I was inspired by Clara’s blog post (read it here) to write this post for myself. This will include all my 2020 reading resolutions. I think it’ll be fun at the end of the year to see how far I’ve strayed from them, as I usually do with any kind of resolution.

For the last few years, my reading resolutions have been to read a lot.

In 2017, I aimed for 30 books. In 2018, I went for 52 and last year, I aimed for 60 (but ended up only reading 52 again).

While I’ve enjoyed flying through books at a fast pace (a fast pace for me, that is), it has often felt pretty stressful. I’m a naturally slow reader. Having studied English literature, I also enjoy to analyse what I’m reading. I like looking at themes, characters, moral messages and how the author weaves everything together. Plus, I’m a writer so I also like to observe writing style and take note of what works and what doesn’t.

However, reading so fast as I have for the last couple of years hasn’t allowed me the time or space to do that. So for 2020, my resolution is to slow down. 

Read Less, Slow Down

That brings me to my first reading resolution: read less & slow down.

My goal is 24 books this year. That’s an easy going two per month. I can comfortably read a book in a week, so I thought giving myself two weeks to read a book would be leisurely for me.

If I go over, then that’s a total bonus. But I don’t want reading to feel like something I need to schedule into my day. Last year, I would work from about 7am-2pm, walk my dog, then read from 3pm-4:30pm before making dinner and doing something in the evening. Although I enjoyed this for the most part, it took away a lot of opportunities to go in my car and drive somewhere unknown, write, organise and declutter my home, see friends, and much more.

Reading will still be a priority for me this year, but I want it to feel more like a hobby than a necessary part of my day.

Annotate

With slowing down comes the opportunity to annotate my books.

Every year, I find myself wanting to annotate most books I read. I want to write notes in the margins and stick notes on the pages with thoughts and theories. However, because I usually have aimed to finish a book within 5-7 days, it hasn’t given me the time to slow down and annotate my books.

However, towards the end of 2019 and so far in 2020, I have kept sticky notes and pens with me at all times when reading and it’s been great. Especially for really getting into the book and not just skimming over it to finish.

So 2020 will be full of annotating books which will be super fun to look back on one day.

Read To Write

Another goal of mine in 2020 is to write a lot more. In November 2019, I took part in NanoWriMo and had so much fun! I only did about 40,000 words but it was great to spend time writing every day. I haven’t been able to do that for the last few years because of the amount of time I’ve spent reading.

This year, writing will be my main hobby. (Although I’d like it to be professional soon, as I’m working on my second novel and am going to restart my search for an agent for the first.) So while I’m reading, I really want to be aware of the writing style in each book I read to find what inspires me.

I also want to go back to some of my favourite writing in books such as The Bell Jar, Conversations With Friends, We Were Liars and more.

Read Books I Want To Read

For the last few years, I’ve been so relaxed about which books I pick up. I’ll usually just reach for whatever is closest on my shelf or randomly choose one from my Goodreads TBR shelf.

However, I’ve now organised my bookshelf by how badly I want to read something. So this year I want to read mostly from the top shelf, where my urgent TBR now sits.

I usually have an average rating of about 3.2 stars for my yearly reads and that feels low for me. I would love for that to be closer to 4 this year!

Get Over The Fact I Don’t Like Kindles

This year I’m going to be doing a lot of traveling. One stint of traveling is probably going to be longer than 6 months so I can’t bring 20 books with me in my bag. Books are heavy!

Therefore, I will have to get a Kindle this year and I will definitely need to look past the fact that I don’t like Kindles.

Well, it’s not that I don’t like them. They’re great technology and clearly very useful. But I know I’ll desperately miss the smell, the feel, the scribbling in of real books.

But if I want to continue reading as we galavant around Canada, a Kindle will have to be a part of my life.

Anyway, that’s my 2020 reading resolutions! I challenge you to make a blog post about yours, and don’t forget to share it with me so I can read 🙂

I wish you the best 2020 ever! X