Challenge Update, December 2018

Well, I tried. This month was busier than I anticipated, especially around the holidays. So I tried my hardest. What else can I ask of myself? You can look at my progress at any time on my challenge page.

Books finished in December:

The Poe Shadow // Matthew Pearl (2)
Brainiac // Ken Jennings (4)
The Gilded Hour // Sara Donati (3)
People of the Book // Geraldine Brooks (3)
Henry VIII // William Shakespeare (3)

So it was a good month, but not the month I needed to finish my Goodreads challenge. Good news for When Are You Reading? but it feels bittersweet. I’ll have to reassess my goal for next year. It was a close one. I owe you all a few reviews before I close out the year.

When Are You Reading? Challenge

12/12
By the skin of my teeth! I finished off The Poe Shadow and Henry VIII this month, just sneaking Shakespeare in at the end. I was frantically reading this one the weekend before and was so relieved to take it off my ‘to do’ list. I’ll be back again with this one this year and maybe I’ll be a little more organized. Maybe.

Goodreads Challenge

51/55
Just shy. I’m still four books behind, the same as I was last month and couldn’t catch up. Five in a month is great for me and I’m really happy with that. Too bad I couldn’t do just a bit more. I think 50 for next year is sounding much more doable. But 55 is a good stretch goal. Any opinions?

Cover image via Goodreads

Book of the Month

I’m not surprised that I’m putting a memoir as my book of the month for December. I adored reading Ken Jennings’ Brainiac while I was on vacation and I know he has a few other books that I’m now interested in reading as well.

Added to my TBR

I’ve shocked myself by dropping to 89! I know I need to add some book club picks to this list, but I’m going to enjoy being below 90 for now.

• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald by J.K. Rowling. This was my Christmas present to myself. Of course I’m going to read the screenplay. Of course I’ll love it even though it was only OK. Potterhead for life.
• The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda. My annual gift from my soon-to-be sister-in-law. We all get a book every year (except my dad) but I’m still over a year behind with reading them. Gotta catch up soon!

Personal Challenge

I used these monthly posts to keep myself accountable to my personal goals for 2017 and I’m excited to do that again this year. You all were so supportive before.

• Graduate and keep my 4.0- Done and done! My diploma is next to me, I’m a graduate and can annoyingly put MBA at the end of my name.
• Travel to Europe with my husband- Already dreaming of going back…
• Complete a 2018 Weather Blanket- I’m writing this a bit early and I’m only one day behind. I’m going to say I knocked this one out of the park!

How are your challenges going so far? I hope you’re off to a good start If you love historical fiction, give some thought to my challenge for 2019, 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!