Even though we are three days into the new year, I’m still making up my resolutions and new habits I would like to incorporate into my life in 2014. I know that I am going to be reading Anna Karenina, The Corrections, and Don Quixote along with my sister. I’ve also set my goodreads challenge at 110 books … which frankly makes me feel like I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew. While I’m still solidifying my other reading goals for the year, here are 14 reading challenges for 2014 that may be of interest.
Goodreads: here you can set your own challenge. So far 131,258 people have created personal challenges, over 8 million total books have been pledged, with the average challenge coming in at 65 books. Whether you want to read 10 books this year or 100, this is a great way to track your personal reading progress.
The 2014 Back to the Classics Challenge: read and review (either on your blog or on goodreads) six books, one from each category including: a 20th century classic, a 19th century classic, a classic by a female author, a classic in translation, a classic about war, and a classic by an author who is new to you.
2014 LGBT Reading Challenge: this one is for bloggers to read and review at least three LGBT young adult novels in 2014. Participants will be entered into a pretty enticing giveaway.
Banned Books Challenge 2014: Challenge yourself to read more banned books this year. This challenge has different levels, so you can participate even if you only pledge to read 1 banned book this year.
The Eclectic Reader Challenge: read twelve books from twelve different genres or categories.
Diversity on the Shelf 2014 Challenge: add diversity to your bookshelf by challenging yourself to read more books by authors of color and/or with main characters of color.
2014 Georgette Heyer Reading Challenge: immerse yourself in the famous regency romance writer by reading at least five of her novels.
Dystopia Reading Challenge 2014: Join this challenge and try to read 24 dystopian novels this year. If you aren’t feeling that ambitious there are lower levels at which you can participate.
Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge: To complete this challenge you must read a book from a different genre each month. January starts with young adult books.
The Newbery Reading Challenge 2014: In this challenge readers get points for reading Newbery Medal Winners, Newbery Honor Books, and Caldecott Medal Winners.
2014 Victorian Reading Challenge: To win this challenge you must read two or more books published between 1837 and 1901.
2014 PoC Speculative Fiction Challenge: Read speculative fiction books by and about persons of color. The challenge offers lists of suggestions.
Fairy Tales Retold Reading Challenge: Read as many YA or MG fairy tale retellings as possible this year. You will reach the top level of this challenge by reading sixteen or more books in this category.
2014 Standalone Reading Challenge: If you are tired of series or looking to read novels published this year then this could be the challenge for you. The challenge is to read 15 YA or MG standalone novels released between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014.
Do you set reading goals or participate or reading challenges? Which of these sounds interesting to you?
Alison Doherty 
That’s a lot of challenges! Good luck with them. I’m doing three challenges this year. I’m setting my Goodreads challenge at 60 books, which equates to a little more than a book a week. I’m doing the PoC in Speculative Fiction challenge, and I’m doing a TBR pile challenge.
Thanks Grace. I’m not doing all these challenges, these are just the ones I’m deciding between. THe PoC speculative Fiction challenge looks very interesting to me!
It does! And since I’m already participating in a few readalongs that fit into that category, I figured it would be a good addition. 🙂
I signed up to read 45 books for the Goodreads challenge, but I don’t know about joining any others. For some reason signing up for anything else make me feel like I have to do it, and if i have to do it, chances are that I’ll start to feel pressured and if I start to feel pressured then I’m not going to want to do it. It’s silly really, but at least I know this about myself 🙂
If I was a challenge joining person, I would probably go for the Banned Books Challenge or Fairy Tales Retold Challenge.
I have no idea why half of that is in italics 🙂
No worries. I don’t understand why wordpress does half the things it does. I totally know what you mean by feeling pressured to do something making you less likely to actually do it. Thanks for commenting!
Wow, that is a lot of challenges you’ve signed up for! Good luck – not only there’d be lots and lots and lots to read but you need to keep them straight too, lol.
Oh these are just the challenges I’m deciding between. ALthough I’m definitely tempted to do them all!
I’ve never done a book challenge or set reading goals. I’m usually pretty eclectic. 😀 I might do a challenge this year. Good luck on yours!!!
Thank you!
Excellent challenge lists! I’m intrigued by the banned book, eclectic reader, and diversity on the shelf ones. It’s important to read books outside of our comfort zones sometimes to find personal classics we never would have found otherwise.
Oh, Don Quixote! An excellent book. I should reread that one…
I’m not going to lie I’m a little intimidated by Don Quixote, so your good thoughts are exciting!
Thanks for helping spread the word about the Banned Books Challenge 🙂
Of course! It looks like a really cool challenge.
My reading resolutions are to read Anna Karenina, Don Quixote, and The Corrections with you as well as Color: A Natural History of the Palette, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and A Visit from the Goon Squad on my own. Very excited to read books that have been on my ‘to-read’ list for ages! I also want to update my goodreads account more often and generally read books outside my normal preferences/genres. Here’s to a successful & literature filled 2014!
Thanks for joining the LGBT Challenge, Alison! 🙂 I ❤ your TBR list! It makes me extra happy to see that you'll be reading Ari&Dante since I really, really loved that book. And Two Boys Kissing is on my tbr as well. Good luck (with all these challenges) and happy reading!
Two Boys Kissing is one of my favorite reads from 2013. It is amazing!