Reading Challenges 2022 and 2023

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I always enjoy participating in reading challenges, and there are several reasons for that. I participate in the Goodreads reading challenge for the year to keep track of what I read and how much I read throughout the year. Also, at the end of the year, fulfilling a set goal, gives me a sense of accomplishment, however small, that I decided something for myself other than my work and home duties and pursued it and achieved it.

I participate in reading challenges by other bloggers, to read books on varied subjects. The monthly themes of these bloggers enable me to hunt for books I wouldn’t otherwise have picked. Also, since I know many other participants are doing the challenges, it gives me a sense of a community with people working towards a common goal. Additionally, the recommendations and suggestions the hosts and other members give help me in exploring more books and themes.

Also, I already have so many unread books. Through these challenges, I try to find as many books from my shelves that fit the theme and hence, will get read eventually sometime in the year.

Plus, the best part, even if I for some reason, am not able to read a certain number of books or a certain theme of books for any of these challenges, no pressure. Reading should be fun and is an activity that gives pleasure, so it should be a no-stress game. No one is going to hold me against it, but if I do it will give me a sense of satisfaction and achievement and I will have learned so much more from these various books.

So I encourage all of you to participate in them even if you read 1 book a year or 100. All the links have been given below. Please participate in what works best for you, or not.

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Uncorked reading Challenge 2022

January’s Reading Challenge Theme: Time Travel Books
January Uncorked Readers Bonus Challenge: Books we love but critics don’t

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

The husband is transported into an alternate reality and he will do anything to get back to his family. But his family is living with him unaware that he has been replaced.

February’s Reading Challenge Theme: Books set in or about South Africa

February Bonus Challenge: Books from your hometown, state, country, or where your ancestors are from

Pyre by Perumal Murugan

A young couple, very much in love, get married despite their caste differences. But the community has decided not to let them live happily ever after, and what follows is a harrowing tale.

March’s Reading Challenge Theme: Wine books/Books set on a vineyard

March Bonus Challenge: Books with your favorite color in the title

These Tangled Vines by Julian Maclean

A girl discovers a shattering truth at her mother’s death bed. Her biological father is worlds across and has named her his heir of a massive vineyard.

April’s Reading Challenge Theme: Baltic books

April Bonus Challenge: Books with your favorite foods

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Coffee)

The dazzling story of Evelyn Hugo who has had multiple failed marriages but has always remained in the limelight. Narrated in her own words to a struggling journalist, Evelyn has a powerful story to convey.

May’s Reading Challenge: Hiking books

May Bonus Challenge: Books by an author you think you don’t like but have never actually read

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

One man’s journey to accomplish the impossible.

June’s Reading Challenge Theme: Books about or set in Mexico

June Bonus Challenge: Books by Indigenous authors

Taproot by Keezy Young

A sweet love story between a ghost and a gardener.

July’s Reading Challenge: Dark academia books (usually set at a prestigious university or boarding school)

July Bonus Challenge: Books where you next want to travel

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

A glimpse into the cultural and social norms in Korea through story of neighbors/friends struggling through life.

August’s Reading Challenge Theme: Books set in or about Australia

August Bonus Challenge: Books that have been sitting in your TBR (to be read) pile for ages

Dopehri by Pankaj Kapur

The story of an old woman who is lonely in a huge house, with a huge heart.

September’s Reading Challenge Theme – Road Trip Books
September Bonus Challenge: Books published in the decade or year you were born

Liberation of Sita by Volga

The Indian epic Ramayana, through the perspective of some of its pivotal women – Mandodari, Janaki/Sita, Urmila.

October’s Reading Challenge Theme: Books set somewhere haunted
October Bonus Challenge: Books from a nearby Free Little Library, library sale, or you received as a gift

The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong

The coming-of-age story of a psychopath.

November’s Reading Challenge: Books about or set in Thailand
November Bonus Challenge: Book about an inspiring career change that interests you

The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish way to live well by Meik Wiking

Learn the secret to a happy life from the country that houses the happiest people in the world despite being given gloomy, rainy, cold weather with minimum sunlight throughout the year.

December’s Reading Challenge: Books set in or about Ecuador
December Bonus Challenge: Books set in an environment you’ve never experienced (i.e. jungle, desert, mountain, deserted island, volcanic area)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein

Fascinating, magical, mysterious and absolutely unputdownable. The story of a challenge set up for two young people by their elders, where no one is aware of the details. And an unimaginable circus in the midst with never-before-seen performers that appears and disappears magically.

Booklist queen Reading challenge 2022

January

A Book with a Twist - The Push by Ashley Audrain

This book explores a mother-daughter relation through a very dark angle and has a twisted end.

February

Speculative Fiction - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

A classic so intriguing and mesmerizing, it is a must-read.

March

A Book by a Local Author - Cobalt Blue by Sachin Kundalkar

A sister-brother duo fall in love with the same man, their tenant. But the man has some other plans no one is aware of.

April

A Book with a Two Word Title - Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

The second book of the booker prize winning author takes us through the story of a young boy who is exploring his sexuality. The theme is a dark one and overall the book has a very sad tone to it.

May

Bottom of Your To-Read List - The Cat who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

Why are books so important? Explore this in a fun way along with a cat with special powers.

June

A Book Everyone is talking about - Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Emily Henry sells like hotcakes since the release of her first book. This one explores the relationship dynamics of a literary agent and an editor. Also the book explores a sister-sister relationship.

July

An Audiobook - The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

The story of a massive Ponzi scheme collapse and the disappearance of a woman from a ship.

August

A Book Purchased at a Book Store - Hope on and Suits

Graphic novels depicting themes concerning modern India.

September

Family Drama - The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

A marriage ruined by food-poisoning. But the bride and groom decide to send their respective sister and brother on their honeymoon to save their honeymoon from being ruined.

October

Spooky Read - Verity by Colleen Hoover

A famous author, Verity Crawford, is left unable to complete her bestselling series. So her husband hires a ghostwriter. But things take a drastic turn when the write discovers Verity’s unpublished autobiography.

November

Nonfiction Bestseller - The Little Book of Hygge : The Danish way to live well by Meik Wiking

Learn the secret to a happy life from the country that houses the happiest people in the world despite being given gloomy, rainy, cold weather with minimum sunlight throughout the year.

December

A Book You Own but Haven’t Read - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein

Reading challenges for 2023

Kayla from BooksandLALA has the Buzzword reading challenge every year and she continues it into 2023. Following is her video detailing the themes and owrds for each month.

Uncorked Reading Challenge 2023

January through March topics include:

Mermaids
Ships | Shipwrecks

Dangerous Women by Hope Adams

Hawaii
Islands

Moshi Moshi by Banana Yashimoto set in Japan an island

Japanese Fantasy
Costa Rica
Isolated Location
Made Into A Series Or Movie

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

April through June topics include:

Wedding
Hotels
LGBT Graphic Novel
Kenya
2023 New Release
Unicorns
Brazil: Books | Movies
Oldest Book In TBR Pile

July through September topics include:

Music
Canada
New Zealand
Animals: Cat Books | Dog Books | Dogs In Lit

The Curious Incident of the dog in the night time by Matthew Hadon

Middle-Aged Characters
Panama
Short & Sweet: Horror Novellas

A short story collection

Takes Place In A Day

October through December topics include:

Scotland
Ireland: Ireland Books | Ireland Movies
Beer
Castles
About Maps
Monsters
Ghosts: Ghost Books | Haunted House Movies | Haunted House Books

Boo

About Books