The realisation that 2016 is not far away seems to have spurred many bloggers to begin planning what to read and which challenges to join. There are certainly no shortages of the latter.
Want to read more classics? Easy one – join the Classics Club to meet plenty of like minded people. Or there is the Back to the Classics Challenge @ Books and Chocolate and the 12 Month Classics Challenge @ You, Me and a Cup of Tea.
If science fiction is more your thing, hop over to Stainless Steel but you’ll have to move fast since this one started on Dec 1 and lasts only until end of January. Looking further ahead keep an eye on the Worlds Without End blog who may do something similar to their 2015 challenge.
Tackling the TBR is a popular theme for a challenge . Sadly the one run for several years by Roof Beam Reader has come to an end but there are a number of alternatives. For a short, sharp introduction take a look at the Triple Dare challenge on James Reads Books. Or check out the aptly named Mount TBR Reading Challenge @ My Reader’s Block.
And finally, one that is near to my heart – a challenge run by beasbooknook to get people making more use of their local library. A very worthy cause at a time when more of these facilities are being closed through government budget cuts. I’m already a regular library user so won’t be signing up for this myself but I hope lots of others do.
You’ll find an even longer list and a broader range of categories at FeedYourFiction.
Faced with so many good ideas it’s tempting to jump on with all of them. I learned my lesson here in the second year of this blog and since then have been very cautious what I take on. I also prefer to call them projects rather than challenges – somehow this seems less daunting and I don’t feel any pangs of guilt if I fall behind.
The ‘projects’ that have taken my fancy are the Virgina Woolf readalong hosted by HeavenAli. I have quite a few Woolf titles on my TBR (they’re also on my Classics Club list) so thats one way of making inroads on that pile. Plus I love the fact Ali says there are no rules with her read along – so no goal around the number of titles to be read. Pressure is off thankfully. I’ll read what I can.
The women’s classic literature event over on the Classics Club is also calling to me. It started this month but runs throughout 2016 and again doesn’t have any requirements about reading a certain number of titles. I have 11 books on my Classics Club list by women’s authors that were published before 1960 including 4 by Ms Woolf so in theory this should be straightforward. But I don’t know if I want to limit myself just to female authors.
And then in March, Cathy at 746books will be hosting a Reading Ireland event. Molly Keane here I come for sure…
That little trio should keep me busy especially since I’m planning on finishing my Booker Prize project this year.
What about you all, have you seen any particularly enticing challenges and reading events?
We're all friends here. Come and join the conversation