“We read to know we’re not alone.”
William Nicholson
Reading may be an inherently solitary activity, but it is something we can do as part of a wider community. Perhaps that explains the popularity of reading challenges. Or maybe they are just a way to hold ourselves accountable or expand our reading horizons. Whatever the case, as long as there are readers, there will be reading challenges!
Of the plethora of reading challenges available, I’ve decided to take part in 4 — one is my own Book Bingo reading challenge, of course. The other two are based on the number of books read, and the fourth is based on book recommendations.
The Book Bingo reading challenge
Yes, Yes. I’m starting with the challenge that I host myself, so shoot me! 😉
This is a simple, highly customizable to your reading tastes challenge that also prompts you to read a bit beyond your comfort zone. Though I set the prompts myself, and usually have a fairly good idea of which books I will reach for each of the prompts, I rarely stick to that list, and I don’t always complete the challenge. Rebellious, I know!
I’ve already crossed off 5 of the prompts, and am just two books away from having an entire row of prompts completed. Look at me go! 😉
This year, I do want to complete the entire bingo card, so I’m committing to that here, in public. Hold me accountable, will you?
You can find the details of this challenge here — and join in, maybe?
12 in 12 challenge
The premise of this challenge is super simple: get 12 friends to recommend one book each and read those 12 books during the year. I was introduced to this challenge by Ritu Bindra, who hosts the Bookish League blog hop over at Bohemian Bibliophile.
I got my recommendations from members of the blog hop and came up with this list of 12 in 12 for 2024.
The Blogchatter TBR challenge
This is my fourth year participating in the #TBRChallenge by Blogchatter. This is a simple challenge based on the number of books you target to read during the year. I’ve set my target here at 30 books. I’m fairly confident I will read 30 books this year — I often read more than 30, but when I set numbers-based targets for myself, I prefer to err on the side of caution.
Why, you may ask? Well, because reading is a fun activity, and I don’t want to read just to meet an arbitrary numbers goal. I like to set goals that I believe are achievable and will be pleasurable to meet.
The Goodreads Reading Challenge
This is another numbers-based challenge, and my target here, too, is the same as on Blogchatter’s reading challenge.
As of this writing, I’ve already read 8 books, and Goodreads tells me I am 5 books ahead of schedule. Seeing this number always gives me a thrill!
The only difference between this challenge and Blogchatter’s challenge is the community aspect that Blogchatter builds so beautifully around everything that they do. There are monthly #TBRChallenge activities, and they’ve released the entire calendar for the year.
For February, for example, the prompt is to talk about your favorite literary couple in the form of a blog post, reel or tweet thread. I’ve already got my favorite literary couples noted; I’ll be posting a tweet thread about them soon!
I love that we have the option to participate on any platform of our choosing. It makes it so much more enjoyable and easy to participate.
So there you have it — those are all the reading challenges I’m taking part in this year.
Before you go, tell me what challenges you’re taking part in in the comments below.
And if you love books and reading, sign up for The Reader’s Nook — a simple, monthly bookish newsletter, where I send book recommendations, mini book reviews, and send out seasonal reading recommendations a couple of times of a year.
Because reading is a fun activity, and I don’t want to read just to meet an arbitrary numbers goal. I like to set goals that I believe are achievable and will be pleasurable to meet.
I hear you here. This is something I’m still catching up with but did start start following a bit from 2023. I hope I can be easy on myself and enjoy the process this year too. I’m also participating in three reading challenges this year (which is quite unlike myself honestly). Hope you have a great year with books
Yes, go easy on yourself. Things you do for pleasure don’t need to be made into punishing goals! It should be simply about following the joy.
I salute your enthusiasm for expanding your reading horizons and engaging with diverse literary experiences. I’m excited to see where these challenges lead you on your reading journey!
Reading is my chief passion now that I’m leaving teaching. But somehow I never came to like reading challenges. They are restrictive, I feel. So I’ll carry on making my own choices…
I can see why some people find them restrictive too. It’s good that you will soon have a lot of time to read!
I love reading challenges mostly because they help me stay focussed on reading. This time, I am too participating in 4 challenges and I keep telling myself to not get overwhelmed! I hope you enjoy reading all the books that 2024 have to offer!
That overwhelm can be real! Hope you have a wonderful reading year!
I’ve never taken part in a reading challenge. When I tried to, it felt restrictive and I didn’t enjoyed reading. But these are some fun challenges you shared here, Shinjini. 🙂
I can see how reading challenges can be restrictive! I used to feel the same way about them until I came up with my Book Bingo challenge. Maybe it’s because I choose the prompts, but I also try to leave a lot of room for interpretation and a wide variety of books to choose from — things that are important for me as a reader.
Your Book Bingo challenge is interesting, Shinj. Rather than focusing on the number of books, Book Bingo prompts gives you a direction to go on. I might try it if I am not intimidated by the challenge. 🙂
Go for it, Vini!! xx
Challenges I’m taking part in don’t really include a “reading challenge,” although I set a goal of 26 books (2 a month) this year. I used to devour a hefty novel in a few hours; I’m not sure what’s happened, but 26 will be more than last year.
The challenge I’m focused on this year is The Stafford Challenge – to write one poem a day for 366 days. So far, so good. I’m right on pace. Not all of them are “publishable,” but a few are contenders. It’s more than I’d have if I just thought about it.
That sounds like a very doable goal, Holly. And The Stafford Challenge sounds very interesting! It’s been a while since I’ve written any poetry, though I have signed up for a poetry workshop this Saturday!
This is the year I get BACK to Reading 🙂 This is my promise to myself… though I find challenges a bit scary right now, I am dipping my toes back in with the Goodreads reading challenge. I have set myself an ambitious goal this year, so lets see where we land by the end of the year 🙂
I love reading about what you are reading and your thoughts 🙂 one of my favorite bookish activities is to read other people’s book reviews and thoughts, and i have just discovered booktube 🙂
You know I’ll hold you to this promise, right? 🙂 Booktubers, let’s discuss when we meet up this weekend!
I have taken part in Blogchatter’s reading challenge for the last two years. Either time, I reached the target numbers. This year I joined it again and the 12 Books Challenge by Bookish League. I will try my best to reach the target is what I say now. 🙂
All the best, Prasanna!
I see some lovely books on the 12 friends 12 rec challenge, like The Girl WHo Fell. I adored that book!
And Maybe You Should Talk To Someone is a personal favourite as well I hope you enjoy them 😀
I recently finished The Girl Who Fell, loved it!! I’ve had Maybe You Should Talk To Someone on my TBR since a while — hopefully this challenge will give me the push to finally read it!
You and I have the same reading challenges, except for the Bookish Bingo ( still too scared to wade into it)
Here’s cheering from the sidelines for you!
Cheering you on too! And don’t be scared of the Book Bingo! It’s fun! And not difficult at all. Just give me a holler if you have questions about it, and sign up for the Reader’s Nook for book recommendations on each of the prompts 😉
I always sign up for the Goodreads challenge, but it’s more to track my reading than anything else.
It’s a good way to track reading – I love seeing all the book covers adding up as the year goes by!
I was torn between taking up a Reading challenge or going on my own sweet pace so I just undertook #blogchatter’s Reading challenge because it lets you choose your own pace and also gives you prompts that can diversify your reading habits.
Blogchatter’s reading challenge has prompts? I seem to have missed that. Will have to go take another look! All the best with your year of reading!
Firstly Hi-fi. I’m a part of the latter 3 challenges mentioned by you and somehow never knew of the one you are yourself hosting. Rectifying my error and signing up to be a part of your Book Bingo 2024 Challenge. Happy Reading!
Wonderful! So glad to have you joining in to the Book Bingo challenge! Happy reading!
I participate in Goodreads challenge and Blogchatter’s TBR challenge. And yes, it’s difficult to stick to the book choices we make, as some unexpected book comes up. Like, I was supposed to read Ek Khali Jagah by Amrita Pritam but suddenly felt like re-reading a Sophie Kinsella book which I read 12 years ago (and loved), so currently I’m rereading that book. 🙂
I am part of all the four challenges you have mentioned. Initially, I got confused as to which book to begin with. Then, I just began reading the book I wanted to and matched it with the challenges. I think listing them makes a difference, more organised.
Yeah, that’s the best part with reading challenges. Sometimes, you can read one book that ticks the boxes for different challenges!
I have not signed up for any of the challenges this year…though when I read posts like this on reading challenges, honestly I do feel left out so maybe next year! And, the book bingo challenge is always so tempting but somehow I chicken out so until then it is just random picking a book from my TBR stack!
Just give in to temptation and take part in the book bingo. It’s super fun, if I can say so myself 😉
I’ve always felt daunted by reading challenges, worried I might slump because I HAD to finish a book for a challenge that I’m not able to get into 😭😭😭😭. But I love how you’ve enjoyed it, gives me little excitement at the thought of maybe finding something I might like! I do GR challenges every year too!! I agree, seeing that you’re ahead is such a thrill!
Reading challenges are to bring in more people to reading habits and the best goal of a reading challenge is to get people excited about reading! I have registered for two of the reading challenges this year.
I have enrolled in reading challenges but somehow I prefer my own pace with both reading and writing.
I am part of Goodreads Challenge and Blogchatter TBR challenge. I have reduced my quantity to quality books this year as I am planning to reread a few of my books.
Wow, it sounds like you’re embarking on quite the reading adventure this year! I love how you’ve carefully chosen a variety of challenges that suit your reading style and preferences. Your Book Bingo challenge sounds like a lot of fun, especially with the freedom to interpret the prompts in your own way!
That’s the key, I think — to choose challenges that suit your reading preferences and styles!
There are so many book reading challenges thanks to you for putting all of them together. 😊
I have always found reading challenges fun. Particularly the prompt based ones like your Book Bingo Challenge. High five on the picks. Participating in them too although I am going through a reading slump of sorts. More out of lack of time than anything else.
Well, here’s hoping you have some time to read soon, and you pick yourself up out of the slump! Happy reading, Ritu!