I usually do set a numerical goal on the Goodreads reading challenges each year, and find them to be a great way to feel some sense of accomplishment in reading [x] number of books in a given year. Since I also started reviewing some digital ARCs through NetGalley last year, I've been writing more reviews in general (though the non-ARC books I read I may or may not review). I've toyed with the idea of doing some additional challenges before, but haven't--so I'm going to try for it this year!
Because this is my first time doing this, I tried to choose challenges that mesh pretty well with what I already tend to read. This means, basically, that they're challenges I could have done okay on with books I read naturally over the course of a year. Yeah, that might not quite be in the "move out of your comfort zone" spirit of many challenges, but it seems like a way to ease into it.
So, without further ado, I'm going to be trying the following:
Rose City Reader 2021 European Reading Challenge
Books and Chocolate Back to the Classics Challenge 2021
My Reader's Block Mount TBR Challenge 2021 (Mount Blanc level - 24 books already owned)
Four looks like a lot, but they allow the reader to double with books read for other challenges, and all of these fit together pretty well for books currently on my shelves. Let's see how it goes!
I dipped my toes into reading challenges by choosing those that naturally fit my own reading preferences as well. I'm a very moody reader so that seemed safest. I've branched out since then and I've read and enjoyed a lot of books that I otherwise wouldn't have found without a challenge! Good luck with your challenges and thanks for signing up for my Books in Translation Challenge!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I'm looking forward to it.
DeleteI also have 4 challenges and it's the first year I go that level of crazy. But hey - we can do this!
ReplyDeleteI also don't necessarily review my non-ARC books. Unless I really have something to say!
I've also signed up for the 2021 European Challenge and I'm looking forward to "travelling" with you all.
Happy New Year!
Elza Reads
Thanks! We totally can! I notice that I usually only want to review non-ARC books if they're either remarkably good or remarkably bad, or--and this happens occasionally--if I find that I keep thinking about them well after I finished reading them.
DeleteHappy New Year!
Thanks for joining the European Reading Challenge! I like your idea of easing into the challenges by reading books you enjoy anyway or are on your TBR shelf. That's what I do too and I've been doing reading challenges for over 10 years now! :) I use the challenges as a way to motivate me to clear off my TBR shelf.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and thank you for hosting! I'm looking forward to clearing a bit of my TBR shelf this year, and also hopefully finding some books and authors I'm not yet familiar with! May we all find new favorites!
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