2018 Reading Challenges

This year I'm going to do things a little differently when it comes to reading challenges. I typically sign up for a bunch at the end of the year, but I never remember to do the link-ups or the twitter chats or any of that. So this year, I've decided not to participate in any official challenges except for the Goodreads challenge, which I will be setting at 50, the same as 2017. I've been thinking about the places where my reading is lacking, and I want to challenge myself to improve in those areas.

subscription addiction

So first thing, I need to deal with my overabundance of subscription box books. I have so many that I haven't read yet. It's honestly embarrassing. So my goal for the end of 2018 is to be completely caught up, whether that means actually reading the books, or unhauling them. If I don't make a decent dent by April, I am going to cancel any subscriptions I may have, and will on reopen them if I catch up. Here are the books I have from the past few years of subscription boxes:
  1. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
  2. Hunted
  3. Windfall
  4. By Your Side
  5. The Sun is Also a Star
  6. Defy the Stars
  7. Ever the Hunted
  8. Starflight
  9. Words on Bathroom Walls
  10. The Song of the Current
  11. The Hearts We Sold
  12. Wonder Woman: Warbringer
  13. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
  14. The Language of Thorns
  15. The Rattled Bones
  16. The Last Namsara ✔️
  17. Furyborn
  18. Last Star Burning
  19. Everless
  20. The Cruel Prince
  21. Heart of Iron
  22. Sky in the Deep ✔️
  23. Undead Girl Gang 
  24. Heart of Thorns 
  25. Grace and Fury
  26. Dance of Thieves
  27. Blanca y Roja  ✔️

diversify my author list

In 2017 about 15% of the books I read were from authors of color. That's pathetic, honestly. Abysmal. So in 2018 I aim to hit at least 30%, doubling my amount from this year. I don't have a set number of books because I have no idea how much I'll be reading (having a toddler is hard, guys) but I do want to fix that tiny percentage point.

read longer books

I have this problem of wanting to read a high number of books per year, and thus ignoring longer books. I only read two 500+ page books in 2017 (and actually, one was only 500 pages.) There are a good number of big books on my TBR, so I know I will have plenty to choose from. I'll be aiming a little bit low, though, with just 7 being my goal.
  1. Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman 
  2. Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman 
  3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
  4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
  5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling 
  6. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

read more fantasy

This might seem silly, but I just want to keep pushing myself to read more fantasy books. I love the genre, but it sometimes gets pushed to the back burner for me, because contemporary is much less "work" if that makes sense. Last year my goal was 15 books, this year I'm going to shoot for 20.
  1. The Song of Achilles 
  2.  Legendary 
  3.  Captive Prince
  4. Prince's Gambit 
  5. Kings Rising 
  6. Beneath the Sugar Sky
  7. Ash Princess
  8. Ella Enchanted
  9. Alanna the First Adventure
  10. Order of the Phoenix
  11. Half-Blood Prince
  12. Deathly Hallows
  13. Daughters of the Storm
  14. The Last Namsara 
  15. Grace and Fury
  16. Kingdom of Ash

top 12 to read in 2018

Twelve is a nice, attainable number, I think. One per month isn’t too daunting at all. I make lists like these all the time and never commit so my number one big deal bookish resolution is to follow through on commitments. Starting with this list.
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss 
2. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black 
3. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin 
4. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch 
5. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel ✓
6. The Copper Promise by Jen Williams 
7. Uprooted by Naomi Novik 
8. Winter by Marissa Meyer 
9. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller ✓ 
10. The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee 
11. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood 
12. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner ✓
Wish me luck! Are you participating in any challenges in 2018?

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