2015 Challenges Wrap-ups

22:25 Cilla 17 Comments



One way to determine my goals for the next year is to reflect on this year's progress. I kind of skipped this process and went straight to signing up for more challenges next year.

So, let's take a step back. As 2015 draws to a close, here is where I stand with the challenges I joined this year.

1. Goodreads Reading Challenge

I set myself the goal of 20 books this year, and ended up with 43! I'm toying with the idea of raising the bar to 30 for next year, though that might change when I get my schedule for the academic year.

2. Around the World Challenge

The goal of this challenge, as set by Crini @ All About Books, was to visit as many different places around the world as possible through books. Google Map was used to track the progress. I was meant to have a lot of pins that are spread all over. 

In that regard, I failed. Turns out, I read a) a lot of books set in either Europe or USA and, b) books set in places that don't exist. I did put New Beijing (from The Lunar Chronicles) and Ravka (The Grisha Chronicles), because those fictional places are based on real ones: Beijing and Russia respectively. Also, I often forgot to keep track of the locations mentioned in the books! I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to rejoin the challenge for 2016. Despite kind of failing, it's been fun watching the map fill up with pins. 





3. Discussion Challenge



I discovered and signed up for this challenge - hosted by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight and Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction - in September. Considering I signed up so late, I aimed to write 1-12 posts - the Discussion Dabbler level. Dabbler, I definitely have been! In that three months, I've written 6 discussion posts, and 1 have been sitting in my draft for the last month. December has been rough on this front, but I've enjoyed reading everyone else's entries.

Also, I won the Halloween link-up giveaway, which was so exciting because I've never won things like that before!

If you would like to read those 6 discussions I've written this year, you can find them +here.


Overall, my 2015 in terms of challenges has been about small, achievable goals. I'm happy with that though! Still, for 2016, I'd like to aim a little higher, but that's for a whole other post. :)

Did you join any reading or blogging challenges this year? How did you go with them?

17 comments:

  1. Alise29 December 2015 at 08:44

    I also was thinking about joining the Around the World and Discussion challenges! Good luck! Meanwhile I am reading as fast as I can in hope I can finish my Goodreads Reading Challenge in time :P

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    1. Cilla4 January 2016 at 10:43

      Good luck to you if you do! :D I hope you finished your Goodreads challenge in time too!

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  2. Chelsea @ Beautiful Fandoms29 December 2015 at 16:51

    I've never heard of the Around the World challenge, but it looks very interesting. I love reading books set in different places (not just the usual, USA/UK)

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    1. Cilla4 January 2016 at 10:40

      It's a really interesting challenge! It made me more aware of the diversity of the books I was reading, or lack thereof anyway haha.

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  3. Alyssa Carlier29 December 2015 at 20:15

    The Discussion Challenge looks really cool but I never seem to have a discussion post relevant to the month's themes XD The Around the World challenge is great! I love reading books set in non-Eurocentric places. Maybe try World War Z? It's basically a cross-continental epic -- some bits take place in USA/Europe, but lots of others are in incredibly diverse regions. And it's a fantastic book!

    Fabulous to meet you, Cilla!

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    1. Cilla4 January 2016 at 10:39

      I don't think you need to stick to the theme! I treat them as more of a guideline when I'm stuck for ideas haha. Oooh I shall add World War Z to my list then :D Thanks, Alyssa, and it's fabulous to meet you too!

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  4. Zoe N.30 December 2015 at 08:51

    Congratulations on completing all these challenges Cilla! The Around the World challenge looks like it was a blast, and so does the discussion challenge. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous recap! ♥

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    1. Cilla4 January 2016 at 10:38

      Thanks Zoe! <3 They were both a lot of fun, and should be too this year :D

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  5. Jess I.30 December 2015 at 13:17

    Congrats on completing your GR challenge! I definitely think you should shoot for 30 or 35 next year since you did so well :). I'll be doing the Discussion challenge in 2016!

    Jess @ Princessica of Books | Twitter | Instagram

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    1. Cilla4 January 2016 at 10:37

      Thanks, Jess! I've decided on 30 for this year. :D Oooh have fun, and I look forward to reading your discussion posts!

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  6. Cristina @ Girl in the Pages30 December 2015 at 14:22

    The Around the World challenge is such a unique idea! I joined several challenges in 2015 and feel like toward the end I really stopped keeping track of them (aside from my Goodreads challenge). I'm toying with the idea of only joining one or two the upcoming year that I can really commit to.

    Cristina @Girl in the Pages

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    1. Cilla4 January 2016 at 10:36

      That's a good idea, I think! Only joining one or two would feel less overwhelming as the year goes on, and you can really focus your attention on just those :D

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  7. Shooting Stars Mag31 December 2015 at 04:03

    I only did the discussion challenge this past year and I really didn't do well on that. I am doing it again in 2016 though because I do like discussions and I have a lot of ideas I just need to get written and scheduled. haha

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com

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    1. Cilla4 January 2016 at 10:31

      I had the same problem! Here's to us both doing much better with discussions this year :D

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  8. Anonymous1 January 2016 at 13:23

    Aw I'm so glad you got to manage your challenges last 2015, Cilla :) Congrats on finishing them! SO PROUD. I hope that the future challenges you signed up for go well. :D

    Jillian @ Jillian's Books

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  9. Erin19 January 2016 at 00:59

    I love seeing how well you did with your challenges!

    I'm still thinking of joining the Discussion Challenge, but I'm actually afraid of failing. I also went over on my Goodreads challenge in 2015, but I did worse than in 2014, so I was a little bummed. :(

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Thanks for reading! It makes my day to hear your thoughts and I will respond asap. :)

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