2016 Bookish Resolutions

Hey guys,

It has been a while since I've updated. I know that. I didn't find that I was getting any value out of what I was posting before. But after a year of watching booktube videos and reading countless book reviews around Goodreads and other bookish blogs, I think I'm finally ready to discuss books again.  My thoughts opinions and general feelings about books that I read.

2015 was a difficult year for me. I moved. Twice. Celebrated the life of one of my best friends I lost around Christmas of 2014. My mom moved four hours away. Several family members got sick. And I struggled financially, a lot.

It was also an excellent year. I made lots of new friends. Moved in to a new apartment, thus dubbed The Castle. Got promoted. Had the privilege of being the maid of honor in my best friend's wedding. Fell in like (yes, like, not love) with an alright guy. Subsequently made peace with the departure of said alright guy.

I read 49 books in 2015. All fiction, mostly fantasy with a few sci-fi/historical/contemporary sprinkled in there. Most of the books I read in the months of September - December. This makes me very hopeful for achieving my goals for 2016.

Disclaimer: I don't want to constrain myself to a specific list of books, or even a general "read x number of books of this genre" list of books to read. I find that I get bored with the list and then super sad that I'm missing other books that have come out. So I'm not going to do that.

Here are my 2016 goals:

1. Read 60 books - So, I don't think this is a lofty goal. I think this goal is extremely achievable. But I also know myself, and I know that reading slumps happen (weekends mostly because debauchery). So I'm hoping to blow this goal out of the water, but know that 60 in itself is still a challenge.

2. Review at least 30 books - I'd like to post reviews on at least half of the books I read this year. My reviews are going to be a bit different from before. In fact, I almost would like to get rid of my past reviews, they were awful and not insightful in any way. This goal entails me actually taking notes while reading. Not just saying things like "remember that thing that happened? When he/she/alien said something close to....?" No. I want to actively read. I want to notice more and setting this goal will help me achieve that. Yes, most of my reviews will have spoilers and yes, I will warn you.

3. Finish the freaking Wheel of Time series - It's about god damn time. Get it? Get it? It's a pun.

4. Be okay with DNF - For someone with extreme anxiety problems, this will be hard for me. But considering I have a TBR of over 200 books, #aintnobodygottimeforthat.

5. Read better - In the most esteemed words of Indigo Montoya "Okay, okay, let me explain. No no, there is too much, let me sum up." There are obviously books that are all over the internet. Books that everyone is talking about. Books that you simply *have* to read. A lot of these books are worth the hype, I totally understand that (thank you, Throne of Glass). However, I know what I like. I know why I read. If something doesn't interest me, again, I don't want to waste time on something, that I will probably not hate, but won't love as much as something else. Again #aintnobodygottimeforthat. I want to read better. I want to read what I want to read and not let anyone else tell me I *have* to read something else.

So those are my 5 goals for 2016. I've already finished two books for this year and they are The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson (5/5 stars) and The Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (3/5 stars). Didn't follow Goal #2, so no review for that one.

Currently reading: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Let me know what some of your goals are!

Hobey-ho!