Updating Our 2015 Reading Challenges

For the last couple of years, I’ve set forth reading challenges for myself—not just to ensure I’m reading more books each year, but to make sure I’m expanding the scope of what I’m reading. In 2014, I chose different genres for my challenge categories. This year, I went for more of a Time (you know, that wibbly-wobbly, timey-whimey thing) and Place challenge. I knew I still had some categories I hadn’t checked off yet, and since I’ve been in a reading slump lately, I thought it would be a good time to check in on the list to see just how far I still need to go.

And I’ve got a long way to go—at least as far as meeting the category challenges. I’ll definitely meet the number challenge (I’ve already finished 51 of 53, and I currently have two in progress).

How is your 2015 reading challenge going?

Here are the categories I’ve yet to complete. Because there are so many and only seven weeks left of 2015, I’ve decided to add in a whole lot more short stories and/or children’s literature (many with a focus on Christmas!) in order to be able to complete these categories. But because I don’t want them to feel like “throw-aways,” I’m also challenging myself to go back to some of the writing assignments I’ve either used as an instructor or completed as a student to make sure I’m giving the books due consideration—especially children’s books which may take only a few minutes to read.

2015 Reading Challenge Categories
Read a book (romance or non, fiction or non) set in each of the following time periods/locations:

So, of the 25 categories I set for myself, I still have fifteen to complete. However, I did spend a lot of time last night on Goodreads and my library’s website, and I think I have a pretty good plan for how I’m going to fulfill this list. And I’ve actually borrowed or placed on hold (from the library and through Kindle Unlimited) books that fulfill all of them. And a good part of it is going to involve a day spent at the library delving into some children’s literature and stretching my recently unused academic writing muscles. Which I’m really looking forward to. So much so that I’m thinking about adding writing assignments to my challenge list for 2016!