After cutting down on reading significantly over the last couple of years, I think it’s time to jump back into the fray. I’ve established a good rhythm with my art and spiritual practice, and I’m feeling comfortable with the idea of reading more books this year. While I will not go back to reading 90 odd books a year, I plan to commit once again to two books per month, for a total of 24 books (plus art, tarot, and self-development books, which I tend to not share on the blog. But maybe I should. What do you think?)
Reading challenge for 2019
I had set the same reading challenge for myself in 2018, but I fell just four books short of the target (on target if I include the art and tarot books I read last year). To keep myself on track this year, I’m planning to join Write Tribe’s reading challenge.
The reading challenge has three parts: to read a minimum of 24 books in 2019, of which a minimum of 12 books have to be based on the prompts outlined on their website, and one book review a month. And I’m excited about the book review – it’s been a while since I did any on the blog!
So, 24 books puts me in the Book Lover level (they have four levels depending on how many books you commit to read during the year.) I’ve chosen 12 prompts – listed below – but I may change my mind!
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Part of my TBR for 2019
A book that is a Translation: Dozakhnama by Rabisankar Bal
A book written by a Female author: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margret Atwood
A book written by someone of a different nationality/color/ethnic group than you: Forty Rules of Love – Elif Shafak
A book from the Man Booker Prize long-list (any year): The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee
A book from WWII time period: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
A retelling of your favorite fairytale/classic: The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
A book featuring a hobby: Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
A book with orange cover: The Last Queen of India by Michelle Moran
A book that was a gift: Circe by Madeline Miller
A book made into a movie: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
A book you bought just because of its cover/a book with a beautiful cover: The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten
A book with a name in the title: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
So that’s half my TBR already mapped out! What about you?
Are you taking part in any reading challenges this year? Do you have part of your TBR mapped out? Do tell me in the comments!
Love Eleanor and The Book Thief. I’ve been wanting to read Handmaid’s Tale as well. Happy reading for 2019!
I’ve been hearing so much about Eleanor! I’m really looking forward to reading it now!
Nice list.
Thanks! 😉
An awesome list for the year. Hope you enjoy your read, for beyond all the challenge, whats important is this 🙂
That’s the truth! More than keeping up with a challenge, having fun in the process is most important.
Nice list.. happy reading 🙂
Ooh I like your list!! Have read a few from there. Few more on the To Be Read list. And I’m aiming for 50 books, mix of fiction and non fiction. Enjoying being back to reading again. It’s the perfect way to disconnect and I’m glad to have found my way back to it again.
And I think you should review the art and tarot books here. Perfectly in line with the theme of the blog too. 🙂
All the best for a lovely year of reading!
50 books? There was a time when I could read that much. That was before I found my way to art. Now, that takes priority over everything else! I’m reducing screen time as much as I can, though, so I can read instead.
And you’re right about the art and tarot books. I may just start posting those reviews!
Happy reading, Shy!
I have read about half of the ones you have chosen so far here – Night Circus is just divine!! So is Book thief and Forty rules of love. Hand maid’s tale is something I left midway as I just oculdnt grasp its ideology and narration! It was so dry and emotionless. Eleanor is a delightful read; I loved her character over the entire book.
Dozakhnama is on my shelf but I havent really gotten into it – maybe your review of it is what I will wait for before I head there.
All the best with your reading challenges and hopefully you will ace them this year too!!
I’m re-reading Night Circus this year. It’s a delightfully magical book, and I was thrilled that the magic hadn’t diminished one bit! Some of the books on my list are ones I’ve heard so much about, so I simply had to make this the year when I finally read them. Plus, I have all of them lining my bookshelf, so it was a no-brainer! 😉
I’ve heard a lot about Dozaknama. Will post a review whenever I read it.
Wish you a very happy reading year too, Shalini!
I have read some of the books from your list and loved them…the rest i need to read, especially Eleanor Oliphant…Wonder when the time will come and I will find time to read that book!
Wish you the best for the reading challenge, Shinjini! 🙂
I’ve heard so much about Eleanor, and I got it from my wonderful secret Santa this year; so it had to be on my 2019 reading list! 🙂
That’s a brilliant list, Jini. I am planning to read most of these books myself so I would love to read your reviews as well 🙂 All the best with the challenge. You’ll nail it!
And I’d love to read your reviews as well! It’s always fun to discuss books this way and see what each one of us may have liked or disliked about them.
Ooh I love your list. I’ve been checking out some of them on Goodreads and they sound interesting – The Last Queen of India and Relish seem the most intriguing from the ones I haven’t read. The TBR is growing already.
The Book Thief is one of my all time favourites! I also read Eleanor Oliphant last year, it’s brilliant. Good luck with your challenge. I joined an online book club las year and it really motivated my reading.
Sometimes you need a challenge – or a book club – to stick with your reading goals! I’m looking forward to both these books – I’ve heard so much about them!!