Setting Goals: 2019 Literary Resolutions

Happy New Year to my bookish family here on the interwebs! Man, I’m so happy to be back at my desk and writing today! I’ve certainly missed it. I hope you all had a safe and joyful holiday season – whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice and Yule, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas or Diwali.

Wow. December was a crazy month – what with celebrating the holidays with my friends and family, cooking up a storm of goodies and working in retail (esh!). But, as we move into 2019 and what is sure to be an epic year ahead, I’d like to take this moment to stop, reflect on the year that has passed and set myself some new (and realistic) goals for the New Year. I’d also love to hear from my literary family too – let me know in the comments below how you celebrate the holidays and you’re own goals for 2019.

Bookish New Year’s Resolutions at a Glimpse

1. Set a new reading goal for 2019 (and a realistic one at that!)
2. Join a book club (and stay committed!)
3. Attend an author and/or book signing event
4. Read a classic
5. Read a non-fiction book
6. Host a book themed party
7. Dabble in fan-fiction
8. Go on a bookish blind date
9. Tackle an intimidating book
10. Go on a bookish adventure (walking tour etc.)

Set a New Reading Goal for 2019

During the course of the mess that was 2018, I managed to read a total of 70 books amidst book hangovers and slumps. Okay, so I didn’t read over my goal of 70 books but at least I completed my challenge so I’m pretty pleased with the result. As for 2019? Well I think I can do me one better. I would love to really challenge myself and strive for 80 books this year but I want to be realistic. 2019 will be a year of change and adaption. My mum is getting married in March (Yay!) and will be flying the nest so I’ll be living independently (Yikes!). That means paying rent, bills and working full time. So, with that in mind, I’m setting a goodreads goal of 75 books with an aim of reaching 80. Wish me luck! 🙂

Join a Book Club 

So… I have commitment issues. Serious commitment issues when it comes to Book Clubs. Yes, I’ve started countless book clubs and joined almost as many in the past but they’ve never really… clicked…? Maybe I didn’t fit the niche? Maybe the genre wasn’t for me? Whatever the reason, I’ve never found a book club that I truly mesh with. I’m hoping in 2019 I can break the cycle. So, if you have a book club or are a loyal member of one please let me know in the comments below because I am on the hunt for my people!

Attend an Author and/or Book Signing Event

Okay, this is a no-brainer for me and one that is already in the works. I was very excited and fortunate to get my hands on a ticket to see Sarah J. Maas on her Australian Tour in April 2019. I’ll be attending  An Afternoon with Sarah J Maas in Melbourne and I’m so ready I’ve already got my outfit planed! Spoiler alert –  It’s a Night Court inspired look. If you’re going to the event too and would love to me up let me know. I would love to meet some of my bookish friends and even cosplay together! (Yes – I’m an actual nerd).

Read a Classic

So this is actually a repeated resolution from last year. In 2018 I aimed to read one classic but I ended up reading 4 (The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables and A Christmas Carol). This year I want to challenge myself further, broaden my reading horizons and read 5 classics.

Read a Non-Fiction Book

Another classic example of broadening my horizons and becoming a little more sophisticated and worldly in my reading is by reading something non-fiction. Yes, I’ve read plenty of non-fiction books in the past but 2018 seemed to be the year of reading slumps and re-reads and I feel it was more of a narrow minded year. I want 2019 to be the opposite. So, I’m challenging myself to read one non-fiction book – whether that be something historical, a memoir or even a biography. (Let’s be honest – it’ll probably be something historical and Titanic related).

Host a Literary Themed Party

Okay, my friends in my immediate friendship group don’t read much. I know – shocking right! So, I’d love to meet more bookish people in 2019 and host a Literary themed party. Whether that be Night Circus Themed like my 21st last year, a tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice or even a roaring and Jazzy Gatsby party.

Dabble in Fan-Fiction

I’ve never really been one for Fan-Fiction. Too much of it seems a little far out and raunchy for me. That being said, I’d like to explore new things in 2019 and maybe even dabble in fan-fiction myself. No, I don’t think I’d be posting anything on a social platform. It would be purely for my own amusement. Maybe I could explore a plot hole in an old favorite? Or explore a sunken ship? What about toying with one of my dream pairings? We’ll have to see…

Go on a Bookish Blind Date

Have you ever scoured your favorite indie bookstore and seen a shelf full of what appears to be books wrapped in brown paper, tied up with string with a genre inked onto the package with a marker? That my friend is the Blind Date With a Book section. I have always wanted to pick one up myself but have been to intimidated. Not this year. In 2019 I want to leave my comfort zone and go into a book completely blind for the fun of it.

Tackle an Intimidating Book

Every year I say it and every year I fail spectacularly. But not this year. I have 2 aims for tackling those intimidating tomes in 2019.

Firstly, I actually want to finish reading Outlander. In 2018 I beat my personal reading record for longest book read when I finished Kingdom of Ash. In  2019 I feel I can now read anything… Starting with Diana Gabaldon’s beastly Outlander series. I plan to read at the very least Outlander but would love to work my way through Dragonfly In Amber and Voyager too but we’ll see.

Secondly, I want to finally tackle Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels in their chronological publication order. I have dabbled in a few of Terry’s books including his Witches books and guides (Equal Rites, Maskerade, Hogfather and The Complete Ankh-Morpork) in 2018. This year I would love to start at The Color of Magic and see how far I get through his witty world. (I’m going to be real and admit that I probably won’t make it through all 41 novels in one year alone).

Go on a Bookish Adventure 

As much as I dream of walking in Bella Swan’s footsteps around Forks, Washington, taking the Harry Potter walking tour or even touring Tusla Oklahoma the site of the House of Night series I probably don’t have the funds for international travel this year. That being said – there are so many literary tours and bookish adventures to be had in my own back yard. In 2018, I visited the Store of Requirement and had such an incredible time. In 2019 I would love to tour around Melbourne’s State Library, tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice at the fairy tale themed bar StoryVille or even explore Melbourne’s iconic literary cafes.

So there you have it – my bookish goals and literary resolutions for the New Year 2019. Keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming 2019 TBR and when I reflect on the Best and Worst books of 2018 which are on the way after my birthday this week. What are you’re bookish goals or just your resolutions in general this year? I’d love to hear them. Happy New Year – now, back to celebrating! 😉

 

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