Ever since I was little I have loved to read. I devoured the Magic Tree House books, every book by Beverly Cleary and Andrew Clements that my elementary school library had, and I won Summer Reading programs at the library by having the most books done in two weeks. I just love reading.

 

This year I am adding a twist to my normal reading challenge. Every year I try to read at least 40 books and normally over half of these books end up being rereads.

Especially when I was in school I would pick up a new book once in a while but I would just reread some of my tried and true favorites on my kindle in between classes or at dinner because they were a great break from the stress of school.

Now that I am out of school I have more free time… for now until I can actually find a job. 

Most of the books are also just fantasy novels with some Young Adult awkward teen protagonist books thrown in. I want to expand my reading horizons and attempt to read a larger variety this year. 

So here is what I am thinking.

THE GOAL:

To read a min of 50 books with no less than 40 of them being books I haven’t read before.

THE PLAN:

To read 50 books by December 31st I have to read 4 books a month. For 40 of them to be new, I can only have 1 out of every 5 books be a reread. 

The hardest part about this is I am going to have to hunker down and see what is left in my house that I have yet to read. Considering I only have so much Kindle money and at the moment libraries are closed so I have to be strategic if I don’t want to blow my savings on new books. 

HOW IT’S GOING:

I am on my fourth book of the year so I am just about 1 behind to make 50. The issue is 3 of the 4 books have been rereads so I really have to step up my new book game. 

CURRENTLY READING:

Dearest by Alethea Kontis 

This is book 3 of the Woodcutter Sister Series a (tragically) unfinished series. It’s a mashup retelling of fairy tales where each book is based on one of the 7 sisters all named for the days of the week. Dearest is Friday’s book and is a mashup of tales like the Wild Swan and the Goose Girl. 

Some of THE BOOKS (ideally):

An expansion on my fantasy only reading list is to have fiction genres like mystery and classics and to branch into some nonfiction.  

*=Books I have at my house

Fiction

Fantasy

• Chronicles of Narnia Series by CS Lewis
  • 7 Books

I love the first two Narnia movies a lot and have actually never read more than the *Magician’s Nephew. This series is way high on my list though I will have to see if I can get past the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The cousin bothered me in the movie and I know the rest of the books revolve around him…  So this series I will at least get 4 books out of it. 

• The Renegades Series by Marissa Meyer
  • 3 Books

I binge read the entire Lunar Chronicles Series a few months ago after it was recommended to me by a friend. She said I need to read this one too. If I end up liking book one and finish the series that will be 3 more new books. 

• The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

This book is about a woman named January who finds a book in a mansion that tells of impossible truths that are entwined with her own life. I am a sucker for books about books or libraries or bookstores so it was perfect to add to my list. 

• The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
  • Up to 6 Books if I like book 1

This series is about the legend of Nicholas Flamel and his secret of eternal life. It seems interesting and I am hoping it’s good. 

• The Book of Three by Alexander Lloyd

Lloyd’s books is where the adaption The Black Cauldron comes from and I have always loved this movie. Until recently I didn’t realize it was a book so I thought it would be fun to read it and see all the differences from the movie. 

• Lord of the Rings Series by JRR Tolkien 
  • 3 Books (4 if I read the Hobbit)

I know a ton of people who rave about this series and how it is their favorite of all time and what they reread every year. It took me a month to finish the Fellowship of the Ring… so I am a little concerned with my ability to finish this series. The only thing keeping me going is that now I want to know if Sam and Frodo get back to the rest of the gang, but also I am not sure I can handle another 500 pages of basically just the scenery and them walking.

Young Adult Romance

• *Love and Olives by Jenna Welch

This is the third book in the Love and Gelato trilogy. I thought the last two books were cute fun reads and I was excited to see this third one in Barnes and Noble a few weeks back and just had to pick it up. The first book was set in Italy, the second in Ireland, and this one in Greece. I will let you know how it stacks up to the other two when I am finished.

Historical

• Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepety

A girl in my Literature class a few years ago recommended this book for her book project and I immediately added it to my ‘to read’ list.  It’s a historical fiction book about the German cruise liner that was sunk in the Atlantic during WWII. She made it sound really interesting and it was a perfect book to add to broaden my reading list. I haven’t read a lot of historical fiction at all and am intrigued to read more. 

• The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

See another book about a book. I saw this my last time at Barnes and Noble and was drawn in with just the synopsis. It follows a semi retired librarian Eva and moves between her present and her past in Paris during WWII and living through the looting of libraries by the Nazis.  

• *The Robinswood Story series by Jean Grainger
  • 3 Books

This series my mom purchased after our Downton Abbey binge watch last summer. It’s about an estate in Ireland where the family has 3 almost grown daughters and seems like an Irish Downton. I’m hoping it’s good. 

Classics

• Emma by Jane Austen

I have read and reviewed both Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility and I am ready to dive into another Jane Austen book. So far P&P is by FAR my favorite. Let’s see if Emma can stack up to it. 

• *Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

This is one of the classics that I have had in my bookshelf for years and I never picked up so this is the year I am finally going to do it. 

• *Adventures of Tom Sawyer by  Mark Twain

• *Heidi  by Johanna Spyri

When I was in maybe 5th grade I tried to read Heidi and I can’t remember if I finished it or not, so I am going to guess not. 

Mystery

• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

I can probably name on less than one hand the amount of mystery books I have read in my life that were not Nancy Drew. After watching a ton of Hallmark movies and mysteries, particularly the Aurora Teagarden mysteries, I am curious to dip my toe into the waters of mystery novels. I loved reading Nancy Drew, and playing the computer games, so I want to see if I will like mysteries other than those. 

Nonfiction 

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• Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again by Andrea Barber 

Nonfiction is not a genre I have picked up a ton since the days of forced nonfiction reading in elementary school. (Where all I did was read about architecture and marine animals) But after watching Fuller House I wanted to check out Andrea’s book. Plus we are practically best friends now after my uncle got her to give me a shout out for my graduation ceremony. ;p

• The Rosary: the prayer that saved my life by Immaculee Ilibagiza  

Immaculee recounts how she believes prayer the Rosary saved her life while hiding during the Rwanda Genocide and how the promises from the Rosary can reap blessings in the lives of those who pray it. When this popped up on my Goodreads I knew I wanted to read it. After never being able to get myself into the habit of praying the Rosary I have now been praying it for over 5 months straight and am working through a 54 day Rosary Novena right now. I have my own story of the blessings of the Rosary and can’t wait to read hers. 

(Let me know if you would like a post where I discuss my own experience with the Rosary once I finish the novena?)

Faith

• *Confessions by St. Augustine of Hippo

I have been trying to read more Saint books and am adding this to the list so I actually pick it up. I attempted to read it last year but couldn’t get past the prologue. I think I will just try and dive in this time around and see what happens.

• *Go Bravely by Emily Wilson Hussem

Emily Wilson Hussem is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram and one of the only I am subscribed to on Youtube. This is a self help type book and after adding ‘courage’ to my words of the year I think it is a perfect book to read. I also got to hear her speak at SLS last year and it only added to how much I love following along with her. 

• Finding God’s Will for You by Francis De Sales

This was another book I thought would be perfect to read during this time in my life where I have NO clue what I am doing. Hopefully, St. Francis De Sales has some insight for me. 

• The Interior Castle or The Mansions by Saint Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa had a vision of the soul as a diamond in the shape of the castle and interpreted it as a journey of faith through 7 stages. It is a book many say is great for spiritual development and as I had never heard of this before it was another that I couldn’t help but add to my list. 

• *Walking with Mary by Edward Sri

I have seen this book recommended around Catholic Instagram and I love Mary so I wanted to add this to my list and see what I can learn from it about Mary’s role in Jesus’ life on earth and beyond. 

TOTAL:

40 Books. 11 of them which I own. 1 of those 11 is a reread. 

It appears I have my work cut out for me but I am excited to see which of these books actually make it onto my “Read” list this year. Last year my goal was 50 and in December I was able to bring it up to 58 books read. I want to see if I can end up beating that, but am trying to not over reach in case I end up getting a demanding job. 

A CHALLENGE FOR YOU!

Try to read more books this year than you do normally. Even if that means just finishing that one book you never have time to read. 

Let me know if you are going to accept the challenge and what books you will be reading! I am always in the need for more books to add to my reading list. 

You can follow along with my book challenge progress on Goodreads and I will periodically update here on the blog with some book reviews.

Would you want to see a post at the end of the year of the full list of books I read? 

Hope this also gave you some ideas of books to read for your year too. Happy Reading!

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