I mentioned in our new weekly update feature that I’ve been working on two reading challenges this year. Just like Pamela, I’ve been in a terrible reading slump and just barely completed my 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge. Technically doing the Goodreads challenge would mean I’m doing three of them, but it’s really just to see if I read x amount of books in a year. The other two are focused on reading different formats or genres, trying to get you out of your reading comfort zone.
Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge is geared toward making you read things you wouldn’t normally consider. The twenty-four criteria involve picking reads about underrepresented groups, from non-adult reading levels, and in varying formats like audiobooks or graphic novels. As the title says, it wants you to read harder and push your reading choices. On its own, the challenge is a pretty doable task – you would average two books per month through the year. You can join their Goodreads group to see what other participants are talking about or reading. There’s also the option of meeting up in person depending on where you live. At the end of the year, you send in your completed list and receive a 30% off coupon code for the Book Riot store (which always has cool booky stuff). Â
Over at PopSugar, they have a larger reading challenge that covers a number of genres and themes. Per their Goodreads group, one title can cover up to three of the challenge criteria, but I didn’t see that on the original page. However in my case, I have some books that appear on both lists. If you’re a Goodreads user, you can set a goal through their group page and see how far you’re coming along. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to appear on your profile or home page like the Goodreads counter does. There isn’t an incentive like Book Riot offers, but you should be able to walk away knowing you read a lot this year.
If you’re an Instagram user, you can check out both challenges’ hashtags (#bookriotreadharder and #popsugarreadingchallenge) to see what people are reading this year as well as contribute yourself. Though not related to any of the challenges themselves, I’m also a fan of the #bookstagram tag when posting book photos. You can check out some of them on my Instagram account (as well as pictures of food and my pets, natch). I’ll also be posting all of the books I read, as I finish them, on my reading challenge pinboard along with links to purchase them.
Are there any reading challenges you’re doing this year that we might have missed? Comment below with the info or just share some of the books you want to read this year.
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