Hello everyone,
It is time for my first Goodreads Challenge update of the year and I would say it is so far, so good! I am enjoying my reading and keeping things ticking along, very much on track to reach my target.
For this year I decided to raise my goal by one, to 55. Having reached last year’s target of 54 with a few weeks to spare, this felt realistic and meant that I did not really put any extra pressure on myself, given that I work full-time and have a few other commitments to keep me busy.
Last year was a bit of a struggle at times, with a lack of five-star books and the fact I did not always find much time to read, but so far in 2022 I have felt very immersed in just about every book I have picked up. As such, hardly any of them can be classed as a disappointment.
I began really well by reading a total of six books in the month of January, and since then my reading has remained at a consistent level. As I type I have currently finished 20 books this year, which according to Goodreads is three ahead of schedule – something I am very pleased with! In addition, I have three other books on the go.
As has become my custom, these books have stemmed from numerous different genres. They range from retellings and paranormal historical mysteries, to edge-of-the-seat thrillers and science-fiction dystopias. All of them have been intriguing and different and their own way, and only one can be classed as a disappointing read, which is a pretty good return.
In terms of format, my total has been helped along by listening to a few more audiobooks, which make up a quarter of what I have read so far. I listened to the whole of Margaret Atwood’s quirky and thought-provoking MaddAddam trilogy, as well as two very powerful pieces of non-fiction, including the extremely lengthy yet compelling Wild Swans by Jung Chang.
Those two non-fiction examples highlight the increased diversity of my reading so far in 2022. I felt that I could have done better in this area in 2021 and read more books by non-white authors, so I am happy to say that I have made some good progress since the start of the year and long may that continue, especially as I love to read diverse books.
One thing that has changed noticeably is how I usually have several books on the go at any given time. It used to be just one at a time for me, but frequent buddy reads and listening to more audiobooks has meant that I feel more comfortable juggling up to three books at a time. For this reason I have found it takes longer for me to finish a book, but I still end up reading the same amount.
My top two books of the year so far are Ariadne and Our Violent Ends, both of which I awarded five stars and will stay with me for a long time. These are the biggest highlights of 2022 up until now, along with the fact I have been able to tick off a few books I have had on my TBR for a long time.
However, there are lots more on that unread list to get through and so I plan to do that throughout the coming months, even though I am occasionally diverted by new releases! With all that in mind, I am confident that I can reach and exceed my target.
Let’s Chat
Are you taking part in the Goodreads Challenge this year? How are getting on so far? Let me know in the comments!
Stephen Reads Books 