It’s November already and I really do not know where the time has gone. This year has just flown by with so many highs, and a number of lows, so I’m feeling unready to fully say bye to 2023 just yet.
Earlier in the year (prior to my semi hiatus from the blog), I had listed out a few goals I wanted to set as encouraged guidelines for the calendar year. I think it’s time to check up on them before the year is over. While there is still time left in 2023, who knows? I may need to figure this out earlier in case some last minute book habits need to be made in the last 1.5 months.
1. Read for fun
I always struggle with this when I feel obligated to get ARCs read in time competing with other new releases that have come out or backlist titles I own but haven’t read. I’m very much a mood reader so I can’t set monthly goals as it totally kills the want to read.
I would say I struggled with this a little as I did still tried to post my ARC reviews this year in time as best as I could around my busy wedding planning schedule and work deadlines. But also not forcing myself to write a review for every book I read was super helpful in that I could read some “guilty pleasure” type books – super sappy romances in my case with overdone tropes – just because I wanted to. I think that deserves a mini pat on the back.
How did I do for this goal? 3.5/5
2. Not be afraid to DNF
Oh, this one was a hard one. I still don’t do well giving up on books, especially when it drew me in somehow in the beginning to even pick up. I just don’t know when to give up even if I’m not loving it too much. I suppose it’s hard to write a review for a book I didn’t hate but just struggled to get through for some reason.
I know it’d be better for managing my time as I’m not the fastest reader among the book community, but until I feel it’s a really awful book, I still somehow stick with it. Any tips on doing this better?
How did I do for this goal? 1/5
3. Read more nonfiction especially Christian books
I definitely continued the trend of reading more memoirs this year as I find some individual’s lives are so different from mine and I want to learn how they came to their current path while facing obstacles. Some of these included my favourite Christian author and teacher, Beth Moore, and 19 Kids and Counting alum Jill Duggar, with both I found fascinating.
Outside of memoirs, though, it hasn’t been the easiest to pick up nonfiction and broaden my reading horizons. My husband prefers nonfiction to fiction, if he even reads at all, but if I read for fun more instead of a weirdly misguided sense of obligation to read what’s popular at the moment, I could probably do better in this area.
How did I do for this goal? 2.5/5
4. Read more genres/formats like audio and graphics
According to my StoryGraph, I have read 26% of my books this year as audiobooks, and I’m loving it! I’ve always been a physical book reader, morphed e-reader when I started getting eARCs. But I think I’ll be moving forward with this trend of audiobook reading next year as it’s so handy to read while doing chores or cooking or walking the dog. Now I enjoy doing both and feel I get through books a little bit faster.
For genres, I still very much read mostly YA, but I read more romances this year than fantasy which surprises me as I’m definitely more a fantasy reader usually. I tried reading MG a little and may branch into it more if I find a series I enjoy. Overall, I guess I know what I like so I’d still do that but I can also try new things to see if it’s what I would like too.
How did I do for this goal? 4/5
5. Buy less books unless absolutely needed
I pretty much failed this one. I’ve been buying special edition books more although I have cut back on book box subscriptions. These books are not inexpensive if buying from resellers. And there are, of course, other regular books I buy for author signings or out of sheer want.
Oh, and I’ve been donating for special book auctions for various purposes this year (one of which ended on my wedding morning and I was in some extended bidding war at 6:30AM). Those can also be a little higher in price but those are worth it for good causes. I will share more on these little treasures in another post, but they do eat into my book buying budget.
Although I had good intentions to lower my physical book stash, it’s not been going well.
How did I do for this goal? 1/5
Have you made any book goals for the year? How did you do? Do you have any tips for me to improve on some of my goals? Let me know in the comments below!
Down the Rabbit Hole 