‘Tis the season for making promises I won’t be able to keep! I mean, let’s start the new year off on a positive note! I’m not very good at sticking to reading challenges for an entire year, but I always get excited in the beginning of the year anyway. This year is no exception. I’m actually adding an extra reading challenge that I found, so we’ll see how it goes.
1. Goodreads Challenge
First up, the Goodreads challenge, which I’ve joined every year since 2012. In 2017 I met (and exceeded!) my goal:
I’m keeping the same goal of 75 books for 2018, which seems to be doable for me, considering my busy schedule.
2. WWE Women of Genre Fiction Challenge
I was panicking for a few days because I didn’t see this challenge up on the Worlds Without End website, but today it was added, and I’m so relieved! They actually have a “Men of Genre Fiction” challenge this year, which HAS to be a spoof! But in any case, the idea is read novels that are in the WWE database written by women authors who are “new to you.” This year they added a twist. If you sign up for the Pathfinder level, the challenge is to read twelve books by new-to-you women authors, and twelve books by previously read authors. I love that because I had a hard time last year fitting in 24 “new to me” books.
Here is how I did in 2017. I read 16 out of 24 books, but I cheated a bit as I’ve read some of these authors before. If you’d like to join, click here! You need to create a user name/login, but it’s easy to sign up.
3. 2018 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge #monthlymotifgxo
I’ve been loving the Girl XOXO blog (we seem to have a lot of books in common), and this year I’m going to sign up for their Monthly Motif Reading Challenge which offers readers a chance each month to read a book based on a theme. I’m hoping this fits in nicely with my review books, since the themes aren’t super specific. You can find out more about the challenge here, and sign up as well! Should be fun. January’s theme, just in case you’re interested, is to read a diverse book:
JANUARY – Diversify Your Reading
Kick the reading year off right and shake things up. Read a book with a character (or written by an author) of a race, religion, or sexual orientation other than your own.
And I’ve already completed the January challenge with my last read, Winterglass by Benjanun Sriduangkaew (review coming soon!)
These challenges are pretty awesome. I might join one or two. Good luck with all your challenges.
Thanks Fee, they should be fun, good luck if you decide to join one as well!
I might have to look up the WWE and Motif challenges – thanks for sharing!
Sure thing, good luck if you decide to try one!
The WWE challenge looks like a lot of fun! I may have to join that one to help me with my backlist 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Liz H. recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: January 2018 Releases
It is fun, and I like how you can keep track of your books on their site.
Challenges… the hard part is how to resist signing up for too many of them! 🙂
Thanks for sharing the Monthly Motif one: it seems like something I can fit into my short-ish reading time!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…PLANETARY AWARDS 2017
I like Monthly Motif because you don’t necessarily have to do it each month. You can choose to skip a month if it’s just not your thing. I like the low pressure of that:-)
I enter the goodreads challenge each year to encourage myself to keep reading more. I didn’t reach my goal in 2017 so I’ll try again this year. I’ll have to take a look at the WWE challenges. I love going through some of their lists.
todd recently posted…My Favorite Books and Films from 2017
They have some good challenges! If I didn’t already have a couple that I’ve committed to, I might even try another one of theirs.
Looks like you’ve picked some good ones. I mixed mine up a bit this year. I think they are a lot of fun but I admit, sometimes the pressure to achieve can be a bit much. Hope you have fun with yours because that’s what it’s all about.
I agree, it should be fun or what’s the point?
Good luck with the challenge! I join this one every year too, so one of these days I’ll have to log into WWE and sign up 🙂
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…Book Review: Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
Thanks, I’m glad they are doing it again! When I first checked out the site, all I saw was the “Men” challenge, and I was worried.
Reading challenges really stress me out, so the only one I ever participate in is the Goodreads challenge. I am intrigued by the Women of Genre Fiction one, though. LOL re: “Men of Genre Fiction.”
Danya @ Fine Print recently posted…Mini Reviews: Fantastical Mixed Bag Edition
Usually I get stressed out too – I mean it’s bad enough when Goodreads is telling you you’re “3 books behind!” But I think these will be fun.
If joining challenges makes you happy, then go for it! And anyway, these sound totally doable! I’ve seen the Motif one, and it sounds like a great one because of how loose the themes are, making it perfect for mood readers and not super stressful. Good luck with these!
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Book Review: The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles Book 3) by Anne Rice
That’s what I was going for, doable! I don’t want to stress myself out. But I do feel it’s important to read more women writers, and that’s why I love that WWE challenge.
I need to consider whether to join some reading challenges – I haven’t been part of any before, other than the Goodreads one. You have done really well with yours during 2017, Tammy, and it looks like great fun:)
I don’t usually do challenges, because I start out strong and then forget all about them! But I feel these are manageable.
I really like this WWE challenge, it is a great one! 🙂
It is great, and it makes you think about how many books out there are written by male writers, and how many books by male writers I end up reading. I like to be aware of that:-)
Some really nice challenges here. I’m going to stick to just the Goodreads one and also going for 75 again! Best of luck on completing these, Tammy. 😀
All the best on your goals and challenges. I’m joining a few that’ll encourage me to spend less and read more of my own books, like the TBR Pile Challenge and the Library Love Challenge. Hopefully we’ll both stick to our challenges throughout the year. I tend to go off track after a while too.
Good luck with your challenges. I did join the WWE challenge one year and it was good fun – I should maybe take part again.
Lynn 😀
WWE site is fascinating, though I wish it could be synced with Goodreads for example.
You’re up for interesting challenges this year! 🙂