So far this year, my reading has been a little chaotic. That’s not a bad thing necessarily, but I wanted a little more structure to my reading in March, preferably even with a readathon to keep me on track. And then, today, I found out that the third round of the Sims-a-thon is happening this month! The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

The Sims-a-thon is an amazing readathon based on the Sims games. I love The Sims. I started playing The Sims 2 when it came out in 2004 and I’ve never stopped playing since. So, this readathon sounds like an absolute blast to me. I wanted to participate in the previous editions as well, but somehow, it never really worked out. If you want to know more about the rules, you can watch this video by Kara, who’s the genius behind the whole thing.

In short, the aim of the readathon is to start with a Sim, get them a place to live, and then have them live their life. Of course, every life event has a reading prompt attached to it (you can take a look at the prompts for the base game in the cool graphic down below – the rest of the rules can be found via Kara’s video).

This is my first time participating, so I’m going to have to establish a household first, and get my Sim a place to live. I’ll take you through the prompts I’ve chosen right now!

Choose a household

Read a book from late in a series

I’m going for Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo, which is the last book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I’ve been wanting to read this ever since finishing the second book, so I’m happy it fits in so well with the readathon!

Buy a house

Read a contemporary book or a book set in our world

For this, I’m reading Normal People by Sally Rooney. This is technically cheating since I started reading this in February and I’m already over a hundred pages in, but I want to finish it and it fits in well with the prompt, so I’m bending the rules a little bit.

So, those were the two things I had to do. Now, onto Live Mode for my Sim! These are the life events I’ve chosen.

Get a job

Writer: read a book by a new-to-you author 

I’m going for Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg. This is a graphic novel that’s based on the life of the Brontë family but also has some magical elements added to it, I believe. I’m fascinated by the Brontës so when my friend found this in our local bookstore two weeks ago, I asked her to pick it up for me!

Take a vacation to Granite Falls

Reread an old favourite

I’m very excited to reread a Dutch children’s novel for this one: De Brief voor de Koning by Tonke Dragt. This has actually been translated (The Letter for the King) and later this month, Netflix is releasing a new series based on this book! It’s all in English – so definitely suited for an international audience. This is such an amazing novel and I’m very excited to read it as an adult!

Make a friend

Read a book that features friendships

I’m going to listen to the audiobook for The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson for this prompt. This is the last book in the Truly Devious trilogy (a YA mystery series) and it came out last month. I’m very excited to read it and to finally get some answers! The story is set at a boarding school, so of course it features some fun friendships.

Get a promotion

Read a book that you think will be 5 stars

For this, I’m going to read A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. This is the second book in the Wayfarers trilogy and the first book (The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet) was one of my favourite books of 2019, so I have high hopes for book number two. It’s a scifi series that’s very character-driven. Two things I love very much!

Those are all of the prompts I prepped for. I think this is going to be quite challenging enough, but who knows – maybe I’ll end up finishing all of these before the end of the month and I’ll get to pick out a seventh prompt! In any case, I’m excited to finally dive into this readathon, which combines two of my absolute favourite things: reading and The Sims!

What are you planning to read in March? Are you participating in any fun readathons? Let me know in the comments!