I'm definitely pulling back on challenges and goals this year, as I want to focus

1. BookLikes/GoodReads challenge: 52 books

    Even though I went over my challenge numbers for the last two years, I am pulling back because I feel like I am under pressure to finish every book I start so I can make the goal. One book a week feels doable and I will take more chances on longer works. Probably will be updated higher after the summer edition of COYER.  

2. The Great War: 100 Years Later Reading List

     I made a non-fiction reading list to immerse myself in World War I in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice in November 2018. I am not aiming to read all these books, but want to get to get to as many as possible, at least 25%. If you scroll down to the comments, Mark K makes some excellent suggestions to add to the list (one of which I already added to the main list).

3. 3x Bout of Books, 2x COYERs, and 2x 24 in 48 Read-a-thons

   These were relaxed challenges that I've enjoyed in the past and felt really productive in my reading afterward. Dewey is too intense and I have a hard time trying to fit social media participation with reading, so I am bypassing those for 2018. The Pop Sugar challenge included too many prompts that I had to force myself to read. I am planning on participating in whatever game/challenge is going on here at BL, because I just can't quite you guys *XOXOXO*.

COYER Winter Switch: December 16, 2017 - March 9, 2018

Bout of Books Cycle 21: January 8 - 14, 2018

24 in 48 Read-a-thon Winter edition: January 27-28, 2018

I might end up dipping my toes into Broken Tune's women's right to vote project. Why are all the anniversaries of historical good stuff happening at once? It's hard out here for history buffs, lol.

Is now open for sign ups. Just go to https://24in48.com/ and fill out the Google form. I will be posting updates and challenges here, on Litsy, and on IG.

I'm using the holidays to plan my 2018 reading. Luckily, Bout of Books Cycle 21 sign ups are now live.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Goals:

1. Do every daily challenge - even if it takes me all day to think of how to do it.

2. Do a daily re-cap - in the past I usually do a mid-week and then a final re-cap, but I am hoping that a routine will get me to read and participate in challenges more.

3. Attend at least 3x 10:30am CST Twitter talks - that is 4:30pm my time which is prime time for trying to make my way home from after school activities. One of the talks will be on the weekend.

4. I am aiming for 5 books read over the 7 days. That is two more than my average of 3 a week. As of now, there won't be a pre-determined TBR for most of the cycle; the two days that fall into the new phase of COYER Winter Switch will be reading from the list I created.

I will be posting mainly here on BookLikes, but will also post what I am reading on Litsy, and most challenges use IG.

First, a blog that has a master list of reading challenges.

These are the upcoming read-a-thons I am aware of/participating in. The first two require sign up posts, the third requires you to fill out a form.

COYER Winter Switch: December 16, 2017 - March 9, 2018 - two versions: regular COYER or COYER Winter Switch (I am doing the switch, which requires you to make a reading list/shelf).

Bout of Books Cycle 21: January 8 - 14, 2018 (sign ups aren't up yet on the blog).

24 in 48 Read-a-thon Winter edition: January 27-28, 2018 (form isn't on the blog yet).

When I posted my sign up post for Bout of Books cycle 17, I really only had a rough draft of my reading goals, as it was still weeks away. Now it is hours away from the start, here is my official list:

1. His Jilted Bride (Banks Brothers Brides #3) by Rose Gordon (Regency box set)

2. Lowcountry Bordello (Liz Talbot #4) by Susan M. Boyer

3. My Lady of Deception (Brethren of the Lords #1) by Christi Caldwell (Regency box set)

4. Lowcountry Book Club (Liz Talbot #5) by Susan M. Boyer

5. Much Ado About Dutton (More Courtesan Chronicles) by Claudia Dain (Regency box set)

6. Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink (I only plan on starting this by the end of the read-a-thon, but I do want it done by the end of August).

To everyone doing Bout of Books this week - good luck!