READ 50 BOOKS || Easy peasy. I’ve been doing this every year. It’s always a challenge to see if it’ll get done, what with agenting and all. 2016 will be especially difficult because there are a lot of travels planned (and, strangely enough, I don’t read much when I’m traveling).
READ FEWER ARCs || ARCs are important. I’ll always love receiving them. But I think I hit my max in the number of ARCs to read and review in 2015, and I’d like to take a step back from that in 2016. My primary job is to find new manuscripts — to be the hipster in the publishing industry (cause that’s what agents are!). I’ll be more selective in the ARCs I accept for review, just like how I’m selective in the manuscripts I read.
REREAD 5 FAVORITES || Last year I made a goal of rereading 10 favorite books, and only managed to complete 3 and nearly finish another. Five seems like a more achievable goal.
READ 10 LIBRARY BOOKS || I’m debating between making this 10 library books and 15 library books — either way, read more books from the library! One does not need to buy all the new books when you could easily check them out from the library and decide if they’re worth keeping in your own personal library later on. I managed to read 7 books from the library in 2015, so I think 10-15 seems a good range.
PURCHASE NO MORE THAN 5 NEW BOOKS || This will be the tough one. I could never quite follow the “for every 5 books read, 1 unread book can be purchased” resolution I’d make in previous years, because…well, are ARCs part of the list? Or was it 5 already published books? And because I was wishy washy with the definition, I wouldn’t keep track of the number of books I read and just bought stuff whenever I felt like it. Now I have something to keep track. Only 5 completely-new-to-me, never-been-read-in-any-format-ever-before books.
Reading Challenges
This year I’m participating in four reading challenges, all quite naturally. While I have a goal to read fewer ARCs, more library books, and tackling my TBR, these challenges can also keep me in line a bit with all of them.
I’ve told Stacey @ The Pretty Books that I would participate in her Classics Challenge ever since she started this, and two years have gone by and I haven’t kept my word. NOW I WILL! I plan to read at least five classics in 2016, four of the five on my TBR bookcase and one of them I’ve been eyeing for a couple years now. Might as well snag it from the library!
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books is a massive fantasy fan, and we tend to share similar reading preferences. This year I decided I would join her Flights of Fantasy reading challenge. It’s quite simple: read fantasy books. Well, I have loads of those on my TBR bookcase, so I’m planning to read at least five fantasy books in 2016.
I’m continuing in the Re-Read Challenge in 2016, now hosted solely by Kelly @ Belle of the Literati (because former co-host Hannah @ So Obsessed With will be busy with a little bundle of joy!), and like I said in my resolutions, I plan to re-read five books in 2016.
And last but not least, there’s actually a challenge out there for reading books off your TBR shelves! Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler is hosting the Rock My TBR Challenge, and all you need to do is read at least one book a month off your shelves. I will certainly read more than one a month in 2016.
As you can see, these challenges will easily overlap with one another. They’re not challenges so much as ways to make me accountable for what I’m resolving to do in 2016. We all need a little something to keep us in line, right?
What are your bookish resolutions for 2016? Are you participating in any reading challenges (and if so, which ones)?
Scribbles & Wanderlust 
18 thoughts on “2016 Bookish Resolutions & Reading Challenges”
looloolooweez
Wow, looks like you have a lot of goals to aim for this year! I think including re-reads in your goals is a great idea — I sometimes struggle to give myself “permission” to re-read when there are all kinds of new titles out there waiting in line, too. Anyway, Happy New Year!
Laura
That was my problem in 2014. I wanted to reread so many titles — but why would I do that when great books are being published every week? When I signed up for the ReRead2015 challenge, it felt like I had a true, nonjudgemental reason and excuse to reread favorites. That’s why favorites are meant for, right? Rereading!
Lark
Got some great resolutions. I don’t know if I could stick to the buying no more than 5 new books this year…but I probably should make that a goal. My bookshelves runneth over. 🙂 Good luck with all your challenges and all your bookish goals! Hope 2016 is a good year for you.
Laura
No more than 5 completely-new-to-me books. It’s cutting down impulse buying, but not collecting or final copies of ARCs. It’ll be really hard! But hopefully it’ll encourage me to be more deliberate in my purchasing habits AND utilize the library more!
Morgan @ Gone with the Words
Those are all great challenges, I love when they overlap with existing goals! Sounds very achievable too. I really need to rock my own TBR and use the library more, I’ve already put a few future books on hold 🙂 I don’t read much when I travel either, even when I think I will haha. Happy reading!!
Laura
Thanks, Morgan! Which books have you put on hold?
prettybooks
Yaaaay you’ve joined the classics challenge! I need to join the re-read challenge, too.
Laura
FINALLY.
BringMyBooks
Love your resolutions, Laura! I’m actually attempting (in various ways) your first 4 as well! I highly doubt I’ll be able to hold myself to 5 books, haha! (Alttthhhoouuuggghhh I did look last year and I only purchased 9 of the 53 books I read!)
I’m also loving the challenges you joined; I plan on joining ReRead and Flights of Fantasy again this year as well 🙂
Laura
You, my friend, joined a bazillion challenge, which boggles my mind even though I know they’ll overlap with one another!
5 new-to-me books! Impulse buys. I really need to get a handle on that.
HopefulReads
We have a lot of the same reading challenges this year. Huzzah! I like that you are going to read 10 library books. That’s not a common challenge that I see.
Laura
Libraries are there for a reason! Why break your bank when you could utilize free resources?
Mary
I’m liking the goals you set for yourself–very attainable!
Laura
Thanks, Mary!
Michelle
I like your goals. You have obviously given them some thought. Good luck and have fun!
Laura
Thanks, Michelle!
Alexa S. (@alexalovesbooks)
I’m totally with you on reading fewer ARCs! I did a good job of deliberately reading less in 2015, and I want to work even harder to bring that number down this year. I know you can do it, and hopefully, so can I!
I’m also pleased that you’ll be joining us for the Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge! Reading fantasy is always fun, and yes, I think you and I certainly sharing reading preferences. Here’s to hoping we discover more new fantasies to love this year! ❤
Laura
*clinks glass of preferred alcoholic beverage for toast* Cheers!