Truth time: I’m always super excited to join a challenge. I’m always down for a book readathon. The moment I make my intent post and start to think about the books I will read for that challenge, I lose all desire to read those books. Being put on a list of mine is the kiss of death for books.
Example 1: COYER
This should be a totally laid back challenge. Read the books you already own. I’m always super psyched when COYER starts. “I’m gonna read all these books that have been on my kindle since 2014”. I browse through hundreds of book choices and can’t pick a single one. Seriously-hundreds of books and I don’t want to read a single one? I end up going to Netgalley and picking up something new. WHY!?
Example 2: Author Love Challenge
Oh I was so excited for this one. I had just recently read my first Christine Feehan book and decided I wanted to read all her books! We are 9 months into the challenge and I have read 2. TWO!!!
Why does this happen? How do I stop it?!? Here are my thoughts:
- Its like being told to read a classic in high school. As soon as I feel I ‘have to’ read it, I want to fight the power. Dumb? Yes. But, true none the less.
- So many new pretties that publishers send me to read! I mean, I have to read them. They need me. And these reads have due dates. (This leads to a whole other problem-reading books that I have to force myself through and thus give a lower rating when in reality had I not felt I HAD to read the book then I probably would have rated it higher.)
- What appealed to me at one time doesn’t appeal to me at another. Then, with the hundreds of books on my kindle, its easy to forget about one you were really excited about at one time.
- Its not that easy to ‘browse’ on my kindle. If I had actual books, I could sit in front of my shelf and see my choices, grab a few, then narrow it down. You can’t do that with a kindle.
I’m not sure how to stop this trend. Maybe NOT create a list of any kind? I would say “Stop requesting new books” but that is just unrealistic and never gonna happen. #ARCtober starts next week and I need to BREAK THIS CURSE!
Do you have a similar struggle? Do you have any ideas on how to get me to read the backlist books? HELP!
Yep, I have a similar struggle. That’s why I don’t do many challenges. I always mean to read my challenge books, but then I get distracted by other books! Aside from my Goodreads goal, I don’t think I’ve ever finished a reading challenge.
I feel your pain! Challenges are so very hard and that’s why the ones I like best are the ones I don’t have to write a list of books I want to read but instead find titles to fit a certain topic or category. As long as I feel like I am making the decision on what book I can read the better it is because there is a sense of freedom to what you read rather than having a required reading list. I think part of it is that my brain is contrary and as soon as I tell myself I have to read a particular book it starts going ‘don’t want to can’t make me’ even though I wanted to read it before. Hopefully you’ll have more success than I ever do about overcoming this weird curse because it’s stupid and makes no sense.
I love reading challenges but at the same time I hate them…which is why this year I took a break from them. I have been slowly reading less ARC and if I want one…buy it instead. But I am wanting to work on a balance of books and reading more backlisted books too. I need to be better though.
I like reading challenges, but I can’t do the ones where you make a list of books to read. I’m a mood reader and so my reading will change. I can’t stick to a list of books, so I don’t even try. I just go with what I feel like reading.
Challenges are actually really good for me, but I need the ones with a lot of guidelines. I love bookish bingo and Monthly Motif, because they make me read a book that fits the prompt. Challenges like that are good for me, because they make me read more widely, and I don’t have to commit to a number or anything like that.
Yes! This is why I stick to bookish challenges that are relaxed and are themed – no listing of book titles required! haha
Yes, yes and more yes! That’s kind of why I’ve taken a step back from challenges (like I have with ARCs). Maybe not the best solution (just quitting LOL) but I just hate being locked in to reading *anything.* Even if it’s something I want to read. Because like you mentioned, it might be something I want to read but not necessarily something I want to read AT THE TIME. I’m a 100% mood reader and I never know what I’m going to pick up one book to the next. No TBRs. So challenges and me? No bueno.
Ha, if you figure out a way to get through your backlist, let me know! I’m not sure good with reading challenges either. I always want to be good at them, but usually the only ones I do well with are ones I would do anyway.
well I not only suck at them but I NEVER learned! Every year I sign up for ALL OF THEM and never succeed LOL
Oh, I totally get this. Challenges sound SO amazing, but they never turn out quite the way you think they will. I gave up on my yearly challenges this year (except the Discussion Challenge), but I know I’ll join more. I just now tend to go into challenges with the idea that if I manage one or two books, I’ll be happy with that.
Omigosh! This made me giggle-snort, Samantha! I too suffer from challenge failure – but only the ones I have to make lists for. I did make lists for the RAT’s for COYER this summer and I didn’t read a dang one! Nope. But plain ol’ COYER…for whatever reason, I don’t have a problem there. I have done the Reading Assignment Challenge since its inception but I’ve never passed. Again with the list. Some years I’ve done okay – read a few but I always end up failing. So yeah, I understand. And unfortunately I have no answers for you. I have been known to use random.org to select my next read. 🙂 I’ve also started a search for a book on my kindle and then chosen from the list that pulled up before I finished typing in the title. If you figure out a way to succeed, let me know! 😉
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