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
She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa

She and Her Cat

Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa

135 pages • 2013 • 40 editions

fiction contemporary magical realism short stories emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill #1

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

Abbi Waxman

352 pages • 2019 • 26 editions

fiction contemporary romance funny lighthearted fast-paced
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks

Shauna Robinson

336 pages • 2022 • 6 editions

fiction contemporary lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
The Chocolate Cat Caper by Joanna Carl

Chocoholic Mystery

The Chocolate Cat Caper

Joanna Carl

240 pages • 3 editions

fiction mystery lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy

Manor House Mystery #1

Grace Under Pressure

Julie Hyzy

310 pages • 2010 • 4 editions

fiction mystery mysterious fast-paced
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Phryne Fisher #1

Cocaine Blues

Kerry Greenwood

175 pages • 1989 • 48 editions

fiction historical mystery lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
Death at Bishop's Keep by Robin Paige

The Victorian Mystery Series #1

Death at Bishop's Keep

Robin Paige

304 pages • 1994 • 9 editions

fiction historical mystery mysterious slow-paced
A Quiet Life in the Country by T.E. Kinsey

Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #1

A Quiet Life in the Country

T.E. Kinsey

257 pages • 2014 • 23 editions

fiction historical mystery funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse: A Cats in Trouble Mystery by Leann Sweeney

A Cats in Trouble Mystery #1

The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse: A Cats in Trouble Mystery

Leann Sweeney

278 pages • 2009 • 5 editions

fiction mystery mysterious fast-paced
Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles #3

Queen of the Damned

Anne Rice

480 pages • 1988 • 75 editions

fiction fantasy horror dark tense slow-paced