Reading Challenge Update - 2024 Audiobook Challenge

 We're halfway through the year, so it's time to check in on the Audiobook Challenge, as hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and That's What I'm Talking About.

As a reminder, if you want to join us, we'd love to have you at the Audiobook Junkies Group on Goodreads.

I'd originally signed up for the Stenographer Level, which is 10-15 books.  It looks like I will be making that no problem, since I'm at 8 books for the first six months of the year, and I have a feeling I will knock several more out this summer.  I'm not officially saying I will hit the next level, Socially Awkward, which is 15-20 books.  But I think there's a good chance.

Anyway, here's what I've listened to so far.

1. The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

2. Yankee Doodle Dead by Carolyn Hart

3. The Fly on the Wall by Tony Hillerman

4. The Ducal Detective by Sarah E. Burr

5. The Crossing by Michael Connelly

6. White Elephant Dead by Carolyn Hart

7. A Feast Most Foul by Sarah E. Burr

8. Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman

Reading Challenge Update: Audiobook Challenge 2022

 We are half way through the year, so it's time for an update on the audiobook challenge, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That's What I'm Talking About.

When I signed up back in January, I signed up for the Stenographer level, which is 10-15 books.  I did that because I typically listen to one audiobook a month.  Given that pace, I'm right on track.

Here's what I've listened to so far this year.

1. The Reversal by Michael Connelly (relisten)

2. "U" is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

3. A Little Class on Murder by Carolyn Hart

4. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

5. Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan

6. Island of Thieves by Glen Erik Hamilton

What's interesting this year is I have listened to them a bit more in bursts this year instead of steadily listening to one a month.  But, the end result is I'm on track for another 12 audiobooks this year.

Reading Challenge Update: Audiobook Challenge 2021

 I almost missed the mid-year check in for the Audiobook Challenge.

As a reminder, I signed up for the Stenographer level, which is 10-15 books.  I try to listen to one a month, so that falls right into the middle of this level.  I might wind up a little short of 12, but I should still hit the goal for the year.  At six months into the year, I have listened to six.

1. The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan

2. Every Day Above Ground by Glen Erik Hamilton

3. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

4. "S" is for Silence by Sue Grafton

5. Something Wicked by Carolyn Hart

6. Mercy River by Glen Erik Hamilton

I'm just about to start my next audio book, so I should stay on track.  It's still a little hard this year since I'm not driving as much as usual.  But I am still enjoying audiobooks.

Reading Challenge Update: Audio Book Challenge 2020

We are six months into the year, so it is time for at least one reading challenge update.  Specifically, I'm looking at the Audio Book Challenge hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer.

I've been doing great at most of my challenges this year, getting in extra reading.  The one exception is the audio book challenge.  I said I was going for the Stenographer level, which is 10-15 audio books.  I usually try to listen to one book a month, so I thought I'd be okay.  However, I usually listen to audio books in the car.  I'm not driving anywhere right now, so you can imagine how that is going.

But I have listened to three so far this year.  And here they are:

1. "P" is for Peril by Sue Grafton
2. Past Crimes by Glen Erik Hamilton
3. Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Not sure what the rest of the year will look like and if I'll get much more listened to.  But we will see.

Reading Challenge Update: Audiobook Challenge

The other challenge I am going to post an update for right now is the Audiobook challenge, hosted by Hot Listens and Caffeinated Reviewer.

Once again, I signed up for the Stenographer level, which is 10-15 books.  I have currently listened to:

1. Lost Light by Michael Connelly
2. The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley
3. "M" is for Malice by Sue Grafton
4. The Sentry by Robert Crais
5. The Narrows by Michael Connelly
6. Taken by Robert Crais
7. The Promise by Robert Crais
8. "N" is for Noose by Sue Grafton

A glut of audio books in June has put me well ahead of schedule.  I really aim for 12, one a month, and I should surpass that.  Not sure by how much since it doesn't look like I will be going to visit my family until Thanksgiving this year, and a trip home is always good for an audio book or two.

Additionally, I will get caught up on Robert Crais's books this year.  Normally, I rotate several authors, but I decided to push through on his books so I can listen to the new one when it comes out in August.  But that means it is time to start looking for another author to put in the rotation.  I'll have to see what I have easy access to via my library.  I have a long list of potential authors.  Trust me.

Reading Challenge Update: Mount TBR and Virtual Mount TBR

Can you believe we are half way through the year?  Crazy, right?

I know I don't always post updates for my various reading challenges, but I thought I'd post a couple of them this time around.  (Not all my challenges ask for updates, so I won't be posting anything on those.)

Up first are the two I've paired up - Mount TBR and Virtual Mount TBR, both hosted by My Reader's Block.

For Mount TBR, I signed up for the lowest level, reading 12 books I owned at the end of 2018.  As you can see, I'm almost there.

Mount TBR Books:
1. Veronica Mars: Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
2. The Double-A Western Detective Agency by Steve Hockensmith
3. Saturn Night Fever by Diane Vallere
4. Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay
5. Manuscript for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land
6. Murder on Lenox Hill by Victoria Thompson
7. Permanently Booked by Lisa Q. Mathews
8. Downton Tabby by Sparkle Abbey
9. Barking Mad at Murder by Jacqueline Vick
10. Murder in Little Italy by Victoria Thompson
11. A Baker Street Wedding by Michael Robertson

Meanwhile, for the Virtual Mount TBR (books you borrow, etc.), I am coming close to my goal of 24 books.

Virtual Mount TBR Books:
1. Lost Light by Michael Connelly
2. A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
3. The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley
4. Bridges Burned by Annette Dashofy
5. "M" is for Malice by Sue Grafton
6. The Sentry by Robert Crais
7. Double Whammy by Gretchen Archer
8. The Narrows by Michael Connelly
9. The 18th Abduction by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
10. Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks
11. The Big Kahuna by Janet Evanovich and Peter Evanovich
12. Taken by Robert Crais
13. Full Bodied Murder by Christine M. Blum
14. The Promise by Robert Crais
15. One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein
16. Book, Line, and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay
17. Beaches, Bungalows, & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes
18. "N" is for Noose by Sue Grafton

With half the year still to go, I shouldn't have any trouble surpassing my goals.

Reading Challenge Update: New Release 2016

Three months ago, I was surprised to realize I'd only read 13 books toward the new release challenge.  My update now is a bit more what I was expecting.

14. Killer Takeout by Lucy Burdette
15. Rest in Peach by Susan Furlong
16. Vanilla Beaned by Jenn McKinlay
17. Time of Fog and Fire by Rhys Bowen
18. A Girl's Guide to Landing a Greek God by Bill Fuller
19. Wedding Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
20. Spaced Out by Stuart Gibbs
21. All Murders Final! by Sherry Harris
22. Irish Stewed by Kylie Logan
23. Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown by "Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith
24. Sayonara Slam by Naomi Hirahara
25. The Final Tap by Amanda Flower
26. Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger
27. Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
28. 15th Affair by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
29. Decanting a Murder by Nadine Nettmann
30. Murder Most Fowl by Edith Maxwell
31. A Muddied Murder by Wendy Tyson
32. Eclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford
33. Grilled for Murder by Maddie Day
34. The Calamity Cafe by Gayle Leeson
35. Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower
36. Presumed Puzzled by Parnell Hall

My original goal was 45+.  I should have no trouble reaching that, right?

Here's my original post that lists all 36 of the books I've read for the challenge so far this year.

Reading Challenge Update: Mount TBR 2016

When it comes to the Mount TBR challenge, I always start out strong and then fade as the year progresses.  That's because, I start out with lots of books from the previous year yet to read, and then I get distracted by the current year's books or books I've heard about for the first time this year.  So I'm not too surprised to say that I've only read seven books for this challenge in the last three months.

And those books are:

14. No Comfort for the Lost by Nancy Herriman
15. A Gilded Grave by Shelley Freydont
16. Out of Circulation by Miranda James
17. The Skeleton Takes a Bow by Leigh Perry
18. Desperate Housedogs by Sparkle Abbey
19. Fatal Brushstroke by Sybil Johnson
20. Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson

Still, since my initial goal was 12 and I'm well past that, you can see that I'm doing well.  I'm still not worried about hitting 24 at all.  And if you counted the books I've read from the library (which this challenge doesn't, it's only owned books), the numbers are even better.

You can see my full list of books read over at my original post.

Reading Challenge Update: Audio Book Challenge

Since we are half way through the year, it's time to post an update on the Audio Book Challenge.

My goal has been to average one a month, and I'm well ahead of schedule, as you can see.

1. "C" is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
2. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
3. The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech by Kirsten Powers
4. The Ambitious Card by John Gaspard
5. The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
6. Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
7. "D" is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton
8. Voodoo River by Robert Crais

Those links will take you to my review of the book.

And I'm actually in better shape than that because I have two more books I've listened to, but I'm holding the review to fill in while I got on vacation this summer.  I've slipped in a couple I wasn't planning to listen to when the year started, and I've been working hard on my audio series.

I'm really getting hooked on audio books, can't you tell?

Reading Challenge Update: 2016 New Release Challenge

The other challenge with a quarterly update is the 2016 New Release Challenge.

So far, this year, I've read 13 books.

1. The Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher
2. Death of a Bad Apple by Penny Pike
3. A Second Chance at Murder by Diana Orgain
4. Copy Cap Murder by Jenn McKinlay
5. A Disguise to Die For by Diane Vallere
6. Scene of the Brine by Mary Ellen Hughes
7. For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames
8. Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance
9. Fogged Inn by Barbara Ross
10. Ripe for Murder by Carlene O'Neil
11. A Churn for the Worse by Laura Bradford
12. And Then There Were Nuns by Kylie Logan
13. Delivering the Truth by Edith Maxwell

I was a bit surprised to realize it had been so few, but I am definitely on track for my goal of 40 new releases this year, which is good.

Also fun to note, I have the exact same number of 2016 releases as I do books for my Mount TBR challenge.

Reading Challenge Update: Mount TBR 2016

Can you believe we are already a quarter of the way through the year?  I sure can't.  But since we are, it's time for updates for a couple of my reading challenges.  Up first is Mount TBR.

When I signed up again, I said I was going for Pike's Peak, which is 12 books.  So far, this year, I've read:

1. Don't Look Back by Gregg Hurwitz
2. Murder Most Finicky by Liz Mugavero
3. Mother's Day Out by Karen MacInerney
4. Better Homes and Corpses by Kathleen Bridge
5. Slayed on the Slopes by Kate Dyer-Seeley
6. Classified as Murder by Miranda James
7. Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay
8. Berried Secrets by Peg Cochran
9. What You See by Hank Phillippi Ryan
10. File M for Murder by Miranda James
11. By Cook or by Crook by Maya Corrigan
12. Disney Lands by Ridley Pearson
13. The Big Chili by Julia Buckley

Yep, I've already beat my goal.  While I will keep climbing on, I'm not sure I will make the next peak (24 books), since I have so many books from this year calling my name.  Another thing slowing me down is the books from previous years I've bought this year and read, which don't count for this challenge.

Finally, an interesting point of fact.  I've also read 13 books for my New Release Challenge so far this year.

Audio Book Challenge Update

It's time to check in on the Audiobook Challenge.

I originally signed up to read 10-15.  I'm well on my way with 7 books under my belt.  And they are.

1. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
3. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
4. The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
5. 1984 by George Orwell
6. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
7. Lullaby Town by Robert Crais

Some of those books have been on my to be read list forever, too, so it's nice to finally get to them.

Reading Challenge Check Point: Mount TBR

The official link won't be up for a few days, but I'm also going to create my update post for the Mount TBR challenge today.

My original goal for this challenge was 12 books.  So far this year I've read:

1. Zero-Degree Murder by M. L Rowland
2. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
3. Scene of the Climb by Kate Dyer-Seeley
4. Geared for the Grave by Duffy Brown
5. A Tine to Live, a Tine to Die by Edith Maxwell
6. Hearse and Buggy by Laura Bradford
7. Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay
8. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
9. Death is Like  Box of Chocolates by Kathy Aarons
10. Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly
11. Wouldn't It Be Deadly by D. E. Ireland

Yes, that's right, I'm almost done with the challenge, and we are only a quarter of the way into the year.  That's an even faster climb than I did last year.

I'm tempted to keep going and head to the next check point.  But I also think this year will find me reading more and more books that come out in 2015.  I think I'm going to hold at where I am, at least for the moment, and see how things are looking in June.  I don't want to over commit, after all.

Reading Challenge Update: Audio Book Challenge

It's time for the first check point for the Audiobook Challenge.  As a reminder, I signed up for the Stenographer level, which is 10-15 books during the year.

So far, I've completed and reviewed 3 books:

1. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
3. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly

I currently have my fourth book, The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, out of the library.  I'm planning to get to 1984 before April is over as well.

My plan has been one a month, but I am getting a little addicted, especially as I consider the possibilities of the series I've always been interested in but never found the time to read.  Time will tell if I still with my plan or wind up listening to more books as the year goes on.