The arrival of a new year always seems like an ideal time to set a few constructive personal goals. Because writers are readers by nature, my attention gravitates towards books (as it generally does).
Even if the COVID-19 pandemic persists for a matter of months into 2021, making bookstore browsing difficult or even impossible, I’m grateful that library access is still a thing.
No pandemic’s gonna bridle a bibliophile.
This 21st century global coronavirus plague has been terrible for so many. I’m not making light of the losses and struggles we have faced.
But I am thankful that reading has persisted. Opportunities to procure new (to me, at least) volumes have continued. Our local library is tiny, but it’s linked to libraries all over our state. Seldom does anyone find a title unavailable via inter-library loan.
Throughout 2020, I happily added intended reads to my online hold list. When those titles came in, I biked (at least in cooperative weather) to the local branch to pick them up. I also ordered a few titles online and downloaded others to my tablet.
In the summer months, I read 28 books (see list in included image). Most of these were fiction, but not all.
My opinions on some of the titles included in my summer 2020 reading list are mixed. Some were fabulous. Inclusion does not necessarily imply endorsement.
Here’s the 2021 goal.
For the coming year, I’d like to read 50 books (or more). That boils down to almost one book per week. I think that is doable, particularly if I make it a stated goal.
My 2021 reading list may include both fiction and non-fiction.
That means I might page through biographies, histories, mysteries, and much more.I’m not counting children’s books (although I’m reading plenty of these lately, with a toddler grandson hanging around my house at least a few days a week). I also won’t count dictionaries, instruction manuals, thesauruses, cookbooks, atlases, encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and other read-by-piece volumes or sites. Also, I’m not counting the Bible, devotionals, or poetry books, which I read in small sections at a time.
I’m talking cover-to-cover here.
And I’m not counting any of my own books. That’s not reading (except when others do it). For the author, it’s all about writing and editing and rewriting and proofreading. I have set some professional writing goals for the year, but this one is about reading others’ work.
Who’s willing to hold me accountable on this goal? You can check back here at Working in Words to see how I do.
I invite you to join me in this year-long pursuit!
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