Reading Projects
The world of book blogging is full of reading challenges.
Some have a target number of books to read. Others challenge readers to broaden their horizons and read from genres or countries that are outside the comfort zone.
I’ve joined a number of these over the years. The Classics Club; #20booksofsummer; All August All Virago are just some of the challenges I’ve attempted. I’ve failed on pretty much every one.
The problem is not the challenge.
It’s me.
Why?
Because often these challenges involve making a list of books to read. I love doing that. But as soon as the list is completed I lose interest and wish I was reading something different.
I’m clearly a reader who chooses books on a whim.
So I’ve decided to stay away from challenges in the future and to stick with reading projects.
Reading challenges vs Reading projects
What’s the difference?
I think of a challenge as a task – something that should be completed by a particular deadline. For example:
- Read 20 new authors by end of this year
- Spend the month of […] reading only authors from Germany
- Identify 12 books from your TBR (To Be Read) list that you will definitely read this year
I think of a project as something that doesn’t have a deadline. Or rules of engagement. It’s generally more open ended and less specific. More a case of general intent rather than a specific goal.
My Reading Projects
The projects I currently have underway reflect my interest in nineteenth century fiction and also a desire to read more fiction from different parts of the world. Click on the links to find out more.
Chronicles of Barchester series
Reading books by authors from parts of the world that are unfamiliar to me: includes Europe, Oceania; South America; Africa and Indian sub continent