Tackling the Pile of Shame: A Reading Challenge

keithy23's profile picture keithy23 Host

19 participants (144 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

Have you ever started a book, set it aside, and somehow never picked it back up? Maybe life got busy, the timing wasn’t right, or you just weren’t feeling it. We all have them—those books sitting in our “pile of shame*,” waiting for a second chance.

This year, I’m challenging myself (and anyone who wants to join!) to tackle those unfinished reads. The goal? To finally finish 10 books that I’ve softly DNF’d and give them the attention they deserve.

Whether you’ve got a handful of books you’ve paused on or an entire stack calling your name, this challenge is for anyone who wants to turn unfinished pages into completed stories. Let’s dust off those books and see where the journey takes us—because it’s never too late to finish what we started!

Are you ready to face your pile of shame? Let’s do this together!

*quoted by Emily Fox

Challenge Books

All books added
The Wanderer's Havamal by Jackson Crawford

The Wanderer's Havamal

Jackson Crawford

216 pages • 2019 • 7 editions

fiction history poetry informative inspiring reflective fast-paced
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

V.E. Schwab

448 pages • 2020 • 152 editions

fiction fantasy historical literary adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
The Regional Office is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales

The Regional Office is Under Attack!

Manuel Gonzales

400 pages • 2016 • 9 editions

fiction fantasy science fiction adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

A Song of Ice and Fire #2

A Clash of Kings

George R.R. Martin

1009 pages • 1998 • 228 editions

fiction fantasy adventurous dark tense medium-paced
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Kingkiller Chronicle #1

The Name of the Wind

Patrick Rothfuss

661 pages • 2007 • 154 editions

fiction fantasy adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Making It So by Patrick Stewart

Making It So

Patrick Stewart

479 pages • 2023 • 15 editions

nonfiction autobiography memoir emotional reflective medium-paced
Severance by Ling Ma

Severance

Ling Ma

291 pages • 2018 • 22 editions

fiction dystopian literary dark reflective medium-paced
Dust by Hugh Howey

Silo #3

Dust

Hugh Howey

458 pages • 2013 • 66 editions

fiction dystopian science fiction adventurous dark tense medium-paced
Norse Myths & Legends: Tales of Heroes, Gods & Monsters by J.K. Jackson

Flame Tree Collector's Editions

Norse Myths & Legends: Tales of Heroes, Gods & Monsters

J.K. Jackson

416 pages • 2022 • 2 editions

fiction adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced
Gevangen by Stephen King

Gevangen

Stephen King

976 pages • 2009 • 111 editions

fiction science fiction dark mysterious tense medium-paced