2023—52 Week Reading Challenge

With the goal of getting out of our comfort zones and reading more diversely by trying out new authors, genres, and subject matters, this year’s annual challenge is to read a book a week in no particular order based upon the prompts below.

Alternatively, since not everyone has the time (or inclination) to read a book a week, in this challenge often a single book can fit into several categories at once, lessening the actual number of books to read. For example. I’m planning to read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood which fits four categories: dystopian, classic, a book I’ve always wanted to read, and one that’s been adapted into film.

And, if that’s still too many books, just read what you can, and be sure and share your recommendations (see prompt #51).

1.    A classic

2.    A book you’ve always wanted to read

3.    An old favorite

4.    A book published in 2023

5.    A short story collection

6.    A novella

7.    A tome (over 500 pages)

8.    A novel told in stories

9.    An epistolary novel

10.  An essay collection

11.  A translation

12.  A debut novel

13.  A children’s story

14.  A coming-of-age novel

15.  A novel with an elderly protagonist

16.  A novel set in your home state

17.  A novel with a foreign setting

18.  A novel set on an island

19.  A novel set in a place you’d like to visit

20.  A novel adapted for film

21.  A prize winner (Pulitzer, National Book Award, Booker)

22.  A memoir

23.  A biography

24.  A sequel

25.  A historical novel

26.  A novel based on a real person

27.  A book with a great title

28.  A book with a great cover

29.  A book with a great opening line

30.  A book told from multiple points-of-view

31.  A book with multiple settings

32.  A book told in past and present time frames

33.  A book about sisters (or brothers)

34.  An intergenerational novel

35.  A fiction bestseller

36.  A nonfiction bestseller

37.  An inspirational/spiritual book

38.  A WW II novel

39.  A dystopian novel

40.  A fantasy or sci-fi novel

41.  A retake on a myth or classic

42.  A mystery

43.  A police procedural

44.  A true crime story

45.  A book with a medical setting

46.  A horror/ghost story

47.  A story with magic or magical elements

48.  A humorous story

49.  A romance/beach read

50.  A self-help book

51.  A recommendation from a friend

52.  A recommendation from a stranger