It’s technically possible to squeeze in another couple of books before midnight on December 31, 2024 but unlikely, so I think I can safely draw a line under the reading challenges for the year.
I participated in five challenges this year – finished three; one is ongoing; and one I failed miserably.
Nonfiction Reader Challenge – the aim was 12 books over 12 nonfiction categories, and I’m approximately 100 pages off finishing. The standout for this challenge was for the ‘published in 2024’ category – Love, Death and Other Scenes by Nova Weetman.
Memoir – I read 23 memoirs (the target was five). It’s difficult to pick favourites because I love this genre, but Good Girls by Hadley Freeman, I Had a Father in Karratha by Annette Trevitt, Love, Death and Other Scenes by Nova Weetman, and Into a Star by Puk Qvortrup have stayed with me.
What’s In a Name – always good fun, and also an excellent way to reacquaint myself with titles in the TBR stack. I finished the challenge in October, and the highlight was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
Mount TBR – My Mount TBR effort always starts well and then… tails off… I only managed 31 of the pledged 48. I will be signing up in 2025 though – it keeps me ever-ever-so-slightly reading from what I already own. Happily, this challenge delivered some rippers including Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood, Unquiet by Linn Ullmann, and The Bureau of Past Management by Iris Hanika.
Around the World in 80 Books – my eighth year of an ongoing challenge and I managed to add five countries to the 66 I’d covered previously, bringing my total to 71. It’s getting increasingly more difficult! Glancing down the list, my pick for Palestine – Minor Detail by Adania Shibli – was the standout.
As for reading challenges in 2025, I’m planning on participating in all of these again, as well as challenges that pop up during the year (I’m looking at you November).
Are you trying any new challenges?
Congratulations on your achievements, and thanks for your contribution to the 2024 Nonfiction Reader Challenge
Thank you for hosting NFR – looking forward to taking part again (and after lots of thinking and some reviews of my TBR stack, my Goodreads ‘want to read’, and what’s available via Borrowbox, I think I have all the 2025 categories covered.
Congratulations.
I haven’t done the travel one but love the idea of it being an ongoing challenge. Will try it in 2025
I ripped through the travel challenge the first few years but then it became much trickier! The bloggers who started the challenge have long since stopped blogging (!) so you could probably tackle it however you see fit. I have included books by authors from particular countries and also books that are set predominantly in one country (regardless of where the author is from). I think some readers are stricter and have only counted books written by an author from a particular country.
Nope, I’m not signing up for anything. I used to enjoy them, especially What’s in a Name, but now I just make a desultory effort at 1001 Books and Read the Nobels, and that’s it.
I used to think that one day I would be proudly announcing that I’d read all 1001, but now *chuckle* I’m a loooong way from getting there!
I’m carrying on with Around the World in 80 Books too. I’m on 69. It is getting harder because I want each book to be written by an author from the country, so I’m trying to find the translations. I’m still really enjoying it though! Happy reading in 2025 Kate!
I wasn’t as disciplined as you – although many of mine are by authors from particular countries, I have also counted books set in particular countries. There’s a terrific Lonely Planet book called ‘Armchair Explorer’ that lists the best/most representative books, music and movies from each country. Now that I’m at the tail end of the challenge, I’ll be relying on Armchair Explorer for suggestions.
Thank you for the tip – I will take a look!
Well done! My oldest daughter and I are both going to try and read 100 books in 2025. I’m still deciding how much I want to challenge myself otherwise!
I was actually surprised by how much I read this year – didn’t feel like I had read lots more than previous years.
Good luck with your target!
I’m still trying to finish my A Century of Books challenge from last year!