Challenge Update, October 2017

It’s finally feeling like fall! October started out unseasonably warm here in Michigan but I’m finally feeling compelled to stay in bed and read. School is under control now and I’m trying to spend more time reading and listening to books. You can look at my progress at any time on my challenge page.

Books finished in October:

Gold Fame Citrus // Claire Vaye Watkins (4/5)
The Other Queen // Philippa Gregory (3/5)
Year of Wonder // Geraldine Brooks (3/5)
Tuesdays With Morrie // Mitch Albom (5/5)
Rules of Civility // Amor Towles (5/5)

Wow! What a good month for me considering school is in session. I wish I could do this every October. I really targeted some of my books to knock down a few of my challenges. I did pretty great, I’ll let you know! See below.

When Are You Reading? Challenge

12/12
DONE! Plan executed to perfection. I added Gold Fame Citrus to my ‘the Future’ time period. It’s set in a future Southwestern US where the drought escalated. The Other Queen filled in the 1500s, sharing the story of Mary Queen of Scots while imprisoned in England. Finally, Year of Wonder filled in the 1600s, the plague years, and finished off my challenge. I love doing this every year and will for sure be hosting this in 2018.

Goodreads Challenge

46/50
Five books ahead! This is awesome. I should finish this challenge next month at this pace without a problem.

Book of the Month

I’m going to give this one to Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins. The characters really won me over and as much as I didn’t like the ending, it was because I wanted it to end happier, not because it was a bad ending. It did, of course, help that I’ve met Watkins and found her a joy to listen to.

Added to my TBR

I’m down again to 105. We’ll have to see how fast I read the rest of the year and if I can bring it beneath 100 before January 1.

• Artemis by Andy Weir. I think anyone who read or saw The Martian will add this to their lists. Weir had a great hit with his first book and I want to see if he can do it again.
• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. This is my next book club pick so I’ll be picking it up and reading it very soon. Excited for my first Haruf book!

Personal Challenge

I mentioned in my challenge announcement post that I had some non-reading goals set for myself in 2017. I figured this would be a good place to keep myself accountable to those as well. Here goes!

• Keep my 4.0 GPA: So far, so good. I’ll be getting my midterm grade back today so we’ll see how that goes.
• Knit blankets:  Stockpile is good, but I’m still waiting to see if one friend is going to announce the gender of her little one. I have a gender neutral blanket ready if she chooses not to!
• One race per month: Two races in October, including my first half marathon! It wasn’t fun, but I think I’d give it another go. Whoever said the half was addictive has different brain chemistry than me. I also ran a Halloween 10K with my husband last weekend. Check out the pictures on my Instagram!
• Get my novel out to beta readers: I sent it out to one more friend who read an earlier version of the book. She was actually my first beta reader and she was excited to see how the story changed. I hope she likes it!

How were your challenges? I hope you made it. If you love historical fiction, give some thought to my challenge for 2018, it’s fun!

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!