2018 Reading Challenge
Pick your level, set your goal, share your reading!
Join a Reading Community
Welcome to the 2018 Reading Challenge Group! This is a judgement free, no stress way to participate in shared reading. Unlike a book club, no deadlines are set, or required titles to be read, removing the stress of a reading group. This year, we're creating challenge levels, with different categories at all levels. Choose your level to set your reading goal, then share with the Facebook group what you've read, recommendations and reviews. Or, just read what you like and share if you don't want to be inhibited by categories.
For me as a reader, the categories help me expand my reading selections so I don't get bogged down in the familiar (authors, genres, themes). But it's your choice!
In the past, there has been questions about what is "legal" or allowed. This is your personal challenge. This is a community of sharing reading with feeling stressed by time or selection. So if you want to cheat and count a book in more than one category so you're accomplishing all of the categories, and not necessarily number of books, well thats up to you! You cheater ;)
Discovery Level - 12 Books
For the Discovery Level, use the Modern Mrs. Darcy book list (see graphic link below). Her Reading Challenge site also includes great strategies for choosing, recording and sharing your reading. The list includes:
- A classic you've been meaning to read.
- A book recommendation by someone with great taste (this one will be as much fun to share whom you considered to have great taste!).
- A book in translation.
- A book nominated for an award in 2018 (stay tuned for my annual Alex Award posting in late January!).
- A book of poetry, a play or an essay collection.
- A book you can read in a day.
- A book that's more than 500 pages.
- A book by a favorite author.
- A book recommended by a librarian or and indie bookseller (Hmmm, anyone know a certified librarian???).
- A banned book (ALA Banned Book Week celebration is September 24-29th).
- A memoir, biography or book of creative nonfiction.
- Book by an author of a different race, ethnicity or religion than your own.
Pathfinder - 25 books
For the Pathfinders in the group, you start with the 12 in the discovery level, then add these 13 categories (all but one of which I grabbed from the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge).
- A devotional or journal that read throughout the year (Daily, weekly, monthly theme).
- True Crime.
- The next book you've started in a series.
- A novel based on a real person (biographical fiction-if you haven't yet read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian I highly recommend!).
- A book set in a country that fascinates you.
- A book about mental health.
- A book that was borrowed or given to you.
- A book by two authors.
- A book by a local author.
- A book mentioned in another book.
- A book that's published in 2018.
- A past GoodReads Choice Award winner.
- A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn't get to.
Summit Challenge - 52 books
In addition to the 25 books at the Discovery and Pathfinder level, challenge yourself from these following categories.... (coming soon :0 )
- a political book that makes you think about "the other side" (whichever side that may be! - bonus points if you get a recommendation from someone with different political beliefs than yours. We need convos people!)
- An art book (you pick the genre of art - choice can be biography, era, how-to, etc).
- A novel/nonfiction book about someone who changes a fundamental aspect of their identity (e.g., leaving Amish church, Hasidic community, transgender, sexual orientation etc.).
- Political history (challenge is to make it something that stretches your thinking, not confirms your position).
- A book on an -ism (racism, feminism, etc.)
- A book on finances.
- A book you expect to make you laugh.
- A book about or inspired by real events.
- An author's debut book (their first book to be published).
- A book set in a country (or state) you'd like to visit but have never been to.
- A book from Amazon's 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime list (link).
- A book from the Great Books of the Western World list.
- Short story collection.
- A book that intimidates/ scares you.
- A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth).
- A book published posthumously.
- A book about nature.
- A book of true crime.
- A book that will be released as a movie in 2018. (Books to Movies IBDM)
- An essay anthology.
- A book related to your profession.
- A book from the point of view of something other than human.
- A self help book.
- A history book (not a text! natural history, political history, history of rock n roll).
- Biography or memoir of your favorite musician or band.
- A "food" book (cookbook, chef bio, foodie lit)
- A book about your favorite hobby.