Anne's Book Challenge 2026

 It's the time of year when book lovers search for reading challenges for the next year. 

There are themed challenges, challenges sponsored by publishing houses and reading tracking sites. Even some authors have challenges.

Then there are just random people like me who come up with something. So, if you're looking for something but you're not quite sure what it is, why not try this? You can do it with friends Bingo style or by yourself. It's up to you. No one's checking, which also means there's no prize. It's just for fun.

And, by the way, there is a theme. If you guess it I may be able to come up with a prize after all.

 

 

Anne’s Book Challenge 2026

Read a book that is/has

1. Historical fiction (any era)

2. A one-word title

3. An author with your initials

4. Set in a country other than the United States

5. A memoir or biography

6. A classic novel (your definition of “classic”)

7. Flowers on the cover

8. Set in a place you’d like to visit

9. Been made into a movie or TV show

10. A number in the title

11.     Been written by a female author

12. A holiday theme

13.     Been published in 1960

14.      A blue or predominantly blue cover

15.      An author’s debut novel

16. A theme of friendship

17.     Non-fiction

18.     An animal on the cover

19. Been recommended by a friend

20. Set in the state where you live

21. Won a prize or award 

22. A title that starts “B”

23. A Female, Senior Citizen Protagonist

24. An Author who is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University

 

Suggested books by St. Bonaventure University graduates:

Boys in the Bunkhouse by Dan Barry

Pull Me Up: A Memoir by Dan Barry

Bottom of the 33rd by Dan Barry

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney ‘82

Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (coming out in 2026)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of My Slump

 I have been in a reading slump for several years.

It was so bad that for the last three years my goal in the Goodreads Challenge was only 12 books a year. And in 2023 I didn't even make it! I read only nine books that year; 14 in '22; and 16 last year.

The highest number I have ever read was 90. That was in 2014.

I will at least tie that this year. Tonight, in fact, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

I started out with a goal of 12 and passed that pretty early in the year so I decided to be really adventurous, choose a new goal and shoot for something way out there. Thirty-three. 

I'm at 89 with 10% left in one of the three audio books I currently have going. (Don't ask how many kindles and physical books are in progress. It's more than I will admit.) 

There is a kind of irony to how I have come out of the slump. It's audio books. I have an hour-ish commute to work five days a week (30-ish minutes each way) and, no offense to my pals on the radio, I'm really sick of radio. All of it. The "witty banter," the ads, the music, news. Especially the news. And it takes me too long to decide which of my playlists, favorite podcasts, or Substackers I want to listen to. As long as I only give myself one to three choices of audio books, I'm good.

According to Storygraph, so far this year the number of audio books I have listened to has surpassed the number of physical books I have read, 43% to 37%.  The other 20% is digital in case you're doing the math.

Back to the ironic part. When I had jobs that had me living paycheck to paycheck and books were my biggest luxury purchases I dreamed of having a job where I could buy a book without having to budget for it. Now that I have that job, I use my library card more than ever. I have eight "holds" on the Libby app and they're all audio books. 

One other cool thing about the number of books I've read this year is that I've expanded my interests. I discovered that I enjoy magical realism. I like some fantasy. (I should have realized that much sooner. "The Wizard of Oz?" Hello!)

I haven't been this excited about reading in a long time. Even longer ago than 2014. Although I read 90 books that year, most were by authors I was going to be interviewing (Oh, poor me!) and the reason these best-selling authors enjoyed coming on my little show is that I actually read their books. I did get to interview Sue Monk Kidd about what is now one of my all-time favorite historical fiction books, The Invention of Wings. And I did one of my favorite interviews in all of my nearly 16 years in radio: Jim Beviglia on "Counting Down Bruce Springsteen: His 100 Finest Songs." We agreed to disagree on Rosalita vs. Born to Run.

As I tie my highest finished book count in more than a decade later this evening, I hope I never forget the feeling I have right now. It's akin to the feeling I had the first time I read a book to my parents and when I got my first library card and checked out a book all by myself. 

Here's to tying, then surpassing, the record, and never getting into another slump!