Thursday, April 12, 2018

2018 Beat the Backlist Challenge


I stumbled across this challenge while visiting other blogs and decided to check it out! It sounds like so much fun, and definitely motivates me to do something I've been wanting to do for years. I have sooo many books on my shelves that need to be read, and they keep getting skipped for something else. There's absolutely nothing wrong with them, but there's always another book to read (being a mood reader doesn't help).

Beat the Backlist focuses on reading titles that have been on your TBR for a while, which is a wonderful way to tackle the remaining unread books on my shelves! I've almost caught up on everything, and I'm hoping this challenge is the push I need.

Guidelines (via Novel Knight):

The challenge will run from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
You have an ENTIRE YEAR to complete your goal!

Books must be released prior to 2018 to count for this challenge. Although we love new releases too, this isn’t the challenge for them.

I also love that re-reads are included in this challenge, because that's also something I've really been wanting to do! This will also be my first official challenge since coming back to blogging! If you want to start a few months late (like me), you can join and include books that you've already read this year (as long as they fit the criteria!) so you won't be too far behind.

Oh, and there are teams! It's completely optional, but I love the idea of having support while participating in a challenge. There is also an opportunity to win a prize, if your team has the most points at the end! I feel like I'm missing vital information, but you get the gist. Check out their blog (linked above) if you'd like to know more!

My goal for the 2018 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 100 books

Are you participating in any challenges this year? What are they? What do you think about this one? Let me know!

Edit (04/18/18): I'm a Dewey Dragon!
What I've read so far:
  1. Breath of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles, #2) by Amanda Bouchet
  2. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
  3. The Baller by Vi Keeland
  4. You Don't Know My Name (The Black Angel Chronicles, #1) by Kristen Orlando
  5. White Hot (Hidden Legacy, #2) by Ilona Andrews
  6. Wildfire (Hidden Legacy, #3) by Ilona Andrews
  7. Deep (Stage Dive, #4) by Kylie Scott
  8. Begin Again (Again, #1) by Mona Kasten
  9. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
  10. Binti (Binti, #1) by Nnedi Okorafor
  11. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer
  12. How to Love by Katie Cotugno
  13. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
  14. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2) by Marissa Meyer
  15. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
  16. The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1) by Jessica Townsend
  17. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  18. Lost and Found Sisters (Wildstone, #1) by Jill Shalvis
  19. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
  20. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
  21. Caraval (Caraval, #1) by Stephanie Garber
  22. You by Caroline Kepnes
  23. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
  24. Autoboyography  by Christina Lauren
  25. Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2) by Melina Marchetta
  26. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
  27. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling *re-read
  28. Geekerella (Starfield, #1) by Ashley Poston 
  29. Royally Screwed (Royally, #1) by Emma Chase
  30. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3) by Marissa Meyer
  31. Renegades (Renegades, #1) by Marissa Meyer
  32. Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
  33. Sea of Shadows (Age of Legends, #1) by Kelley Armstrong
  34. Empire of the Night (Age of Legends, #2) by Kelley Armstrong
  35. Forest of Ruin (Age of Legends, #3) by Kelley Armstrong
  36. Silver Silence (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #1) by Nalini Singh
  37. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
  38. Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter
  39. Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, #1) by Suzanne Collins
  40. The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  41. Wintersong (Wintersong, #1) by S. Jae-Jones
  42. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
  43. Royally Matched (Royally, #2) by Emma Chase 
  44. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling
  45. Mosquitoland by David Arnold
  46. Royally Endowed (Royally, #3) by Emma Chase
  47. Roar (Stormheart, #1) by Cora Carmack
  48. Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4) by Marissa Meyer
  49. The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, #1) by Peter Brown
  50. Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor
  51. Nightmares! (Nightmares!, #1) by Jason Segel, Kirsten Miller, Karl Kwasny (Illustrator)
  52. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) by Ilona Andrews
  53. Once and for All by Sarah Dessen
  54. Roomies by Christina Lauren
  55. Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne
  56. Moonlight Over Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love, #6) by Sarah Morgan
  57. Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) by Eoin Colfer
  58. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2) by Ilona Andrews
  59. The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden
  60. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
  61. My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, #1) by Jean Craighead George
  62. Tangled (Tangled, #1) by Emma Chase

45 comments:

  1. I'm doing a similar challenge that I made up called Moody Reading Challenge. I HAVE GOT TO read more from my backlist as well... so it just makes sense. Teams sounds like a lot of fun and I've seen other bloggers mention them, but no one has said you can still join! (I never heard of this at the beginning of the year...) Anyway Good Luck reading ❤️

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    1. I didn't know you had a similar challenge! Can I participate in both? Would that be cheating? Haha!

      There are so many books that I've been wanting to read, and this is my chance to do it. There are teams and a group on Goodreads. Everyone can keep in touch, and all of your points are combined at the end. If your group has the most at the end of the year, one person from that group wins the prize.

      I wish you luck with your reading, too!

      Delete
  2. I don't do challenges because I am terrible at keeping up with them LOL But I try to read at least 10 backlist titles every years since 2016 so it can be counted as some sort of unofficial challenge ;) Anyway, good luck with your own challenge!

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    1. Unofficial challenges still count! You're challenging yourself, and that's what matters. I'm just not awesome at holding myself accountable, lol. I love working out in groups, because then people are counting on me and expect me to show up. If I work out solo, I hit the snooze button too many times.

      Good luck to you, too!

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  3. This is a great challenge!! I need to read more backlist. Good luck!!

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    1. I agree! I'm hoping this challenge pushes me to read at least 100 (so I can knock off what is physically on my shelves)!

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  4. I've been doing this on my own since January and I'm making so much headway! I know if I join a challenge for it though I'll come to a screeching halt because I'm stubborn that way lol

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Hahaha! I can see that! You don't want to feel like you have to do something, which makes it more enjoyable for you in the end. I'm happy you're making it through all of your books! I know your stacks were worse than mine, lol.

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  5. Sounds like a fun challenge. Good luck.

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  6. Pre 18? Easy! That is like 99% of my books. Would I make it...ehh no, and omg your goal! You go girl! I am trying my best here a bit slower

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    1. Right? Most of my books are pre-2018, but that's also because it's still early in the year! As time goes by, more and more books will be released this year that I want to read. That's why I'm going to try and knock out a lot right at the beginning!

      I wanted to make my goal a little high, but I've also been reading more via audiobooks. It helps me to get through books more quickly.

      What is your goal?

      Delete
  7. Ooh I'd love to take on this challenge and get into my tbr pile. Think I even know which books/series I want to start with :)

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    1. What would you start with? There are a few I want to re-read, and other I really need to finish (like The Lunar Chronicles)! I believe you can join this challenge whenever, and you can add whatever books you've already read this year that apply.

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  8. Best of luck to you on reaching your goal!

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    1. Thank you! Let me know if you decide to join and what team you are placed on!

      Delete
  9. Wow you're doing pretty good at this. Looks like a fun challenge- I see a few on here that I wanted to read. Caraval especially- seems like a fun concept, I just need to make myself read it now!

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    1. I'm trying! Lol!

      My review for Caraval will post in the next two weeks, but I'll go ahead and tell you now... I hated the main character. Like, constant bad decisions and WTF WERE YOU THINKING moments. If you read it before my review posts, get in touch! I want to know how you felt about it.

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    2. I definitely won't read it before that, so I will read your review with great interest! I just have too many books that come first... and yeah I'm conflicted on that one...

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    3. It was just so frustrating. I hate when I hate characters, especially when I don't think your supposed to hate them. Books with awful characters that are meant to be terrible... that's one thing. This was something else. She drove me crazy. I also felt like the author tried to tidy things up at the end a little too perfectly, you know? Things that didn't really make sense suddenly had the BEST explanations.

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  10. I am inspired by your goal of reading 100 backlist books! Good luck with that. It looks like you are off to a great start.

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    1. I hope I reach my goal! I like to aim a little high, and I'd already read 21 backlist books... so 100 seemed reasonable with a risk. :)

      Delete
  11. Oh wow, you've already read a ton of backlist books this year. That's awesome. What team are you on? Or did I miss that? LOL I'm a Dewey Dragon! I've been doing pretty well so far, but I definitely want to start reading even more backlist books. :)

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I didn't mention it in the blog post (since you have to have the post before you fill out the form), but I did add the button on my sidebar! I'm a Dewey Dragon, too! How fun! We can cheer each other on this year.

      Delete
  12. You’re doing great! I could use this challenge. I keep skipping over my older books.

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    1. Hard same. It's why I need something like this!

      Delete
  13. Wow, you're doing awesome. Maybe I'll consider this one next year when I'm looking for challenges. Keep up the good work!

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    1. You should! It's also not too late to join this one. You can even include the books you've already read this year (as long as they meet the criteria).

      Delete
  14. I'm taking part in this challenge too! You're doing much better than I am though, lol. So far I've only read 13 books that fit the challenge criteria.

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    1. Yay! How fun! What team did you get put on? I'm a Dewey Dragon! 13 books is a wonderful start! What is your goal for the year?

      Delete
    2. Sorry, missed this earlier. My goal is 30 for the year. I'm at 14 now that I've read Geekerella so I think I'm on track to meet or beat my goal.

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    3. I just started Geekerella! I'm happy you're on track to meet your goal. :)

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  15. Wow Linds, you're off to a flying start! I always want to read more backlist titles but never find the time between review copies. I struggle to read a hundred books for the entire year, never mind older titles. Looking forward to progress updates Linds so keep us posted! <3 <3

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    1. I actually didn't realize how many I'd read so far this year until I wrote this post. It just sort of happened... I've always told myself I was going to start reading my older books, but it never happened. Now it is! I want to have read all my old stuff by the end of the year--fingers crossed!

      Delete
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    1. Dewey Dragons! I added the button to my sidebar, but I guess I should add it to this post as well. I think I saw yours the other day... a Knight? Maybe?

      Delete
  17. You’re doing good. That is a lot of books.

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  18. This sounds like a great, not-too-stressful challenge. And the team thing sounds fun! Good luck!

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    1. Not stressful at all! Most of the books I read aren't from this year (it helps that this year just started), and I'm trying not to request too many books from NetGalley and Edelweiss.

      The teams are so fun! I've already made a few friends.

      Delete
  19. Oh man, I wish I had known about this! I would have participated. But my luck, I would have failed .... terribly. Lol

    My friend Esther (@biteintobooks) is doing something similar to this though. Her's is Goodreads: Your year in books... In blog form. Lol I'm going to start doing it every year (Try to at least) at the end of the year.

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    1. This was my first year participating in this challenge, but I plan on doing it again next year. It really helped me focus on reading some of the books I've neglected over the years, and a few of those were some of my favorite reads this year! You shouldn't worry about failing! Sometimes is just nice to have a goal to work towards.

      I'll have to check out the blog you mentioned! Your Year in Books sounds like fun! :)

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    2. That's really awesome! I'm gonna try this next year too, honestly. Hope it'll drive me to read more than just 30 books (like this year. Lol)

      You won't be disappointed. Her blog really is awesome.

      Delete

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