2016 Reading Challenge

At the beginning of this year I set out on a bit of a reading adventure. As I mentioned on my blog in January I’d found a list titled “26 books to read in 2015” and I thought, “why not try it?” On New Year’s Day I spent quite a bit of time choosing books for each category on the list. Of course, when I got to the category “A Book You Were Supposed to Read in School but Didn’t” I was stumped because I would NEVER have failed to do assigned reading! Well, perhaps once or twice I would skim, but skip an entire book? By the way, I ended up reading Lee Harper’s classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, to fill that category. And seriously, what are the odds that I’d finally read a book published 55 years ago the same year that her previously unpublished book, Go Set a Watchman, comes out?

As I gathered ideas for books to put on my 2015 reading list I ended up creating a couple Pinterest boards, “26 Books in 2015” and “Books I’d Like to Read Someday,” the second, of course, to deal with all the suggested books that I wasn’t going to be able to fit into 2015. Truth be told, a person wouldn’t really need to create a Pinterest page of the books they plan to read but I found it a fun way to dream and create my list. And when I was ready to start a new book I didn’t have to spend a lot of time searching for just the right one – I had a ready-made list to choose from.

Overall I really enjoyed this challenge but there were a few adjustments I had to make along the way. For instance, when my pastor’s book came out last spring I wanted to read it even though it wasn’t previously on the list. I’d already read my “Published This Year” book so I eliminated my previous choice for “A Book That Will Make you Smarter” category and inserted “Thrill Sequence” into that category. And, due to what my girlfriend calls my “sensitive spirit” I discovered, after reading three books related to war in just over two months, I was going to have to eliminate all future war books from my 2015 list. I just needed a break from man’s inhumanity to man. I also realized that doing any deep reading in December just wasn’t a good idea so I went rogue and started picking Christmas books that basically read like a Hallmark movie; fun, short and predictable.

At this point in time I’ve only completed 25 of the 26 books but then again there are still four days left in the year and a snowstorm is on the way. Oh, and I’ve listened to three audio books so really, I’ve “read” 28 books, right?

I decided though, to do things a little differently for next year and create my own reading challenge. I have chosen 12 categories for my challenge – one for each month – and for my second book of every month I’m going to decide as I go along. It’ll be easier than having to rearrange my list. And, of course, my Bible is on the list for every day because it’s the greatest book of all time. I set my goal for the year at 24 books hoping I can read more but two books a month is a more realistic pace for me. I do, however, have friends who read 24 books in a month so if you’re one of those people, well, carry on.

My 12 categories for 2016 are as follows:

1. An Historical Fiction
2. A Book That’ll Teach You Something
3. A Biography
4. A Book That’ll Draw You Closer to God
5. A Book From a Series
6. A Book by Your Favorite Author
7. A Book That’ll Help You Do Your Job Better
8. A Devotional
9. A Book Recommended by a Friend
10. A Fiction for Fun Book
11. A Book By A Local Author
12. A Christmas Book

Would you like to join me? I’ve created a bookmark with the categories that I’d be happy to email to you so you can print it out. Just comment on this blog and let me know you’d like a copy.

I’ve already made my choices for 2016 and created yet another Pinterest board. Please feel free to email me at nancy@nancyholte.com with your choices or suggestions. I love hearing about books that other people have enjoyed.

Happy Reading!