Every year, NeoGAF has a 50 books and 50 movies challenge, in which you have to read 50 new books and watch 50 new movies before the start of the next year. There is also a game equivalent, in which you have to beat 52 new video games. These challenges provide that extra motivation to do/finish the things you already wanted to anyway and can lead you to checking out stuff you otherwise may not have (this is especially true with books).
I only read eight books in all of 2016, but that's double the amount I read in 2015, so I'm improving!
My ratings are done on a 5-star scale (no halfsies).
★ - Hated it
★★ - Disliked it
★★★ - Liked/enjoyed/didn't actively dislike it
★★★★ - Really liked it
★★★★★ - Loved it
Here are the eight books I read in 2016:
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy - ★★★
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - ★★★★★ - Finished on June 18
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - ★★★★★ - Finished on June 23
Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos and Joy Ang - ★★★★ - Finished on October 28
The Dumbest Kid in Gifted Class by Dan Ryckert - ★★★★★ - Finished on December 14
You're Never Too Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day (Audiobook version, read by Felicia Day) - ★★★★★ - Finished on December 18
Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered The World by David Sheff - ★★★★★ - Finished on December 28
Yes Please by Amy Poehler (Audiobook version, read by Amy Poehler) - ★★★★★ - Finished on December 28
This year was the first time I ever listened to an audiobook. I got three free ones via a promotion with Audible and started listening to them on my 16+ hour drive to visit my mom in Kansas. It really makes memoirs (when narrated by the author) way better.
