I’m not one for resolutions, generally.

I don’t think I have ever uttered the phrase “new year, new me.” It’s just not my style.

That being said, one of the things I seem to continue to try to improve about myself is how much I read. So this year I’ve decided to set some goals for myself. Before Covid I belonged to an awesome book club; while I didn’t make it to every meeting or finish every book, it kept my TBR stack teetering with new titles. I think that I’ve found a Facebook group that is the right balance of fun and geeky, so we’ll see how that goes.

As far as personal reading goals for 2021, I’d really love to average AT LEAST two books a month (I’d love to say three or four, but I’ve met myself). I feel like two books a month is workable considering that I work at home and can listen to a book as I work (I am an unapologetic audiobook reader). I am also cautiously optimistic that the world might look more like we remember from pre-pandemic times as vaccination becomes more widespread, so I’m hoping that I might regain some of my social life.

Someone super smart once said that a goal without a plan is just a wish. I didn’t have much of a plan until a few days ago when a friend posted one of those fun quiz/lists to score how well read a person is. Never one to pass up a chance to stroke my own ego, I clicked my way through the list to a respectable 18% (93 out of the 500 books listed). As I worked my way through the titles, I saw plenty of books I’d never heard of much less read. I will always judge a book by its cover - so some of the books that caught my eye either had great titles or eye-popping cover designs. I want to read some of those books I was supposed to read in high school and college; but didn’t because i was too busy imagining myself rebellious. Now, I tend to prefer my books light and lyrical (or dark and spooky); but I’m not afraid to challenge my perceptions or change my perspective - I have yet to get on the Brene Brown and Glennon Doyle bus, but I’m adding a few titles to my goal list. I love the occasional dose of pop science (Mary Roach being my favorite popular scientific author) so I added Neil Degrasse Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry to Goodreads TBR shelf.

Oh yeah. I dusted off my Goodreads account. I never did much with it before, but I’m hoping to use it so I can keep what I’m reading and what I want to read organized this year. Feel free to find me and add me to your friends or just suggest something great to read!

I’m hoping to revisit some old faves this year - I haven’t read Vonnegut in decades, and I think I’m due for a revisit.

Now, mind you I am not the heir to some fabulous publishing fortune (one can dream, though), so I’ve been leaning heavy on my digital library accounts. If you have a library card from your local library, check out Libby and Hoopla. You may need to reach out to your local branch for a code, so don’t get discouraged if you have to talk to a real person because the reward is access to thousands of books FOR FREE. Public libraries really are the most wonderful things. Especially when they offer digital access during a pandemic when we should all be staying home, not slowly strolling the stacks of the library in search of the next great read.

I’ll do my best to keep everyone up to date on my progress, and keep myself accountable to my goals. Feel free to reach out via the Echo-Lit Instagram or Facebook account if you have any hot tips for a fabulous read or just want to shame me for never reading The Scarlet Letter in high school.

(I read it in college.)