Over Christmas break I was contemplating what, if any, bookish goals I might want to set or reading challenges I might want to do in 2026. I've seen some bookish bingos that look like fun. And Deb@Readerbuzz has come up with her own Back to the Classics Challenge for 2026 with 12 great categories; I'm still considering that one. And since I have a list of at least 10 historical fiction books I'm hoping to read this year, Marg@The Intrepid Reader's Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is also a possibility.
But in the end, I decided what I really want to do this year is honor/celebrate America's 250th by reading at least 10 books about the Founding Fathers, the Revolutionary War, and the courageous men and women who helped build this country. It's an idea I got from my sister and is my own personal reading challenge for 2026. And I already have a great list of books I'm excited to read:
 |
➧Those Turbulent Sons of Freedom by Christopher Wren
➧John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot by Harlow Unger
➧Bunker Hill by Nathan Philbrick
➧American Rebels by Nina Sankovitch
 |
➧American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution by Walter R. Borneman
➧Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence by Jospeh J. Ellis
➧Henry Knox's Noble Train by William Elliott Hazelgrove
 |
➧Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution by Eric Jay Dolin
➧Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America's Independence by Jack Kelly
➧God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man by Jack Kelly
I also own a bunch of Little Maid books that my parents purchased from various used library sales when I was growing up that I'd like to reread. Alice Turner Curtis does an excellent job of capturing colonial life and portraying small but important moments in the Revolutionary War in her classic series of historical fiction books for children. Plus, they're fun reads. I've already reread Little Maid at Valley Forge and am looking forward to reading the rest this year.
What are some of your bookish goals and reading challenges for 2026?
Whatever they may be....
Happy Reading!
American history, especially *early* history, will be a popular topic for a LOT of people this year! I might even join in myself - at least a little bit (along with everything else I 'plan' on reading).
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you come across any really good books from that time period!
DeleteThe only challenge I ever do is the Goodreads reading goal. I set my goal at 100 books read this year.
ReplyDelete100 books is an awesome goal! Good luck. :D
DeleteWhat a unique challenge to set for yourself! I wish you luck!! I tend to stick to fantasy, romance, and mystery myself. :)
ReplyDeleteI love mystery, romance and fantasy, too! And that's what I mostly read. But I do also like reading nonfiction, so I try to squeeze some in between all my other fiction reads. ;D
DeleteThat is a worthy goal. I'm sure you will accomplish it. I don't really set reading goals for myself. (Perhaps I should.) I am basically a laissez-faire reader.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good way to approach reading. I like to give myself the freedom to read the books I'm in the mood for, which is why I try not to overcommit to reading challenges, or draw up too many lists. But I figured I could work in 10 specific nonfiction books over the course of the year. ;D
DeleteOh good idea for your challenge. I recently watched the Ken Burns series on the Revolutionary War and it was pretty info packed. I might even watch it again later. I hope you enjoy the books.
ReplyDeleteI really want to watch that Ken Burns series. It looks fabulous.
DeleteGreat idea for a challenge Lark and if your thinking of including historical fiction I would highly recommend Rise To Rebellion by Jeff Shaara. Its the first book in his 2 book series on the American Revolutionary war era. I read it years ago and it was excellent.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation! Those books sound really good. I'll have to check them out. :D
DeleteThat is a great challenge for 2026. I can't commit to anything except Goodreads but maybe one year I'll get it together.
ReplyDeleteI know how that goes! I've been trying to keep by bookish 'goals' pretty loose and flexible. Though I do always try to read at least 10 nonfiction books each year; this year they just all have the same focus. ;D
DeleteA lovely idea. I am a bit afraid that the 250th will be a bit sucked into the current political division, but I might try to read some American history nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteI just ignore all the political stuff online and in the news right now. But I do like reading about the founding fathers and the founding of our country.
DeleteThis is a great idea, and such a unique reading challenge I've never seen before. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think it will be fun. And very low stress. ;D
DeleteLark, what a terrific idea for 2026! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteIt was my sister's idea and I thought it was a good one, so I'm copying her. ;D
DeleteWhat a great challenge! Wishing you good luck with it -- these books all sound terrific. I'll look forward to hearing more about them!
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely post about my favorite ones. :D
DeleteWhat a great challenge for the year! Good luck, Lark! I usually just do the Goodreads reading challenge every year.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one...straightforward and simple. :D
DeleteI like your challenge idea, Lark. Good luck with it. I'm not much of a non-fiction reader, but who knows? Don't think I will actually officially do a reading challenge this year, but I do want to read and re-read some great books.
ReplyDeleteOfficial reading challenges can be fun, but also stressful. That's why mine is very much unofficial. ;D And I'd like to do more rereading, too.
DeleteGood luck with your challenge and your reading! I like to make a list of books and/or authors that I keep saying I'm going to read and then actually read them! I also put together a list of 26 books to read in 2026. We will see how it goes!
ReplyDeleteOh! 26 books in 2026 is a great idea. I love that. Might have to do that, too. :D
DeleteThis sounds like a wonderful bookish challenge, Lark! I would love to learn more about America's history at an age where I'd absorb it. During school it was all about memorization and getting through the material. The Little Maid series sounds really good, too! :)
ReplyDeleteI found history so boring when I was in school...probably because the history books were such a slog to read. But I love reading well-written nonfiction bios and histories now. I learn so much from them. :D
DeleteThis looks like an amazing and really fun reading challenge, Lark. And it 'means' something to you too, which is so great. I've cut down on challenges over the past few years, too many was making my reading too structured. I will be doing a book bingo with a friend, we created it last year and have done it again this year. I'll post about it at some stage.
ReplyDeleteBook bingo is the best...especially doing it with a friend. I love that. :D
DeleteWhat a great idea. I love it.
ReplyDeletersrue.blogspot.com
:D Thank you, Regine!
DeleteThat's a great goal, Lark! You can do it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great goal, I am sure you will enjoy it!! Happy reading!
ReplyDelete