2026 Challenge

[Margaret]

Hi everyone!

This year has been so hectic and I probably should've posted this sooner.

Do y'all want to participate in a 2026 Fairytale Reading Challenge? If so, thoughts on themes? List all thoughts, and then we can narrow it down via discussion and/or vote.

[Kristina]

I'd like to participate in the challenge. This year I didn't read many books for the challenge, maybe next year I'll do better :)
How about the main characters' occupations for themes?
For example
Royals (kings, princes, emperors)
Knights and Warriors
Bards, minstrels
Priests
Witches
Sailors, pirates
Innkeepers, shop owners
And so on?

[Netanella]

I also participated in this year's challenge, and would like to do so again next year.

I like Kristina's suggestion above. I will through out another one, riffing off of this year's theme of environments.
How about the author's place of origin for themes?

For example:
Oceania
Southeast Asia
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Northern Africa (above the Sahel)
Southern Africa (below the Sahel)
etc.

[Jalilah]

Count me in! I am open for anything! I do want to point out we have had various different versions of “around the world’ challenges in the past. I love them, everyone does, but we always have problems finding books from certain regions ( I remember everyone having a hard time finding anything from Oceania for example). So if we do one of authors from different areas, perhaps we can think of a way to do it differently from how we did in the past?

I also like the idea of various archetypal themes that are found in myths and fairy tales throughout the world in various cultures . For example the youngest son, going to the underworld, animal brides/grooms etc

[Asaria]

Perhaps "Around the World" challenge would work better if we keep the categories broad and go deeper simply when someone wishes to make it more challenging for himself/herself? Speaking from experience, going only with translations makes it much more difficult to complete as well.

As per Olympic flag:
- Europe
- Americas
- Australia and Oceania
- Africa
- Asia

Archetypes and occupations would be much easier, though.

[Katy]

I'd prefer not to do an around the world. Archetypal themes or main characters' occupations would be my preference of the three ideas so far.

[Margaret]

I like the idea of archetypes or occupations. I don't think we've done occupations before!

I'm reading cities this month, and I also thought of a challenge idea where we could pick 10 cities to read books from. But might be too similar to 'Around the World,' if a slightly different take.

The ecosystem challenge has been really fun. Possibly my favorite challenge yet, though I would want to repeat it next year.

[Jalilah]

Margaret wrote: "I like the idea of archetypes or occupations. I don't think we've done occupations before!

I'm reading cities this month, and I also thought of a challenge idea where we could pick 10 cities to re..."


I like both ideas! By occupation do you mean like “warrior” “healer” “king” “ farmer” ?
In

Although we have not had an archetypes challenge as such, we have had several with various fairy tale motifs like here:
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...
Not not archetypes.

Both seem good to me so lets see what others here think!

[Margaret]

Oh, I guess you're right! Motifs are very similar to both archetypes and occupations. Pretty sure we had both in the motif challenges!

[Ozsaur]

I like Kristina's idea of occupations but make it more thematic? For example:

The theme of Music would include bards, musical instruments, singers, possibly dancers, entertainment etc.

The theme of Warrior would include knights, soldiers, archers, mercenaries, etc.

The theme of Merchant would include shop keepers, innkeepers, traders, caravans, importer/exporters (this also makes me think of the father in Beauty and the Beast specifically)

The theme of Magic-User would include witches, wizards, sorcerers, necromancers, mediums etc.

I'm also fond of archetypes. The environments challenge was fun, even though I'm struggling to get in my last couple of prompts.

[Jalilah]

Ozsaur wrote: "I like Kristina's idea of occupations but make it more thematic? For example:

The theme of Music would include bards, musical instruments, singers, possibly dancers, entertainment etc.

The theme ..."

I do too! So let me see….im just playing around here
We have:
Musicians
Warriors
Merchants
Farmers
Healer ( including doctors midwives curandaras)
Magic practitioners
Rulers
What else?
Dancers?
Students?
Servants?
Writers?

Please add your feedback everyone!

[Netanella]

Alchemists
Shepherds
Cooks/Bakers, etc.
Sailors
Soldiers

[Netanella]

Never mind the soldiers, they are in warrior category. I can’t see the prior list since I’m on mobile.

Nobility
Alchemists could include scientists ?

[Katy]

Druids/Priests/Religious Types

[Ozsaur]

Oh, I like Alchemist - it can include scientists in case someone wants to read science fiction or nonfiction.

Also like Cooks/Bakers and Druids/Priests/Religious types possibly under Cleric? Follower? Devotee?

[Margaret]

I like cooks and clerics, using cleric as a broad term for all religious professions.

Artists? Which could encompass visual art, writers, dancers? But could also include musicians, which we have as a separate category.

I also like students and servants. I can think of a lot of books with those types of characters that I like.

I don't mind alchemists either...though might be a bit harder to find books.

I'm just agreeing with everyone, ha!

Maybe instead of Rulers we use Nobility? So it can be a bit broader?

[Jalilah]

Great ideas! Artists, Alchemists/Scientist, Cooks/Bakers, Shepards, rulers could include nobility but also politicians, priests/ religious figures ( including all religions also nuns )……..

[Kristina]

We could include outlaws :) Thieves, burglars, assassins. Bodyguards? Monster hunters?

[Susan]

Do we have Lawyers? Or do they go into Outlaws? :)

Child care specialists? wetnurses, nannies, tutors, schoolteachers? Or do they all go under servants?

[Margaret]

Could shepherds go with farmers?

I like outlaws!

Academic could encompass student, teacher, professor, tutors?

Though childcare specialist would have the addition of wetnurses and nannies, and possibly even mothers.

We only get 10 occupations, so trying to find categories that could encompass multiple ideas.

I guess I don't consider all nobility to be rulers. Some aristocrats don't rule anything except their inherited wealth. But that could be nitpicky! Rulers would also include politicians, you're right, Jalilah.

[Ozsaur]

Yes to outlaws! Great idea!

I also like Child Care Specialist, though I wouldn't know an easier description. Carer maybe?

[Netanella]

How about caretaker?

[Margaret]

Caretaker could work!

[Erin]

Love the archetypes idea, I was thinking of suggesting similar myself! I like Ozsaur's modification of it to be a bit more loose. It vaguely reminds me of D&D classes but a bit more broad.

Could there be politicians? maybe alongside a rulers/nobility/artistocrat type category?

Have we included healers/medics types?

What about messengers or couriers?

hmm some thoughts...
- Academics
- Artists and musicians, dancers, writers, bards, storytellers, performers, anything arts and crafty and creative
- Caretakers to include parents, nannies, etc?
- Food folk - cooks, bakers, brewers, etc!
- Magic-users for wizards, witches, magicians, necromancers, etc.
- Merchants and includes artisans and craftspeople
- Pastoral or land/resources-based stuff like farmers, foresters, gardeners, etc
- Religious or spiritual - priests, druids, etc. could even include gods or spirits or even witches potentially depending on interpretation
- Rulers/politicians/nobility/diplomats/leaders/chiefs ?
- Travellers to cover messengers, couriers, wanderers, nomads, etc
- Warriors