You may have heard recently of Mark Zuckerberg’s New Year’s Resolution, to read more books. Great resolution. You can read the full text of his resolution here on Business Insider.
I suspect many of the people who read my blog (if not virtually all my readers) will read a large number of books this year. Some of us will follow formal challenges online or at places such as our libraries; others of us will choose carefully what reading will best serve our research and learning purposes; others will pick up books as they appeal to us; many of us will do a combination of some or all of those methods to choose our reading lists.
In the past, I’ve enjoyed participating in picture book reading challenges, whether for a month or over the course of a year. Before I started this blog, I read through books from different eras, in different genres, in various challenges.
If you’re looking for a reading challenge, there are many, many, MANY of them here on this Pinterest Board.
My friend and writing colleague, Joanna Marple, introduced me to the Unconventional Librarian’s Diversity Reading Challenge. I want to read more diverse books this year (#WeNeedDiverseBooks) and this challenge gives excellent suggestions across the wide range of diversity that we enjoy in our world.
I will use this list informally as I choose books to read over the course of the year. I’ve created a page where I’ll keep track of the books I read. It can be found under the “For Readers” heading in the top menu of my website. I’ll also look forward to Joanna’s blog posts about the books she reads.
I want to push out of my comfort zone a bit in terms of the styles of books I read, by reading more graphic novels, more novels in verse, and other formats that aren’t standard. I’ve already started this, and besides reading different formats, can check two categories off in the diversity challenge: #4 with El Deafo by Cece Bell, a graphic memoir about a girl dealing with a severe hearing loss and #1 with The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, a novel in verse about twin brothers, both basketball stars, dealing with the sometimes harsh aspects of growing up.
Also, I know there will be a number of books I find are necessary for book research, and at this point in the year, I don’t know what they will be. And who knows what else I’ll find on the library shelves? I do know that I’ll be focusing on middle grade and adult fiction this year.
What are you hoping to read this year? Do you have any suggestions of books I should add to my To Be Read list?
This is a great idea to read more widely, Beth. I already fancied reading El Deafo now I’m going to look out for the basketball one.
Great, Catherine! Although I wouldn’t ordinarily read a book that has so much basketball in it (that says something about my experience of basketball in middle school…) I found “The Crossover” totally riveting.
I think your challenge is a good one. I have a couple suggestions for you. I am reading The Perfect Place by Teresa E. Harris right now. Written by a person of color and with a person of color on the cover, ticking one and two off your list. As a bonus, it is a terrific middle-grade novel. I can also recommend Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky, a middle-grade novel about a transgender child. Great book. Good luck with your reading goals.
Thanks, Rosi! Our entire library system hadn’t even one copy of The Perfect Place, so I’ll submit a purchase request. I just place Gracefully Grayson on hold. Excellent recommendations! I appreciate them very much.
So many fun challenges. I’m doing 200 picture books in the Goodreads 2015 Challenge. So far – ….zero.
You can do it, Genevieve (with Cupcake’s help). Enjoy your challenge!
This is such a great idea. Saw the challenge somewhere else, but glad I clicked on your link. I review a lot of diverse books, so it is good to see the climate expanding.
Thanks, Pat. I must delve into your treasure trove of reviews — I’m sure I’ll create a TBR list a mile long!
Hi Beth! Thanks for link to the pinterest board. That’s a lot of reading challenges to pick from. I got my husband an e-reader for Christmas–but of course I am using it! Such a great way to read on public transit. Thanks! Good luck with your books.
Alana! Wonderful to hear from you. Enjoy that e-reader, whoever it belongs to “technically.” All best!
I copied the list and stuck in on the wall. Thanks Beth.
Pingback: What I’ve Read in January | By Word of Beth
Hi! Thanks for telling your friends about the reading challenge! i’m loving all the new book titles to add to my TBR list. El Deafo is DEF one of them!