2019 Reading Goals

Happy New Year!

In 2019, my main reading goal is to read the books I want to read. Many times I feel obligated to read an ARC for review or a bookclub pick, and it really ruins the joy of reading. So in 2019, my goal is to have fun. I am also going to set my Goodreads challenge goal a bit lower as I do want to read some longer books without worrying about the number of books I am reading. Finally, since reading classics has proven to be a real struggle, I found a classics-focused reading challenge online, which I will try to follow. The categories in this challenge are pretty broad so I should still be able to stick to the plan of "reading the books I want to read" while ticking of specific challenges. And here is the overall list:

1. Read the books I want to read
2. Read 80 books in 2019
3. Read more classics. Here is the classics challenge I have chosen:

2019 Back to Classics Reading Challenge

_ 1. 19th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1800 and 1899.

_ 2. 20th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1900 and 1969. All books in this category must have been published at least 50 years ago. The only exceptions are books that were published posthumously but were written at least 50 years ago. 

_ 3. Classic by a Female Author.

_ 4. Classic in Translation. Any classic originally written in a novel other than your native language. You may read the book in your native language, or its original language (or a third language for all you polyglots!) Modern translations are acceptable, as long as the book was originally published at least 50 years ago. Books in translation are acceptable in all other categories as well.

_ 5. Classic Comedy. Any comedy or humorous work. Humor is very subjective, so if you think Crime and Punishment is hilarious, go ahead and use it, but if it's a work that's traditionally not considered humorous, please tell us why in your post. 

_ 6. Classic Tragedy. Tragedies traditionally have a sad ending, but just like the comedies, this is up for the reader to interpret. 

_ 7. Very Long Classic. Any classic single work 500 pages or longer, not including introductions or end notes. Omnibus editions of multiple works do not count. Since page counts can vary depending on the edition, average the page count of various editions to determine the length.

_ 8. Classic Novella. Any work of narrative fiction shorter than 250 pages. 

_ 9. Classic From the Americas (includes the Caribbean). Includes classic set in either continent or the Caribbean, or by an author originally from one of those countries. Examples include Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (United States); Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (Jamaica); or One Hundred Years of Solitude (Columbia/South America). 

_ 10. Classic From Africa, Asia, or Oceania (includes Australia). Any classic set in one of those contents or islands, or by an author from these countries. Examples include Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz (Egypt); The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki (Japan); On the Beach by Nevile Shute (Australia); Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria). 

_ 11. Classic From a Place You've Lived. Read locally! Any classic set in a city, county, state or country in which you've lived. Choices for me include Giant by Edna Ferber (Texas); Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser (Chicago); and Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann (Germany). 

_ 12. Classic Play. Any play written or performed at least 50 years ago. Plays are eligible for this category only.

Happy Reading!