Goodreads Challenges

One of the elements that Goodreads has added is the seasonal challenges. They started adding challenges last year, but I feel they just were testing them out and how to introduce the concept to their users. I have fallen for them hook, line, and sinker. I will admit that I’m a competitive sort of person, so I love the challenge that keeps me on my toes. When I have created reading challenges for himself, I never complete them because I don’t have good system or I forget what I was trying to accomplish. I think because the seasonal challenges are on the same page that counts the books that I read during the year that I’m able to follow through on those challenges.

Yes, I’ve completed every single challenge they have created since Goodreads started doing them. For me, it is a sense of accomplishment; I like seeing all the bookmarks filled in. However, I like that these challenges force me to read something outside of my comfort zone. Each achievement celebrates books that might not entice the mass reader, such as titles by fascinating women, essential reads by black authors, titles by Asian American and Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ books, or classics from the last 100 years. The team at Goodreads curates an eclectic list of titles to fulfill the challenge requirements. There is a gatekeeper on the books that qualify; this way I can’t fudge the challenge results. I have to read each category in the challenge to win. As a competitive person that is all the fuel I need to read a book. Let’s just be honest, I only need fuel for genres that aren’t my favorite like science fiction, fantasy, or horror. But, if there is a challenge on the line, I will be looking for one of those books.

I know for many of us we do not need a reason to pick up a book, but the challenges compels me to pick up a book that I would never in a million years read. Thus far, I have been pleased with the selection for the book challenges. I look forward to the unveiling of the challenges, so keep up the good work Goodreads team.