New year, not-so-new challenge. I’ve been marching on with my challenge to read a book from every country in the world since the beginning of 2018. After two years, I’ve read 120 countries (as well as Tibet, Martinique, and Puerto Rico). The first year was spent exclusively on the challenge, but last year I slipped in one or two or three other books (The Overstory and A Little Life being two highlights).

This year will be much the same, primarily because it will give my wallet a break. I’ve purchased quite a lot of books for my read-the-world challenge, and also have an existing, leaning tower of TBR books, which are currently serving more purpose as a coffee table. Thus, in 2020, I’ll alternate between my existing challenge, books from the precarious coffee-holding pile, and a book from my childhood, read in conjunction with a related podcast.

I’m also going to try to stick to reading one book at a time. Last year, I was averaging about three to four books at once. Both methods – one at a time or several at once – work for me, but I feel like focusing on the former for now.

However, technically I will be reading two books at the same time, as I continue listening to Audible – but this is usually reserved for the car. I’m really looking forward to Virginia Woolfe’s To the Lighthouse, read by Nicole Kidman; but because my first book of the year is heavy in subject matter (Maaza Mengiste’s Beneath the Lion’s Gaze), I’ll start with a collection of Terry Pratchett’s work.

That’s about it for now. What are you looking forward to reading this year? What reading challenges or goals have you set for yourself?