My 2025 Reading Challenge - January Progress!

How it all started?

Every New Year, I might make and break numerous resolutions, but I've always succeeded in completing a reading challenge. *self pat*. My 2025 Reading Challenge is not new too.

Reading books was just another hobby until I entered adulthood with responsibilities: an IT job, living independently for the first time in a completely new city, making decisions, and facing life-changing choices (with and without regrets, of course), among other things! What was once a mere hobby became my go-to activity when I started seeking comfort in well-written words. The 1RK I lived in didn't provide much space for collecting paperback books, so I purchased my first Kindle Paperwhite with my own salary in 2016. The first "tech gadget" I gifted myself, if you will.

In December 2017, I came across the Goodreads app and their Reading Challenge, which they encourage readers to join. Naturally, I signed up. The image below shows the history up until last year. Years 2019 and 2020 do count as completed even though it's not marked, because I stretched the goal a bit too far after committing and finishing my initial book count of 35. Got a bit greedy there.

How is it going?

Please don't criticize me for saying this, but half the bookworm community on Reddit agrees with me: Fable is superior to Goodreads.

As a millennial, I was reluctant to leave my comfort zone, which meant I was stuck with the same user experience—monotonous, lacking new features, and dull. I was in a mood to embrace change. After a brief research on the bookworm communities on Reddit and Instagram, I ended up installing Fable on my phone, and I was amazed! I'll be doing a separate comparison review soon (hopefully, if I don't procrastinate). I set up my profile and got started. I promised myself I would actively use Fable for the 2025 book challenge and track its progress. However, I haven't completely abandoned Goodreads. Even if it requires multiple updates, I still track my reads on both apps.

The January Progress

January was a strong start. Below is a quick summary and the snapshot of it in the image (From Goodreads and Fable):

1. Onyx Storm was a buddy read, and I absolutely loved it! I've never felt so many emotions while reading a book, and having one of my best friends to discuss it with made it even more special.

2. Amma Vanthaal was a purposeful regional read. I aim to read 5 regional books each year. I found this one at a local annual book fair and finished it within the same week. It was definitely a milestone!

3. The Answer Is No was an Amazon Prime read. It's short, sweet, engaging, and quick to get through. I've made it part of my nighttime routine to unwind by reading on my Kindle instead of doom-scrolling, which led me to this book.

4. The Secret History is that much-talked-about book that ended up being a total disappointment for me. No further comments.

5. Hills Like White Elephants is a short read picked by the virtual book club I am a part of. To activate the participation from all the members. This book introduced me to the Iceberg Theory storytelling technique—a fascinating writing style focusing on surface elements without exploring the deeper themes. It was certainly a brain teaser for me. Taking inspiration from Mr. Hemingway himself to attempt my own, maybe, one day!

   
   
   
   

   

   Goodreads

   
   

Fable

I leave quick reviews always on Goodreads and Fable.

Until the February progress, Shruthi Jothsana.