Usually, I come up with a few reading goals at the beginning of each year. A number of books to read, a few series/titles I want to get through, etc. But this year I haven’t sat down to think about what I want to accomplish bookishly in 2018. (Is bookishly a word?) So coming up with ten goals was a lot, but here we are.
(This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, now hosted by That Artys Reader Girl, is Bookish Resolutions/Goals.)
Read 200 books: For the past few years, I’ve set a Goodreads reading goal. Last year was the first time that I can recall reading over 200 books (including novels and graphic novels). I didn’t want to pressure myself with a higher goal because I don’t want reading to become unenjoyable. So I’m setting it for 200 books again, and we’ll see if I’ll have to up it later in the year.
Book Reviews: Since I started this blog a few months ago, I’ve posted weekly book reviews. I’d like to continue that, maybe adding more reviews if I have time, but at least sticking with one book review every Friday. I’m also thinking about adding another special day here and there that involves waffles and recipes…
New Books: There are so many new books coming out in 2018 (like every year) that I am pumped to read. (Right now, my list has seventy titles, not counting two titles I’ve already read this year and books coming out past August or September of this year.) I usually make a list of my most anticipated reads at the beginning of the year and try to see how many I get through. Last year, I think I read all of them except one (well, two because one didn’t actually come out yet) and I tried to read it but was bored. So here are a few new books coming out that I’d like to read this year: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, Wires and Nerve Vol. 2 by Marissa Meyer, The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, Reclaiming Shilo Snow by Mary Weber, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir, Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young, and The Caged Queen by Kristen Ciccarelli, as well as a plethora of sequels to other series I’ve started that don’t have titles and/or release dates yet. (Looking at your Renegades, Warcross, and The Last Magician.)
Finish Series: I’ve started a lot of book series that I’ve never finished. I’d like to finish a lot of those series (if they’re worth finishing). I’ve already completed two series this year by reading An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L’Engle and The Death Cure by James Dashner. (Though I didn’t read the prequel story so maybe I’m not done yet?)
Rereads: I hardly take the time to reread books because there are always new books (and old books) that I haven’t read yet. Every year I try to reread a series I read a long time ago. This year I’d like to reread The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and maybe if I have time The Chronicles of Narnia. I read The Lord of the Rings for school three years ago, but it feels so long ago, and it’s been even longer since I picked up Narnia.
Books I own: I have a lot of books I’ve never read. I made a few piles of books to hopefully read through this year. Some of them I’d like to read before the end of March so I don’t have to take them when I move, but I know I won’t get to all of them. Even so, I should probably read the ones I’m planning to keep as well, right?
Bookstagram: Last year, I dedicated my Instagram account to books, transforming into a bookstagram. I’d like to continue but make it bigger. Better pictures, more posts and reviews, more challenges, etc. I love books and since most of them are so pretty I want to share them with other people. I’ve already teamed up with a friend to host a book challenge this month!
Be Picky: I don’t want to waste my time on so-so books. There are a lot of books I’ve read in the past that I should have just given up on. I always feel guilty when I start a book and don’t feel like finishing it, but when I have a TBR list that’s close to 800 books, I think I need to be more picky when it comes to books. If a book doesn’t work, I need to stop reading and move on.
Genre: Normally I read fantasy or science-fiction, but I want to read other books too. Contemporary, non-fiction, classics, middle grade, etc. I’ve been trying to stagger other genres as I read. For every two or three fantasy/SF books I read, I make myself read a contemporary book. Or I try to read non-fiction or classics a few pages a day in the morning before work. I just want to read more genres this year.
My own books: In addition to reading a lot, I write a lot. I like to say I’m always writing, whether I’m tapping a scene into existence on the computer, scribbling snippets of dialogue or scenes into a notebook, or daydreaming in my head. But writing a lot only gets me so far. This year I want to edit—actually edit—at least one of the books I’ve written. I wanted to accomplish this last year, but every time I sit down to figure out what to do with my stories, I can’t concentrate. I want to move forward with my writing, and while that includes new stories, I know it also means editing.
Keeper of the Wood Between Worlds 
These are great goals! I’m with you on several of them, especially the bit about reading books I already own. 200 books, though?!? Yikes, that’s a lot. (But at least you know you can do it because you already have.) Best of luck!
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Thank you!
I count graphic novels/manga and picture books in that 200 books, so it doesn’t seem as steep of a goal as one might think.
I need to read more books I own except there are so many new ones out that I keep putting books on hold from the library.
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I’m with you on the library hold list issue… I could spend the entire year reading exclusively books I own but haven’t read, yet will that stop me from library (or bookstore) visits? Heck no!
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