What I'm Reading In 2020!

New Year's Goals

New Year's Resolutions

Blaze, blaze...

It's February so I'm reluctant to even use those phrasings anymore, they're just overused by this point - am I right? Well, be patient with me as I get ready to use it one last time!

In 2019, there was not ONE single book that I read cover to cover and THAT is the saddest statement ever for me. I actually beat myself up about it.

In my mind, if you're not learning or gaining a new perspective then you're not improving your quality of life, you're not challenging your mind, and life becomes a little boring! According to my goodreads account the two sad books I did read were audios, and that does not count my friends. In 2020, things must change. (Hmm, I've gotten this far without using the oldy jargon from above and you guys still get the gist of what I'm saying! Right?)

Here's a math formula: (12 months in a year) x (2 books a month) = 24 books by the end of 2020! Now, I am using a crutch in a sense because my strategy is to read one physical book a month and listen to one audio book a month. I know my reading rate and to read even one book in a month is something I have to work hard for. So reading two books a month... ain't gone happen. Therefore, I thank the universe for the creation of a book you can listen to (while cleaning your room for the 5th time in a week).

As I eyeball my 'to-read' list on goodreads, I become so excited seeing all the titles and pretty/interesting covers of books that I can finally get around to reading (but in reality I'll only be reading a fraction of them this year). My attention is pulled in 10 different directions when it comes to choosing my next read. First of all, I've always been interested in so many different things. From the cosmos to culinary. Then there's the fact that the lovely bookshelf next to my bed contains about 18 books, only 8-10 of which I've already read.

I thought breaking it down by category according to what it is I want to read would be smart and will give me a more clear path!

12 BOOKS FROM MY TO-READ LIST

I have 154 books on my to-read list, that is undoubtedly where I should start. Again, I'll only be tackling a fraction this year. Books:

1. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

2. The Girls Book: How to Be the Best at Everything

3. M. C. Escher: The Graphic Work

4. Amphigorey (Book #1)

5. Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto

6. He's Just Not That Into You

7. The Princess Saves Herself In This One

8. Gourmet Vegetarian Slowcooker

(titles 9-12 coming soon)

3 BOOKS PUBLISHED IN 2019

The publish date is mostly important for you guys, my readers. If I'm going to be reviewing books and releasing those reviews to the world, they have to be 'new' or 'trendy'. I don't think the majority of you are interested in knowing the ups and downs of a 2008 novel with only a thousand reviews on goodreads. To be recent is to be relevant! To be relevant is to be poppin'! Books:

(13) Judge This Cover by Brittany Renner

(books 14-15 coming soon!)

3 BOOKS PUBLISHED IN 2020

Same applies here. Except I am not knowledgeable of any books published in 2020 to be honest. I'll have to peruse the 'New Releases' sections of the library! (books 16-18 coming soon!)

1 BOOK BY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHOR

Always, always, it is important to acknowledge my roots and look at the successful, intelligent, writing, black folks in this nation! To be honest its easy to get away from that and only read white because, well, that's the majority of what there is. But we are out there and I'm excited to gain that perspective. Book:

(19) The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

1 BOOK ABOUT ART

Though it feels like my past passion as an artist and art-enthusiast will never be the same, I will say, lately I've been having a craving to see thick oil-paint strokes. Painted portraits with the right amount of shadow & value that tell a story.

(20) (I'm not sure just yet what that book is for me)

1 COOKBOOK

I realize that some categories will overlap (see book #8) and thats ok, I'll pick another cookbook for this category. I love expanding my palette and level of skill in the kitchen! Book:

(21) Easy Chinese Gourmet for the Vegetarian

1 BOOK ABOUT BLOGGING

Enough said there. Just trying to make my blogging game strong. Book:

(22) Blogging for Dummies

1 BIOGRAPHY, AUTO-BIOGRAPHY, OR MEMOIR

I just like learning peoples' stories. Book

(23) -coming soon-

1 'CLASSIC'

I don't think I've read enough of the classics! I'm looking for that wonderful writing style of a fantastical story that we all fall in love with. Book:

(24) One Hundred Years of Solitude

I don't intend to read the books in this exact order and if I switch up the books, that's acceptable as well. So long as I finish my 24 book goal by the end of this year!