RM Book Challenge '22

Join in our RM Book Challenge for the year 2022. We'll work on reading books personally recommended and read by BTS leader, RM!

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Join us as we read books personally recommended and read by BTS' leader, RM. The challenge will take place over the course of the year 2022 from January 1st, 2022 to December 31st, 2022.You will read a book every month with an additional bonus book that you can if you want to! The bonus book will not be considered for the challenge.To keep things easier, you can check out our list on Storygraph to keep track of the books you have to read every month.We've also created a Book Club on the app, Fable. You can join this app to discuss your thoughts and ideas about the book you're reading with fellow ARMYs!Remember at the end of the day, this challenge is meant to be encouraging. Take your own pace and learn to enjoy books at your own comfort. Happy reading!

FAQ's

How are the books chosen every month?
We had a Google Form shared amongst possible participants. We received over 700+ responses and took in the number of books most people had already read, hadn't yet, wanted to etc, etc. Using this data, we'll start off the challenge with something light and delve into a little more challenging texts as we keep reading to keep things consistent.Will it be okay if I’m unable to join at the start of the challenge but join in the middle?
Absolutely. Remember that the number of books you’ve missed or haven't read might affect your total book percentage but it doesn't have to mean anything. We’re here to read at our own pace and have fun. The challenge on Storygraph exists to make things easier and keep track of your progress.Will you be sharing the EPUB/pdf files as I can't afford to/ can’t find books?
Absolutely. Books are expensive and with the rise of Covid- 19 around the world, libraries can remain inaccessible too. We understand things can be difficult so we’re willing to provide a Google Drive with all the digital formats of the books we’ll have to read. You can check out our drive on our Link Page!Is it fine if we don't attend every book discussion?We understand that everyone has their own personal responsibilities and sometimes this can come in the way of fully participating in this challenge. But that’s perfectly alright! This challenge is for you to take up reading at your own pace.For this challenge, we’ve made twelve books the goal — one book for every month with bonus books you can read if you have the time! It doesn’t matter if you’re unable to finish reading all twelve books — the end goal doesn’t reflect anything.I’ve never joined a book club before, especially not an online one. Will the discussions happen through messages or will there be voice chatting?It might be a little difficult to schedule video/audio meetings and spaces for us to regularly check up on each other’s progress which is why we agreed on Fable.Fable is a text-based app where we can discuss the books we’re reading). All our discussions will be through messages. It’ll be moderated as well.Is Fable available on Android?
Yes! You can check the Application on their website and download it on your respective device. Remember downloading Fable and joining our group isn’t mandatory but it will be fun!My work schedule tends to be super hectic, will participants be "kicked out" for not participating? Is there a penalty?
Definitely not. You’re allowed to take this challenge at your own pace and read at a time that’s most convenient and comfortable for you. You come first.Do I need to pay for this project?
Everything is free.When will we be starting?
The first week of January.Is Fable and StoryGraph the same?
Storygraph is an app that exists for you to keep record of the books you read. It allows you to review books, rate them and share your thoughts about them. You can add your friends and see what they’re reading as well.Storygraph also gives interactive data-based graphs to show you what you’ve read, what kind of books you read and suggests you book recommendations based on what you’ve read. It’s a black-owned indie app that remains an ethical alternative to Amazon-owned GoodReads.Fable is an application where we’re allowed to host book clubs. You can join a book club, see what other members think about the books designated for the month. You can share your own thoughts and ideas as well. If the thought makes you uncomfortable, you can simply just listen to what everyone else says as well.There’s no standard pace, no obligations to join either, remember we’re here to enjoy and read.For Fable, I'm still feeling a bit shy about sharing my own thoughts/ideas, but I wanted to join the challenge to relearn how to do it. Can I just be a silent reader in that group?
Of course! It’s completely alright.The description of your Google form stated the challenge will take place on Storygraph, whereas question 4 says the app to be used is Fable. Are both apps to be used or is it just one of the two?Both applications will and can be used. Storygraph exists for you to keep track of the books you read and Fable exists for us to come together and discuss our thoughts about the books we’re supposed to read. Remember it’s not necessary for you to join either apps but it does remain incredibly helpful.Can we use Goodreads instead?
While we understand Goodreads remains practical and incredibly easier, we also think Storygraph remains an ethical and accessible alternative for many. We’d encourage you to check it out and let us know if you have any questions.Does the challenge only include books read or recommended by RM or also books similar to them?
As of yet, this book includes books personally recommended by RM and books we’ve seen him reading.Are the apps necessary or will we be able to do this without them and discuss it on platforms like Twitter?
Like we said, the apps would remain helpful but you can still share your thoughts and ideas about the books at the end of every month (the 30th of every month and the 28th for this February) with the hashtag #RMBookClub22 on Twitter.Happy reading!

BOOKS

Here's the list of books we'll be reading throughout the year, 2022!January - Human Acts by Han Kang
Bonus Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho NamjooFebruary - Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
Bonus Almond by Won Pyung SohnMarch - I984 by George Orwell
Bonus Norwegian Wood by Haruki MurakamiApril - The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Bonus The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint ExuperyMay - The Life Before Us by Emilie Ajar
Bonus Nature by Ralph Waldo EmmersonJune - Demian by Herman Hesse
Bonus The One Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le GuinJuly - The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Bonus The Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoAugust - Kafka On The Shore by Haruki Murakami
Bonus Almost Transparent Blue by Ryu MurakamiSeptember - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kulanithi
Bonus Steve Jobs by Isaac WaltersonOctober - The Stranger by Albert Camus
Bonus IQ84 by Haruki MurakamiNovember - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Bonus - Connect, BTS by Bighit EntertainmentDecember - The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Bonus The Art of Loving by Erich FrommCheck out our Link Page to get access to our Google Drive! You'll find all the books you need there. Happy reading!Book order might be subjected to change if discussed in our book club on Fable.

HOW DO WE ADD BOOKS ON OUR STORYGRAPH?

1. Open the RM Book Challenge through StoryGraph!

2. Make sure you join the challenge. Your layout will look a lot like this when you're done.

3. Click the month you're in. We have a "prompt" for every month. Let's take January, for example. Human Acts is the book we've set on reading with Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 as our bonus book.

4. Once you've finished reading your book for the month, you can add this to the challenge to keep record of it. Search "Human Acts" in your search bar. Once you have your book, change the drag option from "to read" to "read".

5. Scroll down. If you've successfully joined the challenge, you'll notice you now have an option to add books to your prompts. Add 'Human Acts' to January and save changes.

6. And voila, you're done! Check your profile. If you've done the previous steps right, this is how the challenge should look like.

And this is how it should look like when you open the challenge!

Happy reading! If you have any questions, reach out to us through our Twitter!