This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is “Reading Goals I Still Want to Accomplish Before the End of the Year”.
In January I made a list of some reading resolutions for the year ahead, so I thought I would return to them here and see how I’m progressing. There are only seven, so this is not a full top ten list this week!
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1. Finish my Classics Club list.
At the start of this year I had sixteen books remaining on my Classics Club list. I had hoped to read all of them during 2023, but as usual I’ve been distracted by other books and so far have only read seven of them, leaving nine still on the list. I’m planning to read at least some of the others before the end of the year, but I think this is one goal that won’t be complete until 2024.
2. Re-read some old favourites.
I’ve only managed one re-read this year – The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier – but it was one I particularly enjoyed as I wasn’t sure I’d interpreted things correctly the first time I read it. I really need to find time for more re-reads!
3. Resist the temptations of NetGalley.
At the start of January, the number of books I had waiting on my NetGalley shelf was down to single figures for the first time in years. I’ve been making an effort this year to be more restrained and request fewer books, but my reading slowed down for a while in the summer so the number on the shelf has slowly built up again. They are all books I really want to read, though, which is the most important thing.
4. Make some progress with my Reading the Walter Scott Prize project.
Unfortunately, I haven’t made much progress with this at all! I’ve read three books from this year’s Walter Scott Prize shortlist, but there were seven on the list so I still have the others to catch up with. I also still have lots of books to read from the previous years’ shortlists – I haven’t even managed to read last year’s winner yet!
5. Continue with some of the series and trilogies I’ve started and never finished!
I’ve had some success with this goal, finishing Robin Hobb’s Fitz and the Fool Trilogy and picking up the next books in Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series and Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series. On the other hand, I’ve also started two more trilogies – the Eliot Chronicles by Elizabeth Goudge and the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay. Who knows when I’ll get round to finishing them!
6. Take part in the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge and Read Christie 2023.
I’m doing very well with the Historical Fiction Challenge, which isn’t surprising as it’s my favourite genre. My target for the year was 50 books (‘Prehistoric’ level) and I’ve read 39 with almost three months still to go. For Read Christie 2023, I joined in with the monthly reads in January, February, April, May, August and September. I’m happy with that as I hadn’t planned to participate every month – I love Christie, but twelve books a year by the same author can be too much. I have Endless Night lined up for November, but not sure yet whether I’ll read anything for October or December.
7. Make every book I read a potential book of the year.
This is always the ultimate goal of every reader, surely? Of course I haven’t achieved it and have been disappointed in some of the books I’ve chosen to read during 2023, but I’ll stay optimistic and hope I find some more books of the year in the remaining three months!
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Did you make any reading resolutions in January – and if so, are you sticking to them? What are you hoping to accomplish with your reading before the end of the year?
She Reads Novels 
Glad you’re doing so well with the Historical Fiction and Christie challenges. I’d hoped to read some title at least for Christie but only managed one at the start of the year. Slowdowns in reading have definitely affected my NetGalley and Edelweiss shelves two and a single digit pending number seems a distant dream for now. Good luck with your reading resolutions!
Thank you! Yes, a slowdown in reading can have a big effect on your NetGalley numbers. I’m glad I don’t use Edelweiss as well!
Good luck with your own plans for the remainder of the year, Helen – three months to knock them on the head! (Ooer, that phrase sounds quite vicious…) My main plan is to read all twelve of the titles I listed for #TBRyear10 – I think I’ve finished eight now – because I’ve already finished the modest 52 books I’d aimed for on Goodreads. Otherwise, just keep reading is my goal!
Thank you! Well done for reaching your Goodreads target already and good luck with finishing the other four titles for #TBRyear10!
So many book bloggers are reviewing their ‘goals’ and ‘oughts’ at the moment. This keen reader utterly declines to join in. There’s too much in life to feel guilty about, without adding books!
That sounds very sensible, Margaret!
Seeing a lot of netGalley mentions today! Thanks for sharing the historical fiction challenge. I read that area a lot ,but hadn’t seen a challenge for it.
I love historical fiction and take part in that challenge every year!
Netgalley is quite common this week, I’m honestly so glad I never went on there. It will honestly stress me out LOL.
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2023/10/03/top-ten-tuesday-how-am-i-doing-on-my-backlist-books/
NetGalley is a great way to find new books and authors, but it can definitely be a big source of stress!
I liked this week’s prompt and the reminder of what my goals are…now to keep them in my head, LOL! It sounds like you are doing good with yours! Good luck with them.
Yes, I enjoyed this week’s prompt. It’s good to stop and remind yourself of your goals now and then.
I revisited my January reading/book goals for this week’s TTT, too. I really like your goal to continue reading in series & trilogies…I need to make that a goal next year. 😀
I’m very good at starting new series and trilogies, but very bad at remembering to continue with them!
Good job on #3! I’m terrible at that. I’ve requested TONS of books and only reviewed a handful of them, so my ratio is abysmal, like 8% or something. LOL. I’m surprised they keep approving my requests! I need an intervention…
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
It can be difficult to keep under control when there are so many tempting new books!
Good luck with your goals! I’m scared to look back at the goals I set in January. I’m pretty sure I’m failing them.
Thank you! Good luck with yours – as long as you’re enjoying your reading, that’s the most important thing. 🙂
You’ve just explained to me why I have Elizabeth Goudge’s The Bird in the Tree prominently displayed in my living room at the moment. I intended to read it for the 1940 Club, but didn’t manage. Now I know it’s the first of a trilogy, I’m more inclined to put it back with the box of Goudge’s books awaiting a bookshelf.
I loved The Bird in the Tree when I read it for 1940 Club, but I still haven’t got round to reading the second book. I don’t want to leave it too long and find that I can’t remember what happened in the first one!
Yes, that is the issue with sequels, isn’t it? The older I get, the more likely I am to lose the plot… in a series, at least.
Re-reading is something I keep trying to do more of too, but haven’t been very successful with. I particularly like your goals in 5 and 7, wouldn’t it be wonderful if every book was a potential book of the year! Good luck with finishing up strongly this year!
I was hoping to do a lot of re-reading this year, so I’m disappointed that I’ve only managed one book. I’ll try again next year!
Definitely been a strange reading year so far. Netgalley certainly adds to the stress so I am being very limited here. It’s reviewing which has scuppered me this year, my heart just isn’t in it at the moment.
Yes, I’m struggling to keep up with reviews at the moment as well. Once you fall behind it can be hard to get back into the habit.
You’re doing well! I’ve finished reviewing my classics club list which was my main goal (a year late!) and really want to finish my TBR challenge, it seems silly when it’s only 12 books in a year but it’s been a strange reading year. I have enjoyed the ReadChristie which I came to through you – so thank you!
It seems to have been a strange reading year for a lot of us! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying ReadChristie.