In January, I signed up for POPSUGAR’s 2015 Reading Challenge to read 50 books that matched the criteria listed below. I read way more than 50 books but I didn’t finish the challenge. Here’s why:
- In 2015, I read a lot more Non-fiction than usual but only 3 of my NF reads counted towards this challenge.
- Sometimes, it’s a struggle to find a book that interests me that satisfies a category. I know the point is to expand my reading horizons but I rather wait to find a book that I really want to read.
I completed these categories:
- A book with more than 500 pages – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 555 pages
- A book that became a movie – Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave 260
- A book published this year Superlife by Darin Olien published February 2015
- A book with a number in the title – Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer
- A book written by someone under 30 – The Girls Guide to Love and Supper Clubs by Dana Bate
- A funny book – Two Across by Jeff Bartsch
- A book by a female author – Saving Grace by Jane Green
- A mystery or thriller – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
- A book with a one-word title – Reunion by Hannah Pattered
- A book of short stories – One More Thing by B.J. Novak
- A book set in a different country – The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty 394 pages (set in Australia)
- A nonfiction book – The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- A popular author’s first book – Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
- A book from an author you love that you haven’t read yet -The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
- A book a friend recommended – Landline by Rainbow Rowell. 308 pages. Recommended by a blogger friend
- A Pulitzer Prize-winning book – One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- A book based on a true story – I suck at girls by Justin Halpern
- A book at the bottom of your to-read list – I Take You by Eliza Kennedy
- A book that scares you – Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner
- A book based entirely on its cover – Mosquitoland by David Arnold
- A memoir – Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling
- A book you can finish in a day – Skinny Habits: 6 Secrets of Thin People by Bob Harper
- A book with antonyms in the title – Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
- A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit Finding Paris by Joy Preble
- A book that came out the year you were born – Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- A book with bad reviews Overexposed by Susan Shapiro
- A trilogy – Jenny Han’s Summer
- A book with a love triangle – What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
- A book set in high school – To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
- A book with a color in the title – Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
- A book that made you cry – This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes
- A book with magic – Season of the Dragonflies by Sarah Creech
- A book by an author you’ve never read before – The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- A book that takes place in your hometown – My Father’s Wives by Mike Greenberg
- A book that was originally written in a different language – Adultery by Paulo Coelho, originally written in Portuguese
- A book set during Christmas – The Look of Love by Sarah Jio
- A book written by an author with your same initials – A Long Time Gone by Karen White
- A play – Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
I did not complete these categories:
- A book your mom loves
- A book more than 100 years old – I’m still reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- A book you were supposed to read in school but didn’t
- A book from your childhood
- A book set in the future
- A graphic novel
- A book you own but have never read
- A classic romance
- A book with nonhuman characters
- A banned book
- A book based on or turned into a TV series
- A book you started but never finished
All in all, I completed 38 of the 50 categories although I read about 75 books in total this year, some that I probably wouldn’t have stuck with except for this challenge. I’m definitely trying the 2016 reading challenge.
What about you? What are your plans for reading more widely in 2016?
Very impressive! I wish I would get more into reading again.. I need to pick a good book and just go with it! Happy New Year!
Christina :: Simple and Delish
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Hey Christina, thanks for the comment. Did you find something to read yet? If you need a book recommendation, I’d be happy to help.
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Holy moly! Impressive!!
I have started to read before bed. I only get a couple pages before I fall asleep so my # of books read is quite small 😦
I do want to continue to read before bed and increase my yearly # of books.
Good luck on the 201ff challenge.
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Yeah, you have a lot more going on. If you don’t read much, I totally understand. Reading has always been one of my passions though – I’ve never found a book I don’t want to even skim through. #booklover to the nth degree.
I go through some phases though where I read more of one type and in 2015, I did a lot of Non-Fiction business and inspirational type books
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I used that book list this past year, too! It was fun to look for specific books based on the categories- and you did a great job making your way through the list! I just made a “book bingo” for 2016 as a way to help me pick my books for the new year, you should check it out! 🙂
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The book bingo sounds fun. Is it on your blog?
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Oh my goodness! I admire your diligence as a reader. This list is definitely something I would like to work on in the coming year. ❤
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Alyson Marie. Thanks so much for your comment. I hope you find books that inspire you to read them – that’s the key to reading a lot, I think. But really, I am so excited to meet you – you have my two middle names and that makes you extra special in my book. 🙂
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That’s pretty great though, I think!! 🙂 XO -Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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