I’m approaching 2017 differently to previous years. I’ve decided that 2017 will be a year in which I read what I want, when I want. While I obviously still want to read as many books as I can, I want to do it without putting any pressure on myself. So I’m going to be setting only a minimal amount of goals and trying to make them as relaxed as possible so that I can be focused on reading rather than trying to reach a number.
This year, Mel and I also decided that we won’t be doing the TBR challenge in which she picks out 5 books from my TBR for me to read and I do the same for her. I'm a little sad about this because doing this challenge for the past two years has actually been successful in getting me to read a few series that would otherwise probably still be sitting unread on my shelves! But this year we both just want the freedom to read what we want with as little restrictions as possible.
Following on with that, I don’t plan on participating in any reading challenges or readathons etc this year. I’ve had fun participating in various readathons in previous years, but 2017 is going to be all about making reading as fun and relaxing as possible.
If a readathon comes around and it happens to fit in with what I’m currently reading or what I want to read at the time then I may consider joining in, but I just really don’t want the restriction or pressure of reading a certain book just because it meets the requirements for a challenge when I would rather be reading something else.
Goodreads Reading Challenge: 100 books
100 was a number that worked well for me in 2016 because it was a realistic and achievable target. I beat it easily last year so hopefully I’ll can do the same this year.
Decrease my TBR pile
Every year I set this as a goal and every year I fail rather spectacularly as I always end up adding to my TBR pile rather than decreasing it. But the number of unread books I now own has reached epicly ridiculous proportions and has actually been stressing me out. According to my calculations, I started 2016 with 213 physical TBR books and added 160 more during the year so I’ll be going into 2017 with 373 physical TBR books. That is just insane.
For 2017 I am going to try my absolute hardest to minimise my book buying and make it a priority to read from my physical TBR pile. I know that it’s just not going to be possible for me to stop buying books altogether, but limiting myself to only buying new releases that I really want, or books at the top of my wishlist that I find for a good price would be a start in not adding too many more to my TBR. It would also make it easier on my wallet!
To avoid putting unnecessary pressure on myself, I won’t be aiming for any specific number, but just to end 2017 with less TBR books than what I started would be a great achievement.
To avoid putting unnecessary pressure on myself, I won’t be aiming for any specific number, but just to end 2017 with less TBR books than what I started would be a great achievement.
Read/complete 10 series
This was also a goal that I set and achieved for the previous two years so I want to keep it going in 2017. Unlike 2016 however, this year I won’t be setting a specific list of series to read. It didn’t work out too well last year because it felt like I was forcing myself to read certain books rather than what I was in the mood for.
I do have a list of series that I most want to read in 2017. Most are completed series that I’ve owned and been wanting to read for quite some time now. A few are unfinished series from 2016 that I would love to finish this year, and others are either new series or re-reads in anticipation of the final book being released in 2017. I expect that I will be reading most of these books but it’s not absolutely essential that I stick to the list if I’m not in the mood and I just want to read something else.
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes
Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Across the Universe trilogy by Beth Revis
The Selection series by Kiera Cass
The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
Deltora Quest series by Emily Rodda
Pushing the Limits series by Katie McGarry
Burying Water series by K.A. Tucker
Breathing series by Rebecca Donovan
Girl Online series by Zoe Sugg (book 3)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (books 6 - 8)
Restricting re-reads
This idea actually came from Mel and I thought it was fantastic. While diving back into a series that I love can be so rewarding, time spent re-reading is precious time that I could be spending on a book that I haven’t read yet and reading from my physical TBR pile is a top priority for me this year.
Keeping it to a minimum is the goal here because I know that limiting myself to zero re-reads just isn’t going to happen. I already have a few books in mind that I know I’m going to be re-reading.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince & Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
This is to complete the series re-read that I began in 2016.
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
I read all five books plus the prequel novellas that were out last year and because I have such a hopeless memory, there’s just no way that I’ll remember everything that happened. I plan on marathoning a re-read of this series so that I can be fully prepared and raring to go when the sixth and final book is released. But this would have to be one of my favourite series and it definitely deserves a re-read!
Read more manga
I discovered my love for manga only within the last six months or so but I quickly became very addicted and there are just so many series that I want to read! Unfortunately, I can’t read everything at once (especially since some series are super long!), nor can I afford everything that I want to, so I’m just listing the series that I would most love to read. I doubt I’ll be able to get to all these series this year so it’ll be determined by what I can purchase myself or access from the library.
Bakuman by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
InuYasha by Rumiko Takahashi
Bleach by Tite Kubo
Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima
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