I have loved reading ever since I was a kid. It’s a form of escaping into an imaginary world that’s still considered socially acceptable as an adult. Sure you may outgrow your genre preference and your bookshelves may be filled with thick wordy books rather than a 10-page picture book but reading is still something you enjoy and it allows you to escape from the mundanity of life and into an imaginary one that exists only in your mind. It’s one of my favorite pastimes and I can’t imagine my life without it.
There was one point in my life when reading became a burden to me and I actually dreaded having to read a book. But that type of thinking only developed when I had to read just to have to take a test on it. Or when my teachers gave me no choice on the books I wanted to read. Now when I think about the state I was in during those years I know I never want to ever go back to that way of thinking.
So even though I like the idea of setting a reading goal every year, I don’t want it to become a stress in my life nor do I want it to become a competition. I want it to remain an escape for me and something I do during my leisurely time. Once reading starts to feel like something I HAVE to do rather than something I enjoy doing just because, I know that I will stop reading altogether.
Last year I set a goal to read 30 books and I met that goal. I actually thought for a while that I would exceed that number but life happened towards the end of the year so I didn’t really get to reading that much. So this year I’ve set a goal of 35 books. A few books more but not enough to overwhelm me. I’m hoping to reach that goal and expand my reading preferences. I would really like to dabble more into historical fiction. I’ve found that I really enjoy it as long as it’s not too depressing. But I do enjoy absorbing a bit of history while also keeping the reading fictional. It helps me learn more about a certain culture, country, or time period but I don’t feel the need to commit to an entire history book … you know?
I would also like to read a few more classics this year. Every year I try to include a few classics in my reading list just to slowly get through the ones I’m really interested in. For example, I’ve had Anna Karenina in my collection for a couple years now but still haven’t even anticipated reading it. So hopefully I’ll get through that one soon. No pressure though.
What are your reading goals for 2020? Any books you have in your TBR that you’re excited to read? Let me know in the comments!
xx
Let’s be friends!
bonitappétit 