“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” – Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Who am I to argue with the master? I agree with this statement 100% and have taken his advice to heart. Thanks to my parents, I love to read. I normally have a couple of hard-copy books I’m reading simultaneously and sometimes a third on the Kindle as well. When I read a book, I step into someone else’s shoes and see life through someone else’s eyes. Books open doors in my mind. They allow me to live an alternate life without leaving the comfort of my couch or chair (other than to refresh my coffee).
“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” – William Styron
For 2018, I’m taking part in the “Goodreads Reading Challenge.” This is where the reader can select a target number of books he or she wants to read throughout the year and continually log their progress as more books are read. This explanation is oversimplified (or crap, you choose), so here’s the link to the Goodreads site so you can join the fun.
My 2018 target is 40 books, and from January 1st to April 23rd, I’ve read 14 and have two in progress.
My finished books list reads as follows so far (listed in order of date finished):
- The Damned (The Darkest Hand Trilogy #1) by Tarn Richardson
- Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker
- The Fallen (The Darkest Hand Trilogy #2) by Tarn Richardson
- The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
- You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
- Spells and Persuasions by S.J. Budd
- True Scary Stories: Volume One – The Shadow Man: Real Horror Mystery With A Twist by Dark Mistress Aurora
- Final Girls by Riley Sager
- The Best Horror of the Year Volume Nine edited by Ellen Datlow
- Return to Dyatlov Pass by J.H. Moncrieff
- On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
- Road Kills by Isaac Thorne
- Plant by Isaac Thorne
- The Risen (The Darkest Hand Trilogy #3) by Tarn Richardson
It’s my aim to read as many books by authors I have not read before and so far, I’ve achieved that goal. No doubt, some of my favorite authors will appear on the list throughout the year as well, such as Stephen King, Joe Hill, Lee Child, Dean Koontz, etc.
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Regular visitors to The Haunted Pen will notice a couple of the authors listed as being subjected to my “The Third Degree” interviews – J.H. Moncrieff and Tarn Richardson. In the coming weeks I’ll be posting interviews with C.J. Tudor and Isaac Thorne.
The Haunted Pen 
One thought on “Goodreads 2018 Reading Challenge”