Let’s talk about reading challenges, Part 2. This one’s gonna get ranty kids.
When I first decided to undertake a yearly reading challenge back in 2023, I was excited, energized even. I told people what I was planning to do, and they were excited for me.
It’s now 2025, and I am still excited about the challenge. But the last 2 years came with an unexpected lesson.
Snobbery is still alive and thriving in the world of books.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but when you impose those opinions on others to such an extent that it becomes gatekeeping, it becomes a problem.
I’ve had close friends tell me that I shouldn’t count an audiobook as part of my challenge because “that wasn’t a REAL book”. I’ve had a family member argue that “any book under 200 pages shouldn’t count”.
The most baffling response I had was one work colleague telling me that I “shouldn’t include fiction.” Excuse me?
So let’s get something straight, something I legitimately never thought I would have to clarify. Audiobooks count as books. Comic books count as books. Manga count as books. Short books count as books. Children’s books count as books. Smutty books count as books. All genres and formats of books count as books.
Disagree with me all you want, use those opinions to hold yourself up to these strange reading standards you wish to impose on yourself. But do not try and restrict people on what they read or belittle what they perceive as an accomplishment.
Rant over.