goodreads challenge update

I thought I would give a quick update on my Goodreads Challenge. I found this challenge posted in one of my Goodreads groups. This particular challenge is 'read your way through the alphabet', and I've always wanted to see if I could complete it. So, the idea is to read a book for each letter of the alphabet. So far, I've only gotten to the letter "D" with Dream Town by David Baldacci, and it's just been well....a challenge. I think the biggest reason for this is time. It just seems like I don't have the time to read like I used to. Between working all week, finding time to write books and getting them published, doing housework, and errands, there's just no time left. The other reason is that the quality of books being published is not what it used to be. Now, I know that seems a bit snobbish and I don't mean for it to be, but the quality of books is not the same. The authors who are publishing books with the traditional publishers, seem to have some mystery quota that they have to fill. So, they include unnecessary words, paragraphs of description, or plots that don't work or don't tie up all the loose ends. I think this is why this reading challenge has just been so difficult....and I wish it wasn't that way. I remember when I could pick up any book and just enjoy it, but I guess change comes with all things.

There are very few authors that I do read: John Grisham, Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon, Phillipa Gregory, and Arthur Conan Doyle are the select pool that I have to choose from. There is still John Grisham's new book, "Camino Ghosts" still sitting on my nightstand, which I haven't gotten to. Anyway, I was hoping that this challenge might help me "discover" a new author that I could add to my list, but I haven't been that lucky so far. Hopefully, it won't take me years to complete this challenge and maybe I will find another author or two to add to my list. So, on a positive note - here's to faster progress and discovering new books.  So, have you ever tried to complete a reading challenge like this? 
Until next time...