For someone who wants to be a published author someday (preferably in the near future), I don't read nearly enough.
I had a decent excuse for not reading half of the library books I checked out this semester - I was in a literature class, and it required a lot of my reading time. But I don't really want to make that an excuse for not reading. I had plenty of time in which I lazily decided that scrolling my Instagram feed was more appealing.
So, despite having signed myself up for a 300-level honors literature college course, I'm making it one of my New Year's resolutions to read 52 books during the year of 2017.
That's one book a week.
I made a list of fifty-two books, but in all likelihood I'll have to trade some of those out for the books I get as reading assignments from class. That's okay - just as long as I do my best to hit the quota, I'll be satisfied. Reading is so important to me, for so many reasons - not just because I've always been a book worm, but because I'm a writer too. Thus, reading, in essence, is work, because by reading I expose myself to other writers' styles, thereby influencing and shaping my own. There are so many benefits to reading - so if you feel up to it, why don't you join me and make a list of your own? Here are a few of the books featured on mine:
Black Dove White Raven by Elizabeth Wein
I fell in love with this author's writing when I read two of her WWII novels, Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire. I started this new novel of her's earlier this year but didn't finish it - something about it didn't grip me like the others had - yet I still want to, so of course it's on the list!
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Yeah, I know...I'm pretty late on this one. But it's never too late to read a book, amiright?
Needless to say, sad teen romances are not my thing, but I broke down and watched the movie when I found it on TV recently. So naturally, the book made the list (despite the tears/pain/feels the movie caused me).
Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey
I follow this author's blog, and her writing is absolutely stunning. I heard about this book a while back and can't wait to get my hands on it.
A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman
I had the privilege of hearing Emily P. Freeman speak at a conference in September, and my mom has been recommending this book to me ever since. I've heard it's a must for anyone whose passions lie in the art spectrum.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Considering what I've heard about Patrick Ness's work, and that there's a movie adaption of this coming out now, I think it's about time to give it a read.
So there you have it! Five out of fifty-two of my books for 2017. We'll see how far I get - I'll be satisfied if I even make it halfway through, just as long as I'm reading, reading, reading.
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What books would you put on your list?
Cheers,
Alicyn
This is a lovely idea! I am sure you can do this! Books on my list... OH! Honey and Milk because everyone is talking about this book! And there is a new Jenny han book coming out!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been having a hard time making time for reading lately too. I guess it's partly because I've been reading books that haven't really ignited my imagination or inspired or really, really caught me in the story. I actually did start a list of some books I am hoping to read (lots recommended by bloggers I follow), even adding some genres that I'm not as familiar with. Any chance you've read a good Fantasy book lately? Or do you like Fantasy? That's really the only genre I don't have good representation on my list so far. Anyway, I've started with 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and am about halfway through that. Even though Historical Fiction isn't always my favorite, I tend to read a lot of it...What's your favorite genre?
ReplyDeleteTo Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorites! I hope you love it. And I do enjoy fantasy! It's really hard for me to pick a favorite genre though, because I enjoy such a variety. I tend to lean towards anything exciting and imaginative that holds my attention, though, which is often adventure/fantasy/sci-fi/action/dystopian stuff.
DeleteHave you read the Eragon books? They're an excellent fantasy series but might take quite a while to get through. Same for Lord of the Rings, which I'm working through slowly but surely. And some of my favorite books are WWII historical fiction! (The Book Thief and All the Light We Cannot See in particular).
I finished To Kill a Mockingbird. The point of view was interesting since it came from such a young girl. I always worry about writing even simple dialogue from a younger person's perspective because I never quite am sure if I make them too young or too old for their age. It reminded me a little of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (have you read that?) because that book deals with the same issues and is also from a child's perspective. It was such a sad time...
ReplyDeleteI think Fantasy is my favorite which is why I find it very sad I haven't read much (you know, besides The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings...). I have not read the Eragon books, but I'll see if the library has them. I've been wanting to read more Sci-fi since I've been dabbling (writing) in it. What kind of sci-fi do you read? Any recommendations?
I have The Book Thief on my to-read list! And I think that other book too.
Have you read the Ender's Game books? (I'm not sure of the exact reading order, but I've read Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow and both were excellent.) They have a very interesting take on the child perspective - I think it'd be worth your while to check them out if that's something you struggle with. The author takes some creative liberties that I thought were really interesting and engaging. And no, I haven't read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, but I'll check it out!
DeleteOne of my favorite series is the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins - her middle grade series. That would probably fall under fantasy, and they are SO good. Also, I've heard Brandon Sanderson has a lot of good sci-fi and fantasy stuff out there. I read his Steelheart trilogy and really enjoyed it! And if The Giver by Lois Lowry counts as sci-fi, I would definitely recommend that too, and Bluescreen by Dan Wells was an enjoyable recent sci-fi read as well.
Yay! Both are marvelously written.