In the last couple of years my reading has picked up significantly. I love it. I always read a lot during my childhood and I am really happy to have re-discovered this hobby. So for the first time I am attempting to write down some reading goals. I’ve never done it but got some inspiration from Lecy. So let’s see of this would work for me as well.
In the previous years I have mainly read free novels I could find on amazon for my kindle. So I figured I will give myself a budget in the beginning of the year to spend on reading otherwise I will again reach for free novels instead of books I really want to read. My hope is that I will end up with a mixture of books I discover and books I am interested because of recommendations. Also this way I could sign up for a monthly membership when I know I have a lot of reading time coming up. I need those tiny tricks to cheat myself into investing. Also last year I went ahead and bought the books I wanted to read right at the beginning of January.
I want to read 40 books in 2019. This is manageable as I read 50 last year. But I want to read a few more “complicated ones” which take more time for me. Ok, let’s see if I can sum up some books I want to read. Everything else is up to my mood.
Fiction Books
- Jade City, Fonda Lee – I love fantasy and this seems to be a good one. ✔️Finished in May 2019
- Strange the Dreamer, Laini Taylor – and here is another fantasy one with great reviews. ✔️ January 2019
- Finishing the All Roads Lead Home, L.L. Ward series – I read the first one and really enjoyed it and just realized there are three more. ✔️ Forgetting There Finished June 2019, ✔️ Regretting There Finished July 2019, ✔️ Besetting There Finished July 2019
- Book or author that won a Nobel Prize – thinking about The Unconsoled or The Burried Giant, Kazuo Ishiguro
- Ice Genisis, Kevin Tinto – I really enjoyed the first book in the series so I am looking forward to see how this unfolds. ✔️Finished in May 2019
- A Place called Freedom, Ken Follet – I haven’t read a book from him that disappointed and this one was on sale recently (0,99€) so of course I got it. ✔️Finished April 2019
Non-Fiction & Guidance Books
- Non-violent communication: A language of life, Marshall A. Rosenberg – I’ve started this one in 2018 but didn’t get done. This is something I need to work through so I will continue and hopefully finish.
- The Creative Habit: Learn stand use it for Life, Twyla Tharp – other book I am working on far too long. For some reason it’s not really captivating but everyone references to it. So this year I’ll give it another try.
- A Brief History of Time, Stephan Hawkins – I asked for this one for Christmas. I know this will be a tough read so I got the illustrated version. But I also believe my mind will expand.
- Born a Crime, Trevor Noah – I like him and his humor but I really interested in his story. In my teens I read a lot about South Africa and apartheid. ✔️ Done in October 2019
- The Girl in the Letter, Emily Gunnis – read someones review and it ended up on my TBR list ✔️Done in February 2019
- When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi – I am interested but I am not sure if I am up to it. I know I will be very emotional here.
- The Bible – never read it whole and my goal is for the coming years to read other religious books like the Koran, Thora or Pali-Kanon. Because it doesn’t hurt knowing more about things that are different. Jeannette posted a worksheet to help with this reading goal. ✔️Finished in December 2019
German Books
I set out last year to read more in my native tongue. I find it hard to do as usually those books are not as engaging for me. However I realized it is good to read German every once in a while. And some authors who neither write in English nor German I can easily read in the German translation.
- Momo, Michael Ende – I’ve read this book but I believe I was too young back then and there will be lots of wisdom hidden within. ✔️Done in September 2019
- One Book by Jules Verne – probably “Überwinterung im Eis” ✔️Done in July 2019
- A Classic – I think it’s going to be Dracula, Bram Stoker which has been on my reading list way too long. It’s my only piece I own of my late father in law so it’s emotional. ✔️Done in October 2019
- Blackout – Morgen ist es zu spät, Marc Elsberg – this one sounds really intriguing. All Europe without power after a hacker attack.
Well this is 19 books so far. All other ones I just pick up as I go to achieve my reading goal of 40 books. I will also aim to finish some of those series I started in the past years. I’m off to a good start as I just finished my first book in 2019. If you are curious which one that was, come check it out on Goodreads.
Now if you have any recommendations on how to handle an annual reading list or books I would enjoy, feel free to leave a comment.
Until then happy reading,
4 comments
Oh, I should re-read Momo. I actually was part of a book club a couple of years ago and I got the English version to read with everybody. So cool, because most people know Michael Ende for “The Neverending Story”, but nobody knows his other books!
I think I’ve never read „Neverending story“ only seen the movie. I guess he wrote a couple other books I don’t know about too. Always fascinating how different people are perceived across the globe.
Oh, fun! Good luck. :) As you probably know from reading my blog, I love, love, LOVE reading. And FWIW, I loved “Born a Crime” but especially loved it on audiobook because Trevor Noah’s voice & accent are so lovely.
Thanks for the recommendation of the audiobook. I’m not too familiar with audiobooks but I can imagine how cool it would be to listen to it. I might try it with that one.