It is that time of the year when I set goals for anything and everything in life. For now, let’s focus on reading.
Reading Challenges help you to read more. At least that’s how I take it. The prompts of many challenges may restrict your reading, but I believe it urges you to pick up books from more diverse genres. You’d be forced to move from that favorite book section in the library to another, which is a huge plus! It challenges us to come out of our comfort zone and stretch ourselves beyond the regular reading.
I had a relatively good year with my reading. Till date, I’ve completed 38 books and I intend to read four more before the year ends. My goal for the year was, however, 52 books, one book a week, which I thought was a fair number. However, it wasn’t so.
| Read the 2018 Reading Challenges
Though I fell short with 10 books, I know for a fact that I read some fantastic books including Poonachi, One, and Wonder which has taken a permanent place in my heart. If not for these challenges, I know I wouldn’t have picked up the many books which I’d read this year.
| Read the Book Review of Poonachi
Here are some of the Reading Challenges I take part in every year and some more for you to choose from.
2019 Reading Challenges
Goodreads Reading Challenge
Ah, the target I am setting is again, 52 books, one book a week and let’s see if I can achieve the target this year. You can find my reading updates on the Goodreads page and also on the sidebar of this space.
Erin’s Book Challenge
Another one of my favorite reading challenges is Erin’s Book Challenge which I came to know via Sanch’s posts whose book recommendations I love. Another dear friend, Vinay who writes at I Rhyme Without Reason is also a co-admin of the challenge’s Facebook Group. Needless to say why I love this reading challenge.
This challenge runs twice a year – January to April and July to October, and the prompts are always interesting and quirky, to say the least. The prompts for January to April along with my book choices are as below.
| Freebie (200 pages): The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks
| Made into a movie: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
| Set in Europe: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
| Newberry Award Winner/Honor Books: The Cat who went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
| Family’s or Friend’s Favorite: The Promise by Danielle Steele
| Published over a 100 years ago: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
| Book with 6 words in the title: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
| A compass or cardinal direction in the title: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
| Published in a different language: Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
| Starts with the Letter N: the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Ah well, The Promise is close to my heart in so many ways. As a kid (or a teenager) I was banned from reading Mills and Boon and romance novels. But I remember sneaking this book out from Mom’s library (she is a voracious reader) and reading it. Needless to say, it was the very first love story I’d ever read and is also one of my favorites. Apparently, it is also a dear friend Kala’s favorite love stories.
52 Books in 52 Weeks
Though that’s my target, I know it seems daunting already. Nevertheless, I am going to give this challenge a try.
Corinne’s Outdo Yourself Challenge
Every year, Corinne announces this challenge on her space where she asks you to read one book more than your previous year’s count. She has announced the challenge for this year and I have set my target as 52 since I couldn’t achieve it last year.
| Read the Book Review of Wonder
Write Tribe Reading Challenge
The first Write Tribe Reading Challenge is here and I can’t be any more excited! There are 24 prompts of which you can pick up any 12 so as to complete the challenge. I think I will do all the prompts, what say? The main idea behind the challenge is to make you fall and stay in love with reading. You can visit this post for signing up. I will be doing a separate post on my book choices.
2019 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge
This yearlong challenge asks you to pick one book a month that fulfills their prompt. I think I will be joining the 2019 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge. I am yet to pick up books based on their prompts, especially because I want to incorporate 2019 releases as well. But here is a gist.
| JANUARY – New to You Author: Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
| FEBRUARY – Cover Love: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
| MARCH – Royalty, Kingdoms, Empires, Governments: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
| APRIL – Crack the Case:
| MAY – One Sitting Reads:
| JUNE – Diversify Your Reading:
| JULY – Through The Years:
| AUGUST – Mode of Transportation:
| SEPTEMBER – Animal, Number, Color, Name:
| OCTOBER – Tricks and Trades:
| NOVEMBER – Seasons, Elements, and Weather:
| DECEMBER – Last Chance:
Other Reading Challenges:
Here is a list of other spectacular reading challenges for 2019.
| Read 13 Books to Cozy Up This Winter
Popsugar Reading Challenge: With a daunting mandatory 40 prompts and 12 advanced prompts, I believe, Popsugar Challenge is the toughest to crack. At least for me. My reasons being, my target is only 52 books, of which if I have to read 40 according to the mandatory prompts there isn’t much I can take up for a relaxing read. Do you get my point? Also, if you plan to take part in other challenges, it will be pretty difficult to find books that fit in. Nevertheless, I know many who nails this challenge and maybe you should take a look at the prompts too. Who knows, I may take part too!
Reading Women Challenge: where you are to read books which are written by or about women. There are about 25 prompts to complete.
2019 New Release Challenge: If you are hell-bent on reading all the new releases of the challenge, you can take part in this one.
That’s all for now, folks!
Do let me know your thoughts on reading challenges and if you’ll be taking part in any.
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Kala Ravi says
Woah!! That is a whole lot of reading challenges I never knew about! Absolutely blown by your choices Shalu! Sounds like 2019 is going to be a very busy reading year for you. Plus those exciting book layouts you have with Muffy…lotsa fun!! My reading has come down drastically with problems I am having with my eyes. I hope to follow your reviews and pick a few choice books for myself. Happy reading love!
Pr@Gun says
wow what a list, loved monthly motif challenge
Sanch @ Sanch Writes says
Wow, that’s a lot of challenges you’re participating in! Good luck! I’m in the process of drafting my post for challenges in 2019 but first need to wrap up the 2018 ones. 52 books is a great goal! I don’t know how you all do it because there is no way I can do it with work, life, blogging, writing and exercising! I think I’m setting mine to 45 for next year just to increase it from this one
V says
T, I love your banners/images in the post! 🙂 So beautiful they are!
As you know, I’m doing pretty much the same challenges as you are… BCBE, Popsugar and Monthly Motif! They are fun and not too much pressure to complete! And some interesting categories too, alle? 😀
Poonachi was a book I loved reading in 2018 as well. Very different way to look at society. Enjoyed it! Hope 2019 brings some fab books like that too. Happy reading in advance!
Ramya Abhinand says
I am definitely doing Erins challenge this year plus goodreads. Corinnes too .. still debating if I should take up pop suge. Seems to difficult for me..
Sonia Chatterjee says
I’ve read this post twice and finally decided to bookmark it. I had no idea about most of these challenges. My reading has gone down for the past few months and getting back on track is my first priority. Thank you for writing such a great post.
Amrita says
This I enjoyed reading. I am also checking out these challenges to see which works for me.
Holly Jahangiri says
I’m holding out for Corinne’s, when she announces it. I had no idea there were so many. But given my track record the last few years, I think I’m going to buy a bunch of those gold foil stars and stick ’em on the calendar for each book. I need to do better!
Shilpa Gupte says
Wow! Quite a few challenges, huh? Good for you–you will have a treasure trove of stories to read!
Wish you the best!
AuraOfThoughts MeenalSonal says
This is quite exhaustive yet interesting list of challenges.
This year I participated in HTBrunch challenge and was well behind, just completed 29 books of 50. I may cross 31 by end of year.
But challenges keeps the urge to complete the book faster.
Balaka Basu says
Another interesting post. I completed only 36 books this year and 52 is almost double. I can never promise to finish one book in one week. So I will stick to my own pace however I will use the prompts to select books as then there would be variety.
Shantala says
I am currently in the process of drafting my reading goals, and girl, we share the number goal for next year. 52 books in 52 weeks. Me too! However I have to admit that I have never reached that number in a single year, but I have never before this even had that as a goal, so let’s see.
That being said, I am staying away from reading challenges this year, but crafting my own goals instead. Those seem to work better for me. However I have to confess that I love reading/watching other people undertake reading challenges, so will definitely follow your progress and cheer you on.
Here’s to an awesome reading year!
Anamika Agnihotri says
That is seriously some solid reading plan! I didn’t even know there are several and varied reading challenges. I wish you all the best.
P.S. I liked the creativity in the descriptions of your rating system.
Shalzmojo says
Wow! look at all those reading challenges and Woman you are inspiring in your reading goals. Bookmarked a few from here to check out and maybe I will see you on them in 2019. 🙂
CorinneRodrigues says
So glad that people have fallen in love with reading all over again and we’re spoiled for choice of challenges to undertake.
I hope you (and Muffy) enjoy every book you read in 2019!