Basically, I'm The Worst at Completing Goals

I didn't do horribly with my challenges that I set for myself, but by no means did I finish all of the goals that I set for myself in 2015. Let's look at the original challenges first:

1. Read 52 books
2. Read 5 books that are 500 pages or more
3. Reread 10 books (including the Harry Potter series)
4. Read more new-to-me authors
5. Read 3 classics
6. Do Katytastic's TBR Jar challenge
7. Popsugar / Goodreads group challenge

The Failures

"Reread 10 books (including the Harry Potter series)"

I did reread books, but I didn't reread 10. Nor did I complete my reread of the Harry Potter series, but I did start my reread of the Harry Potter series. 

Books I reread: the first four Harry Potter novels, The Magician's Nephew, and The Bad Beginning. 

I want to finish each of these three rereads throughout the next few years, if not next year. 

Grade: 60% - F

"Read 3 classics"

By numbers, this is more of a failure than the last. Likewise, I am significantly more disappointed in myself regarding this challenge. I only read one "classic" (more of modern classic) this year, but I read it at the very, very end of the year, and I didn't even pick it up of my own accord. 

Classics I read: Beloved by Toni Morrison

Grade: 33.33% - F

"Do Katytastic's TBR Jar Challenge"

I didn't even follow the rules for this challenge, but I had told myself from the beginning that I really just wanted to read a book in each of these categories throughout the year after the month that I pulled them out of the jar.

In accordance with my own rules, I only didn't complete two of the challenges, which actually isn't that bad. However, in accordance with the rule of "read a book that completes this challenge within the month" I didn't complete five of the challenges, but who cares about that?

Books I read for this challenge: The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossieni, P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Circle by Dave Eggers, Vicious by V.E. Schwab, Lumberjanes, The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, and City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Grade: 83% - B

"2015 Popsugar Reading Challenge"

I wasn't actively participating in this challenge so much as reading books and then seeing if they fit into the challenges. So, looking at it that way, I didn't do that bad because I completed 44 of the 50 challenges! 

If you want to see which challenges I completed and which books I read for those challenges, you can go to this spreadsheet (because I don't want to bore you--nor do I want to write out--with a list of 44 books and 44 challenges).

Grade: 88% - B

Successes

"Read 52 books"

I either read 95 or 93 books in 2015! What even? I never anticipated reading more than I've ever read in a single year. I almost doubled my original reading goal. Look, even goodreads thinks I am great at reading:

Grade: 179% - A+

"Read 5 books over 500 pages"

SO glad that I had time to consume some amazing, giant books this year. (Because a lot of them ended up being favorites.)

Books read: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Circle by Dave Eggers, Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, and Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Grade: 180% - A+

"Read more new-to-me authors"

This one wasn't too difficult because I hadn't really read a lot before this year. I am really proud of myself this year for stepping out of my comfort zone.

New-to-me authors: 32 (see the spreadsheet for the full list, even then I must have missed a few)

Grade: A

How did you do with your 2015 reading goals? Tell me down in the comments!

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2015 Mid-Year Book Freak Out [Tag + Goal Update]

I would love to do this annually. I saw Sara @ SaraWithoutAnH do this tag on her YouTube channel. Obviously, I loved it enough to want to do it here for you guys. I also wanted to recap some of my goals from the beginning of the year and see how it's going. 

TAG QUESTIONS:

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2015.

I absolutely adored this book. I tried to read this book multiple times after the movie was released because I loved it so much. And I hated reading it because I'm a grammar nazi and I just wanted to fix everything. The audiobook was my savior. I highly recommend this audiobook for people that want to start listening to audiobooks. This was the first ever complete audiobook that I've listened to, and it was amazing. Clearly.

(Review)

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2015.

If this was best finale/series ender, Ignite Me would have taken the cake. I really enjoyed Shatter Me as a series starter, but Unravel Me was an amazing sequel and didn't suffer from the typical YA "second book syndrome" where nothing happens.

(Review)

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.

I don't buy graphic novels or comic book collections. I don't know why. I just don't. I requested this from my library before it even came out, and they haven't sent a response to the request yet.

Current status: dying.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

Of my "top 5 most anticipated preorders" this is the one I will actually buy because 1) rave reviews are insanely rave-y and 2) the blue part glows in the dark. Yes, please.

5. Biggest disappointment.

I fell in love with the first few volumes of All-New X-Men and wanted to dive into another series of X-Men things. This was available. Needless to say, it was a horrible disappointment.

(Review)

6. Biggest surprise.

As many of you know, I was not a fan of Throne of Glass (hides from the pitchforks), though I do want to pick up Crown of Midnight soon. I had heard from people (basically all of them loved ToG) that this was their favorite book of the year. I wanted to pick it up based on these reviews, but wasn't expecting a lot from it. While it definitely wasn't my favorite book of the year, it was amazing and I need the sequel now.

(Review)

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

I loved this duology. It's insanely cute, and I need to pick up the Summer Trilogy ASAP.

(Review)

8. Newest fictional crush.

Levi is an attainable, realistic boy that I'm in love with.

(Review)

9. Newest favorite character.

Warner was almost my answer for the previous question, but I did not want to do duplicate answers. Juliette is a very, very close second but Warner is everything. I mean, look at all of those tabbies. Clearly, I loved this book. This series is amazing. I have reviews for the whole series.

(I, II, III)

10. Book that made you cry.

I had to read this book for school, and I am so happy I did.

Also, I almost made it out of reading/listening to this book without crying.

ALMOST.

The last 75-ish pages ruined me.

(Review)

11. Book that made you happy.

So many books have made me happy, but I just wanted to pick the most recent book that made me happy. This is my new favorite graphic novel, bumping Seconds out of it's first place position.

Diversity, dragons, science, nemeses!

This is everything you could ever want in a graphic novel.

(Review)

12. Favorite book to film television adaptation you saw this year.

I only watched the first half of the season just because I wasn't comfortable watching all the nudity and the sex. It was, however, beautifully done.

Also, I honestly think it was the only adaptation I've seen other than Insurgent this year. This was the clear winner.

(Review)

13. Most beautiful book you bought or received so far this year

I cannot express in words 1) how much I loved this book and 2) how happy I am that I got the blue, unstickered version of this book. There are no words. Just look at it. Also, I got it for $10.

14. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I hate saying that I need to read anything, but these five are top priority for the rest of 2015.

ORIGINAL 2015 GOALS:

1. Read 52 books - 64/52
2. Read 5 books that are 500 pages or more - 4/5
3. Reread 10 books (including the Harry Potter series) - 5/10
4. Read more new-to-me authors - 18 so far!
5. Read 3 classics - 0/3
6. TBR Jar Challenge - 5/12
7. Popsugar Challenge - 39/50

So, I'm super proud of all the reading I've done this year. It may be a little late, but I tag whoever wants to do this tag to do it! Good luck!

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2015 Goals Update #2

I have created a Google spreadsheet with all the books I've read this year. You can check it out if you want. I am constantly updating the two goals tabs as well.

The goals I completed in February were:
8. a funny book - Grace's Guide
20. a book at the bottom of your TBR - The In Between
27. a book you can finish in a day - Seconds: A Graphic Novel
33. a book from your childhood - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
34. a book with a love triangle - Throne of Glass
41. a book by an author you've never read before - Peace Like a River

That makes 12 of the 52 goals that I've completed so far! That's so insane! I feel so productive actually tracking all of the books I read.

I re-read one book in February, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
I read four new-to-me authors: Sarah J. Maas, Leif Enger, Bryan Lee O'Malley, and Olivia Pierce (this also happened to be my TBR jar challenge for this past month).

I am so happy with the amount of reading I've done this month. It hasn't been the best content-wise, but I am hoping to fix that in March.

How have you guys been doing on your goals for 2015? What are they?

Tell me down below!

Happy Readings!