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Tag Archives: Reading Challenge

2018 Reading Challenge: Wrap-Up, Takeaways, and Reflections

2018 Reading Challenge: Wrap-Up, Takeaways, and Reflections

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 1 Comment

On Monday I shared my twelfth and final book review for my 2018 Reading Challenge. This was the third consecutive year that I’ve participated in a personal Reading Challenge (here’s 2017 and 2016), and it was a highlight of my reading life in 2018. Just for fun, let’s take one last look at the categories I chose for my Challenge this year: 

These categories were designed to give me flexibility within my book choices, while also guiding me to new territory with my reading. And as anticipated, the Challenge was successful in helping me veer from my well-trodden literary paths and break new ground in my reading life. Most—if not all—of the books I read for this year’s Challenge were titles I wouldn’t have otherwise chosen for myself. Mission accomplished! 

Here’s a quick glimpse at my selections, as well as links to the original reviews:

Grace Based Parenting + And Every Day the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer + Of Mice and Men + What It Is Is Beautiful + 7 Women and the Secret of Their Greatness + Between the World and Me  + Giant Days + From the Ashes + How to Read a Dress + Peace Like a River + Stay With Me + Bluebird, Bluebird

I had remarkable luck with the book selections themselves: five received 4.5 or 5 stars from me, and even the books that weren’t favorites were titles I’m glad to have read. And beyond just leading me to some great books, the Challenge provided me with many insights about my reading life. While I could easily have listed more, here’s one key takeaway from each month:

January: I liked starting off 2018 with a book related to my Word for the year; it offered clarity on my word and helped set the tone for my year. I’ll be keeping with this tradition for as long as I claim an annual Word.

February: I really love novellas, especially ones from masterful wordsmiths who can infuse a lot of meaning into a brief story.

March: Not every classic is worth reading. (For the record, I didn’t hate this classic and don’t regret reading it, but it isn’t one I’d recommend to others.)

April: I need more poetry in my life. 

May: I like learning about historical figures, but don’t necessarily enjoy biography compilations; in the future I’ll read about one historical figure at a time. 

June: Reading about polarizing current events is bad for my blood pressure but good for keeping me on my toes and stretching my mind. 

July: It really isn’t scary to ask a librarian for book suggestions. Also (my biggest reading-related shocker of the year): graphic novels are pretty awesome!

August: There’s always room for another smart, engaging mystery series in my life.

September: Textbooks can make for delightful reading, particularly when beautiful images are involved. 

October: If a book’s been on my TBR for years and I’m still hearing good things about it, I should do everything I can to get my hands on a copy. 

November: Books by diverse authors, set in an unfamiliar setting, are challenging but rewarding reads. 

December: Not every award-winning book is boring; some are truly deserving of the accolades. 

While this year’s Challenge played a key role in bringing diversity to my reading life in 2018, I believe that the value of a Reading Challenge has run its course for me. Thanks to three years of successful Challenges, I’ve grown more comfortable with seeking out new topics and genres, and tackling books that are more “important” than “fun.” In order to make room for some new reading goals and book-related blog content, I won’t be taking on another Reading Challenge in 2019, but my past challenges have equipped me to be a more adventurous and well-rounded reader next year and beyond. 

Did you participate in a Reading Challenge in 2018? How did it go? Did it teach you anything new about your reading habits? Will you be tackling a new Challenge next year? I’d love to hear about it! 

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book nominated for an award in 2018.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book nominated for an award in 2018.

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 2 Comments

Like most readers, my introduction to book awards came through those shiny Caldecott stickers adorning the covers of the books our school librarian read to us during our weekly library visits. I liked those books, I truly did, but they were never favorites. Even as a child, I came to associate those circular silver and… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book by an author from another country.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book by an author from another country.

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 1 Comment

One of the great wonders of a book is its ability to instantly transport the reader to a new world. Through reading I can visit any country in the world from the comfort of my own living room. Yet I rarely embrace these opportunities, at least not as often as I would like to. I… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book lingering on my TBR list.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book lingering on my TBR list.

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 1 Comment

It’s the dilemma of every bookworm: too many books to read, and never the time to read each one. I suppose it’s a good problem to have, but it pains me to think of how many stories and ideas and lovely passages of prose will eventually go unread by me. Even if I continue to… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book that teaches me something new.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book that teaches me something new.

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 1 Comment

There are many, many reasons why reading is my favorite pastime, but one of the most treasured aspects of my reading life is that books are always teaching me something new. I believe that every book offers learning opportunities: novels teach us about the lifestyles and motivations of other people, give us new perspectives to… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: The first book in a series I’ve never read.

2018 Reading Challenge: The first book in a series I’ve never read.

Posted on August 27, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 1 Comment

I have series books to thank for making me the bibliophile I am today. Though a few stand-alone titles stand out from my childhood, it was popular series like The Boxcar Children, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Nancy Drew Mysteries that kept my nose in a book. This preference continued into my teens and early adulthood,… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book recommended by a librarian.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book recommended by a librarian.

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 0 Comments

For as often as I frequent our local library, I spend remarkably little time talking with our librarians. I casually greet the children’s librarian when we arrive at story time each week, but that’s about as far as our interaction goes. I check out most of my own books online, and we use self-checkout when picking… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book that addresses current events.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book that addresses current events.

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 1 Comment

If you’ve been around my blog for long, you know that I read fairly broadly and with many purposes: to be entertained, to learn, to step into the shoes of people whose lives and experiences I would otherwise never understand. . . . One item that is not on my list of priorities when opening up a… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book about a historical figure or event.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book about a historical figure or event.

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 0 Comments

Biographies—and really all books within the history genre—are definitely an area that is lacking in my my reading life. It’s not that I don’t enjoy learning about history; both of my parents are pretty big history buffs and they taught me to appreciate the subject from an early age. However, I’ve had the most luck… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
2018 Reading Challenge: A book of poetry.

2018 Reading Challenge: A book of poetry.

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Kendra Jernejcic • 3 Comments

April is National Poetry Month. The annual celebration has taken place every April since 1996, but I’ve never participated in or even acknowledged the event myself. Until this year, when this month’s Reading Challenge category is helping me break all barriers to become a poetry reader.  Like all high school students, I dedicated quite a… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Book Corner
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  • Hi, I’m Kendra! I am a follower of Jesus, an avid reader and podcast-listener, an Enneagram enthusiast, and a big fan of lists. Born and raised in Southern California, I am now living life in Austin, Texas, with my husband Luke, our son Charleston (2015), twins Sullivan and Kalinda (2019), and Arlo the Labradoodle. Thanks for visiting my blog!
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