Let’s Talk: The Goodreads Reading Challenge

I love the Goodreads reading challenge. Every year I look forward to seeing the new colour and setting my goal to a high number just so I have something to look forward to. And every year, I get stressed. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am a major mood reader. I find monthly TBRs to be too restricting, and it often leaves me in a reading slump. For that reason, I have a love-hate relationship with the Goodreads reading challenge.

It’s only 24 days into the year, and I am already behind. Like any ambitious Type 3 enneagram would, I set my challenge number to 100 books in the hopes of having another solid reading year. So far this year, I have read an impressive number of books, and that number is three. One of which was a re-read, so it’s not like I challenged myself to consume something new. No, I chose to read something I knew I would enjoy in fear of slumping too early in the year. I bet you’re thinking, Mary, what is the point of this post? And you’re right – what is the point of this post? I just wanted to share some positivity and some insight into how hard it can be to motivate yourself to read. So, I thought, why not share some of my favourite things to do to make the Goodreads challenge slightly easier so you don’t get overwhelmed (like yours truly) and quit!

1. Audiobooks are your best friend

Can’t focus on a physical book? No worries, put some earphones in and listen to it via audiobook! I admit, I don’t read audiobooks as much as I should, but I love them for multitasking. Sometimes I just don’t want to sit in silence with a physical book, and that’s ok. Reading should be fun, and it should be something you look forward to doing, and if that means playing hours upon hours of Animal Crossing: New Horizons while listening to a book, by all means go ahead! There are thousands of books out there that you can utilise, with some even on Spotify and YouTube for you to listen to for free! I personally love listening to thrillers on audiobook, as it really transports you into the mystery and it’s essentially like listening to a true crime podcast. If you can’t afford to pay subscriptions for the likes of Audible, Scribd or even Kobo, I highly recommend you check out your local library’s selection on Libby! Libby is a free app, and all you need is a library card to join. I use Libby a lot (and I am actually connected to my best friend’s local library, too, for extra selection), and I love that it means I can consume books quickly but without the cost attached. Of course, I completely understand that the library system is a privilege, and you may not have access to a library, so utilising resources like YouTube would be the way to go!

2. All the World’s a Stage… So read a play

Short, simple, and easy to read: plays are your best friend! I love theatre, so it’s a no-brainer to read some plays when I want to bump up the number of books I’ve read. Something that I enjoy about reading plays versus seeing them live is that you get to step into the role of a director, lighting designer, costume designer and all those fun jobs and imagine your own production. If you’re new to reading plays, I recommend listening (look at me linking back to idea one!) to some fully produced Shakespeare plays, which act as a radio play to get started. In fact, to bump up my number of reads last year I listened to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and it was fantastic! You get the atmosphere and energy of a live performance from the comfort of your home, commute, or even the grocery store. However, if you’re interested in picking up some plays, here are some recommendations to get you going: Peter and Alice by John Logan, The Play that Goes Wrong by Mischief Theatre, Yellowface by David Henry Hwang, Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, Constellations by Nick Payne, and Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris.

3. Novellas

I love reading novellas because you get the same enjoyment out of them as you would a novel, just with a shorter read time. Oftentimes I find novellas really quick and easy to consume due to their length, and I love challenging myself to read as many as I can in a day. Personally I’m drawn to fantasy novellas, but I have also read a few contemporary and romance ones that were just as exciting. Novellas are also a great way to try genres you may not have read yet, so I definitely recommend checking some out if you want to try something new without committing to a long series.

And there we have it! A few ideas on how I’m going to kickstart my reading goal, and keep up with the endless times Goodreads tells me I’m behind schedule. Let me know down below what you do to keep on track with your reading goal, and I will see you all next week!