2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Anna's 2024 Reading Plans
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The challenges I am joining starting tomorrow:Massachusetts Reading Challenge - 2024 - 1 per month
Winter Tourist Season - Q1 2024 - going for 6
Winter Words - Q1 2024 - going for 3
Finish Line - 2024 - going for 25
A-Z Challenge - 2024 - going for 20
It's in the Cards - 2024 - going for 22
CLEAR THE SHELVES CHALLENGE - 2024 - going for 12
Dewey Decimal Challenge - 2024 - going for 20
Bibliopoly - 2024 - going for 20
Popsugar Challenge - 2024 - going for 20
Magical Mystery Tour - 2024 - going for 10
A lot of books should hopefully hit multiple challenges.
Also, a note to remember 2023 by:78 books read
56 were audiobooks and 22 were print books
31 were fiction and 47 were non-fiction.
Books I am reading through the rest of January:Print:
The League of Lady Poisoners
Profiles in Courage
Brave Companions
Electronic:
Преступление и Наказание
Audio:
The Archer
The Woman in Me
(the rest TBD based on when my holds become available)
January:6 books read (4 audiobooks and 2 print books)
Didn't have as much time to read as I would have liked. Let's see how the rest of the year goes.
As of today, I have finished 15 books. I am not tracking progress yet across the yearly challenges because I don't want to count something against one category and then realize it could fit another one that is much harder to match. I will take stock sometime around July to plan out my reading for the second half of the year to ensure I fill all the lacunae.I feel I am not doing all that well on the quarterly challenges and I might actually miss my goals there...
On the Winter Tourist Season:1. Hell, Norway -- 1899 (-14.8F / -26.0C)
Read a book that involves music, is set in Norway, or has a mountain or cave on the cover.
2. Naryn, Kyrgyzstan -- 2023 (-17.3F / -27.4C)
Read a book set in the Middle Ages, featuring road travel, or set near a river, park, or lake.
3. Erzurum, Türkiye -- 2009 (-32.8F / -36C)
Read a book that involves twins, is set near a ski resort, or has a bridge on the cover.
4. Anchorage, Alaska, United States -- 1947 (-38F / -38.9)
Read a book with boat or air travel, about a large mammal, or written by an indigenous author.
5. Fraser, Colorado, United States -- 1962 (-43F / -41.7C)
Read a book featuring winter sports, a division of any type, or published in 1962.
6. Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States -- 1912 (-43F / -41.7C)
Read a historical or western book, a book with a horse on the cover, or a book about indigenous peoples.
7. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia -- 1957 (-47F / -43.9)
Read a book set during World War II, a book about a nomadic culture, or a book with a Buddhist character or author.
8. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada -- 1879 (-54F / -47.8C)
Read a book with any furry animal on the cover, a book originally written in French, or a book about a traveler.
9. International Falls, Minnesota, United States -- 1909 (-55F / -48.3)
Read a book set along a border, about a runner, or with a bird in the title or cover art.
10. Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States -- 1923 (-56F / -48.9C)
Read a book about whales, a book where the weather has a major impact on the story, or a book set where the “midnight sun” or “polar night” phenomena occur (north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle).
11. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada -- 1947 (-60F / -51.1C)
Read a book set in a castle, with gold or diamonds on the cover, or with a compass direction in the title.
12. Dudinka, Russia -- 1947 (-60F / -51.1C)
Read a set in Russia, with money in the title or cover art, or a book where flooding occurs.
13. Astana, Kazakhstan -- 1893 (-60.9F / -51.6C)
Read a book about someone with a name change, a book about spirituality, or with a palace or pyramid on the cover.
14. Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada -– 1975 (-63F / -52.8C)
Read a book where an illness impacts a population, a book by a Canadian author, or a book set on an island.
15. Golmud, Qinghai, China -- 2023 (-63.4F / -53C)
Read a book with two or 2 in the title, featuring a train ride, or with a landscape on the cover.
16. Harbin, China –- 2023 (-63.4F / -53C)
Read a book that involves art or architecture, with an icy or snowy cover, or set in China.
17. Fairbanks, Alaska, United States -- 1934 (-66F / -54.4C)
Read a book set at a school, a book about polar explorers, or a book with the sun on the cover.
18. Snag, Yukon, Canada -- 1947 (-81F / -62.8C)
Read a book set in a small village or town, with a cover that shows falling precipitation, or set during a gold rush.
19. Yakutsk, Russia -– 2023 (-83.9F / -64.4C)
Read a book translated from Russian, with a fish on the cover, or involving special accommodations or modifications.
20. Oymyakon, Sakha Republic, Russia -– 1924 (-96.2F / -71.2C)
Read a book with a car on the cover, a book about any ethnic culture/group, or with a cold word in the title (frozen, frigid, etc.)
I should have 7 at least completed by the end of the quarter:
1 - Brave Companions (in progress)
4 - Death on the Nile
6 - Red Badge of Courage
7 - Miracle of Mindfulness
12 - Crime and Punishment (in progress)
15 - Eastbound (in progress)
16 - Lovely Bones
Well, I managed to complete the two winter quarterly challenges, and I signed up for the Spring ones; All about Spring: 7 books
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
TBR Spring Cleaning - 6 books
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
20 books read in Q1 2024.13 audiobooks
5 print books
2 e-books
10 were fiction, including 2 short stories
10 were non-fiction
Just to check in with the progress on the yearly challenges:A-Z Challenge (going for 20) - message 92 or 93
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
15/20 - still need letters E, F, G, I, J, N, Q, V, X, Y, Z
Clear the Shelves (going for 12) - message 69
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Only read 1 of the 12 physical books so far, but once I am finished with the current four books I have borrowed from the library, I will tackle the ones I already have. Promise-promise.
It's in the Cards (going for 22) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
9/22
Dewey Decimal (going for 20) - message 40
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
9/20 (expect to increase the goal since I read a lot of non-fiction usually but I am trying to read more fiction this year!)
Popsugar Challenge (going for 20) - message
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
5/20 - and 20 may have been an ambitious goal given the prompts... but I can ask to decrease it in the fall if I see myself really falling behind (though I want to challenge myself to meet it!)
Magical Mystery Tour (going for 10) - message 67
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
4/10
Finish Line (going for 25) - message 54
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
12/25 - this is a lot of fun and I think I might up my goal!
Bibliopoly (going for 20) - message 50
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
10/20 - another fun challenge that I may up a bit before the year is over
For the quarterlies, I am done with All About Spring and I have upped my goal on the Spring Cleaning to 10.The Spring Cleaning:
📗 The thick - a book with more than 500 pages
📗 The thin - a book with less than 200 pages
Eastbound
Finessing the King: A Short Story
📗 The pretty - a book with a pretty cover
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
Celebrating Jewellery
📗 The ugly - a book with an ugly cover
Poverty, by America
📗 The unknown - a book with few reviews
Amazing Gems: An Illustrated Guide to the World's Most Dazzling Costume Jewelry
📗 The exotic - a book set in an unvisited place
The Bitter Side of Sweet
📗 The tough - a book that's a challenging read
📗 The random - a book that you've chosen blindly
The Lessons of History
📗 The old-timer - a book with more time waiting on your shelf
📗 The ancient - a book written long ago
📗 The sequel - a continuation
📗 The special - a must read
📗 The good - a book with the best ratings
📗 The bad - a book with the worst ratings
📗 The popular - a book with many reviews
To Kill a Mockingbird
📗 The well-connected - a book that someone recommended
📗 The cheap - a reduced-price book
📗 The expensive - a high-priced book
📗 The given - a free book
📗 The new - a new release
Checking in with the progress on the yearly challenges:A-Z Challenge (going for 20) - message 92 or 93
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
19/20 - still need letters I, N, Q, V, X, Y, Z
Since I am almost done with my original goal, and the year is not quite halfway over, I will try to read something for each of the remaining letters, but I haven't formally increased my goal at this time.
Clear the Shelves (going for 12) - message 69
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Um. Still at 1 out of 12. But as soon as I am done with this one library book, I will tackle my long-delayed reading, I swear!
It's in the Cards (going for 22) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
14/22
Popsugar Challenge (going for 20) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
7/20 - definitely a challenge to read books I wouldn't normally read...
Dewey Decimal (going for 30) - message 40
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
17/30 - I increased my goal to 30 from the original 20
Magical Mystery Tour (going for 10) - message 67
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
6/10
Finish Line (going for 40) - message 54
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
22/40 - upped my goal from the original 25
Bibliopoly (going for 30) - message 50
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
17/30 - increased from the original 20
For the summer/Q3 quarterly challenges, I have signed up for https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... - 5
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... - 10
My own bucket list ideas:
- hike in a state park I haven't visited before
- hike in the mountains
- visit a wildlife refuge I haven't visited before
- eat ice cream on the waterfront or at a beach
- go to the ocean
- go sailing or kayaking or boating
- read a book on the deck and not get bit by mosquitoes
- go raspberry picking
- go blueberry picking
- go peach picking
- eat barbecue
- twirl a hula hoop
- attend a live sporting event
- have a meal outdoors with friends
- visit a botanical garden
- visit a zoo
- visit a library
- visit a street fair or art and craft show
- attend a free outdoor performance or concert
Checking in as it is the middle of Q3:Massachusetts Reading Challenge: I missed the deadline for completing July - forgot to post it until August 1, but I have completed every month so far.
My annual site reading challenge was 50, I think I will up it to 60 since I am at 43 as of today and expect to hit 50 before the end of September.
Summer Games - message #48, 4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Summer Bucket List - message #43, 5/10
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
A-Z Challenge (going for 20) - message 93
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
20/20 - DONE but I want to see if I can complete the remaining letters N, Q, V, X, Y, Z
Clear the Shelves (going for 12) - message 69
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
No progress, still at just 1/12
It's in the Cards (going for 22) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
19/22 completed, I might consider going for some of the minor arcana but probably not
Popsugar Challenge (going for 20) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
9/20
Dewey Decimal (going for 30) - message 40
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
21/30
Magical Mystery Tour (going for 10) - message 67
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
8/10
Who 1, What 1, When 3, Where 1, How 1, Why 1, Bonus 0
Finish Line (going for 40) - message 54
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
29/40 and I think I might want to increase my goal to 50 the next time!
Bibliopoly (going for 30) - message 50
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
20/30
An update so I know what to focus on for the last two weeks of Q3:Massachusetts Reading Challenge: done through September. October is a book 'about period of history you would like to know more about' - it will be a Seleucid book, one of a few I have bought last year but haven't read yet
2024 Reading Challenge: I am at 52 books as of today for the year, and I upped the goal to 60, but I will probably increase it again in October/November... to 70, won't go above 70 on the goal even if I do exceed it at the end.
Summer Games - message #48, 5/5 - DONE
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Summer Bucket List - message #43, 9/10
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I need to find one more book that has summertime activities like swimming, picking fruit or at least going to the library...
Looking at the fall challenges:
Fall into Books
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
One one hand I love all the themes, on the other I should really try to read the books I already have instead of going for the new ones, so I am torn between going for all 12 or for a smaller number. Sigh.
Balancing It Out
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Love this idea too, I will probably go for 10...
A-Z Challenge (going for 20) - message 93
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
20/20 - DONE but I want to see if I can complete the remaining letters N, Q, V, X, Y, Z
Clear the Shelves (going for 12) - message 69
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
No progress, still at just 1/12
It's in the Cards (going for 22) - message 58 - 22/22 - DONE!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Popsugar Challenge (going for 20) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
10/20
Dewey Decimal (going for 30) - message 40
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
27/30 - debating on whether I should up the goal or just go for it and see where I end up, after all, it's OK to exceed the goal!
Magical Mystery Tour (going for 10) - message 67
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
9/10
Who 1, What 1, When 3, Where 1, How 2, Why 1, Bonus 0
Finish Line (going for 40) - message 54
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
36/40 and depending on how I do, I might increase it to 50 at the end of October.
Bibliopoly (going for 30) - message 50
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
23/30
Massachusetts Reading Challenge: I am done through November, and my December selection - a well-reviewed book in my least favorite genre - would have to be either Romance or Horror. I will see what fits my mood better.2024 Reading Challenge: I upped my goal to 70 and I think I will make it. I am currently at 64, so I have 6 books to read in 40 days. Easy peasy.
Fall into Books (going for 6) - message 38
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
6/6 - DONE, I probably could have set a higher goal but as I am due to start a new job in December, I won't be upping it now
Balancing it out (going for 10) - message 30
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
8/10
A-Z Challenge (going for 20) - message 93
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
20/20 - DONE but I want to see if I can complete the remaining letters N, Q, V, X, Y, Z
Clear the Shelves (going for 12) - message 69
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Just 2/12 - I don't think I will get through more than 5 at best. Oh well, I did have good intentions when I set this goal back in January.
Popsugar Challenge (going for 20) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
12/20 and I am in serious danger of missing this one as well
Dewey Decimal (going for 30) - message 40
30/30 - DONE and I will not be upping the goal, though I will probably read a couple more non-fiction books before the year is over (one is 40% done right now, in fact)
Magical Mystery Tour (going for 10) - message 67
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
10/10 - DONE! - it was actually hard, because even though I have read quite a few mysteries this year, they were almost all written by Agatha Christie and often only satisfied the same clues that were already used up.
Who 1, What 1, When 3, Where 1, How 3, Why 1, Bonus 0
Finish Line (going for 40) - message 54
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
40/40 - DONE!
Bibliopoly (going for 30) - message 50
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
25/30
This is tough as some of the remaining categories are kind of out there for me... but we will see.
To help me plan and focus, an abbreviation version of just things I am still working on:Massachusetts Reading Challenge: December - either a Romance or a Horror book, if I can get something nice and short
2024 Reading Challenge: 64/70
QUARTERLY:
Balancing it out (going for 10) - message 30
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
8/10 - should be easy to complete
ANNUAL
A-Z Challenge (going for 20) - message 93
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
20/20 - DONE but can add N, Q, V, X, Y, Z
Clear the Shelves (going for 12) - message 69
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2/12 - not going to make this one...
Popsugar Challenge (going for 20) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
12/20
Options:
1. A book with the word "leap" in the title
3. A book about a 24-year-old
6. A book about pirates
7. A book about women's sports and/or by a woman athlete
8. A book by a blind or visually impaired author
9. A book by a deaf or hard-of-hearing author
10. A book by a self-published author
11. A book from a genre you typically avoid
13. A book originally published under a pen name
14. A book recommended by a bookseller
15. A book recommended by a librarian
16. A book set 24 years before you were born
19. A book set in the future
20. A book set in the snow
22. A book that centers on video games
24. A book that takes place over the course of 24 hours
25. A book that was published 24 years ago
28. A book with a main character who's 42 years old
29. A book with a neurodivergent main character
30. A book with a one-word title you had to look up in a dictionary
32. A book with an enemies-to-lovers plot
33. A book with an unreliable narrator
34. A book with at least three POVs
35. A book with magical realism
36. A book written by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person
38. A cozy fantasy book
39. A fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author
40. A horror book by a BIPOC author
42. A nonfiction book about Indigenous people
43. A second-chance romance
46. A book in which a character sleeps for more than 24 hours
48. A collection of at least 24 poems
50. A book that starts with the letter "X"
Bibliopoly (going for 30) - message 50
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
25/30
Options:
🎁 3. Community Chest: Participate in one of our Group Reads. (Which month and book?)
💲 5. Tax: Read a book with money on the cover or in the title.
🚂 6. Reading Railroad: Read a book from a celebrity book club list, such as Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, etc.
❓ 8. Chance: Read a book from your TBR shelf within the ten highest or lowest number of ratings.
🟦 9. Blue: Read a book with an author or character whose sexual orientation is different from your own.
🌸 12. Pink: Read a book with any type of dog on the cover or in the title.
🚘 21. Free Parking: Read a book of your choice. Anything goes!
🟥 22. Red: Read a book with a car, truck or bus on the cover, or involving a road trip.
🟨 27. Yellow: Read a book with a boot or shoe on the cover, or involving foot travel.
🟨 28. Yellow: Read a book with an author or character who has a physical disability or impairment, an emotional or mental disorder, or a neurodivergent condition.
🟩 32. Green: Read a book with a thimble, sewing or craft implement on the cover or in the title.
❓ 37. Chance: Read a book from your TBR shelf within the ten highest or lowest average star rating.
🧿 38. Dark Blue: Read a book with any type of cat on the cover or in the title.
And for 2025: Mass Reading Challenge:
January: a book published or about year of my birth
February: a book with the name of a city in the title
March: a book about someone with a marginalized identity
April: a book about books, bookstores or libraries
Q1 challenge: Sad Songs
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I think I will go for 12, the challenges fit nicely with my preferred reading topics
Q1 challenge: Embracing the Blues
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I will probably go for 5 - I am not into sadness, or books with a strong emotional compotnent, and while blue is a common color in book covers, it's not one I can expect to carry me far.
The year is almost over...Massachusetts Reading Challenge: December - a Poe collection for Horror...
2024 Reading Challenge: 71/70 - DONE
QUARTERLY:
Balancing it out (going for 10) - message 30 - 10/10 DONE
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
ANNUAL
A-Z Challenge (going for 20) - message 93 - 21/20 - DONE
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Still can add N, Q, V, X, Z
Clear the Shelves (going for 12) - message 69
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2/12 - final count. Oh well, something to strive for in 2025.
Popsugar Challenge (going for 20) - message 58
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
14/20 - the goal was too ambitious. I read what I like to read, and didn't follow prompts. I will take this into account when setting goals for 2025.
Bibliopoly (going for 30) - message 50- 30/30 - DONE
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Here are the 72 books I read in 2024:32 Fiction, 40 Non-Fiction
52 Audiobooks, 17 Print copies, 3 E-books/Online
Genre-wise, Mystery was the biggest Fiction genre with 14
On Non-Fiction side, the biggest topics were bio/memoir (8), jewelry (8) and social issues (7). Surprisingly, no books about language topics this year, and only two tangentially related to food.
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Poverty, by America (other topics)Eastbound (other topics)
Finessing the King: A Short Story (other topics)
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women (other topics)
Celebrating Jewellery (other topics)
More...
I tend to read things that are of interest to me - and my 'To read' list is ever growing. A lot of non-fiction (culture and anthropology, language, food, healthcare, nature and history are some of my big topics of interest) and quite a bit of fiction (some mysteries, some historical fiction, some classics and a smattering of other genres are all on the plate). The challenges do make me explore a bit more than I would have done before, and while many of my explorations haven't really been enjoyable reads, some were worthwhile.
I am probably going to shoot for 50 to start with, and see how it goes. This year I will be doing more than 70 but I don't think I will be reading quite this much next year, as I am going to be working on a certification program, and also will not have some of the reference books that I read this year. But I will see.