Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Who's reading in order this year? I thought we could have our own little thread and cheer each other on. I've tried both ways, and have found reading in order to be a little more challenging (especially if you're a mood reader), but I wanted to give it another crack this year.

I’m trying to read in order this year! I just can’t find a short enough book for this week.

As usual for me, more or less in order, but mostly in order (I've some 2018 releases in my plan, some sequels that need a re-read of the previous books, plus a doorstop). However I'm going wild with my children challenge.

Heather wrote: "I’m trying to read in order this year! I just can’t find a short enough book for this week."

Heather, I'm reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It's around 200 pages depending on the edition you get. I just started it yesterday.

I'm trying to read in order this year, but I'm not sure if it'll last the entire year. A lot of my books I have to get from the library and overdrive, so it depends on wether or not they are available at the right time.

So far I've finished my book for week 1. I try to read a few sidereads as well, but as soon as I'm finished with The Nightingale for IRL bookclub I'll start reading week 2's book: Serena.

I saw the other day that my pick for week 4 or 5 wasn't available at all here in Denmark, so I'm already a little unsure what I'll do that week.

I'm going to TRY and read in order, but I may have to change some of my choices to do it. Already behind as I'm finishing up a book on overdrive, BUT we are having a blizzard out there today and I have The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir sitting here on my table.....I'm going to use that for week #1. Will try and get to it, if not today, tomorrow and should be done by Saturday. Ive found that I read physical books much faster than on my kindle. Weird.

I'm glad there are a few of us! I'm reading my Week 2 book at the moment, but have already been distracted by side-reads. I've read two for Book Riot and started another for my AtY side-challenge. I try to have a physical book, Kindle book, non-fiction and book on my phone going at the same time, so distraction is definitely an issue for me.

I mostly read in order last year and am trying to do the same this year. I'm not a mood reader at all, and I appreciate not having to think about what I want to read next, especially at the start of the year when there are so many options.

Having said that, I started on the intimidating book already - I'm reading It, and at well over 1,000 pages I didn't want to wait until late in the year.

I have The Hate U Give as a possibility for week 3 and it looks likely to be the choice for February book of the month, if it wins I'll wait until then to start it so I can join in.

So mostly reading in order, except for making two changes in four days!

This is the first year I'm going to read in order. I'm a mood reader but I made a list of options for each category so I can choose what book I want to read as my mood dictates.

This first week, I'm reading The Mistress of Husaby, the second book in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy. It's a translated classic so it's not a fast read and I'm getting nervous about finishing it by the end of the week! But next week's book is shorter so if I don't get this week's done, that's okay. Whew!

I'm also starting each book on Monday so if I finish with one book early I'm not starting the next one until Monday. I'll fill in with side reads. I may have to make some exceptions for this with longer books like The Woman in White which has 672 pages, and it's another classic so not easy.

How are all of you handling long books?

Jody wrote: "I try to have a physical book, Kindle book, non-fiction and book on my phone going at the same time, so distraction is definitely an issue for me. "

Funny, I'm the complete opposite so far. I'm trying to only have an audiobook and a physical or ebook on the go at the same time. It's part of my reading resolution where I want to focus more on each book. The only downside is that I can't read in my physical book everywhere. I rarely take it with me, so if I'm not reading an ebook and want to read outside the house I'm stuck on the audiobook and sometimes I'm just not really in the mood to listen to a book.
So lets see how long I can keep it up this way.

Kathy, I haven't really thought about the length of the books I'm planning on reading, but I'm sort of hoping I'll be ahead of schedule at some point and that way there'll be time for a long book.
But that doesn't work if you plan on reading according to the week we're jn.

I'm also reading in order, with plenty of options for each category to choose according to my mood. Since I'm always reading several books at a time, the important thing is that I start them in order. I'm also planning some side-reads, mostly for books from the library.

Oh yeah, I forgot an audiobook in my "books on the go" list. Looking forward to starting a new one on Monday when the Spider goes back to school!

Kathy, I have no special plans for long books, but I'm also not reading one per week, just in order by the week number. Reading in order is plenty enough of a challenge for me lol ... I don't need to add that extra degree of difficulty!

I gave myself plenty of options for most of the weeks too, plus with my other challenges there's lots of room for mood reading.

Marina, that's why I have so many on the go - I hate the thought of getting stuck with no book!

I'm also planning to try to read in order, and try to hit the once a week plan, but since I do use the library for most of my books there is a good chance that I'll hit a problem getting the timing on my books right and may have to pull some quick switches. For now I've planned out the first eight books and I have them either on hold at the library and/or verified they seem to be readily available through Overdrive, so we'll see how it goes.

For longer books sometimes I'll try to do both the print book and audiobook and switch back and forth (though it can be a little bit of a pain). Since I spend an hour plus in the car on the commute that does sometimes help me when I'm trying to get through something longer (and/or I'm just eager to see what comes next).

I'm going in order, but I'm definitely going to try to get ahead. There's going to be weeks where I can't read at all, and books that take me more than a week to finish. So I'm going to let myself get ahead whenever I can.

I'm going in order, and will mostly try to not jump ahead. My usual pace of 2-3 books per week means that I can stick to the plan and still fit in "side reads" (other challenges) according to mood and availability. For my really long books (like Moby Dick for week 42), I will probably start early and use Serial Reader to pace my reading so I finish during the correct week.

As far as books at a time - I mostly stick with one regular book, one audiobook, and maybe a Serial Reader. If I'm reading something on paper, I might also have an easy e-book going at the same time so that I can read after lights out more easily.

My OCD would absolutely not let me read out of order. Plus knowing which prompt I'm going to tackle and when makes it easier for me to know which books to bring back to college with me, and this summer when I'll be in Europe for 6 weeks.

In terms of how many books I have going at a time, right now I have 2: my ATY book of the week and a serial reader for week 15. I'll usually have 3-4 going at a time though to accomodate the popsugar and aty's book of the month choices.

I’m trying to read in order this year too. Initially I didn’t want to plan anything but I’ve realized that realistically I’ll have to at least plan the next 3-4 books so that I can make sure I have them/can get them.

I’ve finished week 1’s book but I’m waiting to start the second week because I’ve got 3 other currently readings that got carried over from last year and I want to try to complete at least one of them and make some progress in the third one, which is War and Peace. I also tend to read more than one book at once but I want to limit it to a maximum of 3.

I see what you mean about W&P! Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions while reading it, ranging from 'I like it' to 'I want to throw this out of the window' haha

I second what Sophie said! 😂

I think I'm going with the plan of reading "in order" but by month. I get almost all of my books from the library so I am at the mercy of holds and availability. I'm going to try and get all of my decisions for that month's choices picked out and ready to go at the beginning of the month, and then after I finish, read my side books. That way I'm not jumping too far ahead, but I still have some flexibility. Of course, I came to this plan because I already blew through Plan A of one book a week and am already finished with week 3. We'll see how long I last on Plan B.

This is my first year to do the AtY52 challenge, and I'm going to try to do it in order. I did Popsugar last year, and will probably do it again this year, so that can be my whatever-order-I-feel-like challenge. That way, I can mood read & use those books as my side reads, while trying to keep on track with this challenge, which is going to be my main challenge this year.

I may or may not read ahead, but I'm going to try not to get behind. Like some people have mentioned, I'm probably going to start my "intimidates me" book quite early, as it's The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and is most likely too much to fit into just one week. For the rest, if I get ahead, fine, but I will probably try to stay fairly current, using my PS/side read books to fill in spaces if I finish books early for this challenge.

So we're quite a lot who's reading in order this year. Great!

I've just started my book for week 2. I don't have many plans this weekend so I'm planning to do a lot of reading.
I also plan on having a look on overdrive and the library to make sure the next books on my list are available when I need them. And maybe I'll have a look on which books are for sale in January :-)

I'm also going to try to read in order. However, I am a person who only reads one book at a time, so while they'll be in order , they may not be in the exact dates of the week of the prompt. My first week book is a longer one at 825 pages, so I expect I'll get a week or two behind, but catch up with everyone by week 4 or 5.

I’m also planning to read in order, although I will make small exceptions if my library hold books aren’t available at the right time. I can’t decide whether to aim for one AtY book per week, or to let myself read ahead. I like the idea of one book a week but I don’t want to make myself feel stressed if I get behind on weeks where I read a long or difficult book.

I can't believe you are all reading in order this year! Last year it felt like only Zaz and I were reading in order. I enjoyed doing it in order, but I didn't finish the challenge until December 29, which I definitely attribute to reading in order. At one point last year, I was not excited about the prompt I had next and literally read 50 books before I got back to the challenge. Good luck to all of you guys!

I'm also reading several books at the same time. Usually only one is for AtY but when I've a long book, I read it at the same time as another prompt choice. I try to stick to 1 book per week, except during the last quarter when my interest in the challenge usually decreases and my interest in reading the GR choice awards or whatever popular book I'd like to finish this year usually increases.

For the doorstops, as said, I handle them with reading them during several weeks (or months for really big, difficult in language level or slow paced ones).

How do you manage the boring ones? During the past years, when I saw I failed to read more than 5-10% a week because I wasn't interested in the book (but didn't want to DNF it of course), I switched to the audiobook. I'm not a fast reader so I've difficulties to make progress with boring books (especially as I read better ones at the same time :p), the audio solves this problem as I can listen boring when I'm doing something else.

Audiobooks have definitely allowed me to go through boring ones (I'm looking at you Moby-Dick or, The Whale and Great Expectations), but I don't think it helped me enjoy them more. Now I'm hesitant to try classics on audio because I've suffered too much and think that maybe the experience of reading them would be better.

This is my first year participating, so I decided to try it in order. I like the challenge and structure of it, and hope I can stick to it! Just finished my week one with A Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck, and am eager to start the second B)

I do think it will take me longer to complete the challenge this year than last year, reading in order. But as long as I finish, I'm happy. Hell, as long as I read, I'm happy!

This is my first time doing this challenge and I will try to read in order - I do have my list planned out with books I already own (I am addicted to second-hand bookshops!) I am also doing the Popsugar challenge, which I completed last year, and that will give me more flexibility. I do have some long books on my list, and a couple I have attempted before, so I think the need to read in order might motivate me to read those "harder" ones. I also have book group and books I have to read because kids I am working with have to read them for high school English, but these are usually short, easy reads. Quite excited about it all!

I am going to try to read in order this year. It will all depend on my library books. Will try to get ahead of the game early so if I have to wait for the next book on the list I won't lose time. Since I am doing three other reading challenges I can always fill in books from those challenges while waiting.

I'm still reading in order and am on schedule. Starting my 4th book today for week 4, Dinner at the Center of the Earth. I've also read 4 side-reads. Now I'm thinking of doing like Shelley above--reading in order but by month. Read all my ATY books, then when finished for the month, start on side reads.

I'm still reading in order too! Book #4 slowed me down as it was just not for me, but I'm really enjoying Book #5 and should have it finished tomorrow or the day after, if I stop reading my other book ... but since I'm ahead, I'm not too worried.

I'm still reading in order, mostly. I got slowed down last week, so I'm not finished with book 3 yet, but I'm going to go ahead and start on book 4 today, so I'll have them going at the same time. Book 3 was a physical book, and I didn't have as much time to read it last week as I wanted. Book 4 is on my Kindle (as were books 1 & 2), so I can read it a bit here & there, whereas I usually leave my physical books at home to make sure I don't leave them somewhere & lose them. I plan to read only book 3 at home until I finish it, and read book 4 on my lunch break, waiting for a doctor's appointment, etc. Once I finished book 3, then I will read book 4 wherever I am, and hopefully will be finished with it by the end of this week.

I'm reading in order, makes it more of a challenge and interesting. At least to me anyway, I look for the idea of what to read the week before if I can because I also use the library but some times I find a book on my own shelf to use.

I'm also still reading in order but I had to give up my book for week 4 and find another. It just didn't appeal to me at all so I gave around 25%.
The book I'm reading now is weird but short so I'll finish it today or tomorrow.

I met my first obstacle to reading in order last week as my library hold for The Pillars of the Earth hasn’t arrived in time to count for week four. I was quite disappointed but I’ve ended up reading Unaccustomed Earth instead which I’m really enjoying. Perhaps finding good books that wouldn’t have been my first choice for a prompt will be an unexpected bonus of reading in order.

For people who like to have more than one book in progress at a time, do you let yourself have two AtY books in progress at the same time, or are you strict about finishing the book for each week before moving on to the next one?

I've just finished off Week 5, but I'm going to finish another book that I have in progress before I start on Week 6.

Bryony - as long as I finish them in order, I'm not too bothered about having two on the go at the same time. I have so many other challenges though, that I don't think it will be an issue, apart from Ulysses. I'm planning on using the Serial Reader app for that, which has 109 issues IIRC, so I need to try and time that so I start it early enough, but not too early.

I have multiple books for the challenge going on at once (not as many as are actually listed on my currently reading list, but at least 2 plus my intimidating read which I'm trying to chip away at in bits). I haven't been able to stick to reading in order though because I took out books from the library and switched prompts and the whole plan went to hell....

Soooo... I've moved over to the reading out of order thread 😊😩

I do more than one at a time for two reasons: First, I have one physical book to read, and one on my kindle for lights out. Second, If I'm struggling with one I can switch to the other and feel like I'm still making progress.

I usually read several books at a time on my Kindle, my phone (my library doesn't have Kindle books), a paper book and audiobook. So I'm not to fussy about starting an audiobook for week 6 if I haven't finished my Kindle book for week 5. As long as I chose the next one for the dedicated medium in the list order, I'm good.

This is my first year of reading in order and I'm going by month. So as soon as I've finished my 4-5 books for the month, I'm going to do side-reads or books for other challenges. Coming up for week 7, a gothic novel, I have The Woman in White which is 672 pages so I'll probably start that soon. So I'm reading in order, but there's some flexibility there.

So far I'm only reading one challenge book at a time, but I have one or two side-reads as well.
I try to make sure I have the next challenge book ready as soon as I finish one, but I don't start it because then I'll just end up finishing them in the wrong order.

Bryony, when I read in order last year I found that exact thing. Because things weren't available at the library or I want in the mood to read something I thought I'd read, I found a lot of books I probably wouldn't have otherwise read.

Last year I sometimes did multiple books at a time, especially if I want too find of what I was scheduled to read. I would get really close to finishing the next book and then setup to work on the one I was on. That gave me motivation to press on with my current read so I could finish the next one.

I have multiple books going at once, but not all for this challenge. I'm doing this one & Popsugar, so I'm trying to keep the prompts in order for this one, and just do them in whatever order I want for PS, although that one seems to be staying in order so far. I am still reading the book for week 3, and have started the book for week 4 for AtY, but mostly I'm trying to make my AtY book for the week my "main" book, and then any PS books my side reads when I have time.

I don't have many books that I'm planning to get from the library or Overdrive, because I was able to find books for most of the prompts in books I already had, either as actual physical books, or on my Kindle, so that hasn't messed me up yet.

How’s everyone doing with reading in order?

I’m struggling a bit because I get most of my books from the library (mainly Overdrive) and no matter what I do my books on hold aren’t arriving at the right time for the categories I planned to read them for. I’ve finally got The Hate U Give which I’d planned to read for week eight. Then about an hour after I checked that out I got an email saying The Pillars of the Earth, which I’d planned for week 4 was available. And, my hold for The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (planned for week 9) arrived just after I’d started reading another book for that category.

So now I have three books, including one 1,000 page doorstop, all due back at my library in three weeks time, and none of them are books I was planning for the next three challenge categories.

Whew. I think I actually feel better about it just for having a quick rant! But seriously, is anyone else finding it hard to balance reading in order with library waiting lists?

On the positive side though, my planned book for the gothic novel prompt didn’t arrive in time so I ended up reading Frankenstein which I thought was amazing. And for the own voices prompt I read The Lonely Londoners, which again was fantastic and probably wouldn’t have been a book I’d otherwise have chosen.

My problem is as soon as they arrive I get a request that someone else wants it and then feel like I need to quit reading what I started and get the new book done and back to the library right away. They also seem to come in in clumps. And I can certainly put off reading books that I am slogging thru, that I own. I am still trying to get thru Topic 8 book, even tho I am way past it.

I'm struggling a bit with motivation, to be honest. I've read ten for the challenge so far, but am stuck on Literary Fiction week, even though I've enjoyed what I've read of my book so far. I'm doing a lot of mood reading, and AtY is suffering quite a bit.

That happens to me too Ann, I always feel like I should rush to return a book if I know someone else is waiting for it. Overdrive shows me how many people are waiting for a book and often I feel bad taking a full three weeks loan time when there are a lot of people waiting.

What’s the book you’re slogging through for topic 8?

I’m feeling a bit unmotivated too Jody. I think for me it’s partly just a reading slump and partly frustration with not getting books at the right time. I’ve neglected all my challenges equally so I’m pretty behind on everything.

Literary fiction is my next category, once I’ve finished the debut novel category (I’m reading The Wasp Factory which is pretty disturbing but also so well written that I’m continuing with it). It’s one of my favourite genres so I’m struggling to narrow down my choices for it. What are you reading?

I'm reading The Goldfinch. I've had it on my shelf for years - pretty much since it came out - but I've found the thought of reading it oddly intimidating. It's actually ended up being (so far) way more readable than I had expected, but I still can't seem to get into it.

I seem to either love or hate the Literary Fiction I've read, so it could really go either way. I think I'm just psyching myself out of it, to be honest!