2015 Reading & Fitness Challenges
I have been resisting the urge to join annual reading challenges. When I joined reading challenges in 2013, I wasn’t able to accomplish them all and it was a bit defeating. So I skipped annual challenges in 2014 and decided to only do perpetual challenges like Travel the World in Books and Classics Club.
I realized though that it was the challenges I chose that really limited what I could read by genre or title. They were great fun but with an IRL book club and review requests, it was really hard fulfilling the objectives of the challenge. For 2015 my reading goals are simple and I think there are a few challenges that will help me read the books I already own and with my two perpetual challenges. So I’m signing up for those today!
Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2015
This challenge is primarily to read books you owned before 1/1/15, that means all those great books I got from the library sale and won in giveaways will qualify. There are quarterly checkins and giveaways, so check out host My Reader’s Block for more details and to sign up.
Challenge Level: Pike’s Peak – at least 12 books from TBR pile
Books Completed for this Challenge:
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver – Review and Discussion Questions
2. Bombay Bhel by Ken Doyle
3. The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon
4. The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle – Review and Giveaway (ends 3/3/15 11:00pm EST)
5. Love, Lies and Lemon Cake by Sue Watson
6. Scared Scriptless by Alison Sweeney
7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
8. Swimming through Clouds by Rajdeep Paulus
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Completed 8/12 books, Failed…yikes!
2015 Diversity on the Shelf Reading Challenge
I thought the Diversity on the Shelf Challenge fit in well with our Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge since it focuses on reading books by authors of color and/or about a main character of color (essentially someone of non-European heritage). Many of the books I am reading for Travel the World in Books would also qualify for this challenge. The host of this challenge, Alysia from My Little Pocketbooks, also has a great list links and resources to encourage diversity in reading for both adults and kids. Stop by My Little Pocketbooks to sign up.
Challenge Level: 2nd shelf – 7-12 books
Books Completed for this Challenge:
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver – Review and Discussion Questions – Book takes place in Africa (Congo/Zaire) so many of the characters are people of color.
2. Bombay Bhel by Ken Doyle – set in India and characters are Asian Indian.
3. Swimming through Clouds by Rajdeep Paulus – characters are Asian Indian.
4. Five Night Stand by Richard Alley – main character is African-American.
5. Diamond Head by Cecily Wong – characters are Chinese/Chinese-American.
6. Flask of the Drunken Master by Susan Spann – most characters are Japanese.
7. The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott – author is African-American.
8. A Sister’s Promise by Renita D’Silva – main characters and author are Asian Indian.
9. Daughter of Sand and Stone by Libbie Hawker – characters are Egyptian/Syrian.
Challenge complete! Yippee!
Clean Out Your E-Reader Challenge
Kim from Caffeinated Book Reviewer mentioned this reading challenge on one of her Sunday Post linkups. I have a backlog of review requests, Netgalley books and free Kindle books to read so thought this was a fun challenge to join to help clear it out! I have a book hoarding problem, I love to collect books and not enough time to read them all. Let’s hope this challenge helps me whittle down the pile. Hosts Fantasy is More Fun and Because Reading are hosting readathons and giveaways along the way. There aren’t any level requirements, just read! Sign up for this fun challenge and clean out your e-reader!
Books Completed for this Challenge:
1. Bombay Bhel by Ken Doyle – ebook received for review from author
2. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen – ebook received via Netgalley
3. Love, Lies and Lemon Cake by Sue Watson – ebook received for review from publisher
4. Hello from the Gillespies by Monica McInerney
5. Scared Scriptless by Alison Sweeney – ebook from Netgalley
6. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins – purchased
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Challenge complete – sort of. No levels required but I got some cleaned out!
Fit Readers Challenge and Reader’s Workouts Linkup
I did the Geeky Blogger Book Blog’s Book Blog Walkers (that’s a tongue twister, say that 10 times fast) challenge for part of last year. I fizzled out but here to join again and just get moving. Even though it’s been cold out, the kids and I bundle up and go for a walk if it’s sunny out just to get me moving and get some of their energy out. My goal is to be to walk/ride recumbent bike an average of 3 times a week. I’ll update my most recentSmall Victories Sunday linkup post to reflect how much I exercised each week and link that up with Felicia too. Commit to Exercise here with Fit Readers from Geeky Bloggers Book blog.
Joy’s Book Blog also hosts a Readers’ Workouts weekly linkup where readers share their exercising goals and accomplishments. I’ll be linking my exercise updates with Joy too.
You’ll want to stop by Joy’s Reading Challenges and Resolutions and see how she’s incorporating healthy eating and living into her reading and her life.
Well for someone who said they weren’t going to sign up for 2015 challenges, I sure did sign up for a lot.
Here’s wishing you a happy healthy 2015 full of good books!
What reading challenges have you signed up for? What exercise goals or challenges are you doing this year? Let me know in the comments and I’ll cheer you on!
As I look at yours, I can see many more people need to hear about mine! Their year runs from February 1. Like you, I prefer no-rules parameters that lead to reading *more*, not excluding whatever moves us each year. I also give away prizes internationally with creative festivities geared to bring my guests & I together. I hope you’ll give any of m three a try and tell others. 🙂 Sincerely, Carolyn in central Canada. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/riedel-challenges-2015/
Love your reading focused goals…the joy of reading will undoubtedly make 2015 the best year yet!
Wow, that’s a lot of challenges! I’m going to try the 50 books challenge again this year. I didn’t quite make it in 2014!
Great list Tanya. I’m going to sign up for a couple of these too.
Welcome to the D.O.T.S. reading challenge. Check the January 2015 linky for the first of four giveaways to kick off the reading challenge.
Thanks for joining us!
I “made up” my own challenge for this year and it’s the same as the first one you listed pretty much! I called it “TBRs I Own Challenge.” I think you saw it already. But I linked it here in the signature line of this comment. Maybe I’ll head over and officially sign up with the site you mentioned.
I did see it and loved it. I liked this TBR challenge because it focused on books you already owned before 1/1. Some of the others they had to be on your TBR list for over a year and then I couldn’t read the ones I just got at the library sale. 🙂 Hope you join in!
I created my own personal blogging challenge that I listed with my 2015 goals.
These look like fun challenges! It’s so hard not to sign up for them because the more I find, the more I want to do!
I know exactly what you mean Rachel! It’s hard to stay focused cause there are so many great challenges out there. Good luck with Alphabet soup!
Good luck! Those look like great challenges that fit into what you want in your life anyway.
Thanks Joy! I look forward to sharing my fitness goals and accomplishments with you!
Sounds like fun challenges! I really need to sign up for the Mount TBR challenge because mine is getting out of control! I love the fitness challenges. Good luck!
Thanks Katherine. I am excited about Mt TBR, great way to focus on reading what we’ve already got!! Hope you join in too and thanks for stopping by!
I’m doing both fitness challenges too!
Good luck with all your challenges!
Thanks Vicki! I want to do foodie reads im February for our Travel the World in Books reading challenge so I will be stopping by your Foodie Reads challenge too and give it a shout out next month for sure. Thanks for stopping by and cheering me on. I will need it especially with exercising!