How would you describe your first time in one word? Awkward? Challenging? Weird? Daunting? My word, Awkward! I remember when I started playing the violin, it was a really awkward journey. My hands were fumbling on the violin strings, reading music had never looked so foreign in my entire life, and for the love of me, holding the instrument and stringing were two things I was unable to do right, for a while, and I had to practice over and over, until I got it right.
So this year, you have decided to start something new, perhaps like reading a book, and perhaps you want to create a reading challenge of your own, to help you along the way. Just maybe! So as you ponder on your next brave steps, I have put up a challenge for “first timers” that you can use as a guide to help you with your new reading habit. let me know what you think.
January.
A month of beginnings, hope, a time to better ourselves, reflect on past years and try to do better than before. We want the better version of ourselves. That is why I recommend a self help book, I know most people do not like self help books, but still you have to admit , reading a how to book, to better you for the year, seems like a good start. no? A personal fav, is “The 48 laws of Power by Robert Greene” timely principles that can help you act towards a better you in the year 2k17! It’s an easy read, not too heavy for any book beginner and worth your time!
February
Love is in the air. relationships are renewed and rekindled. Romance has only one color : Red. So curl up with a romantic book, a perfect love story, not one that ends with a heart wrenching twist, but the perfect love story.(you know, the one that starts with boy being alone, then boy meets girl, then boy looses girl, then boy dashes to the airport to get girl, and they live happily ever after? yup! That kind.) and then maybe just maybe, rekindle your own love life. Yes? I could recommend a personal fav, but given the fact that we all have our views on love, I would suggest for this category you use uncle google, I am sure he will show you the way without a shadow of a doubt. But if you really really ask me “The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks” is a ride worth taking!
March
First quarter of the year is coming to an end. You have tried to dust yourself a little, added a little sprinkle to your love life, now maybe, just maybe, you want to think about your career, different faucets of it. Maybe it’s time (you may think) to venture into your own business, add a little knowledge to your business sense? A business book would be a good place to start, to you know, expand your mind a little, and possible build your next future. I recommend “The E Myth by Michael Gerber” it helps you realize entrepreneurship is not for the faint hearted. Give it a try. You may or may not like, but, you tried 🙂
April
I like April for many reasons, this year especially because #PLL (Pretty Little Liars) airs on our screens for a final 10 episodes, so April becomes the month to look forward to (hands down!)Nonetheless despite my not so perfect reason for loving the month of April I recommend a personal memoir, to read. You know, reading someone else’s story always feels like we are not alone. You get to read a memoir and you realize we are all the same, we have struggles and no one has a perfect life. No matter how perfect they look. You get to appreciate where you are at the moment, and to enjoy it. The boost that gives you is amazing! Try it! I will be reading The year of yes by Shonda Rhimes, maybe we can read it together? no? oh well, you can’t blame a lady for trying. no?
May
It’s May. Yay. (or maybe not) However May happens to have the shortest letters in the calendar. It’s a 3 letter month. so for that, you get to enjoy it, for what it’s worth. Or what it holds dear. Is it the month for the circus too? nope? Ok, my bad. so for a month with only three letters, i would recommend a really funny, hilarious book. the kind that cracks you up from start to finish. and has you in stitches! A personal fav of mine is “Sophie Kinsella’s – Can you keep a secret – “ I read it in hours, it’s kind of a 3 letter book too. short funny and you simply cannot put it down, until you finish. Trust me.
June
We made it through the first half of the year! First of all, well done! here we are, doing great, and marching forward! Your Country thanks you. :-)So now, for a little mix, as we look back into the past months, maybe it’s time to read a #TBT book! a throwback author, you know like Sidney Sheldon, Nancy Drew, just for the heck of it! I usually read a Sidney Sheldon and reminisce on the good ol’ days, before I discovered adulthood! after that trip to throwback land, I usually feel energized to face the future! I bet you will too.
Remember there are so many books out there for any type of genre and my suggestions are not necessarily the best of the best, you can discover some of your own and share with me.
Hope you enjoyed the read. let me know what you think, in the comments below.
The Book Swag
xo
This is a great idea…challenge accepted
LikeLiked by 1 person
Game on! Have you identified a book for the month? Yes? 🙂
LikeLike
This is a fun challenge. I think this will be a lot of fun to do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaaay!!! Hope you enjoy it. Picked up a book yet for the month? Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I am new in the US, I have a french culture and I read a lot but only in french, lately i decided to perform my English with building my pastry blog and obviously reading in English
I will take look on the book “Can You Keep a Secret: because I think it is the closest one to my reading style, I would like to thank you for this article and for the books title.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by! I am learning the french language too so I read the comics in French. Reading the Tintin comics. thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you think of the book, checking out your blog shortly. xo 🙂
LikeLike
What a nice challenge. I aimed to read more this year and this will help!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
What a cute idea for a challenge!
I wanted to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award: https://bookishvillainy.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/mystery-blogger-award/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Game on!
LikeLike
I got excited when I saw you mentioned Sophie Kinsella. I LOVE all her books! They never fail to make me laugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, first book I ever read, I was in stitches for days to come.
LikeLike
This is truly amazing. Saving it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This is a fun idea.ill let people i Know who love reading about the challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such an interesting challenge! I would need to track this challenge in my bullet journal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You need to teach me how to bullet journal 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Oooo so many great books!! I will have to check these out!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Looks like fun, and you suggested some great books! I wonder why you didn’t do the whole year though?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was going to, but then the post was becoming too long, so I thought let me focus on the first half. 🙂
LikeLike
I have created a book challenge for myself too. Mine is not as detailed, just so many books per month. I’m excited.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Share, we can spur one another to read 🙂
LikeLike
This is a great idea. You’ve chosen some great titles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Your list looks very interesting. I defenitely want to read more books in this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do get to read more this year too. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This is so exciting! I’ve been meaning to start reading again and I like how you have this challenge with different genres for each month. This is the perfect guide to follow for the year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaaay. Glad you feel that way. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I would not be able to function if I only read one book a month! I’m having a hard enough time now that I’m so busy that I’m only reading about one book a week. I love your idea of a challenge for virgins, though, it’s great! And now I have to go and check on the Sophie Kinsella book, because I adore her books and for the life of me I can’t remember right now if I’ve read that one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One book a week, you are in the league of champions! Thanks for stopping by, xo
LikeLike
I definitely need to read more, especially on different areas of life as well as books that can fuel my creativity! What are your favorite places for book recommendations?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm, fav place for book recommendations, I have never used one actually! I fell into the reading habit a long time ago, and then just discovered my likes and likes, however when in doubt, I have always turned to my favorite uncle, google, and more recently his son, good reads 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
A rather fun and innovative challenge, I might take you up on this. I love reading and can easily stay up reading until 4.am.!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Game on 🙂 4am, super reader you are! when I first discovered Khalid I slept at 4am, I had to finish his book, otherwise life would not go on 🙂 I feel ya! Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
LOVE this! Especially how you have a unique recommendation for each month. Brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, you are so kind. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This is a great idea! These sounds like some interesting books to read. Will check these out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey thanks for stopping by. Hope you get to enjoy your reading journey. xo
LikeLike
What a cool challenge. I don’t have time to read that many books though! I only have time to read when I am on flights. (I guess I could travel more!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, here is to more travel, which will lead to more reading 🙂 Cheers. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Haha, this is a fun challenge. Bookmarking it for future reference! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehe, that’s wassup:-) Hope you enjoy the challenge. Thank you for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
oh I just love this challenge and would love to do something like this for myself as I seem to be stuck on the same book genres and really need to broaden my reading
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you enjoy the journey and enjoy the reading too. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Great challenge. There are a few I would love to read and I’ll substitute the others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Sounds like a good challenge! I would keep this challenge in my mind and need to track this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay, hope you get to enjoy reading the books even more. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Sounds like an exciting challenge! I want to keep track of this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaaay. Hope you get to enjoy reading the books even more 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
There were quite a few things wrong with Glee the past few seasons, in my opinion, lol! But yes, Rachel’s character did take a bad turn when she moved to New York! Zootopia and Finding Dory are both awesome Disne
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right? Hahaha, we have similar thoughts. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This is a fun challenge. I definitely want to do this. Just added a year of yes to my list. Great post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaaay! glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Not sure if I could keep up with the challenge… I’d try though. Currently reading The Book Thief and I’m really into it. I haven’t really been able to read much since having a baby but now that she’s two we’ve started an evening reading time for all to get ready for bed. She’s got books.. I can read again. I think just finding the time has been my challenge up until now. ^^
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaaay, the book thief is a sure page turner 🙂 enjoy the read! I loved loved loved that book. I am glad that you have also found time to start reading again. so double yaay 🙂 Thank you for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I love this Challenge!! I love reading books… Can you please make some suggestions for each month??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww thanks. So you have just inspired me, and I think I will do just exactly that. xo
LikeLike
Very novel challenge, I liked the gentle teasing manner you put this across. Great selection of books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ooopppssss! hahaha. thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Reading challenges are always a great way to get yourself to read more! Love the idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right! Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
So interesting challenge. Great books .Love to read good books .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
One of my New Years resolutions was to read more in 2017 – thanks for the ideas. Ive read the notebook but the others are all new to me so ill have to check them out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by. hope you do get to achieve your new year’s resolution and read more. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like your target setting like this . I will do the same for myself, maybe not all about books but the different things overall that I want to do this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay. I am cheering you on! thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I will be first reading ‘The E myth by michael Gerber’, will also be reading all other books you have mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay! Let me know, if you can, your thoughts about the E Myth. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I think this is a novel approach to reading, especially for those being inculcated into the habit. For me fortunately I was introduced to reading at a very young age and now it is more of a passion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaayyy. what are you reading currently? Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike