Reading Goals – Maps and Meanderings

Fall 2020 Reading Wrap Up – How Did I Do?

Published on January 12, 2021 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hi Friends, as I was working on my new post for this week, I discovered that this post somehow got stuck as a scheduled post and never went live. Since I spent the time working on it, I decided to post it even though it’s late. I hope you enjoy this bonus, very late, fall wrap up. I will see you with my December wrap up on Thursday!

Hello Lovely Readers! I am a bit behind with this post (can you believe next week is Christmas?!), but I still wanted to take the time to review my fall reading. For those of you that are new, I am terrible at following reading lists and reading goals, but I still like to set myself seasonal challenges and goals to work towards. I try to keep them broad and include many categories so that I don’t get bored or discouraged.

This Fall, I set myself a number of reading goals that I shared with you all here, and now it is time to see how I did. I decided that the easiest way to review my goals was to list them below alongside the discussion of whether I met the goal or not. I set myself 4 main goals each of which had either specific books listed along with them or sub-goals.

I read a total of 23 books, 9 of which were audiobooks. I DNF’d 2 books and my average rating was 3.5 Stars.

Goal #1: Fantasy

My focus for this goal was to read more fantasy overall and focus on those that were atmospheric or had “fall vibes.” Of the specific books that I listed for this category, I read only one – Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab. Though I didn’t do well with reading the specific books that I chose, I am going to mark this goal as successful. Overall this Fall I read 8 Fantasy novels and 5 or 6 of them were atmospheric. My fantasy game was on point this season.

My favourite book from this goal was probably Dead Beat by Jim butcher, but almost any of the books I read from the Dresden Files would fit.

Goal # 2: Fright

This category included more than just your typical scary books; it also included some mysteries and thrillers and some fantasy. When I first reviewed this goal, I thought that I was unsuccessful, but when I looked a bit further, I did not too bad. I would say that I had mid-level success in this category.

I read Home Before Dark by Riley Sager and The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, which were both on the list. I did not read We Have Always Lived in the Castle but I started it and, hopefully, I can finish it this month. If I didn’t slip into a bit of a reading slump, I would have finished it since it is short. I also read a couple of miscellaneous thrillers, with mixed success, as I didn’t love any of them.

My favourite book from this goal was definitely Home Before Dark, which I think was also my only 5 Star read this season. If you have not picked this one up yet, and enjoy books that are ghostly and creepy but not too scary, then I would highly recommend this one.

Goal #3: Cozy and Chic

This goal was intended to be a mixture of cozy, and less intense, mysteries as well as chick-lit. It’s an odd combination, but it worked for me. There was one sub-goal in this category that I did not meet (reading a Murder She Wrote novel), but overall I did very well. It was probably the most successful category this season. In addition to the specific sub-goals below, I also read 3 additional books in this category.

I) Read at least 2 Leslie Meier books – I read all 3 of Meier’s Halloween themed mysteries. I still have mixed opinions about this series, but I don’t regret reading any of them, so that is a bonus. I am going to continue reading this series.

II) At least 1 Agatha Christie – Though I successfully met this goal, the book I chose was my most disappointing read this season. I read Hallowe’en Party and I did not enjoy it. You can see more of my thoughts here, but I would not recommend this one if you are looking to get into Agatha Christie.

III) Start a new series by Samantha Chase – I started the Shaugnessy Brothers series this fall, and I am really excited to continue reading it. The book I read, Made for Us, wasn’t my favourite by Chase, but it was a solid read and exactly what I was looking for out of this type of romance novel.

My favourite book from this goal was A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore, which I talked about last week.

Goal #4: Miscellaneous

I had a few more general reading goals for the fall and a few books that didn’t fit into the other categories that I wanted to share as well. When I set these goals, I suspected that they would be the ones I was least likely to accomplish, and I was only partially correct in that prediction.

I) Make some progress on my “Book Lists” – I didn’t do all that well with this category, though I did read one book off my “must reads list” for this year. After putting it off for so long, I finally picked up An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, and I am so glad that I did.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green — I ended up enjoying this book more than I anticipated. An excellent intro Sci-Fi read in my opinion

II) One or Two Non-fiction books – I actually managed to read one non-fiction book this season. I wasn’t going to count it, because it was a book I had to read as part of a weekly Bible study I joined. But then I decided that I chose to join the study, and I chose to read the book each week, so it should count. Baby steps.

III) Graphic Novels – I read one book for this category, and though I really enjoyed it, I would say that I was not successful in meeting this goal. The primary reason for setting this goal was to read The Lumberjanes and I did not do that. This goal will continue into the winter season.

IV) Something Mermaid – I am so disappointed that I did not accomplish this goal. I had a book for this category out from the e-library for at least a month, maybe two, and I just never picked it up. Perhaps I’ll read it in the next few months.

V) Start a ‘Walking Book’– I did not meet this goal even a little bit. Though I was doing well at walking most days during the week during September, I didn’t manage to keep up with that habit, and when I did walk, I was either with someone or listening to music. I do still want to work towards walking more, so maybe this will be a goal I revisit next year, but we shall see.

Though there were a few sub-goals and books on this list that I did not read or accomplish, I think that overall I had a successful reading season. I met many of my goals, and though I didn’t read as many books as I would have liked in November, I read a lot of books this fall that I really enjoyed. Depending on how you do with goals, you may think that my results are disappointing, but knowing me as I do, I would say this is a resounding success. I am looking forward to seeing how I do with my Winter Reading Goals that I shared last week.

How would you rate your fall reading? Did you accomplish your reading goals or read all the books you hoped to read? What was your favourite book that you read this fall? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Fall 2020 Reading Goals (September – November)

Published on October 2, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Depending on what you consider to be the start of fall, this post is either quite late or pretty close to right on time. I tend to start my ‘fall reading’ at the beginning of September because, regardless of the weather, that always seems like the unofficial start of fall to me. The kids go back to school and cooling temperatures and changing leaves are on the horizon. So, from my point of view, this post is very late… but c’est la vie. We are here now.

I don’t stick too closely to seasonal themes in my reading, but I do like to try to read at least some books that fit within the seasonal theme or feel. For me, in recent years anyways, that means cozy, slightly spooky, more “atmospheric” (whatever that means) books for the fall. In practice this generally means a lot of mystery, some thrillers, some that are loosely horror or supernatural, and then fantasy.

These seasonal aspects, along with the knowledge that we are entering the final stretch of this year and I have not made nearly as much progress on the reading goals I set out earlier this year, are the things that shaped my reading goals for this fall.

Goal #1: Fantasy

Fantasy Book Cover slices — Fantasy Books Cover slices

What you will soon discover, if you have not already, is that I read fantasy year round. The amount can vary depending on the mood I’m in, but fantasy is a staple in my reading diet. At this time of year, I tend to gravitate towards some of those darker, atmospheric (there’s that word again) fantasies that just seem so well suited to fall. Since my summer reading was light on fantasy this year, I want to focus on reading more fantasy overall along with focusing on the fall vibes.Here are some of the books I’ve picked for this category.

I) Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff
As you’ll see in my September wrap up next week, I read the second book in this series, Godsgrave, at the end of August. This dark, gritty series is perfect for fall and I hope to finish the series off this year.

II) Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
This was on last year’s fall list and it didn’t happen, therefore it needs to happen this year. If ever there a year to read about an unlikely duo trying to stop the apocalypse, it feels like this is it.

III) Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab
Cassidy Blake can see ghosts and in this instalment on particularly unpleasant poltergeist is loose in Paris. I really enjoyed the first book in this middle grade series when it came out. With it’s ghostly vibes and setting, I think book 2 will be the perfect fall read.

IV) Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
I have not read nearly enough Pratchett this year, and that needs to change. This instalment, focusing on the Grim Reaper, seems to be a seasonally appropriate choice. If ever there was a year that needed a few laughs…

V) House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
I don’t think this one really fits with the atmospheric vibes, but it’s been on my list since it came out earlier this year, and I am crossing my fingers it will be my turn at the library soon.

Goal # 2: Fright

Fright Books Cover slices — Fright Books Cover Slices

This category includes more than just your typical scary books; it also includes some mysteries and thrillers and some fantasy. I don’t gravitate towards intense horrors (even though sometimes I think I might like to) because I like to sleep and my imagination mixed with horror doesn’t always allow that. But I really enjoy a certain level of scary, so I am always on the hunt for the perfect level of scary.

I) Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
This book features a haunted house and dangerous ghosts. What more really needs to be said? (Seriously though, if you want a wee bit more than that, come back next week for the blurb in my wrap up)

II) We have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
If you haven’t heard of this one before, Jackson is the same author that wrote The Haunting of Hill House, and I have heard that this one is even better than that one.

III) The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Every year the small town in this book is revisited by the ghosts of three young woman that were drowned as witches 200 years prior. The women inhabit the bodies of living young women and proceed to drown young men to enact their revenge on the town. The synopsis as I have given it sounds terrible, but I have heard excellent things about this one.

IV) The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
You may have figured out by now that I love stories that include an aspect of a “retelling.” I don’t know much about this one, and I’ve actually heard very mixed reviews for it, but as it fits into this category of retelling, I am looking forward to giving it a shot.

V) Assorted Thrillers, Horror and Mystery
I have more specific titles on my personal list, but I am largely at the mercy of the library hold list as well as the “reading whims.” The “reading whims” have strong feelings about which books in this category I am drawn to pick up. Also – I am always looking for recommendations of books that are spooky, creepy, and scary, but that aren’t too scary or gory. If you have any, I’d love to hear them in the comments!

Goal #3: Cozy and Chick

Cozy and Chick books Cover Blocks — Cozy and Chic Books Cover Blocks

Here there be cozy mysteries as well as anything that I might classify as “chick lit.” Okay, okay, I hear you. This is a bit of a 180 from the previous two categories, but hear me out. There are a lot of cozy mysteries and contemporary/romance books that are either clearly set in fall, or give off intense fall vibes, and that is largely what I want from this category. I also just really love this category of books and know that if I don’t put any on the list I’m likely to go off the rails and abandon all other categories…

I) Read at least 2 Leslie Meier books
I have not read many Leslie Meier cozies, and the ones I have read have left me very indecisive as to whether I enjoy them… but she writes so many seasonally themed mysteries that I want to give her another shot.

II) At least 1 Agatha Christie
I’m not sure if I want to read the other Christie that is on my “Twenties” reading list, or if I want to read something completely different, but after reading the Mysterious Affair at Styles earlier in the summer, I am feeling drawn to pick up another one of her books.

III) A Murder She Wrote novel
Yes. I am that girl. I am 100% unsure of how good this series of books based on the show will be, but I am also quite addicted to Murder She Wrote these days, so I figure, why not?

IV) Start a new series by Samantha Chase
This one doesn’t fit with my “fall vibes” theme. I enjoy Chases’ romance novels and haven’t picked on up since I finished the series I was reading earlier this year. I want to start a new series so I have it on the back burner going into winter.

Goal #4: Miscellaneous

Leaves on an open book — Image by ksyfffka07 from Pixabay

I have a few more general reading goals for the fall and a few books that didn’t fit into the other categories that I wanted to share as well. Full disclosure – if these goals were being ranked in a high school year book, they’d probably receive “most likely to not be completed”… just saying.

I) Make some progress on my “Book Lists”
Along with some of my themed reading lists that I’ve shared here over the past year, I also wrote a “Must Reads” list for 2020 at the beginning of the year. There are 20 books (plus optional sub ins) on this list, and up to this point, I have read 9 of them. And don’t even ask me how I’m progressing on my themed lists…

II) One or Two Non-fiction books
I am trying to get back into reading non-fiction at least occasionally, and there are a few books in this category that I have really wanted to read for some time. Let’s see if I can finally convince myself to dive in. If it’s on a list, it has to happen… right?

III) Graphic Novels
On my personal goals list, this was specifically to pick the LumberJanes series up again. I am still planning on that, but I also feel drawn to graphic novels in general right now. I have only dipped my toe into this category, so if you have any that you could recommend, I am always open to suggestions.

IV) Something Mermaid
I know, I know, this is both oddly specific and extremely vague. Basically, I know there are some more spooky mermaid fantasies that I want to read, but it will all depend on library availability (and my ability to remember what they are…)

V) Start a ‘Walking Book’
Yes. This is another strange one. This goal is tied into a goal I have to go for walks more consistently. I have the idea that if I start an audiobook that can only be read while walking, I’ll walk more… so far I have succeeded in increasing the number of walks I’ve gone on, and listened to zero audiobooks on the way. So this might be a doomed goal, but we shall see.

There you have it, all of my reading goals for Fall 2020. I know that it might seem like a lot of goals, but I make my reading goals the same way that I make my themed reading lists. Think of it like a reading goal buffet – you want to have plenty of options to pick from to be prepared for whatever mood that strikes. Sometimes you want salad and mains, and sometimes you want 3 helpings of dessert…

…now that I’ve made myself completely hungry, I think that it’s a good time to wrap up this post. What about you? Do you find that you tend to read seasonally? What are some of your favourite fall reads?

Until Next Time,

Reading the 1920’s: A Reading Challenge

Published on May 14, 2020November 16, 2020 by Meaghan Elizabeth

Happy New Year! We have now officially entered into the Twenty-Twenties! …

The Great Gatsby book in front of Letterboard

Okay, so it’s clearly not January (though I’m not sure any one has informed the weather), and we are already well into this whirlwind that is 2020. This is a “reading goals for the new year” type post, which means that it is at least 4 months late. Because of that, I considered not even posting it. But then I figured that we still have 8 months left in the year, and it seems likely that this challenge will go into 2021, so I might as well just go for it.

A bit of background

I enjoy setting reading challenges for myself. I like to put together lists to challenge myself to read books within a specific theme. Sometimes the lists are seasonally themed, sometimes they are themed by genre or by some other category that interests me. I put these lists together all the time. I would like to think that I’m pretty good at putting together these lists.

What I’m not good at is completing these lists. I start strong, but then I gradually lose interest or motivation or, more often, come up with another shiny new challenge and the old challenge is left to sit unfinished.

Part of the problem is that I’m something of a mood reader. I like the idea of having a structured TBR, and it works for me for a while, but then I get really drawn to a certain author or a certain type of book, and that’s all I want to read. When I’m in one of those moods, forcing myself to read something else can push me into a slump. And then I don’t want to read anything. Which is no good.

The second part of the problem is that I put too many books on the list. Why put together a list of 10 books, when you can put together 20 books instead? Along with making a long list, I am prone to making the timeline too short. These two things together make the challenge unmanageable, and I inevitably just give up. Good challenges should stretch you without being completely unmanageable.

Despite these problems, I keep setting challenges. But I’m working on setting them better. I try to put a variety of genres on a list, and I leave myself open to swapping books out if I decide I have no interest in reading them. I’m also working on setting more accurate timelines. If a book list is long, it should have a long, even more open ended, timeline. Maybe eventually I will set myself a challenge that I can finish!

Onto the Challenge!

This year I decided that since we were entering into the Twenties, I wanted to devote some of my reading time to books set in or written in the 1920s. There are 20 books on this list, because that felt fitting. It’s a long list, but I’m trying to leave the timeline fairly open. I would love to read these all this year, but next year is still going to be the Twenties, so if it becomes a two year challenge, so be it.

The books cover many genres, so there should be something to fit into almost every reading mood. I’m also open to swapping out books if I change my mind, or find something better. I had a difficult time coming up with 20 books that I was interested in for this challenge, so there are a few on here that I already think I might not read. There are also a couple series, so there’s room for one series to take multiple slots if I get hooked.

Since I’m so late in posting this, I have already completed a couple of the books on this list. I’m not going to indicate that here, but I’m going to try and do a mid-year wrap up at the end of June where I’ll talk about my thoughts on the ones I’ve completed by then.

Onto The Books

1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (1920)

This, Agatha Christie’s first novel and first in the Poirot series, was first published in 1920. I can’t remember if I’ve read this one before – so it may end up being a re-read. I wonder if I’ll still be surprised by the twist?

2. The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot (1922)

Though I’m familiar with the poem, and have read excerpts, I would like to be able to say that I’ve read the entire thing. I rarely pick up poetry, so this one will definitely stretch my reading.

3. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)

I have added and removed this book from the list a number of times already. It is a big book, and I really don’t know if I’m going to enjoy it or not. I can already see this being one that I swap out.

4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

It seems like everyone has heard of the Great Gatsby. I read this book during University, but it has never been one of my favourites. Since it is short, and an iconic book of the decade, I thought a re-read was in order. Perhaps I’ll like it better the second time around.

5. Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh (1930)

Though this book was published in 1930, it is set in the late 1920s. I have never read anything by Evelyn Waugh, but Emma from Drinking By My Shelf (YouTube) raves about this book, so I have decided to give it a try.

6. Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayers (1923)

Sayers is the second mystery novelist on this list, but unlike Christie, I have not read any books by her yet. This is her first mystery featuring Lord Peter Whimsey. If I enjoy this one, then I think she has quite a few other books that I will be able to add to pick up and enjoy.

7. The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (1927)

When I discovered that there were Sherlock Holmes stories that fit into my publication period, I knew that they needed to be on this list. I am a lover of most things Sherlock Holmes, though I have not actually read all of the original stories. This collection includes the final set of 12 Holmes stories published in the Strand from 1921 to 1927.

8. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926)

I originally intended to have 20 different authors on this list, but I was having a difficult time landing on 20 books, and I know that I enjoy Agatha Christie. I am also 99% certain that I have not read this one.

9. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne (1926)

As I was looking for books to include on this list, I realized that there were a number of classic children’s books written during this time period that I have not yet read. I have always loved Winnie the Pooh, but have read very few of the stories themselves, so I think I will read the stories between other books.

10. The Story of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting (1920)

I have watched the movie, but never read any Doctor Doolittle stories. And now with the new movie this year, it seemed like a perfect time to pick up this classic.

11. Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery (1923)

L.M. Montgomery is one of my favourite authors, and the Emily of New Moon series are some of my favourite books. I think the last time I read this series had to be when I was in high school, so I am very interested to see what I think of it as an adult.

12. The Secret of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton (1927)

Another mystery! I have wanted to read something Chesterton for ages, but have never managed to pick one up. I am familiar with the Father Brown character, as I have listened to a couple stories that were turned into audio drama’s, so I am hoping that I will enjoy this one.

13. New Hampshire by Robert Frost (1923)

More poetry! Look at me go stretching my reading comfort zone (at least if we ignore all the comfortable mysteries included in this list). This collection includes some of Frost’s most well known poems.

14. The Diviners by Libba Bray

We have now officially reached the section of this list where books are set in the 1920s but written more recently. The Diviners is the first book in the series of the same name set in 1920s New York City. The series is tagged as both fantasy and mystery, and I love that combination!

15. The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

I know very little about this book, other than that it is a short, dark fantasy set in New York in the 1920s. This one is recommended by Books with Emily Fox on YouTube. Sometimes with this type of book, it’s better to go in without knowing too much.

16. The Gallery by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

The Gallery has been on my library TBR for a couple years now but I have never felt the itch to pick it up. The description on Goodreads calls it “an historical art mystery set in the Roaring Twenties”… which sounds pretty amazing and right up my alley.

17. Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

I had not heard of this book before researching this list. With a description that includes words such as “magic,” “romance,” and the “New York Jazz age,” I am hopeful that it will be exactly my cup of tea.

18. Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

I am always looking for a new cozy mystery series to dive into. This is the first book in a cozy mystery series set in 1920s Britain. The description has me completely hooked, and I hope the book can deliver.

19. Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

The front cover of this book practically screams 1920s. It is the first book in a series set in New York during the last summer of the jazz age. I’m not completely convinced that this is one that I will enjoy, because the genre is outside of my comfort zone. But I will give it a try.

20. Wildcard Slot

I didn’t intend to have a “wildcard” slot in this challenge. I had a book slotted into this spot, until I realized it wasn’t set in the 1920s. I’m not sure where I got my misinformation, but I had to remove the book, and I haven’t been able to find a replacement. I am open to suggestions!

Have you read any of the books on this list? If so, what are your favourites? Do you have any other books set in the 1920s or written in the 1920s that you would recommend?

Until next time,