If you’ve been around for a while, you may have seen when I first decided to do the Challies reading challenge.  It’s designed in “tiers,” depending on how many books you hope to read over the course of a year.  I decided to take a slightly different tack.  I’m a pretty avid reader, but not necessarily as well-rounded as I’d like, so I chose the “obsessed” plan (the longest one), but determined not to make any attempt to finish it all in a year.  I just decided I’d take as long as it takes.

It’s a good thing, because that was the 2016 challenge, and here as we wrap up 2021, I’m still not finished.  I’ve continued to read in the meantime, but getting those remaining categories checked off has proven…well, challenging.

So here’s my end-of-2021 update on what I’ve read so far for the Challies 2016 Reading Challenge.

It should hopefully go without saying that these are a mixed bag, and some I’d recommend more than others.  The one that I would absolutely, positively recommend AGAINST, I’ve noted.

Books I’ve Read: The Light Reader

A book about Christian livingA biographyA classic novelA book someone tells you “changed my life”A commentary on a book of the BibleA book about theologyA book with “gospel” in the titleA book more than 100 years oldA book for children*A mystery or detective novelA book published in 2016

*I read a variety of little children’s books on a regular basis, so this is just what I decided to put on the list.  It’s technically YA.

Books I’ve Read: The Avid Reader

A novel that won the Pulitzer Prize [Note: this is pretty graphic]A book on the current NYT bestseller listA book of poetry

Books I’ve Read: The Committed Reader

A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree withA book by an author with initials in his nameA book that won the ECPA Christian Book AwardA book about worldview [apologetics]A play by William ShakespeareA humorous bookA book based on a true storyA book by Jane AustenA book with a one-word titleA novel set in a country that is not your ownA memoirA book by a female author [DO NOT RECOMMEND!!]A self-improvement bookA book about abortionA book targeted at the other gender

Books I’ve Read: The Obsessed Reader

A book used as a seminary textbook [close enough]A book about foodA book about productivityA book about parentingA book about artA book with magicA book about a hobbyA book of comicsbook about the Second World War [fiction]A book about sports [sort of]A book by or about a pastor’s wife [fiction]A book about sufferingA book by your favorite authorA Christian novelA book about psychologyA book by/about Charles Dickens [by]A novel longer than 400 pagesA historical bookA book about the BibleA book about a country or city [historical fiction – Lithuania]A book by/about a Russian [both]A book about public speakingA book by a PresbyterianA book about scienceA book about writingA book about evangelismA book about ancient historyA book about preachingA book about adoptionA photo essay book [close enough]

Books I’ve Read: Extra Credit

A book from a libraryA book about businessA book by an author under 30

Books I Still Have On My “To Read” List: Light, Avid, Committed…

A book your pastor recommendsA book about a current issue [Might swap for Fault Lines]A book written by a PuritanA book recommended by a family memberA book by/about a missionaryA bout written by an AnglicanA book with at least 400 pages [IN PROGRESS]A book by C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. TolkienA book with a fruit of the Spirit in the titleA book with a great coverA book about church historygraphic novelA book by/about Martin Luther [by]A book with 100 pages or fewerA book about money or finance [???]A book about musicA book about joy or happinessA book you have started but never finishedA book by David McCulloughA book you own but have never readA book by a speaker at a conference you’ve attendedA book by someone of a different ethnicity than you [IN PROGRESS]

Books I Still Have On My “To Read” List: Obsessed & Extra Credit

A book published by Banner of TruthA book about the ReformationA book by a first-time author [I think – not sure]A biography of a world leaderA book about relationships or friendshipA book about philosophyA book about prayer [to work through]A book about marriageA book you have read beforeA book about homosexualityA book about the natural world [or one of my other foraging books]A book about astronomyA book with an ugly coverA book by/about a martyr [about]A book by a woman conference speakerA book by/about the church fathers [by]A book about languageA book about leadershipA book by Francis SchaefferA book about revival [or one of the other Cymbala books]A book about the churchA book written in the 20th century [IN PROGRESS]

Okay, so the only “extra credits” I don’t have marked off are “a book published by a UK publisher” — which I’m certain some of my books are; I just don’t keep track of which — and “a book you borrow.  These are insignificant enough that I’m ignoring them.