Bookish Musings - Amanda's Reading Challenges (2015)

Bookish Musings is a feature here at Beautiful Bookish Butterflies that allows one of us to share our thoughts and opinions, talk and discuss things happening in the book and blogging community or share a personal book related issue we have. Today, Amanda is starting her own personal annual challenge to start and finish a specific number of series within the year, thanks to her local libraries. Last year she completed five out of seven, but can she do better this year.. She's also starting a few other challenges too!

Last year, I talked in great depth about my relationship with series and much later, committing myself to reading some series from start to finish or up to the most recent release, both off my bookshelves and with a helping hand of my libraries, and because I had an awful lot of fun doing it, I've decided to bring it back and try my hand at it once again. Last year there were quite a few well loved series in my commitment (The Lunar Chronicles, Legend Trilogy, Under the Never Sky and Percy Jackson and the Olympians), but this year, I think I've created a much better mix and variety of not only popularity, but in genres and age ranges, so lets see what my options for 2015 are shall we..

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

I did pick up and take out Uglies last year from the library but I never really got round to reading it before it went back, but since my libraries have the entire series, including Extras, I think it's definitely time I gave this series a go. It's loved by quite a few and it's now one of the older series, so the lack of hype surrounding it may just play in it's favour.

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Oh yes people, it's happening. I also took Divergent out of the library last year and not got around to reading it, but I know for a fact that my locals have all three installments available to take out, so me thinks I might be getting started on this series pretty soon. I know that Stacie really enjoyed it and that Charnell and some others felt let down in part, so it'll be interesting to see what side of the fence I sit on, if any.

Spooks Apprentice - Joseph Delaney

  Now, technically I have started this series having already read The Spooks Apprentice last year, but I can let the first book go because I've got another twelve books in the series to read, so letting that little fact slide is acceptable, am I right? I kept meaning to continue the series last year, but by the time I'd located which libraries had which books, it was December and I was way too Christmassy to read about Spooks, so I'm please to continue it this year.

The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten

Before finishing The Iron Fey last Febuary, I already had physical copies of The Lost Prince and The Iron Traitor, but for some reason, they just never got read throughout the rest of the year, so what better time to start them than now? With the next installment said to be releasing this year and, from what I've heard, some painful cliffhangers on the way, I'm certain that Kagawa will redeem my love for her that was tarnished a little with Blood of Eden.

The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater

I confess, I meant to start this series last year and I also had this book taken out of the library, it was even high on my to-read pile, but when deciding what series I would start that I could take out of the library, The Raven Boys was one of them, so I put reading it on hold for the time being. Now I'm ready to dive head first into this series and I'm also hoping the library gets a copy of Blue Lily, Lily Blue sometime this year.. shall we see what the series brings, and how it ends?

But that's not all..

This year, I've once again decided to participate in some other community challenges, because last year, by doing so, it encouraged me to read more than I probably would have, and it encouraged me to read outside of my comfort zone which is always a good thing. I've had a good old snoop around and a look back at last years challenges and decided on 4 other challenges for 2015. Lets take a look at what those challenges are.

Goodreads Challenge

There's been no middle ground with my previous Goodreads Challenges; in 2013 I read 46 books and in 2014 I read 172 so I think it's high time I put myself somewhere in the middle and see where it takes me. This year, I'm aiming for around 70, and I'm hoping that it's both a realistic amount and not too much. I'd like to think I can manage that, even if I fall into a funk or slump.

Mythology Challenge - Lili Lost in a Book

I'd been to'ing and fro'ing over attempting this challenge and with much thought, much counting and looking at the books I own and the books I will own in 2015, I decided that, to hell with being certain of completion, I was going to try this challenge. I have a good relationship with mythology based novels (we will never speak of that 0 star book, never,) so what's the harm in trying to actually read even more. I'm pretty excited to read some of the new mythology editions to my shelves, so I'm pushing the boat out and aiming for between 6-10 for this challenge - enough, but not too much.

Prequel & Sequel Challenge - Novel Heartbeat

To compliment my Commitment to Series, I'm also participating in the Prequel & Sequel Challenge hosted by Novel Heartbeat and Writer Girl Reads. I'm no cheat though.. The rules to this challenge mean that while I can include my Commitment to Series reads, which is fabulous news for me, I can also have more fun with it, as I get points for reading sequels, for reading prequel and sequel novellas and for finishing series, which, as you all know, is my main aim with Commitment to Series, and after doing some tough mathematics (seriously tough people), I've figured that I aiming for 76 - 100 points is achievable, although I'd love to go for the full Veteran, I don't want to push my luck. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how this challenge goes.

Dystopia Challenge - Blog of Erised

I've begun to notice over the last year that, out of all the genres I read, Dystopia is the lesser of them all, so having taken a look at my personal challenge and seen that both the Uglies and Divergent series are Dystopia, as well as taken a look at the books on my shelves, I think it's about time I dived deeper into this genre and expanded my reading more. Once again, I'm not wanting to push too far and so am aiming for Revolutionist - 13-18 books, as this seems and feels both achievable and acceptable for someone who hasn't read that much Dystopia before.

Bring on the Books!

I'm really hoping that even with a tighter sceduale this year that these are achievable challenges, in comparison to what I actually achieved last year, it's pretty small, but I'd much rather aim a little lower and achieve what I think is good results, rather than aim higher and be disappointed if something doesn't work out. I'll be keeping track of my challenges on my 'about' page (located in the sidebar), so do feel free to check that out accordingly and I'll be doing a recap at the end of the year to see what I manage to achieve. Until then, good luck, have fun, and don't forget to read.

What challenges have you set yourself this year? Are you taking part in any of those I am, or are you considering doing your own Commitment to Series challenge? Are there any books/series I should really be considering? Let me know down in the comments.