2025 Thoughtful Reading Challenge

This is the third year I have done this one. Love the shoutouts to unusual days.

January – read a book published the year of your first birthday. Why? Simply because January is the first month of the year, plus it’s always fun to go back in time and read older books that you might not be familiar with. Wikipedia is a good source to find books published by year.

February – read a book with “ice”, “cold”, or “snow” in the title. We might as well embrace one of the coldest months of the year!

March – read a book about or set in the former USSR. Did you know Stalin died AND Churchill gave his well-known “Iron Curtain” speech during the month of March?

April – read a book set in a US National Park. National Park week is April 19-27, so it’s only fitting to celebrate our beautiful National Parks by learning more about them. I’m really looking forward to this category!

May – read a book with a main character who’s a journalist. I thought this would be an appropriate category since May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day.

June – read a book set in the American South during post-Civil War reconstruction. Juneteenth, of course, is in June and celebrates the end of slavery in the US. The reconstruction era is fascinating to read about as people try to rebuild their lives following such a devastating event.

July – read an epistolary or semi-epistolary novel. Since July 1st is National Postal Worker Day, let’s celebrate the lost art of written correspondence. If you need a suggestion, you can’t go wrong with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

August – read a political thriller. Why? Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974.

September – read a science fiction book, preferably one that takes place in space. September 8 is National Star Trek Day. The Martian and Project Hail Mary are great choices for this monthly reading challenge!

October – read a book with a witch character. Because Halloween.

November – read a book written by a native American author. I chose this category in honor of Thanksgiving. 

December – read a book with an airplane on the cover. The Wright brothers’ first successful flight was on December 17, 1903.