Remember the Reading Challenge Back in January 2015

Some twelve months ago I promised myself I would make an effort to read more. I love reading but had allowed other interests to occupy my leisure time. To help me focus and to add a little motivation I set myself a  2015 Reading Challenge. I would read 15 books over the year, using the Goodreads site to keep track and rate each of the books I read.

I did it, I read 15 books and even managed to fit in a short story during Christmas! 

My 2015 Reading Challenge Book List

I am more than a little pleased to have found the time for reading, it's relaxing, interesting and informative. Initially I was reading books that from the PopSugar reading challenge criteria, but I found that I was first picking a book and then making it fit to one of their reading criteria. Instead of the other way around, so in the end I decided to read books that were either recommended, won or gifted to me.

The winners and losers

My 2 top reads of the year are The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin, a fictional historical story, elegantly written. Also Divergent by Veronica Roth, for reigniting my enjoyment of reading the science fiction genre. I also found Murder at the Maples and Flora Lively and a Date with Death by Joanne Phillips enjoyable reads, mostly because they are set in my home county of Shropshire.
My most disappointing book of the year The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers. I struggled to get into the story, and whilst I enjoyed the ending it seemed a chore to get there.