For more details on other challenges, visit my Current Challenges page.
Ongoing Challenges/Projects
HTR&W: A list of the short stories, poems, novels, and plays from How to Read and Why by Harold Bloom. In the summer of 2008, I began reading these works along with Harold Bloom’s book of criticism.
Really Old Classics: As a sample listing of classics written pre-1600, it certainly is not complete. I am hosting the Really Old Classics Challenge from October 2008-July 2009.
Martel-Harper Challenge: Canadian Author Yann Martel sends the prime Minister a book every two weeks. Here’s the list to read and my progress. I also host the quarterly challenge.
Favorite Authors to Read: I want to read (most of) the complete works of these authors.
Books by 40 List: Books I am intimidated by but would like to read by my fortieth birthday (January 22, 2021).
Award Winners
Pulitzer Prize (Fiction/Novel) Winners: A list of the winners of the novel/fiction winners for the Pulitzer Prize. I have an ongoing goal to read the Pulitzer Prize winners.
Nobel Laureates in Literature: A list of the winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature. I have an ongoing goal to read at least one work by each Nobel Laureate in Literature.
Man Booker Prize: A list of the Man Booker Prize winners and finalists and the Man Booker International prize winners. I have not yet made a goal to read the prize winners; given how many I have read, that may take a while!
Children’s Literature
1000 Books Project: I want to read 1000 different books (picture books, early readers, or chapter books) with my son before he starts kindergarten.
Newbery Medal: The Newbery Award is for outstanding children’s literature. I’d like to read a good number of the winners of the Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor. This is a life-long goal. Since my son is young, I figure reading these books might help me recommend books to him as he grows.
Caldecott Medal: The Caldecott Medal is for outstanding picture books. Again, reading the Medal winners and the Honor winners is a life-long goal to accomplish as I raise my son.
(There are many more children’s book awards. As my son grows, I may adopt other lists as reading lists.)
Seth Lerer’s Reader’s History. I’m reading Lerer’s textbook Children’s Literature: A Reader’s History from Aesop to Harry Potter. As a personal project, I’m taking concepts Lerer discusses in each chapter and expanding on them, either through questions on my blog or by reading the books he recommends. View the past blog posts here.
Other Ongoing Lists/Projects
Short Story Authors: I’m trying to find the best short stories. I’m going through the authors, seeking for the best of the best.
Poets: I’m soon to start a poetry project, where I search for my favorite poets by reading all kinds of poetry.
Reading about the Presidents of the United States of America: I’d like to read about each U.S. president.
Reading about the Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: I’d like to read about each modern prophet.
Classics Lists
Thomas Foster’s Reading List: See my review of How to Read Literature Like a Professor here. I’d like to read these works.
101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers: The College Board recommends these books before college. I’ve already graduated, and I still have a ways to go.
Beowulf on the Beach: Reading list from Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan.