I have been following the Modern Mrs. Darcy the past few years and historically she has a yearly reading challenge. This year (and last year) she did a choose-your-own-adventure style challenge. Many other bloggers create their own version and Goodreads has a plethora too. I had a list of types of books I would try to read every year, but never had success reading all of them until I streamlined it and tied each type to a month of the year. In 2020 and 2021, I hit all the categories! I also reviewed every book I read in 2021 which hasn't happened before. I didn't quite make it in 2022 because of school in the spring (master's degree) and work in the fall. I have shared the reading list on my personal FB page, but here it is for wider perusal. 2023 update: I did it (within 12 hours anyway ;).
Note: this list has categories that reflect my Christian worldview, especially March and July, as well as choices in each category that are Christian books. I share to inspire you to think of categories that would fit you and to share my reading life too.
Updated 2024: I italicized the potential picks in each category for 2024. I am trying to read books I already have or that are already on my to read list, but something new always catches my eye too!
January Social Justice for Martin Luther King Day:
2021: White Fragility
2022: Be the Bridge
February Marriage for Valentine's Day:
2020: You and Me Forever
2022: What Did You Expect
2023: His Needs, Her Needs
2024: Sacred Marriage
March Christian Living for Lent:
2020: Everlasting Man
2023: Invitation to a Journey
April Environment for Earth Day:
2021: Kingfisher’s Fire
2022: Remember Creation (Finished this on January 3, 2023 :)
2023: Stewards of Eden
May Biography:
2020: Queen of Katwe
2021: Tolkien (Devin Brown)
2022: Finding Me
2023: Surrender
2024: Born a Crime
June Parenting for Children's Day:
2020: Driven to Distraction
2021: Raising Lions
2023: The Tech Wise Family
2024: Untangled
July Christian Fiction for summer:
2020: The Great Divorce
2021: Descent into Hell
2023: Triumph of Grace
2024: Red Tent
August Children's for summer:
2020: Esperanza Rising, Tweet Cute
2022: Firekeeper's Daughter, Where the Rhythm Takes You, From Night Owl to Dogfish, So Many Beginnings, The Warden and the Wolf King, Clap When You Land
2023: The Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow and more
2024: Flush
September Classics for Back to School:
2020: Frankenstein
2021: Animal Farm
2022: Portrait of Dorian Gray
2023: House on Mango Street
2024: The End of the Affair
October Food for Harvest:
2020: Feast, Fast, Repeat
2021: Intuitive Eating
2022: Bread and Wine
2023: Run Fast, Eat Slow
November Science:
2021: Why We Sleep
2022: Range 2023: The Body Keeps the Score
