Reading challenges for 2017

It’s nearly a new year, which means many people are thinking about new year’s resolutions. Here at the library, our resolutions tend to focus on (surprise!) reading. As has become tradition (2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016), we’ve rounded up some reading challenges from other websites and blogs.

• The 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge gives 40 book prompts “to help diversify and expand your reading in the new year, PLUS an ‘advanced’ section with 12 books for hardcore readers who complete the challenge before the year is over.” Their first prompt? “A book recommended by a librarian.”
• For a slightly less ambitious list, Book Riot’s 2017 Read Harder Challenge lists 24 categories. Why is it called “Read Harder”? Because ““We encourage you to push yourself, to take advantage of this challenge as a way to explore topics or formats or genres that you otherwise wouldn’t try.” There is also a Goodreads group to join (optional).
• Modern Mrs. Darcy offers two reading challenges for 2017: reading for fun and reading for growth. Choose one or both!
• The blog Books and Chocolate is offering its “Back to the Classics” challenge again in 2017. Discover and enjoy classic books you might have intended to read but haven’t gotten around to yet. There are twelve categories to choose from.
• The “TBR pile challenge” is to read some of those books that have been on your (real or mental) “To Be Read” list. This is the year you finally read them!
• Porter Square Books challenge?
• Build your own reading challenge! Peter at LitReactor has some words about what’s wrong with using someone else’s list and how to make your own.
• 6 Books to Help Understand Trump’s Win is a reading challenge that will tackle 6 books recommended by the New York Times to understand the 2016 election. Those from all political perspectives are welcome to participate!
• Or visit this huge list of reading challenges from girlxoxo and find the one that’s perfect for you!

Have you done reading challenges in the past? Which ones have you enjoyed? Which ones have you given up on, and why? What are your reading goals for the year?