2019 Reading Challenge

To say I love to read would be an epic understatement. It’s my primary me-time, my main source of entertainment, and every meme about bookstores, reading, and being addicted to reading totally fit me.

A few years ago, I challenged myself to read one book a week for the year. I even exceeded my goal! The next year, my goal was to read more than the year before. And so on and so forth up until 2018, where I set a goal of 80 books.

And I failed.

I only finished 61 before the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, and one of those I stayed up until 1am reading the night before, spiteful against myself for missing the mark so epically.

But you know what? I read 61 books last year! That’s awesome. And like my good pal Jen Hatmaker says, aim for 80% success and 20% mama tried (fine, she doesn’t know we’re good pals, but we totally are in my head). Technically she was talking about parenting with success/mama tried, but I think it applies to most things, including reading.

So you want to read more, but…where to get started? And the number one question I’m asked: How do I have time to read?

Where to get started

If you don’t have a mile long Goodreads Want to Read List, what should you start with? You can find books by:

• Signing up for Bookbub, which sends a daily email based on your interests that are all under a price value you set. I use this service to find new books, then typically look for the ones I like at the library.
• You can follow your friends (or beloved bloggers! I’m @PawPrintsintheSink) on Goodreads. You can also follow authors, who share their current favorite reads. Goodreads is great for keeping track of what you’ve read, what you want to read, checking reviews, and making your own reading challenge! It’ll help you track your progress and you can change it if you find you’ve under or overestimated your goal.
• Join a digital or local book club. The motivation to participate in discussion is a great way to make sure you finish the book in time! 
• Visiting a bookstore or library and wandering around. Yes, we all know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover. But sometimes the cover art is beautiful and eye catching, and that’s okay. Just don’t not read the back of the book based on the cover. If nothing catches your eye, look for the display of staff recommendations. As a former bookseller, I can confirm that most people who work surrounded by books generally love to read.
• If you know someone who loves reading, ask them for recommendations. Have a pen and paper handy to take notes!

But how do I have time to read?

Right, please don’t hate me for this next sentence. You have to make time for it. Sometimes that means staying up later, or multitasking, or giving up that half hour of Netflix in favor of reading. It’s a choice each time the opportunity arises on how to use that limited free time we possess as moms. Reading is my self-care: I read while eating lunch, making dinner, in the car pickup line, while on hold, just every little moment I can grab. I mostly use a Kindle Paperwhite, because it’s small and thus easily portable, and also because you can wirelessly add digital library books to it. There’s also a built-in book light, so if you stay up too late reading it lights up, allowing you to stay up even later.

If you need more tips for making time for self-care, check out my previous post on just that here!

Bonus: when your kids see you reading, it can encourage them to read. If you’ve got kids in the required twenty minutes of reading a day age, that’s a built-in time you all can read side by side, together.

The only way I could afford to read as much as I do is by making great use of our local libraries. I use their physical locations as well as the digital collection. The digital books automatically return themselves, so there’s no late fee worries, and that return date provides great motivation to read a book before I no longer have access to it. I’m not the only library fan around here — remember this wonderful Ode to the Library? Check it out for even more reasons to love our libraries!

Reading challenge

This year I’m mixing up my reading challenge a little bit. I’m still aiming for a number, but I’m also adding more diversity to my reading challenge. I’m adding categories, such as nonfiction, an international author, a classic, and more. I’ve made this printable if you want to do the challenge too!

What are you most excited to read in 2019?

Here are some of my favorites:

Book that altered my perspective: The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas 

An unexpected but loved read: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, Hank Green

The book I’m still thinking about: The Storyteller, Jodi Picoult

Best nonfiction: I Feel Bad About My Neck, Nora Ephron

New beloved author: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Fredrik Backman