The Itinerant Librarian: Reading Challenges for 2024

I completed two out of the three reading challenges I attempted in 2023. As I did last year, I am going to keep things as easy and light as possible. The Hard Times are still an issue for me in terms of reading, so I will just do the best that I can.

This year I will attempt 3 Reading Challenges. Two of them are challenges I have done before, which I am doing again because they help me keep track of specific readings. The third one is mostly for fun.

The Mount TBR Reading Challenge

This is hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block. In 2023, I exceeded my expectations, and I did really well on it. I am not sure I will be able to do as well this year, but I am going to give it a shot. For now, I am committing to the basic level of Pike's Peak, which is reading 12 books from my own TBR pile. These are books I own that I need to be reading. I will update the list and add review links as I go along. As I did last year, if I read more than 12, I will upgrade the reading level. You can find the sign up page for the challenge with details at the link above.

List of books read and reviewed for Mount TBR Reading Challenge:

McCalla Ann (author) and Mercenary of Duna (artist), The Anime Tarot Deck and Guidebook.
Mickie Mueller and Dan Mueller, Magical Dogs Tarot (kit with deck and full companion book).
Yasmin Boland (author) and Nyx Rowan (illustrator), Moonology Oracle Cards (kit with deck and companion book).
Ben Counter, The Soul Drinkers Omnibus (Warhammer, 40,000).

Reading by the Numbers Challenge

Also hosted by Bev, this is a newer challenge, but it is a simple one. It is basically seeing how many books you can get in a year. Given this can be any book, any format, any genre, etc., I figured this can be an easy thing to do. Plus I can count books from other challenges. I am not committing to any specific number at this time. Let's just see how many books I can get in the year. As with other challenges, I will add books to the list and links to reviews as I go.

McCalla Ann (author) and Mercenary of Duna (artist), The Anime Tarot Deck and Guidebook.
Yusuke Osawa, et.al., Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Manga, Volume 1.
Richard Webster, Llewellyn's Complete Book of Divination.
Brian Michael Bendis (author) and Michael Avon Oeming (artist), The United States of Murder Inc.
Mickie Mueller and Dan Mueller, Magical Dogs Tarot (kit with deck and full companion book).
Yasmin Boland (author) and Nyx Rowan (illustrator), Moonology Oracle Cards (kit with deck and companion book).
Jenna Matlin, Will You Give Me a Reading?
Colin Kaepernick, Robin D.G. Kelley, and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, eds., Our History Has Always Been Contraband.
Maria Minnis, Tarot for the Hard Work.
Lucy Cavendish, Faery Blessings Cards (kit with deck and companion book).
Mitzi Szereto, Women Who Murder.
Ben Counter, The Soul Drinkers Omnibus (Warhammer 40,000).
Kathryn S. Olmsted, The Newspaper Axis.
Lon Milo DuQuette, Allow Me to Introduce.
Archie Goodwin, Eerie Archives, Volume 1.
R.K. Brislin, Atheist in Appalachia.
Apollo Publishers, Words to Win By.
Al Goldstein, EC Archives: The Vault of Horror, Volume 1.
John Wagner, Essential Judge Dredd, Volume 1.
Stan Sakai, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo.
Garth Ennis, The Punisher: the Complete Collection Volume 1 (Marvel MAX).
Arlene R Quaratiello, The College Student's Research Companion.
lenny duncan, Psalms of My People.
Valeria Ruelas, The Mexican Witch Lifestyle.
Garth Ennis, The Punisher: the Complete Collection Volume 2 (Marvel MAX).

Note for me: Entered titles at website for challenge update on April, 22, 2024, up to 11.

The Netgalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge

Finally for this year, I am doing once again the Netgalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. I like doing this one because it encourages me to read those ARCs from the two services that I may be a bit behind on reading and reviewing. Last year I read 11 books, which is one over the initial commitment. I am going to commit again to at least 10 books, Bronze Level, but I am going to try to make it to the next level by year's end. We'll see how it goes. I am still shooting to get as close to that 80% readings completed rating Netgalley tends to like.