2017 Reading Challenge discussion
Generalities
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2016 Reading Challenge- the BIG REVEAL
Woo hoo!!! So excited!! Thanks so much for all of your hard work in putting this together!!!
I really enjoyed the 2015 challenge that I found on Pinterest. Really looking forward to 2016!!
Great list. Now to start planning! Thanks for your hard work.
Anne wrote: "31. A book written by someone born the same year as you"Yay, thanks for reminding me that someone's my age and already has a book published, while I'm still working on my first novel...
Other than that, I love some categories and hate some, I think 2015 was both better and worse for different reasons, but I'll definitely be giving it a go.
I'm failing 2015 challenge (only done 30 so far) because I found out about it too late and because half a year was stolen by my dissertation and reading academic articles, so I'll try to get books for the 2016 challenge that would also cover what I haven't for 2015, even if too late. The completionist in me won't have it any other way.
Yay! Very excited! I'm two away from finishing this year's challenge. And, this year I'll finish 90+ books - a record for me. The challenge has helped stretch me to read selections I may not have otherwise.
YES! I loved a lot of the categories and am excited for next year's challenge!
Exciting! ^^ I'm looking forward already!
Thanks so much! *schemes about returning unstarted dystopia book to library and requesting it again in 2016*. I've a stubborn 4 to finish for 2015, but they will get read, so I can start 2016 with a clear conscience. I'm looking forward to tackling the list. I "hate/loathe/despise" science fiction and fantasy, just as I hated/loathed/despised a few categories in 2015 that turned out to be not half bad at all, so I can see broadening horizons ahead again!
This is awesome. I knew I wanted to read 52 books -- one for each week of the year. This will be a great guide, and hopefully I can succeed. :)
Like I've said before, I'm just going to read whatever I want next year and if it fits into the challenge, that's nice. I also have quite a bit of gaming to get back into :)
Of course I am more enthusiastic about some rather than others (*groans at Dystopia & YA*) but that looks like a decent list, thanks for putting it together :)
How can anyone dislike dystopias??? Why?!
I thought I didn't like Dystopia/YA until I read the first one. Now I buy them all!
Nice list and I like the tiers. I'm going to be doing other challenges and Tier 1 will be my best option. There are a few categories I won't do but they are things like saw movie but didn't read book. I don't watch many movies. I'm not going to plan ahead. I like to get books based on recommendations or from research. I've already made a list of books coming out in 2016 and there is always something new on the horizon.
Martha wrote: "Nice list and I like the tiers..."I agree Martha. A great mix between challenge and flexibility!
It's a great List everyone! And thanks for your hard work Anne !!
I'm going to aim for 52 books again this year, but I'll go for Tier 1 and mix the remaining 16 with another challenge / read along (yet to be discovered) for my wild cards.
I'm toying with the idea of pulling random numbers out of a 'hat'.. a virtual hat possibly.. to decide what to read next.
Still have another 3 books to find for 2015 though. I'll need to phone mum tonight!
@Oksana it's all a question of preference really, obviously there are some great books out there but as a whole it's not my thing *shrugs*On the other hand my favourite genre has always been fantasy while other people hate it lol.
YA... I don't hate YA I just find a most of the ones I've read unsatisfying and unmemorable, and then on the other hand I absolutely loved Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe so who knows? With a bit of luck I'll find another good one.
Looks like a great list and I love the idea of tiers and wild cards. I was leaning away from doing another challenge because it felt like too big of a commitment, but this I can do!
I am probably going to do the lower tier. I read a lot, but several of the categories I can just see myself dreading. I have already picked 32 of the categories (including wild cards), and will have to figure four more. I think I will see what books come out, or end up in my TBR pile, and see if they will fit in any of the ones I am lukewarm about. As to Dystopias, I have read so many I am burned out in regards to those. So, that is definitely one I am avoiding right now. But, there are several that are really good. I recommend Crewel for anyone interested (can also be used for debut novel). Thanks for putting together the list. I am assuming you will make a new thread when the time comes? Or will it be a whole new group?
Mod
I will just be updating this group, rather than creating a new one.
Thanks Anne for taking the time to compile this list. I think this time around I will be reading and then looking to see where or if it fits into the challenge unlike this year where the categories determined my choice and I ended up getting irritated with it halfway through, although I'm happy to report I only have 2 more to complete! Anyway, thanks again. Happy reading everyone :)
Anne wrote: "I will just be updating this group, rather than creating a new one. "Will you archive all the old topics somehow (not sure how much this place allows) or just delete them?
Valerie wrote: "I am probably going to do the lower tier. I read a lot, but several of the categories I can just see myself dreading [-] As to Dystopias, I have read so many I am burned out in regards to those.[-] But, there are several that are really good. I recommend Crewel for anyone interested (can also be used for debut novel)."Is that Crewel by Gennifer Albin?
Annerlee wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I am probably going to do the lower tier. I read a lot, but several of the categories I can just see myself dreading [-] As to Dystopias, I have read so many I am burned out in rega..."Yes. Crewel
Have a question. What is it meant by 'book about books?'
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...Here's a list of books about books with an explanation of what they are. I read a lot of these and just finished one called When Books Went to War, The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning. I enjoyed it and voted for it in the Goodreads Best of 2015 History category. Other titles in the Books about Books category I've enjoyed are 1001 Books for Every Mood by Hallie Ephron, Ph.D and The Novel Cure by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin.
I love #36 it will allow me to incorporate my children in my reading time and contribute to theirs.
How exciting!!! Thank you so much for organising another challenge xx
Mod
Will you archive all the old topics somehow (not sure how much this place allows) or just delete them?"
They will all still be here! The new topics will just show up at the top. I'll try to organize it as best as possible. But I definitely won't delete anything.
Martha wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...Here's a list of books about books with an explanation of what they are. I read a lot of these and just finished one called When Books Wen..."
That is quite the eclectic list. Some of those I read, and I do not think I would have called it a book about books...but, that now gives me an idea of a book that is already in my stack I could use. Thank you.
On the books about books subject, I recommend 84 Charing Cross road to absolutely everyone. It's lovely and has the bonus of being a very quick read if you're pushed for time :)
One of the things I love about books about books is that I always end up with a large reading list after I read one. They can be dangerous that way!
So exciting! I completed the 2015 Challenge in early October and loved it!!!! You tend to stay in your genre, but that forces you out! Love it! Happy reading!
I think I'll go for the full list - and I will wait until Jan 1 to start reading. :-) I saw that pop sugar posted their 2016 reading list. I didn't count, but I thought it looked shorter. I may follow it as well, but it has some of the categories that we dropped. I also noticed in the comments on the 2015 pop sugar list that they (some) are taking 2 years to finish the 2015 list - just an idea for some that were interested and found completion in one year to be a struggle.
Mod
Interesting! I took a look, and they only have 40 categories this year, some of which are similar to ours.
http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-...
Mod
I do to. I also like that our list was completely crowdsourced by the group through suggestion, discussion, and voting!
I've already chosen 19 books off my TBR list that fit categories on the list...should be a good year!!!
Anne wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I like our list much better "I do to. I also like that our list was completely crowdsourced by the group through suggestion, discussion, and voting!"
How did the 2015 list happen?
Our list is so much more inspiring!!
Mod
I do to. I also like that our list was completely crowdsourced by the group through suggestion, discussion, and voting!"
How did the 2015..."
The 2015 list came from this website: http://www.popsugar.com
I just ran across it (on Pinterest maybe?), and thought it would be fun to start this group after talking to a few of my friends. There are other Goodreads groups based around the 2015 challenge, but if I do say so ours is the best. :-)
I'll be updating this group soon to reflect our new, independent reading challenge for 2016!
Thank you everyone for compiling the list. I'm 6 books short of completing the 2015 challenge and quite optimistic about it. I was planning to simply repeat the 2015 challenge next year, but this sounds very appealing. I think they are even easy to combine. I think I'm in!
Mod
Cheers!
Anne wrote: "Now that we're nearing the end of the year, I'm going to start updating this group to reflect the 2016 challenge. Again - thanks to EVERYONE for your input on next year's challenge. It is truly the..."Thanks to you Anne, for all your hard work!
Anne wrote: "Now that we're nearing the end of the year, I'm going to start updating this group to reflect the 2016 challenge. Again - thanks to EVERYONE for your input on next year's challenge. It is truly the..."Thanks so much Anne!!!
I like our list better as well. I have been looking through my Kindle bargains to see what categories they can fill and it's looking good. I just can't see buying a book in a genre that I would normally avoid! As I was looking through the list today, I was wondering how #8 and #20 are different. It seemed everything I was checking that might be controversial was also banned or challenged somewhere. I am having a little trouble finding choices for the year I graduated high school, but I'll keep looking! It's another price issue - I can't see paying $10 for a Kindle version that's been in print for 39 years!
Mod
Libraries are great places for free books, even for your Kindle. ;-)
I think controversial books aren't necessarily books that have been banned or challenged - and vice versa! When I get the folders set up for each category there will be a thread for suggestions.
2017 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Crewel (other topics)Crewel (other topics)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (other topics)
Next year's challenge will have two levels of achievement:
Tier One
Read 36 books selected from the categories. Up to four may be "wild card" books of your choice.
Tier Two
Read a book from each of the 43 categories, plus 9 "wild cards" for a total of 52 books.
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The Categories
Read a book that takes place on each continent, or is written by an author from that continent (fiction or non-fiction)
1. North America
2. South America
3. Africa
4. Antarctica
5. Europe
6. Asia
7. Australia
8. A banned or challenged book
9. An award winning book (Pulitzer, Hugo, Man Booker, etc.)
10. Memoir/Autobiography/Biography
11. A dead author's last book
12. A book with LGBT matter or character(s)
13. A book your favorite author loves
14. A retold fairytale
15. A Young Adult book
16. A history book (fiction or non-fiction)
17. A book where you have seen the movie, but not read the book
18. A book from the NYT Bestseller list
19. A book with the point of view of an immigrant
20. A controversial book
21. The first book you see when you walk into a library or bookstore
22. A classic
23. A debut novel
24. Published this year (2016)
25. Based entirely on the cover
26. Own but never read
27. A book by an author you never read before
28. A book recommended to you by a friendly librarian
29. A book by a Nobel Prize winner
30. Mythology (not just Greek)
31. A book written by someone born the same year as you
32. Dystopia
33. Reread of a favorite book
34. A book about books
35. Book published the year you graduated high school
36. A book a child/teen/someone younger than you loves
37. A book about/set by the sea
38. A book with two authors
39. Author from your own state, province, or country
40. A book about a trip (road, cruise, around the world)
41. A book with the name of a person in the title
42. Science Fiction
43. Fantasy
44. Wild card
45. Wild card
46. Wild card
47. Wild card
48. Wild card
49. Wild card
50. Wild card
51. Wild card
52. Wild card
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A big thank you to everyone that took part in the discussions and voting for our next challenge. My hope is that you'll all find it to be an even better experience in 2016!
During the month of December I'll start creating the discussion folders and will change the name of the group to reflect the new year. And I'll find a new icon for the group.
In the meantime, keep reading - 2015 isn't over yet!