2018 Reading Challenge Roundup - Failed

Not too many challenges left uncompleted this year. I’m very happy with my progress.

Perpetual Reading Lists Challenge
Goal: 28/30 books 93.3%

1. The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels (1/12/18)

2. Arabian Nights (1/19/18)

3. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (3/17/18)

4. The Dark Tower by Stephen King (1/25/18)

5. The History of Love by Nicola Krauss (3/16/18)

6. Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen (7/31/18)

7. Ramses 2 by Anne Rice (3/7/18)

8. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (2/7/18)

9. The Selection by Kiera Cass (6/6/18)

10. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (5/26/18)

11. Alice in Zombieland by Gina Showalter (4/20/18)

12. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (2/9/18)

13. The Great Halifax Explosion by John Bacon (4/7/18)

14. Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman (4/13/18)

15. The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (4/27/18)

16. Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund (6/15/18)

17. A History of the Wife by Margaret Yalom (6/24/18)

18. The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan (6/26/18)

19. College Girls by Lynn Peril (8/28/18)

20. Pox Americana by Elizabeth Fenn (9/8/18)

21. Cocktails Across America by Diane Lapis and Anne Davis-Peck (9/11/18)

22. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer (10/23/18)

23. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (9/29/18)

24. Dracula by Bram Stoker (10/24/18)

25. Looking for Alaska by John Green (12/12/18)

26. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (11/24/18)

27. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (12/7/18)

28. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (11/27/18)

29. TBD

30. TBD

TBR Pile
Goal: 9/12 Books 66.7%

1. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (1/23/18)

2. The Bostonians by Henry James (1/30/18)

3. Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (9/12/18)

4. The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman (5/4/18)

5. School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins (DNF)

6. Parasite by Mira Grant (6/20/18)

7. The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie (DNF)

8. Birthmarked by Carah O'Brien (5/23/18)

9. A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander

10. Stealing Fire by Jo Graham

11. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant (3/21/18)

12. Little Bee by Chris Cleave (8/24/18)

13. The Firemaster's Mistress by Christie Dickason

14. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin (10/20/18)

Reading Assignment
Goal: 11/12 Books  91.7%

1. January - Arabian Nights (1/19/18)

2. February - Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (2/7/18)

3. March - Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (3/17/18)

4. April - The Words We Live By by Linda Monk

5. May - Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery (5/30/18)

6. June - A History of the Wife by Marilyn Yalom (6/24/18)

7. July - How to Fall in love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson (7/31/18)

8. August - The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (8/25/18)

9. September - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (9/29/18)

10. October - Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant (10/31/18)

11. November - The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (11/20/18)

12. December - Strange Weather by Joe Hill (12/22/18)

Finishing the Series
Goal: 6/10 Series 60%

1. Chronicles of St. Mary's by Jodi Taylor

   • #5 No Time Like the Past (1/16/18)

   • #6 What Could Possibly Go Wrong (10/6/18)

   • #6.5 Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings (10/9/18)

   • #7 Lies, Damned Lies, and History (11/13/18)

   • #7.5 The Great St. Mary's Day Out (11/17/18)

   • #7.6 My Name is Markham (11/28/18)

   • #8 And the Rest is History

   • #8.5 A Perfect Storm

   • #8.6 Christmas Past

   • #9 An Argumentation of Historians

2. Witchcraft Mystery by Juliet Blackwell ✓

   • #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing (1/24/18)

   • #7 Spellcasting in Silk (1/26/18)

   • #8 A Toxic Trousseau (2/9/18)

   • #9 A Magical Match (11/14/18)

3. Fairwick Chronicles by Juliet Dark ✓

   • #3 The Stone Angel (2/4/18)

4. Bedwyn Saga by Mary Balogh ✓

   • #0.2 A Summer to Remember (3/10/18)

   • #1 Slightly Married (4/25/18)

   • #2 Slightly Wicked (4/25/18)

   • #3 Slightly Scandalous (4/25/18)

   • #4 Slightly Tempted (5/16/18)

   • #5 Slightly Sinful (5/16/18)

   • #6 Slightly Dangerous (5/16/18)

5. Cemetery of Forgotten Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

   • #2 The Angel's Game

   • #3 The Prisoner of Heaven

6. Strain by Guillermo del Toro

   • #2 The Fall

   • #3 The Night Eternal

7. Ramses the Damned by Anne Rice ✓

   • #2 The Passion of Cleopatra (3/7/18)

8. Hex Hall ✓

   • #1 Hex Hall (2/9/18)

   • #2 Demonglass (3/8/18)

   • #3 Spell Bound (3/14/18)

9. The Glamourist by Mary Robinette Kowal

   • #1 Shades of Milk and Honey (2/26/18)

   • #2 Glamour in Glass (3/30/18)

   • #3 Without a Summer

   • #4 Valour and Vaniety

   • #5 Of Noble Family

10. Edwardian Brides by Carrie Turansky ✓

    • #1 The Governess of Highland Hall (1/8/18)

    • #2 The Daughter of Highland Hall (1/9/18)

    • #3 A Refuge at Highland Hall (1/10/18)

Seasonal Series Summer
(June 21st - September 21st)
Goal: 24/25 Books 96%

1. Read a book from a fantasy series - Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire (7/20/18)
2. Read a book while drinking a cool drink - The Anomaly by Michael Rutger (6/29/18)
3. Read a book from a really hyped series - Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire (7/21/18)
4. Read a book with yellow on the cover - Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell (7/18/18)
5. Read while eating ice cream - Emily and the Dark Angel by Jo Beverley (8/15/18)
6. Read a book that's set in summer - The Stolen Bride by Jo Beverley (8/10/18)
7. Read a book from a YA series - Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (8/14/18)
8. Read while having a picnic - Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell (6/28/18)
9. Read a book with LGBT+ characters - Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (7/14/18)
10. re-read a favorite book
11. Read a book that has blue on the cover - Symbiont by Mira Grant (7/4/18)
12. Read a book from a series that has four or more books - The Heir by Kiera Cass (6/23/18)
13. Free Space: read any book of a series - Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen (9/15/18)
14. Read a book while eating fruit - Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan (8/26/18)
15. Read a book that you're sure you'll love - A Ghostly Light by Juliet Blackwell (7/25/18)
16. Read a book where someone travels -The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (8/25/18)
17. Read a book while on the go - Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine (8/4/18)
18. Read a book from a contemporary series - Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready (9/13/18)
19. Read by a pool/ sea/ lake... - How to Fall in Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson (8/8/18)
20. Read a book that features an OTP or great love story - The Crown by Kiera Cass (6/24/18)
21. Finish a trilogy - Chimera by Mira Grant (7/13/18)
22. Read a book during 24 hours - Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass (6/22/18)
23. Read a book someone recommended to you - Little Bee by Chris Cleave (8/24/18)
24. Read a book while wearing sunglasses - Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire (7/6/18)
25. Read a second book in a series - Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed by Jo Beverley (7/10/18)

Seasonal Series Spring
(March 20th - June 20th)
Goal: 22/25 Books 88%

1. Take a walk while listening to an audiobook - A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter (6/4/18)
2. Read a book while drinking lemonade - Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman (4/13/18)
3. Read the first book in a series - If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell (4/4/18)
4. try to unhaul a book you've lost interest in
5. Read a book that's been on your shelves way too long - Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien (5/23/18)
6. Read with rain in the background -> real rain or sounds - NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (4/17/18)
7. Read a book with pink on the cover - Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell (4/6/18)
8. read a book from a middle grade series
9. Read a series with a new book coming out in 2018 - A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas (6/3/18)
10. Read a book of a series where the parents of the MC aren't dead - The Selection by Kiera Cass (6/6/18)
11. Read a book with character growth - Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter (4/20/18)
12. Read a book while eating chocolate - Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter (5/6/18)
13. Free Space: read any book of a series - For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (5/26/18)
14. read a book where only the first book of a series is out
15. Read a book set in the real world - Parasite by Mira Grant (6/20/18)
16. Read a book with a spring colors on the cover - Home for the Haunting by Juliet Blackwell (6/16/18)
17. Finish a duology - Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund (6/15/18)
18. Use a flower as a bookmark - The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman (5/4/18)
19. Read a book with great friendship - The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter (5/18/18)
20. Read a second book in a series - Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal (3/30/18)
21. Read a book while sitting outside - The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King (4/13/18)
22. Read a book that is (partly) set in spring - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (5/29/18)
23. Read a book with green on the cover - Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (5/30/18)
24. Read a book that includes an animal - Murder on the House by Juliet Blackwell (6/2/18)
25. Read a book under 300 pages - River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (4/24/18)

2018 Reading Challenge Roundup - Completed

Oh my goodness! Check out all the reading challenges that I actually finished this year. So happy with my reading stats for 2018!

Popsugar 2018
Goal: 40/40 Books  100%

1. Made into a movie I've already seen -- Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (3/23/18)

2. True Crime -- The Poet and the Murderer by Simon Worrall (2/18/18)

3. Next book in a series I started -- Spellcasting in Silk by Juliet Blackwell (1/26/18)

4. Involving a heist -- Sourdough by Robin Sloan (5/15/18)

5. Nordic noir --

6. Based on a real person -- Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (1/23/18)

7. Set in a country that fascinates me -- The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant (3/21/18)

8. A time of day in the title -- Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire (7/6/18)

9. About a villain or antihero -- The Gunslinger by Stephen King (2/25/18)

10. About death or grief -- As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner (3/1/18)

11. Female author who uses a male pseudonym -- Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen (7/31/18)

12. LGBTQ+ Protagonist -- Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (7/14/18)

13. Also a stage play or musical -- Dracula by Bram Stoker (10/24/18)

14. Author of a different ethnicity than me -- Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (9/12/18)

15. About feminism -- Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (2/7/18)

16. About mental health -- The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King (4/13/18)

17. Borrowed or was give as a gift -- The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman (5/4/18)

18. By two authors -- The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice and Christopher Rice (3/7/18)

19. Involving a sport --

20. Local author -- A Toxic Trousseau by Juliet Blackwell (2/9/18)

21. Favorite color in the title -- Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (11/24/18)

22. Alliteration in the title -- Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (2/9/18)

23. Time travel -- No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor (1/16/18)

24. Weather element in the title -- Strange Weather by Joe Hill (12/22/18)

25. Set at sea -- The Great Halifax Explosion by John Bacon (4/7/18)

26. Animal in title -- Mad Hatters and March Hares edited by Ellen Datlow (5/12/18)

27. Set on a different planet -- Artemis by Andy Weir (9/18/18)

28. Song lyrics in the title -- Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant (11/7/18)

29. About or set on Halloween -- The Elite by Kiera Cass (6/11/18)

30. Characters who are twins -- Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire (7/20/18)

31. Mentioned in another book -- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (5/29/18)

32. From a celebrity book club -- Open House by Elizabeth Berg

33. Childhood classic I've never read -- Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (5/30/18)

34. Published in 2018 -- The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller (3/24/18)

35. Goodreads Choice Awards winner -- Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham (8/22/18)

36. Set in the decade I was born --

37. Meant to get to in 2017 but didn't -- NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (4/17/18)

38. Ugly cover -- Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien (5/23/18)

39. Involves a bookstore or library -- 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (3/30/18)

40. Fave prompt from 2015, 2016, or 2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge -- The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan (6/26/18)

Advanced 

1. Bestseller from year I graduated high school --

2. Cyberpunk --

3. Being read by a stranger in a public place -- Florida Lauren Groff (10/17/18)

4. Tied to my ancestry --

5. Fruit or vegetable in the title -- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer (10/23/18)

6. Allegory --

7. Author with the same first or last name as you --

8. Microhistory -- College Girls by Lynn Peril (8/28/18)

9. About a problem facing society today --

10. Recommended by someone else taking the Popsugar Reading Challenge -- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (12/11/18)

What's in a Name?
Goal: 6/6 Books  100%

1. Word "the" used twice -- The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell by Mira Grant (2/2/18)

2. Fruit or Vegetable -- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer (10/23/18)

3. A shape -- Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (7/14/18)

4. Begins with Z -- Z-Burbia by Jake Bible (12/15/18)

5. A nationality -- The English Wife by Lauren Willig (2/1/18)

6. A season -- A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh (3/10/18)

A to Z
Goal: 26/26 Books 100%

1. The Angel Stone by Juliet Dark (2/4/18)

2. The Bostonians by Henry James (1/30/18)

3. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (3/23/18)

4. The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (1/9/18)

5. The Emerald City by Jane Yolen (4/29/18)

6. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (5/26/18)

7. The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (1/8/18)

8. A Haunting is Brewing by Juliet Blackwell (1/24/18)

9. If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell (4/4/18)

10. Jennifer Government by Max Barry (4/26/18)

11. Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell (6/28/18)

12. Literary Wonderlands edited by Laura Miller (2/23/18)

13. Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke (4/11/18)

14. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (1/23/18)

15. The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels (1/12/18)

16. The Poet and the Murder by Simon Worrall (2/18/18)

17. The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter (5/18/18)

18. A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (1/10/18)

19. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (2/26/18)

20. Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter (5/6/18)

21. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan (8/26/18)

22. A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair (10/3/18)

23. Washington Square by Henry James (8/18/18)

24. eXtinct by Ike Hamill (10/19/18)

25. You’re the Rogue that I Want by Samantha Holt (10/13/18)

26. Z-Burbia by Jake Bible (12/15/18)

Seasonal Series Autumn
(September - December)
Goal: 25/25 Books. 100%

1. Read a book from a sci fi series - What Could Possibly Go Wrong by Jodi Taylor (10/6/18)
2. Read a book (partly) set in fall - Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan (9/22/18)
3. Read a book with PoC characters - Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha (12/4/18)
4. Read a book with orange on the cover - Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan (9/28/18)
5. Read a suspenseful/ scary/ creepy book - Dollhouse by Anya Allyn (10/12/18)
6. Read a book while eating candy - Larceny and Lace by Annette Blair (10/5/18)
7. Read a book set in the real world - A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen (10/10/18)
8. Read a first book in a series - A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair (10/3/18)
9. Catch up on a series - A Magical Match by Juliet Blackwell (11/14/18)
10.Read a book with rain in the background - You’re the One that I Want by Samantha Holt (10/13/18)
11. Read a book with red on the cover - Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant (10/31/18)
12. Read while eating soup - Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (10/16/18)
13. Free Space: read any book of a series - My Name is Markham by Jodi Taylor (11/28/18)
14. Read a book that's part of a duology - Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant (11/7/18)
15. Take a walk while listening to an audiobook - The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (12/7/18)
16. Read a book that scares you (b/c of size, hype,...) - Lies, Damned Lies, and History by Jodi Taylor (11/13/18)
17. Read a book while wearing a sweater - Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen (11/23/18)
18. Read a book while drinking a tea - The Great St. Mary’s Day Out by Jodi Taylor (11/17/18)
19. Read a book that you think will break your heart - Z-Burbia by Jake Bible (12/15/18)
20. Read a book that's not YA - Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair (11/26/18)
21. Read a comic or graphic novel that's part of a series - Monstress Vol. 3 (11/21/18)
22. Read bonus content from a series (novella/ prologue,...) - Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings by Jodi Taylor (10/9/18)
23. Read a book while eating an apple or apple pie - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (9/29/18)
24. Read a book with creatures of the night - Extinct by Ike Hamill (10/19/18)
25.  Use a leaf as a bookmark - Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand (12/14/18)

Modern Mrs. Darcy
Goal: 12/12 Books  100%

1. Classic I've been meaning to read -- The Bostonians by Henry James (1/30/18)

2. Recommended by someone with good taste -- The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (3/16/18)

3. In translation -- How to Fall in Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson (8/8/18)

4. Nominated for a 2018 award -- Florida by Lauren Groff (10/17/18)

5. Poetry, Play, or Essay collection -- Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson (2/27/18)

6. Read in a day -- Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (2/26/18)

7. More than 500 pages -- The Arabian Nights (1/19/18)

8. Favorite author -- The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen (4/29/18)

9. Recommended by librarian or indie bookseller -- The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (1/4/18)

10. Banned book -- Looking for Alaska by John Green (12/12/18)

11. Memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction -- The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan (6/26/18)

12. Author of different race, ethnicity, or religion than me -- Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (9/12/18)

Mount TBR
Goal: 48/48 Books 100%

1. The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels (1/12/18)

2. No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor (1/16/18)

3. A Haunting is Brewing by Juliet Blackwell (1/24/18)

4. The English Wife by Lauren Willig (2/1/18)

5. The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell (2/2/18)

6. The Poet and the Murderer by Simon Worrall (2/18/18)

7. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson (2/27/18)

8. As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner (3/1/18)

9. A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh (3/10/18)

10. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (3/23/18)

11. The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller (3/24/18)

12. Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser (3/28/18)

13. The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King (4/13/18)

14. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (4/17/18)

15. Slightly Married by May Balogh (4/25/18)

16. Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh (4/25/18)

17. Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh (4/25/18)

18. The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (4/27/18)

19. Circe by Madeline Miller (5/5/18)

20. Slightly Tempted by Mary Balogh (5/16/18)

21. Slightly Sinful by Mary Balogh (5/16/18)

22. Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh (5/16/18)

23. For Darkness Shows the Stars Short Stories by Diana Peterfreund (5/27/18)

24. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (5/29/18)

25. Murder on the House by Juliet Blackwell (6/2/18)

26. The Stanforth Secrets by Jo Beverley (6/20/18)

27. The Anomaly by Michael Rutger (6/29/18)

28. Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed by Jo Beverley (7/10/18)

29. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (7/28/18)

30. The Stolen Bride by Jo Beverley (8/10/18)

31. Daisy Miller and Washington Square by Henry James (8/18/18)

32. Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham (8/22/18)

33. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan (8/26/18)

34. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (9/5/18)

35. Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready (9/14/18)

36. I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel (9/21/18)

37. What Could Possibly Go Wrong by Jodi Taylor (10/6/18)

38. Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings by Jodi Taylor (10/9/18)

39. Dollhouse by Anya Allyn (10/12/18)

40. You’re the Rogue that I Want by Samantha Holt (10/13/18)

41. Extinct by Ike Hamill (10/19/18)

42. Dracula by Bram Stoker (10/24/18)

43. Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant (10/31/18)

44. Spinning Straw into Gold by Joan Gould (11/6/18)

45. Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant (11/7/18)

46. The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian (11/9/18)

47. On a Cold Dark Sea by Elizabeth Blackwell (11/25/18)

48. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (12/11/18)

Graphic Novel
Goal: 52/52 Books  100%

1. The Walking Dead Vol. 27 (1/8/18)

2. The Walking Dead Vol. 28 (5/9/18)

3. The Walking Dead Vol. 29 (7/11/18)

4. The Walking Dead: Here's Negan (7/7/18)

5. Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 1 (1/7/18)

6. Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 2 (1/7/18)

7. Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 1 (1/6//18)

8. Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 2 (1/6/18)

9. Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 3 (1/6/18)

10. Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 4 (1/6/18)

11. Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire by Neil Gaiman (2/1/18)

12. Saga Vol. 8 (2/3/18)

13. Moonshine Vol. 1 (2/10/18)

14. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2/13/18)

15. Low Vol. 1 (2/14/18)

16. Monstress Vol. 2 (2/16/18)

17. Revival Vol. 4 (2/17/18)

18. Revival Vol. 5 (2/17/18)

19. Revival Vol. 6 (2/20/18)

20. Revival Vol. 7 (2/20/18)

21. Revival Vol. 8 (4/6/18)

22. ApocalyptiGirl by Andrew MacLean (2/21/18)

23. Jane by Aline Brosh McKenna (2/25/18)

24. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 6 (3/9/18)

25. One Week in the Library (3/13/18)

26. Penny Dreadful Vol. 1 (4/6/18)

27. Creatures of the Night by Neil Gaiman (6/8/18)

28. The Haunted Mansion (6/9/18)

29. March Vol. 1 (6/10/18)

30. March Vol. 2 (6/19/18)

31. March Vol. 3 (6/19/18)

32. Paper Girls Vol. 1 (6/13/18)

33. Paper Girls Vol. 2 (6/13/18)

34. Paper Girls Vol. 3 (6/14/18)

35. Paper Girls Vol. 4 (6/25/18)

36. Moonstruck Vol. 1 (6/16/18)

37. Wayward Vol. 1 (6/26/18)

38. Wayward Vol. 2 (6/26/18)

39. Wayward Vol. 3 (6/26/18)

40. Wayward Vol. 4 (6/27/18)

41. Wayward Vol. 5 (6/27/18)

42. Giant Days Vol. 1 (6/28/18)

43. Giant Days Vol. 2 (6/28/18)

44. Giant Days Vol. 3 (6/2818)

45. Giant Days Vol. 4 (6/28/18)

46. Giant Days Vol. 5 (6/29/18)

47. Giant Days Vol. 6 (6/29/18)

48. Giant Days Vol. 7 (6/29/18)

49. Locke and Key: Heaven and Earth (7/7/18)

50. Rat Queens Vol. 4 (9/7/18)

51. Black Magick Vol. 1 (9/8/18)

52. East of West Vol. 8 (11/10/18)

Library Love
Goal: 60/60 Books 100%

1. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (1/4/18)

2. The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (1/8/18)

3. The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (1/9/18)

4. A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (1/10/18)

5. Spellcasting in Silk by Juliet Blackwell (1/26/18)

6. The Angel Stone by Juliet Dark (2/4/18)

7. A Toxic Trousseau by Juliet Blackwell (2/9/18)

8. The Gunslinger by Stephen King (2/25/18)

9. Literary Wonderlands edited Laura Miller (2/23/18)

10. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (2/26/18)

11. Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins (3/8/18)

12. Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins (3/14/18)

13. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (3/16/18)

14. Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal (3/30/18)

15. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (3/30/18)

16. If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell (4/4/18)

17. Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell (4/6/18)

18. The Great Halifax Explosion by John Bacon (4/7/18)

19. Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke (4/11/18)

20. Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman (4/13/18)

21. Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter (4/20/18)

22. River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (4/24/18)

23. Lost San Francisco by Dennis Evanosky (4/24/18)

24. Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area by Sylvia Linsteadt (4/25/18)

25. Jennifer Government by Max Barry (4/26/18)

26. The Emerald City by Jane Yolen (4/29/18)

27. Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter (5/6/18)

28. The Little Book of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont and Manjit Thapp (5/11/18)

29. Mad Hatters and March Hares edited by Ellen Datlow (5/12/18)

30. Sourdough by Robin Sloan (5/15/18)

31. The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter (5/18/18)

32. A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas (6/3/18)

33. A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter (6/4/18)

34. The Selection by Kiera Cass (6/6/18)

35. The Elite by Kiera Cass (6/11/18)

36. The Selection Stories by Kiera Cass (6/12/18)

37. The One by Kiera Cass (6/12/18)

38. Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund (6/15/18)

39. Home for the Haunting by Juliet Blackwell (6/16/18)

40. Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass (6/22/18)

41. The Heir by Kiera Cass (6/24/18)

42. The Crown by Kiera Cass (6/24/18)

43. Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell (6/28/18)

44. Symbiont by Mira Grant (7/4/18)

45. Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire (7/6/18)

46. Chimera by Mira Grant (7/13/18)

47. Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell (7/18/18)

48. Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire (7/20/18)

49. Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire (7/21/18)

50. A Ghostly Light by Juliet Blackwell (7/25/18)

51. Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine (8/4/18)

52. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (8/14/18)

53. Pox Americana by Elizabeth Fenn (9/8/18)

54. Cocktails Across America by Diane Lapis and Anne Davis-Peck (9/11/18)

55. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen (9/15/18)

56. Artemis by Andy Weir (9/18/18)

57. Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan (9/22/18)

58. Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan (9/28/18)

59. A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair (10/3/18)

60. Larceny and Lace by Annette Blair (10/5/18)

Share-A-Tea
Goal: 20/20 Books  100%

1. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (1/4/18)

2. The English Wife by Lauren Willig (2/1/18)

3. As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner (3/1/18)

4. The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller (3/24/18)

5. No That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser (3/28/18)

6. Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke (4/11/18)

7. Circe by Madeline Miller (5/5/18)

8. Mad Hatters and March Hares edited by Ellen Datlow (5/12/18)

9. A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas (6/3/18)

10. Parasite by Mira Grant (6/20/18)

11. The Anomaly by Michael Rutger (6/29/18)

12. Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire (7/21/18)

13. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (7/28/18)

14. Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen (7/31/18)

15. Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine (8/4/18)

16. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (8/14/18)

17. Daisy Miller and Washington Square by Henry James (8/18/18)

18. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (8/25/18)

19. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (9/5/18)

20. I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel (9/21/18)

Picture Books
Goal: 88/88 Books  100%

1. Title beginning with A - Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty (January)
2. Author beginning with A - And the Tide Comes In by Merryl Alber (May)
3. Title beginning with B - Boo, Bunny! By Kathryn O. Galbraith (March)
4. Author beginning with B - Arthur Goes to Camp by Marc Brown (February)
5. Title beginning with C - Crazy Hair by Neil Gaiman (January)
6. Author beginning with C - Pug in a Truck by Nancy Coffelt (January)
7. Title beginning with D - Duck by Randy Cecil (February)
8. Author beginning with D - The Conductor by Laetitia Devernay (February)
9. Title beginning with E - Even Superheroes Have Bad Days by Shelly Becker (February)
10. Author beginning with E - Rain Fish by Lois Ehlert (March)
11. Title beginning with F - Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld (April)
12. Author beginning with F - Lunch by Denise Fleming (February)
13. Title beginning with G - Good Night Planes by Adam Gamble (March)
14. Author beginning with G - Chu's Day at the Beach by Neil Gaiman (February)
15. Title beginning with H - Half a World Away by Libby Gleeson (January)
16. Author beginning with H - Duck & Goose Let’s Dance by Tad Hills (March)
17. Title beginning with I - Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty (January)
18. Author beginning with I - I Hear a Pickle by Rachel Isadora (June)
19. Title beginning with J - Joshua's Masai Mask by Dakari Hru (January)
20. Author beginning with J - The Incredibly Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (March)
21. Title beginning with K - The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright (March)
22. Author beginning with K - It's Vacation Time by Lerryn Korda (February)
23. Title beginning with L - Lovely Old Lion by Julia Jarman (March)
24. Author beginning with L - Thumpy Feet by Betsy Lewin (February)
25. Title beginning with M - Monsters Love Colors by Mike Austin (February) 
26. Author beginning with M - Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson (February)
27. Title beginning with N - A Night at the Zoo by Kathy Caple (March)
28. Author beginning with N - If You Give a Mouse a Brownie by Laura Numeroff (June)
29. Title beginning with O - One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote by Bonnie Worth (March)
30. Author beginning with O - Little Billy-Bob Eats It All Up by Pauline Oud (March)
31. Title beginning with P. - The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems (January)
32. Author beginning with P - Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette (March)
33. Title or Author beginning with Q - Quest by Aaron Becker (May)
34. Title beginning with R - The Rise and Fall of Oscar the Magician by Matthew Porter (January)
35. Author beginning with R - Ten Sleepy Sheep by Phyllis Root (February)
36. Title beginning with S - South by Daniel Duncan (March)
37. Author beginning with S - Big Choo by Stephen Shaskan (May)
38. Title beginning with T - Train by Elisha Cooper (January)
39. Author beginning with T - Tumford the Terrible by Nancy Tillman (June)
40. Title or Author beginning with U - The Quiet Book! by Deborah Underwood
41. Title or Author beginning with V or W - This is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems (January)
42. Title or Author beginning with X or “Ex” - Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison (August)
43. Title beginning with Y - You Can Do It, Bunny by Pamela Kennedy (August)
44. Author beginning with Y - Meow! By Victoria Ying (August)
45. Title or Author beginning with Z - Zootopia The Essential Guide (May)
46. An alphabet book - 123 Versus ABC by Mike Boldt (March)
47. A counting book - 1 Zany Zoo by Lori Degman (February)
48. A color word in the title - Little Green Peas by Keith Baker (January)
49. A number word in the title - Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems (January)
50. Concept book of your choice: picture book - Patterns from Nature: The Art of Klimt by Myeong-Hwa Yu and Seung-Beom Yu (January)
51. Concept book of your choice: board book - Crocopotamus by Mary Murphy (January)
52. Bedtime book: board book - Dream Animals by Emily Winfield Martin (February)
53. Bedtime book: picture book - The Wrong Side of the Bed by Lisa M. Bakos (July)
54. Book that rhymes: picture book - And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss (January)
55. Book that rhymes: early reader OR board book - Hide and Seek Harry at the Playground by Kenny Harrison (March)
56. Holiday of your choice: board book or early reader - Happy Holidays Blaze (June)
57. Holiday of your choice: picture book - Little Mouse’s Big Valentine by Thacher Hurd (March)
58. Wordless picture book - Wave by Suzy Lee (May)
59. New to you author - Fins, Fluff, and Other Stuff by Bruno Merz (February)
60. New to you illustrator - The Perfect Hug by Joanna Walsh, illustrated by Judi Abbot (February)
61. Favorite author - The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems (January)
62. Favorite illustrator - Duck and Goose by Tad Hills (January)
63. Free choice - I Love You Like a Pig by Mac Barnett (February)
64. Fairy or folk tale adaptation - Little Red Riding Hood by Trixie. Bell (January)
65. Fairy or folk tale traditional - The Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney (February)
66. A title with the word “first” in it - First Steps by Lee Wardlaw (February)
67. A book set in the state you live - Hello, National Parks by Martha Day Zschock (June)
68. A book set in a place you’d like to visit - Lily's Garden of India by Jeremy Smith (January)
69. A book set in an imaginary place - Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery by David Gordon (February)
70. A book set in the past: fiction or nonfiction - Madeline and the Old House in Paris by John Bemelmans Marciano (May)
71. A book set in the present -- Emma and the Whale by Lee White (March)
72. One word title - Pirasaurs by Josh Funk (January)
73. Long title (four or more words) - The Problem with Not Being Scared of Kids by Dan Richards (January)
74. A book about playing (hide and seek, tag, or peekaboo, etc.) - The Monsterator by Keith Graves (February)
75. A book about school - Steve, Raised by Wolves by Jared Chapman (May)
76. A book about hobbies (art, dance, music, crafts, sports) - Good Morning Yoga by Mariam Gates (March)
77. A title that is a question - The Duckling Gets a Cookie? by Mo Willems (January)
78. A title that is an exclamation -- There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! By Lucille Colandro (March)
79. An award winner or an honor book -- Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (March)
80. A collection (of poems OR stories) - The Rooster Grows by Maud and Miska Petersham (March)
81. A book with animals (fiction) - You Can Do It Bert by Ole Konnecke (February)
82. A book with animals (nonfiction)  - Apatosaurus by Charles Lennie (March)
83. A book about books or reading - Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk (March)
84. A book celebrating family - My Mommy Hung the Moon by Jamie Lee Curtis (February)
85. Book with an adventure or misadventure - This Book is Out of Control by Richard Byrne (January)
86. A book about a pet - Looking for Luna by Tim Myers (February)
87. Impulse Pick -- Land Shark by Beth Ferry (March)
88. Picture book published in 2018 - Go Go Cars by Jennifer Liberts (May)

2019 Goals and Resolutions

Usually I make a whole list of goals and resolutions to focus on for the year, but honestly, I’m not feeling it this year at all. Instead of yearly goals, I’m going to try and focus on monthly and seasonal goals. I want to be more intentional with my weeks as opposed to this large, lofty goals.

Revisiting 2018’s goals and resolutions:

1. Read 35,000 pages — I surpasses my goal and ended up reading almost 60,000 pages.

2. Read 100 books — Another goal surpassed! I read 217 books.

3. Clear off another shelf of unread books — Success! I’m shooting for three shelves next year.

4. Rejoin the SSINK Design Team — Success! Unfortunately the Design Team is dissolving.

5. Restart MommaStrong — Fail. Although I did join the gym when we moved.

Next up on the TBR pile:

2018 Wrap-up

Favorite Books of the Year (in no particular order):

1. The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon

2. NOS4R2 by Joe Hill

3. Circe by Madeline Miller

4. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

5. Paper Girls Vol. 1-4

6. Every Heart a Doorway (and sequels) by Seanan McGuire

7. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

8. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

9. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

10. Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Honorable Mentions: The HM category is reserved for rereads that I really loved.

• Dracula by Bran Stoker

Total Books Read – 217 books

Total Pages Read – 59,137 pages!!!!!

I averaged 4928 pages per month.  My lowest month was August with only 3477 pages.  My highest month was June with 9362 pages.  I hope to read 45,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats 

• 5 stars — 90 books

• 4 stars — 92 books

• 3 stars — 32 books

• 2 stars — 2 books

• 1 star — 1 books

• DNFs —  0 books

Here’s the final breakdown:

Total: 10/16 challenges  62.5% done

Total: 477/491 slots 91.7% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

2018 was a record year for reading! I’ve never gotten past 150 books in a year and here I am sitting at 217. Truly I don’t know how I did it. I do know that I prioritize reading as my downtime activity. But I also do read 15 minutes here and there while semi-engaged with other activities (monitoring kid bath time, watching for dinner to finish simmering, etc). I doubt that 2019 will see the same results, but I’m going to continue my reading.

Next up on the TBR pile:

2017 Wrap-up

Favorite Books of the Year

1. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
2. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
3. You're Doing a Great Job by Biz Ellis and Theresa Thorn
4. The Wicked + The Divine series
5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
6. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
7. The Mummy by Anne Rice
8. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
9. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
10. A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner

Honorable Mentions: The HM category is reserved for rereads that I really loved.

• And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Total Books Read – 123 books

Total Pages Read – 36,664 pages!!!!!

I averaged 3055 pages per month.  My lowest month was January with only 1793 pages.  My highest month was March with 3966 pages.  I hope to read 35,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats

• 5 stars — 59 books
• 4 stars — 44 books
• 3 stars — 16 books
• 2 stars — 4 books
• 1 star — 0 books
• DNFs — 2  books

Reading Challenges

Here’s the final breakdown:

• Perpetual 20/20  100%
• Mount TBR 56/60 93.3%
• Read Your Book Shelf 7/10 70%
• Popsugar 39/70 97.5%
• Retellings 12/12 100%
• What's in a Name 3/6 50%
• Discworld 1/12 8.3%
• Back to the Classics 4/6  66.7%
• New to Me 20/20 100%
• Wired into Scifi 0/10 0%
• Graphic Novels 24/24 100%
• Library Love 24/24 100%
• Picture Books 92/92 100%

Total: 6/13 challenges  46.2% done

Total: 302/336 slots  89.9% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

I think 2017 was a good reading year. I surpassed my page and book number targets. I also knocked off a ton of books that either sat on my unread shelves or had been on my TBR for what seemed like forever. I didn't do much rereading. However, I think the fact that over half of my reads ended up being 4 or 5 star reads, I'm okay not rereading. I've got my January stack of books all ready to dive in and get 2018 started. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

2016 Wrap-up

Favorite Books of the Year

1. The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman
2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
3. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
4. Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick
5. Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick
6. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
7. Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink
8. Forevermore by Kristen Calihan
9. The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst
10. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Honorable Mentions: The HM category is reserved for rereads that I really loved.

• The Magicians by Lev Grossman
• The Magician King by Lev Grossman
• Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 
• The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Total Books Read – 132 books

Total Pages Read – 38,650 pages!!!!!

I averaged 3221 pages per month.  My lowest month was December with only 1421 pages.  My highest month was January with 4951 pages.  I hope to read 35,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats 

• 5 stars — 57 books
• 4 stars — 52 books
• 3 stars —  20 books
• 2 stars — 3 books
• 1 star —0 books
• DNFs — 2 books

Reading Challenges

Here’s the final breakdown:

• Perpetual 20/20 100%
• Read My Own Damn Books 40/40 100%
• I Love Libraries 24/24  100%
• Nonfiction 20/20 100%
• Popsugar 32/40 80%
• What's in a Name 3/6  50%
• Fairytale Retelling 7/10  70%
• Book to Movie 10/10 100%
• Finishing the Series 5/6  83.3%
• Graphic Novel 36/52  69.2%
• Women Authors 20/20  100%
• 52 Books in 52 Weeks  100%
• Picture Books 100/100  100%

Total: 8/13 challenges  61.5% done

Total:  369/400 slots  92.3% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

2016 was a decent year of reading. I finished a couple of series, knocked a few books off my perpetual lists, and enjoyed some 5 star reads. Predictably, my reading pace slowed considerably after Quentin arrived at the end of September. But hopefully I can bring my reading back up to at least 30 minutes a day in 2017.

2015 Wrap-up

Favorite Books of the Year

1. The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer
2. Yes, Please by Amy Poehler
3. Fire by Kristin Cashore
4. Dead Wake by Erik Larson
5. The Martian by Andy Weir
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
7. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
8. Saga Vol. 1-4
9. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
10. Furiously Happy by Jenny Larson

Honorable Mentions: The HM category is reserved for rereads that I really loved.

• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
• Fables Series

Total Books Read –  117 books

Total Pages Read – 35,897 pages

I averaged 2908 pages per month.  My lowest month was December with only 1769 pages.  My highest month was April with 4544 pages.  I hope to read 35,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats 

• 5 stars — 45 books
• 4 stars — 40 books
• 3 stars — 30 books
• 2 stars —1 books
• 1 star — 0 books
• DNFs — 3

Special Projects/Features

Readathons —I completed 5 readathons this year. While I enjoy readathons, my life now just doesn't allow much time to do a readathon. Next year I won't be participating in any.

Bloggiesta in September —I enjoyed spending a weekend working on my blog. I completed a fair number of tasks and made progress on a few more. I'll definitely be participating next year.

Day Zero Project  –- After restarting this project in early 2015, I've made decent progress on this large-scale project.

Quote Wednesday —An easy post that I now do biweekly.

Currently -- I like to sprinkle these in sometimes.

Music Monday —Always love my Music Monday posts.

Top Ten Tuesday — I didn't participate that much this year, but I occasionally do...

Fashion Friday —Love my Fashion Friday posts. They are a lot of fun to make.

Arthur Updates —Since Arthur is now 2 years old, I'm only doing these twice a year...

Thanks/Odds and Ends/Fun Videos —Definitely keeping this rotation next year. I helps change up the posts.

Reading Challenges

Here’s the final breakdown:

• Fantasy Project 4/5  80%
• Nonfiction Adventure 10/10 100%
• NPR Scifi and Fantasy 2/5  40%
• NPR Teen 5/5 100%
• Top 100 YA 4/5  80%
• 21st Century Women Authors 2/5 40%
• US of YA 0/5 0%
• Time Top 100 0/5 0%
• Rory Gilmore 2/5 40%
• 1001 Books 2/5 0%
• Anne Rice  0/5 0%
• Feminism 4/10 40%
• TBR Reduction 46/48 95.8%
• Mount TBR  36/36  100%
• Library 12/12 100%
• Ebooks  22/25  88%
• Read Your Freebies   12/12  100%
• A to Z 20/26 76.9%
• What’s in a Name   6/6  100%
• Picture Books   150/150  100%
• Seriously Series  9/10   90%
• Books to Movies  7/12 58.3%
• 52 Books in 52 Weeks   52/52  100%
• Fairy Tale 10/10 100%
• Dewey Decimal 10/10 100%
• Banned Books 0/5  0%
• Back to the Classics   6/10  60%
• New Author   15/15  100%
• Blogger Recommendations 1/10  10%
• Outlander 1/8 12.5%
• OLW Home 10/10 100%

Total:  12/31 challenges  38.7% done

Total:  458/533 slots  85.9% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

2014 Wrap-up

Favorite Books of the Year

• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman
• The Strain by Guillermo del Toro
• The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
• Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
• Washington by Ron Chernow
• No Turning Back by Estelle Freedman
• A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

Honorable Mentions: The HM category is reserved for rereads that I really loved.

• The Awakening by Kate Chopin
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Total Books Read – 88 books

Total Pages Read – 28,381 pages

I averaged 2365 pages per month.  My lowest month was April with only 1616 pages.  My highest month was August with 3466 pages.  I hope to read 30,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats –

• 5 stars — 30 books
• 4 stars — 37 books
• 3 stars — 19 books
• 2 stars — 1 book
• 1 star — 1 book
• DNFs —0

Special Projects/Features

Readathons —I completed 8 readathons this year.  My totals are down from last year, but I did well with an almost toddler running around.  I'm always up for readathons each quarter.

• January's Bout of Books 9: 750 pages, 3 books
• February's Winter's Respite: 738 pages, 2 books
• February's Love for Books: 265 pages, 1 book
• May's Spring into Horror: 348 pages, 2 books
• May's Bout of Books 10: 686 pages, 1 book
• July's High Summer: 767 pages, 4 books
• August's Bout of Books 11: 1180 pages, 3 books
• October's Frightfall: ? pages, 1 book

Bloggiesta in September — I participated again in September and loved getting my blog back-end in order. Definitely participating in 2015.

Day Zero Project  – I lost steam and ended my first attempt in failure. I am going to try this again starting January 2015.

Quote Wednesday — I kept this feature going this year.  Next year, I'm going to alternate between QW and Currently to give some variety to my week.

Music Monday —Still love sharing my favorite music videos every Monday.

Top Ten Tuesday — I don't usually participate, but every once in awhile the topic inspires me.

Fashion Friday — Love doing FF. I am definitely continuing this into 2015.

Arthur Updates — I loved sharing an Arthur update every week, but after 52 weeks, I am burned out.  I am switching to a monthly update in 2015.

Project Life — With the start of my craft blog in April, all PL spreads have moved over there...

Thanks/Odds and Ends/Fun Videos -- My Thursday rotation was a good way to break up content and not get bored with writing. I will be continuing the rotation in 2015.e

Reading Challenges

Here’s the final breakdown:

• Fantasy Project  8/20  40%
• Nonfiction Adventure  18/20  90%
• NPR Scifi and Fantasy   4/10  40%
• NPR Teen  8/10  80%
• Top 100 YA   5/5  100%
• 21st Century Women Authors  3/5  60%
• US of YA   3/5  60%
• Time Top 100   1/5  20%
• Rory Gilmore   6/10  60%
• 1001 Books  5/10  50%
• U.S. Presidents   2/5  40%
• Mount TBR  36/36  100%
• TBR Pile  7/30  23.3%
• Ebooks  23/25   92%
• New Author   15/15  100%
• Women Authors  20/20  100%
• 52 Books in 52 Weeks   52/52  100%
• Library  12/12  100%
• Read Your Freebies   12/12  100%
• Monthly Motif   10/12  83.3%
• Monthly Key Word   11/12  91.7%
• Books to Movies  12/12   100%
• Well Rounded Reader  22/25  88%
• Seriously Series  8/10   80%
• What’s in a Name   5/5  100%
• Picture Books   100/100  100%
• Rereading  3/4  75%
• Chunkster  5/10  50%
• Lucky No. 14   14/14  100%
• Back to the Classics   6/10  60%
• Fall Reading Challenge 15/20  75%

Total:  11/31 challenges   35.5% done

Total:  451/541 slots   83.4% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

I anticipated that my reading totals would decrease this year and it happened. But I still read a ton of great books and wrote a lot of other blog posts. I'd say 2014 was a good year. I'm planning on continuing with a lot of my regular features. And I'm going to be adding in more personal posts tied to my new 101 in 1001 project and One Little Word. Stay tuned for a great new year!

EotY Readathon -- Wrap-up

Progress so far:

• Pages read this period — 34 (Tanglefoot) + 912 (Vanity Fair) + 320 (Sanditon)
• Pages read total — 2354

Comments: Tanglefoot was creepy, Vanity Fair was a bit of a letdown, but I finished strong with Sanditon.

Goals:

• Read three books √
• Read 1000 pages √
• Review all books read √
• Knock out 5 reading challenge spots √

TBR Pile:

• Boneshaker by Cherie Priest √
• Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest √
• Sandition by Jane Austen √
• Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray √
• Any of the 4 nonfiction library finds √

EotY Readathon -- Update #2

Progress so far:

• Pages read this period — 173 (Boneshaker) + 160 (Universal Rights) + 176 (Final Jeopardy
• Pages read total — 1088

Comments: Really enjoyed Boneshaker and my two nonfiction reads.  I am going to guess that my reading pace will start to decrease.  Baby Arthur and I are traveling back to Indiana on Tuesday and will be there until the new year.

EotY Readathon -- Update #1

Progress so far:

• Pages read this period -- 176 (B is for Baby) + 160 (Inside the Creative Studio) + 243 (Boneshaker) =  579
• Pages read total -- 579

Comments: I'm starting off the readathon strong.  I really didn't think I would read much of anything due to the upcoming holidays, travel, and general baby care.  I knocked out two interesting nonfiction pretty books and made a huge dent in Boneshaker.  Really enjoying Boneshaker, but reading is a bit slow going.  I should be able to finish it by the end of the week...

End of the Year Readathon

From Juliababyjen's Reading Room:

Dana from Danasquare and I are hosting a read-a-thon!  It is called the End of the Year 2013 Reading Cram, and will run from Dec. 9-22nd!

If you are anything like me you have a huge stack (or even bookcases) full of book you haven't read. Did you have a goal for how many books you wanted to read during the year? Are you behind like I am?

Then this is the perfect time to read as much as you can before the new year!

Why should you participate?

1. To chisel off some of your TBR pile.

2. Do all the fun challenges and win some prizes.

3. Encourage others to read like a speed demon (and yourself) + reading with others is loads of fun.

So let's get in our last books of 2013 together in the #ReadingCram !

Listed below are all the things you need to know and the linky to sign up!

Requirements

You must post a Sign Up Post

Must have our graphic

Links to our blogs

Name, dates of the read-a-thon

Any personal goals (optional)

You may put up your post on your blog, Tumblr, or Youtube (if they don't have a blog)

Please tweet using #ReadingCram. To stay updated and to share what your reading!

I'm always a sucker for a good readathon.  This one has sufficient days for me to actually focus on reading while prepping for and traveling back to Indiana for Christmas. Overall, I'm aiming fairly low as I imagine my life will be super busy after the 15th.  My list of books to read is more of pile of suggestions. I definitely will not get to all of them in two weeks.

Goals:

• Read three books
• Read 1000 pages
• Review all books read
• Knock out 5 reading challenge spots

TBR Pile:

• Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
• Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest
• Sandition by Jane Austen
• Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
• Any of the 4 nonfiction library finds