I’m sitting here, next to my cuddle-monster of a cat (his name is Khepri, if you’re interested) with a big mug of tea, listening to my favourite movie soundtrack of all time, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, pondering the book-related reading challenges I’ve set myself for 2019. There are more than I first thought; four in total, though thankfully, at least most of them overlap with each other.

Random book cover from my shelf: Arabella: England’s Lost Queen by Sarah Gristwood
Goodreads Reading Challenge
As I’ve mentioned in posts at the end of 2018 and the start of 2019, my Goodreads Reading Challenge is set at the same number of books as 2018: 40. I found it was a good number, one that gave me something to aim for whilst knowing at the same time I could easily exceed it, and I did. I’m already one book ahead of schedule, with two books waiting to be reviewed and another being read. For the moment, I will keep posting a single book review a week, on Mondays, but if I pull too far ahead, I may have to rethink my schedule, or post twice on some Mondays…

Random book cover from my shelf: Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters
Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019
I have yet to tick off any of the twenty challenges. This, I must say, has surprised me, but I’m finding that I am searching for the perfect book to match the challenge. I had not expected this, and if I’m not careful, might find myself out of time to complete the challenge, given there are four themed-reading challenges (Indie Only Month, Historical Fiction Month, Halloween Reads and Festive Reads Fortnight) that crop up over the course of the year too, effecting my book choices.

Random book cover from my shelf: Britain BC by Francis Pryor
A-Z Review Index
I started my A-Z Review Index in 2013, and from then on have added each and every book that I’ve reviewed on this blog to the list. And since about 2014 I have wanted to get at least one book listed under each letter / group of letters. It was either in 2014 or 2015 that I made some really good progress in this, it being another challenge I set for myself. Since then, however, it dropped in my list of priorities, but I have resurrected it for this year.
There are only two letters empty: I and Q. I know for “I” I will turn to the trusted historical novelist, Conn Iggulden – I loved his Julius Caesar books and have a number of his other novels sitting on my shelves too. I am spoilt for choice. As for “Q”, no authors came to mind, so after a quick google search, I spot Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch in a list, and I remembered seeing his name in the contents of a collection of short crime stories. Now, to read, review and list them!

Random book cover from my shelf: At Bertram’s Hotel by Agatha Christie
Read, Review, Rehome
This has been in operation in my home for a number of years, in an attempt to declutter every available surface of piles of books. The problem is (and, it’s not a bad problem to have 😉 ), when I read a good book, I find it hard to part with it. I’m trying very hard to take a stern approach to this in 2019 and hope to rehome at least 20 books – almost 2 a month when I’m aiming to read 4 books in that timeframe.

Random book cover from my shelf: Death Song by Jorgen Brekke
So there we go. Four challenges to keep me occupied throughout 2019. I think it will be interesting to add updates to my monthly bookish reflections post, to ensure I stay on track…
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