So as I said in my last post, last year I discovered Rachel Hollis, and listened to my first audio book “Girl, Wash your Face”. My life was changed. I totally mean that. I had not heard of Rachel before this, I had not ever listened to a book, I had not read many personal development books other than some with Christian or financial themes. I was hooked, I felt so great about life after that book. I then went on to read several similar books in 2018 as well, stepping out of my comfort zone just a bit.
So in keeping with my theme for 2019 of reflecting and changing, I decided to issue myself a challenge for the year. Read 52 books. Yes I know that’s one per week. Yes I know that’s a lot. Even for someone like me who really enjoys reading, it was a big challenge. I started perusing pinterest for ideas and finally settled on a reading plan with 52 categories or themes to select books from. I also started actually using my Good Reads account to look up and research books, add them to my “want to read” list and then adding them to my hold list at the local library.
So far this challenge has been great! I’ve read 14 books so far and I am 4 books ahead of schedule. Which is really awesome because the next one on my list is really, really big. Over 700 pages, not to mention a totally new subject matter for me, so I may need those extra weeks for that one! While it’s a bit frightening I like the fact that I really have to step out of my comfort zone which has always been to read mostly romance novels, with maybe a little mystery thrown in. And well if it said Nora Roberts on the cover than that was a sure bet!
I’m obviously not going to go into a synopsis for every book I’ve read, although that would certainly up my blog post totals wouldn’t it?! No but seriously, I’m not going to do that. What I am going to do is list them below, along with the category they feel into. Maybe if you are a reader it will help give you some ideas for books to add to your list. If you aren’t much of a reader maybe something will catch your eye and you will check it out. I thoroughly love to read and wish I could do more of it. I believe reading is a wonderful blessing that can help us in so many ways. This challenge has really helped me grow and find balance in my reading. I’m choosing books that have personal development aspects, but also learning history and enjoying well written fictional stories as well. Overall it has really been great for me and I know that by the end of this year I will have grown tremendously because of it.
~Carla~
Currently reading:
Book everyone is talking about: Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Already read:
Book with a strong female lead-Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Book set in Southern USA-The Pioneer Woman by Ree Drummond
Memoir on someone you admire-Once Upon a Farm by Rory Feek
Character with a career you wish you had-The Operator by Rob O’Neil
Featuring music-Every Note Played by Lisa Genova
An ugly cover-Still Lives by Maria Hummel
Set during a holiday-One Day in December by Josie Silver
Book picked by someone else-The 5 people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom
True crime novel-Molly’s Game by Molly Bloom
One word title-Maid by Stephanie Land
Military related-Daughter of a daughter of a queen by Sarah Bird
A beach read-Beach House Reunion by Mary Alice Monroe
First book you see in library-Power Thoughts by Joyce Meyer
A speed read-Sullivan’s Woman by Nora Roberts
Next up (this is the HUGE one ya’ll!!):
Set in post-apocalyptic world-The Passage by Justin Cronin
Arise and Glow 