Reading Challenges

December 30, 2015

Jackie’s 2018 Reading Goal:

For 2018, I changed up my reading challenge patterns. I’ve decided that I will focus on 5 measurable goals:

  • Read at least one ARC each month.
  • Read 80+ books
  • At least 15% of my reading should be non-fiction.
  • Read 20 Newbery Award winners.
  • Participate in at least one read along.

You can find all the details of my 2018 Reading Challenge here and the original goal post for 2018 here.

To help you understand why reading challenges are important to me, I’ll give you a concrete example. For 2015, I set an original reading goal of 40 books. Then I discovered reading challenges. To prove the worth of these challenges, here are my 2015 stats:

 

2015-reading-stats

 

Jackie’s Reading Challenge Archive

 

What is a reading challenge?

Reading challenges have been the greatest and worst thing which has ever happened to me.

Reading challenges are when you and your Tsundoku addicted friends get together and read books within a theme within a specific timeframe. The addiction to reading challenges comes from a single word: Gamification.

By setting a goal number of books to read, a timeframe in which to read them, and a peer group to support you– you want to succeed. You strive to meet your goals, read new books you never thought you’d pick up, and make new friends. Reading challenges bring people together.

Reading challenges can be long, some can be short. Some let you choose your involvement level, some don’t. Some let you pick which books you read, others don’t. But the greatest thing about them is that they keep reading fun and easily accessible. Participating means you are making a commitment to yourself to keep reading for pleasure an active part of your daily life.

 

Where do they come from?

I wish there was a dusty tome I could pick up and say “Ahh, yes. The origins of reading challenges!” It would be fantastic to locate the specific root creation moment, but honestly, reading challenges have probably existed since the monks. I can see it now:

Schreiber

Monk 1: “I bet we can read every book with illuminated letters this year.”
Monk 2: “No way. There are far too many.”
Monk 1: “I bet we could. Race you.”
Monk 2: “You’re on.”

Thanks to the internet, there are all sorts of challenges you can participate in.

My favorite place to find reading challenges in on Goodreads. There are tons of groups dedicated to reading challenges. My favorite is [Insert Year Here] Reading Challenge. Not a super creative title but the moderators are warm and welcoming, and the challenges and peer support are flowing!

Popsugar has a reading challenge inspired to broaden your scope of reading. The 2016 version even includes “the first book you see in a bookstore”.  If I do that, I’ll need someone to take me in blindfolded, other wise I probably own it already. Oops.

Book Riot has a famous Read Harder challenge. This challenge pushes the boundaries of what you are comfortable with. For anyone and everyone. The 2016 version includes “read a book aloud to someone else”. Brace yourself, friends.

If you still can’t get enough check out A Novel Challenge. It’s one of many sites out there dedicated completely to helping you find your next reading challenge.

 

Let’s read together!

library book circle

I want to read with you. Join a challenge, read a book I’m reading for a challenge– whatever it is, I want you to keep reading for pleasure at the forefront of what you do.

As you read, comment on my challenge pages, or on my book reviews. Send me an email. Let me know how you are doing, and where you stand. Let’s build a reading community together!

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