McMaster Bujold: The Curse of Chalion
February: Octavia E. Butler: Fledgling
March: Patrick Ness: The Knife of Never Letting Go
April: Robert A. Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Reason for joining: I go to calico_reaction’s reviews for the nitty-gritty low-down on a book if I’ve read it, or I glance at her rating if I haven’t. I signed up for this club because the book selections aren’t what I’d normally try on my own and I’ve enjoyed the selections I’ve given a go. Also – love that I can participate as much as I am able. I participated (somewhat dismally), last year and enjoyed it.
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The Book Smugglers’ Nebula Readathon:
Schedule:
March 13: The Native Star / Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword
March 26: Blackout / Ship Breaker / Behemoth
April 9: All Clear / White Cat / Mockingjay
April 23: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms / The Boy From Ilysies / Who Fears Death
May 7: Echo / A Conspiracy of Kings
May 21: Shades of Milk and Honey / I Shall Wear Midnight + Our Final Nebula Readathon Ballot (in which we Smugglers and fellow readers pick the novels we believe should win the award)
Reason for joining: I really want to read Shades of Milk and Honey! Yes, that is it, joining this challenge is an excuse to read one book. So after I joined, I just HAD to buy the copy of Shades of Milk and Honey I found on Bookcloseouts for $4.99 (only 2 left!). I’ve also already read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and The Native Star so I feel like I am actually a little ahead on this challenge. It doesn’t take much with me.
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Jawas Read, Too! Women of Fantasy Book Club
February: Elfland by Freda Warrington
March: Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter April: Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
May: War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
June: The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier July: All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear August: Indigo Springs by A. M. Dellamonica
September: Firebird by Mercedes Lackey
October: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
November: The Gaslight Dogs by Karin Lowachee
December: Readers Choice
Reason for joining: I love the choices in this book club. Indigo Springs and The Gaslight Dogs are on my TBR. I want to read Tooth and Claw and Elfland and Firebird and.. ok I want to read all of these. Also I’ve already read One Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and War for the Oaks so I have two down. It kills me that I have Elfland in the TBR but didn’t get to it for the February selection though. I will try to read that ASAP and join the discussion late.
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Dreams and Speculation Women of Science Fiction Book Club:
Schedule: January: Dust by Elizabeth Bear
February: The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin
March: Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt
April: The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
May: Mappa Mundi by Justina Robson
June: Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler
July: Cordelia’s Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
August: China Mountain Zhang by Maureen McHugh September: Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon October: Farthing by Jo Walton November: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood December: City of Pearl by Karen Traviss
Reason for joining: I’ve read 3 out of the 12 books. That’s like a quarter, no? Also I’ve wanted to read The Doomsday Book so I thought this would kick my butt into gear. So far, not really. I feel some regret in not reading Dust for the January selection.
In other news, I’m now one of the fantasy reviewers over at the Paperback Swap Blog. I will be posting there monthly, and my first review should be up tomorrow. It will be a review of Masques by Patricia Briggs. But never fear, I’m allowed to cross-posts my reviews over here so you’ll be seeing the same number of reviews from me.
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I understand what you mean – I am also horrible about following any sort of reading schedule! For the Women of Science Fiction Book Club, I read the first selection. Then I got all excited and bought the second selection but ended up running out of time to actually read it that month… And since the TBR is taking off on its own, I didn’t even attempt the third book since I knew I wouldn’t get to it this month.
I am at least reading The Native Star for the Nebula Readathon, though, and I am really enjoying it! Also, I’ve been wanting to read The Shades of Milk and Honey, saw that $4.99 deal and snatched it up over the weekend. So I’m hoping to read that one for it, too!
Yes, this exactly! I have the best intentions but keeping myself in line and not getting distracted by other things (and life!) is hard.
I’m glad you saw the SHADES OF MILK AND HONEY deal too. 🙂
Oh wow, you joined so many challenges! I only joined one challenge this year – the Aussie YA reading challenge. I’m also no good at following schedules when it comes to reading books because I don’t want to feel like I’m “required” to read something. I become lazy when that happens.
Yes, I feel similarly, but these are all participate when you want challenges. Only reason why I felt comfortable joining! 🙂