Reading in 2019

I normally read a lot online. I spend a few hours a day reading The Athletic, The Player’s Tribune, and whatever interesting articles I find in my News app on the iPad. However, when it came to actual books, I did not read a full book from beginning to end during the first 8 months of the year. Unacceptable!

when it came to actual books, I did not read a full book from beginning to end during the first 8 months of the year. Unacceptable!

In September, I decided to visit a Barnes and Noble store (I’m surprised they still exist) and buy a physical copy of a book that interested me. I finished reading that book in a week and I was hooked. I had forgotten how much fun it was to really get sucked into a book. So I decided that I would start reading books again.

I hate physical objects and clutter, so after having purchased that one physical book I decided to get myself a Kindle. Once it was in my hands, I selected a handful of books that looked interesting.

Once I kept reading, I shared my reading experience with a friend who recommended I get Goodreads. I did some digging and it happens to be an online community focused on reading with friends. I was sold!

Fast forward 3 months and I have become a reading machine once again. I don’t know what made me stop loving reading books before, but I feel like I have been reborn. I think it also helps when you set a goal for yourself.

Early in September I set a goal of reading 10 books for the remainder of the year. I wasn’t sure if I was going to complete it but it didn’t hurt to try.

As of December 20, I have finished reading the 10th book since September, completing the yearly goal I set for myself. Not only was this a great accomplishment, but it’s also making me look ahead and start thinking about what my 2020 reading goal should be.

I’ll share what I will read in 2020 in another post. I’m still thinking and plotting my reading queue. As for 2019, this is what I have read in the last 4 months:

1. On Writing: A Memoir of the craft – Stephen King
2. Target: Alex Cross – James Patterson
3. A Game of Thrones (A song of Ice and Fire #1) – George R.R. Martin
4. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
5. The Mamba mentality: How I Play – Kobe Bryant
6. Shoe Dog – Phil Knight
7. Educated – Tara Westover
8. Dominicana: A Novel – Angie Cruz
9. Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes – E. Randolph Richards
10. The Institute – Stephen King

I started reading American Psycho, but that book is very difficult to read. I’m not sure if I am going to finish it.

I’m glad I met my yearly (4 month?) goal. I can’t wait to get started all over again in 2020.