This year I was super excited to introduce a new reading challenge on my blog! I called it “The 2018 Reading Challenge: 52 books in 52 weeks” and was blown away by the reaction. With hundreds of shares on Facebook and thousands of re-pins on Pinterest, the response to this challenge has been phenomenal and staggering at the same time. This was my most viewed post of 2018 (so far) and I’ve been super excited to see so many people passionately dive into reading!

A book a week sounds daunting to some people but the goal of this challenge was really to inspire people to read more and to read different. With fifty-two different categories, I hoped that participants would stretch out of their comfort zones and pick up books that they might not ordinarily read. Many of those who have been participating have excitedly shared new authors and new genres that they’ve discovered and were surprised by.

So far, my personal book tally for this year is hovering in the 120’s. Not all the books I read were for the challenge and I tried to limit myself to just one challenge book each week. However, with a new baby on the way, I knew that my reading time was going to be limited over the next few months and wanted to make sure I finished before October.

With that being said, I have completed my 52 challenge books for the year and wanted to share them you. There’s probably only two or three books on this list that I didn’t enjoy and wouldn’t necessarily recommend. (Cough, cough, Three Cups of Tea, cough…) But even so, this was a really fun challenge and I hope YOU ALL join me in the upcoming 2019 MommyMannegren reading challenging.

That’s right. A 2019 Reading Challenge is on it’s way! The full challenge and details will be released in NOVEMBER! So be sure to stay tuned!

I am also taking category suggestions for the new challenge. If you haven’t already joined the 2018 Reading Challenge Facebook Group, I encourage you to do so! If you have a brilliant idea for next year and want to see your category included in the 2019 challenge, the Facebook group is the place to share it!

Until then, I will leave you (my lovely readers) with my list of completed categories for 2018. Happy Reading!

 


Liz’s 2018 Book Challenge Completion List:
**Books marked with stars were special favourites

1. A book by a Canadian author: The Handmaid’s Tale –  Margaret Atwood

2. A childhood favourite: James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl

3. A novel that is considered a “classic”: The Great Gatsby –  F. Scott Fitzgerald

4. A mystery novel: The Woman in Cabin 10 –  Ruth Ware

5. A book you’ve been meaning to read but haven’t got toUninvited  Lysa TerKeurst

6. A science fiction novel: **Shift –  Hugh Howey

7. An adventure / espionage novel: The Simple Truth –  David Baldacci

8. A biography: **Ruined –  Ruth Everhart

9. A book that challenges your viewpoint: 13 Reasons Why Jay Asher

10. The first book in a trilogy: **Night – Elie Wiesel

11. A book with over 600 pages: Drums of Autumn – Diana Gabraldon

12. A book you can read in a day: Seasons of Waiting – Betsy Childs Howard

13. A book that has won a Pulitzer Prize – any year: The Underground Railroad – Coleson Whitehead

14. Any book from the 2017 Good Reads Choice Awards: **The Alice Network – Kate Quinn

15. A book that has been made into a movie: **The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd

16. A book chosen solely by its cover: In a Cottage In a Wood – Cass Greene

17. A book on theology: **Knowing God – J.I Packer

18. A celebrity memoir: **Talking As Fast as I can – Lauren Graham

19. A book with a six word title: **The Scars That Have Shaped Me – Vaneetha Rendall Risner

20. A book set in a country you want to visit: A Light on the Hill – Connilyn Cossette

21. A book that makes you laugh out loud: Is it Just Me – Miranda Hart

22. A book you read in school: A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle

23. A book with a green spine: Treasuring Christ when your hands are full – Gloria Furman

24. A book with a character that shares your name: Somewhere in France – Jennifer Robson

25. A book published in 2018: Oath of Honor – Lynette Eason

26. A book recommended by a friend: The Cruelest Month – Louise Penny

27. A book recommended by a librarian: The Beloveds – Maureen Lindley

28. A book written by an author under 30: **Golden Son – Pierce Brown

29. A book written before 1920: Little Men – Louisa May Alcott

30. A book that makes you cry: **One Thousand Gifts – Ann Voskamp

31. An e-book: Morning Star – Pierce Brown

32: A book with bad reviews: Three Cups of Tea – Greg Mortenson

33. A Young-Adults Bestseller: **Before I Fall – Lauren Oliver

34. A book set in Africa: **Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken heart – Tim Butcher

35. A book by Agatha Christie: The Pale Horse – Agatha Christie

36. A Historical non-fiction book: Les Parisiennes – Anne Sebba

37. A book that inspires you: Mom Enough – Desiring God Authors

38. A short story: Grantchester: Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death – James Runcie

39. A book that’s been on the New York Times Bestseller for more than 10 weeks: The Couple Next Door – Shari Lapena

40. Political Book (Fiction or Non-Fiction): **What Happened – Hillary Rodham Clinton

41. A book by a Scandinavian Author: **Papa’s Wife – Thyra Ferre Bjorn

42. A book with non-human characters: Charlotte’s Web – E.B White

43. A book about a topic you’re passionate about: Missional Motherhood – Gloria Furman

44. A book set in the Middle East: In the Land of Invisible Women – Qanta A. Ahmed

45. A book already in your bookshelf: **Dangerous Territory – Amy Peterson

46. A book that was once banned: All Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque

47. A book originally published in the year you were born: Wild Swans – Jung Chang

48. A book about travel: **My Life in France – Julia Child

49. A foreign book translated into English: The Time in Between – Maria Duenas

50. A book with the letter “Y” somewhere in the title: **Prayer – Timothy Keller

51. A book with food on the cover: Hail to the Chef – Julie Hyzy

52. A book about a current world issue: **Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town – Jon Krakauer


 

If you made it this far, I want to hear from you! What have been your favourite reads from the 2018 Reading Challenge? Share in the comments!

3 replies
  1. bevbaird
    bevbaird says:

    I have been thoroughly enjoying your challenge. I do read a lot although many of those books aren’t on the challenge list. I have a bit of catching up to do and will use October to do that. So many great books on your list! – many i haven’t read but hope to!
    Looking forward to next year’s challenge already!
    How abouy these chocies for next year:
    a book recommended by your children
    a book about your profession (or desired profession)
    a book about a subject you know nothing about
    a book about creativity
    a book to help change a bad habit

    Reply
  2. Jamie
    Jamie says:

    Here are some category suggestions for next year:
    -A title containing a possessive phrase (e.g., The Fault in Our Stars, Sophie’s Choice, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Their Eyes Were Watching God)
    -A title that uses a word twice (e.g., Boy Meets Boy; Absolom, Absolom!; Rich Man, Poor Man)
    -Title containing Q, X, Y or Z in it somewhere

    Reply

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