The 2026 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread

[issybird]

Usually I'm eager to get going on a new challenge, but I'm struggling. Still trying to clear up the residuum from last year before I can get started, so here I am, already a week behind. Given everything, I've scaled back my category goals to nine books apiece rather than my typical 12. I'm hoping I can finally get started by the beginning of next week.

[WashWest]

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

What's The StoryGraph? Is that a Goodreads alternative?

Just noticed that no one replied to your question. StoryGraph is indeed an alternative to Goodreads. I found it overwhelming to switch at first, but after using the app for a while, I came to prefer it over Goodreads. It's less cluttered and more focused on the things I want a reading tracking app to do: tag books, make lists, show my stats.


StoryGraph does occasionally ask you to sign up for its premium version, but those are the only ads and they are not very intrusive. I find it refreshing compared to Goodreads which seems to be full of advertising.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

Usually I'm eager to get going on a new challenge, but I'm struggling. Still trying to clear up the residuum from last year before I can get started, so here I am, already a week behind. Given everything, I've scaled back my category goals to nine books apiece rather than my typical 12. I'm hoping I can finally get started by the beginning of next week.

I just had to let mine go. I had 2 books on the challenge I didn't get to. I migrated one to a new category in my '26 challenge and decided to let the other book go to a better home. If I had not managed to pick it up amidst 83 other books, that told me I really didn't want to read it.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

I just had to let mine go. I had 2 books on the challenge I didn't get to. I migrated one to a new category in my '26 challenge and decided to let the other book go to a better home. If I had not managed to pick it up amidst 83 other books, that told me I really didn't want to read it.

Whew! I (finally) finished two of my hanging books and came to my senses and abandoned the third. Even though I had a lot of hours invested (that pesky sunk cost fallacy) and felt I was getting something from it, it was too much of a slog. Let me repeat: whew!

On to my 2026 challenges. But I think I'll indulge a wee bit first. I can catch up, right? Right?

[nana77]

Originally Posted by WashWest

Just noticed that no one replied to your question. StoryGraph is indeed an alternative to Goodreads. I found it overwhelming to switch at first, but after using the app for a while, I came to prefer it over Goodreads. It's less cluttered and more focused on the things I want a reading tracking app to do: tag books, make lists, show my stats.


StoryGraph does occasionally ask you to sign up for its premium version, but those are the only ads and they are not very intrusive. I find it refreshing compared to Goodreads which seems to be full of advertising.

Imho it looks nice, just wished it can add also entire collections within one click, or search by language a serie and not only for single books.
But thanks, because it looks more clean than Goodreads.
I do have some comic collections that came out in newsstands years ago, so I'll use it for those ones (it wasn't me that bought the entire Manara collection, btw and LOL).

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by issybird

Whew! I (finally) finished two of my hanging books and came to my senses and abandoned the third. Even though I had a lot of hours invested (that pesky sunk cost fallacy) and felt I was getting something from it, it was too much of a slog. Let me repeat: whew!

On to my 2026 challenges. But I think I'll indulge a wee bit first. I can catch up, right? Right?

Some books need a proper environment, something to get one in the mood for total relaxation. A place where one can settle back and catch up on 2026 Reading Challenges. May I introduce to you my Penthouse in the Sky, Yes, this can be your own palace in the sky! Price is negotiable. But hurry! It may not be available for long due to accessibility issues during high flood season!

[nana77]

@Dr. Drib: on a recent reading I'd discovered various great SF authors did wrote good short novels for Playboy and Penthouse, saying the check was also quite higher than the usual .
Never thought SF would be found on those magazines.
Edit: Oh, , just did a quick research to see if it's still a thing, science fiction in there.. Oh... Omg .

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by nana77

@Dr. Drib: on a recent reading I'd discovered various great SF authors did wrote good short novels for Playboy and Penthouse, saying the check was also quite higher than the usual .
Never thought SF would be found on those magazines.
Edit: Oh, , just did a quick research to see if it's still a thing, science fiction in there.. Oh... Omg .

This is somewhat off-topic, but:

I actually had those two Penthouse magazines. I located used copies in the late 1970s at used bookstall - both in perfect condition, I might add. I later sold them, along with my Doubleday First Editions in DJ [M/M condition] for a large sum of money.

I still have my Uncorrected Proof [Mint] of IT.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Some books need a proper environment, something to get one in the mood for total relaxation. A place where one can settle back and catch up on 2026 Reading Challenges. May I introduce to you my Penthouse in the Sky, Yes, this can be your own palace in the sky! Price is negotiable. But hurry! It may not be available for long due to accessibility issues during high flood season!

You can take a boy out of Arkansas....

[BelleZora]

I'm enjoying this year's challenge more than any done in past years. I want to read books from around the world beginning with Africa's 54 countries. I had planned to read one book from each country, but found that some countries have more than one book I want to read. The point of this challenge is to be enjoyable and to learn something. I don't want to feel that I am just checking countries off a list. Nigeria has a plethora of excellent writers. There are four books I want to read set in the small country of Sierra Leone. So I am in no hurry to work my way through the list.

I have been supplementing my reading with movies with subtitles. So far I have seen movies produced in Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Mauritania, and Algeria. Thanks Amazon Prime.

I am so looking forward to every day of 2026. Thanks to pdurrant for posting this challenge.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by issybird

You can take a boy out of Arkansas....

Yes, I've heard that one!

[nana77]

@BelleZora: not meaning to bother you, but if it might interest:
https://www.johnjenningsstudio.com/w...-comix-returns
(there are digital available on Amazon, but if you might check - eventually - for the hardcover ones "Magnetic Press LL" has it still at the first release price).
Ps: I've liked a lot this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binti_Trilogy

@Dr. Drib:

both in perfect condition, I might add.

LoL . Thanks for the little OT.

[pdurrant]

It's nearly the end of January, and I'm not going to finish my current book before we get to February, so how have I done this month?

16 books read, although three were very short, and one was a re-read
7 books bought, but also got four freebies.

So a net reduction of 4. A lot better than an increase, but if I'm to hit my target of having fewer book at the end of 2026 than I had at the start of 2025, I'm going to have to do better. I need an average reduction of five books per month for the rest of the year.

On the plus side, I've read three of the four freebies I got this month, and the other freebie, and the purchases, are in series I'm currently reading.

I'm cautiously optimistic. I just need to avoid any mass-purchases.


How are the rest of you doing with your challenges? On target? Or in need of encouragement?

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

How are the rest of you doing with your challenges? On target? Or in need of encouragement?

I'm on target with my Read Around the World challenge having moved on from north Africa to west Africa. I've read some excellent books I would not have even heard of without this challenge. I expect to finish Africa and move on to the middle east in six or seven months.

I'm also on target for my StoryGraph challenge having completed January and February. All in all, a wonderful start to the year.

[CAFlanny]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

How are the rest of you doing with your challenges? On target? Or in need of encouragement?

I've finished the books I assigned myself to read in January and I've started February. I'm on target for the Mobileread Storygraph Challenge and I didn't buy any new books in January. (I bought a book that I had already read, so it doesn't count toward the TBR.) I'm not on target with my goal of 75% of my reads being from my TBR, but I expected that with having one month left of Kindle Unlimited. So overall, I'm doing well.