This is the first year I’ve devised a reading challenge as a way to diversify my reading a bit. I used it as a guideline while also granting myself permission to abandon it if it became to onerous. I’m happy to say that I did not abandon it and that I’m judging my experiment relatively successful.
I had originally assigned a genre or category to a month, knowing full well I would be reading out of order. Because I’m a member of a book club and need to read assigned books, I also need to be able to read what speaks to me at a particular time.
There were three categories that I didn’t manage to complete and categories that I read for the first time and really enjoyed. There are some categories I would swap out for others, such as wanting to add a cookbook category. I loved every book (even when a couple of them made me uncomfortable) on this list and would recommend them without hesitation.
- Memoir and Autobiography: Educated by Tara Westover
- Romance: Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
- Non-fiction: Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans.
- Graphic Novels and Comics: Did Not Complete
- On Writing: Did Not Complete
- Middle Grade: Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
- Humor: Did Not Complete
- Science Fiction: Company Town by Madeline Ashby
- Historical: The Huntress by Kate Quinn
- Young Adult: Trickster Drift by Eden Robinson
- Poetry: #IndianLovePoems by Tenille K. Campbell
- Fantasy: Protect The Prince by Jennifer Estep
My goal was to diversify my reading and I think the above list proves that I did. I’m thinking of setting up another challenge for 2020 and I’m open to category suggestions. Or book suggestions!
Until next time…
Do you set a reading challenge or goal for the year?