Our 2021 Reading Challenge
Photo by Abby Chung from Pexels
This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Quirk Books may earn a commission.
With the new year in full swing, we wanted to set some reading goals for ourselves – and share those goals with you! For 2021, we’re challenging ourselves to look beyond our TBR and think more creatively about the kind of books we read. Read on for some of our favorite reading goals!
Thinking about starting a reading challenge of your own? Share your 2021 reading goals with us on social media! We’re on Facebook, Twitter, and Instragram. Be sure to tag us and use the hashtag #QuirkReads2021 so we can follow along.
Read a Book Co-Authored by Two Members of the Same Family
We’re such fans of family stories and cross-generational collaborations. This year, we’re challenging ourselves to read at least one book co-authored by two members of the same family, whether that’s the family they grew up with or their chosen family. There’s something incredibly special about deep, trusting bonds between the people who know you best. In fact, we might even read this book club style with someone we love.
Our recommendation: Redemption: Reflections on Creating a Better World by Bob Marley and Cedella Marley
Buy the book:
Amazon | Books A Million | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Read a Book by or About a Childhood Hero
Last year brought us a lot of time to reflect on who we are and what we value in this world. It also gave us a lot of time to think about our biggest influences – our teachers, mentors, and even the PBS personalities we grew up with. Big Bird can be a childhood hero too, okay? We want to honor the legacy of these influential public figures and inspirational activists by reading about their lives. And if your childhood hero was Big Bird, we know there’s at least one incredible Carroll Spinney biography out there.
Our recommendation: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood by Fred Rogers and Luke Flowers
Buy the book:
Amazon | Books A Million | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Read an Adaptation of Your Favorite Fairy Tale
Speaking of childhood, so many of us grew up with fairy tales. Whether they came in the form of Grimms’ Fairy Tales at bedtime or Disney movies on Saturday nights, most folks can name drop their favorite fantasy at the drop of a hat. And because ever author in the world was a child at one point, there are a ton of fantastic fairy tale adaptations out there. Who wants to help us find the next Hans Christian Andersen?
Our recommendation: Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston
Buy the book:
Amazon | Books A Million | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Read a Book About Something You Wish You Studied in School
Just because we’re out of school doesn’t mean we have to stop learning. And because we fulfilled most of our electives via podcasts last year (Song Exploder counts as music theory, right?) we wanted to make a concerted effort to hit the books this year. And who knows! You might latch onto a fascinating subject and end up reading everything that’s ever been written about it. Like the history of needlework, or intersectional feminism!
Our recommendation: The Big Book of Mars by Marc Hartzman
Buy the book:
