#readingchallenge23

[readsbymoonlight]

February 2023 Wrap-Up

Going to be very honest here: Reading is hard. I'm actually really disappointed in myself to be saying this, but it's a truth I've found increasingly true even if I do read every single day. Whether it's fanfiction, a novel, a magazine, reading has become so hard for me and I don't know why. The only good thing (I suppose it might be considered a good thing), is that I'm not the only one who feels this. But the better thing is that Nanad's regime has really helped.

I've never really found it hard to form a habit. Once I start doing it at the same time each day, it becomes ingrained. It's just that... sometimes I pick the worst times. Life isn't constant, so random occurrences conspire to break my streak. Even so, I've managed to keep to half an hour a day at least, with an extra half an hour on top of that on the 14th and 28th. There have been allowances made and I had to shift 15 mins one day (with Nanad's permission, bless her) but it's worked.

I finished both books on my list for February (Marissa Meyer's Renegades and Joanna Russ' The Female Man. Right now, I'm working on the next book too! Honestly, the biggest issue I foresee is being able to jump straight into the next book. Not something I've been able to do, historically. After finishing Renegades, I took about 5 days off trying to finish a Chinese webnovel I started... at some point last year. Still working at it but I think it'll serve as a good read between reads. Hah.

It's looking good, really. So, onwards! I hope, if you're having reading troubles and are trying to get back into it, that it goes smoothly.

[readsbymoonlight]

January 2023 Wrap-Up

In an effort to keep myself accountable with respect to my reading goals, I'm going to be documenting my progress in this journal of sorts. I definitely went through a slump in the middle of the month, but I did manage to finish 3 books that I started reading last year! It's not a lot, but it's something I'm proud of. It gives me greater faith that I can work harder to meet the goals I've set. Besides, I think I'm better prepared for what's to come. Namely, my friend Nanad's reading regime that she designed for me. Look at the effort she put in!

There's a book missing from this (and I can't even recall what it is) but we'll fit it in, I'm sure of it!

Some rules include:

read for 30 minutes every day (at least!)

extra 30 minutes every 14th and 28th of the month

That's basically it, along with the invitation to read together, do sprints, and discuss books. Of course, there's also punishments if I fail. Don't know about those yet and I hope I won't.

I've already started my journey yesterday with Marissa Meyer's Renegades and I'm quite excited to keep going.

Unfortunately, I feel like I'm a little behind. Having completed another NetGalley book in January (as part of Nanad's plan for me to finish up old books last month), I need to write up a review and post it. Also, there's one more book from last year that's sitting to one side and gathering dust.

But still, I'm trying to keep optimistic and have only positive thoughts.

As Nanad said, "Let's thrive, not try!"

[readsbymoonlight]

A 2023 Reading Challenge

With the new year, many of my friends have started setting reading goals, since they're mostly readers as well. This year, I've been hesitant to do so, thinking that I won't be able to meet it, something that has only ever happened in recent years.

Honestly, I'm not one who likes wallowing in my own perceived incapability. I want to try, even if I fail, even if I've failed before. As I thought about setting a reading goal (and did some spring cleaning), I came across an abandoned reading journal for 2021 and a reading record on my Notion for 2022. Suffice it to say that I'm not very hopeful for 2023.

Then again, hope doesn't get things done, does it? You have to do it.

So, to give myself some solid goals as well as several layers of accountability, I have decided to join some reading challenges hosted by others. Shameful as I am for only finishing 11 books last year, I'm determined not to let it happen again.

Both the Backlist Reader Challenge 2023 and the TBR 23 in '23 Challenge are geared towards finishing books on one's TBR, which is something I've been saying I'll do for several years now, but it's only ever grown.

Additionally, I've also managed to round up some help. Nanad, a reader that's proven to be even more avid and voracious than myself, is going on this journey with me. Well, hers is a more advanced one, to be sure, but she's going to wrangle me along with her very own regime. I'm both scared and excited to start.

Under the cut are the books I'm hoping to read this year.

Fiction

A Conspiracy of Truths Alexandra Rowland

Amok Anna Tan

Anatomy of a Murderer Tim Floreen

Cursed Bunny Bora Chung

Cyberpunk: Malaysia Various

Fate of Flames Sarah Raughley

Gemini Sonya Mukherjee

Malaysia's Best of Anthology Various

Melmoth Sarah Perry

More Than This Patrick Ness

Only a Monster Vanessa Len

Renegades Marissa Meyer

She Who Became the Sun Shelley Parker-Chan

The Binding Bridget Collins

The Female Man Joanna Russ

The Kingdom of Little Wounds Susann Cokal

The Maidens Alex Michaelides

The Oddfits Tiffany Tsao

The Scarlet Gospels Clive Barker

This is Not a Werewolf Story Sandra Evans

Non-Fiction

Adapt Amina Khan

Death on Earth Jules Howard

Working With Nature Jeremy Purseglove