One focus I have in 2025 is to read more and to read more widely.  I’ll share a few things that are helping my reading life, as well as the books I’ve finished so far this year.

Reading Challenge

I’ve never done a reading challenge before, but my son’s girlfriend shared one with me and I decided to give it a try.

I looked up each of the twelve categories and found potential books so I have a list to work from. This has been a great way to choose books I wouldn’t ordinarily read. I’ve already checked off several of the categories, but I may go back and read the other books listed too.

Here are the challenge categories, along with the possible books I’ve chosen for each category:

Book with a color in the title – The Scarlet Pimpernel or The Golden Compass

Book with a number in the title – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Six of Crows

A memoir – Crying in H Mart or Wild or When Breath Becomes Air or Lab Girl

Book with a city in the title – A Gentleman in Moscow

Book about a sport – Carrie Soto is Back

Book with a one-word title – Wonder or Walden

A classic – The Hobbit

Book made into a movie – The 100 Foot Journey or Marley and Me or Slumdog Millionaire

Book with an animal on the cover – Jurassic Park or The Traveling Cat Chronicles

Book published in 2024 – Funny Story or Table for Two or The Briar Club

Book on my TBR list for ages – All the Light We Cannot See

Book by a South African author – Recipes for Love and Murder

Keeping Track of What I Read

I’ve never been able to keep track of what I read. When I’ve tried in the past, it’s turned reading into a chore.

But in July, I decided to use my daily planner as the place to record what I’m reading. Each month has a “currently” page that’s perfect for listing what I’m currently reading, books started during the month, books finished during the month and books abandoned (although, I haven’t had as many of these lately).

There’s also a page in this daily planner where I keep my reading challenge list.

Physical books vs Kindle

I love my Kindle, especially for reading in bed, but I’m finding that my attention focuses much better with a physical book.

I’m not exactly sure why that is, but I’m leaning into it. I’ve only read one book on my Kindle this year so far.

What I’ve Read So Far in 2025

Non-Fiction:

Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick – I’m teaching a high school elective class on AI this semester. This is the best book I’ve read on the subject. It’s easy to read and very helpful. I checked it out from the library and read it in one afternoon, then purchased my own copy to refer to.

Good Energy by Casey Means – The focus of this book is metabolism and how we can improve it. Great info!

Fiction:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio – I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time and finally got around to it. I chose it for the reading challenge category “book with a one-word title”. I LOVED this book.

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – This book fulfills the reading challenge category of “a book with a number in the title”.  I enjoyed this one. I read it while traveling and it was a great to dive into the story to pass the time on the airplane.

Tea Women of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See – I’ve read several books by Lisa See and I think this is my favorite so far.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton – I chose this for the category “a book with an animal on the cover”. This isn’t a genre I usually read and I’ve never seen the original movie, although I have seen one of the others. I think if I’d read this when it first came out, my mind would have been blown! Even knowing so much about the story, it’s still really good. And it’s interesting to read while learning so much about AI, which feels like tinkering with a different kind of science.

What are you reading?

I’d love to know what you’ve been reading! And if you have recommendations for any of the reading challenge categories, let me know that too. Leave a comment below.