It’s that time of year again when I announce that I’m gonna read x books in a year. While I hope I love every book on the top of my reading pile, chances are, I won’t.
Well, this year, I’m planning to DNF more books than I’ve ever done before. I’m not obligated to finish books I don’t like. So, I will drop them quickly and move on to the next book that will remind me of why I love reading in the first place.
At the moment, the only time I have to read is when I wake up at 6:30 AM. So that’s the space I’ll give myself to read these books.
Devotionals
In terms of devotionals (a one-page book a day), I’m reading Prevail by Susie Larson. On the days I don’t want to get up, I’m reading How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis.
Here’s what I’m reading in 2022!
Non-Fiction Books
This year, I want to read more non-fiction books. I’m seeking knowledge in the area of finances, boundaries and becoming a more well-rounded woman.
Self-help books aren’t my favourite kind of reading, but they can change your mindset so fast that it’s worth it.
After all, you are what you consume. Books are full of concepts and ideas you can apply to your life. That can be very beneficial if you choose the right books.
I’ve already read The 12 Week Year. In my Reflecting on 2021 and 2022 Resolutions posts, I talked about applying the 12 Week Year mindset.
In addition, I want to read more about finances to become more financially literate. I want to be very responsible with my income so that I can save for the big things in my life. These things will resonate with me forever.
Whenever possible, I’d like to save for meaningful gifts and make donations to charities. Also, I want to build more wealth, but I need to have a growth and abundance mindset. In the past, reading books from financial experts helped me do that.
On the top of my reading pile in self-help, I’m interested in Attached and The Emotionally Healthy Woman. Two books I’ve heard quite a bit about from influencers. Self-sabotage is one of my biggest obstacles. I’ve seen a lot of videos on TikTok about a book called The Mountain is You. It’s about self-sabotage, which I find interesting.
Writing Books
You can unlock the “secrets” of storytelling by reading books about writing. Storytelling books can take me a while to get through. They make me think about the stories I’ve read or watched. As I was reading Save the Cat: Writes a Novel (which I plan to revisit this year), I kept pausing to connect the Save the Cat structure to shows or movies I’ve watched.
Also, I want to get better at writing natural and fun dialogue. When I read or watch a show, my favourite aspect of it is good banter. Like, I’m down for a slow burn if the banter is witty.
As I become more skilled at writing dialogue, I will have more fun writing and re-reading my own work.
In regard to the other 3 books on the top of my reading pile, I’d like to get a better grasp of scriptwriting techniques. I have lost a lot of knowledge from my school days. I attended a film arts high school and later earned a degree in media production at university.
In class, we practiced screenwriting, and I’ve also written a few short film scripts. In order to create films, I need to write scripts, and I must become confident at this by reading other scripts and understanding the principles of screenwriting.
Contemporary Romance Books
Apart from non-fiction, I want to fall in love with fiction again. The right book can take you away from reality. The last time I had that experience was with Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince series (3/5 stars) and Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Mist and Fury (5/5 stars). I haven’t had that happen in a while.
In fact, I find that I need a long time to immerse myself in most novels. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not relaxed enough to read or if I just haven’t found the right book to break me out of my reading slump.
Fantasy Books
Besides contemporary romance, I’m excited to read some fantasy books and develop a cozy reading routine. I’m gonna start with Jade Fire Gold, and I think I’m going to give the Shatter Me series a try since it sounds awesome.
Also, since I’m writing a dystopian novel, I can learn a lot from Shatter Me. There is also a new series by Tahereh Mafi called This Woven Kingdom coming out this year, which looks interesting.
As for Book of Night by Holly Black, it’s a new series in the new adult genre, which I think is a first for Holly. It seems interesting, so I’ll give it a shot.
Multiple wuxia and xianxia inspired books made the top of my reading pile this year, including Jade Fire Gold, Six Crimson Cranes, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. Naturally, I’ll compare them to the dramas I’ve seen in those genres, but hopefully, I’ll find some enjoyment in them too.
So, what are you reading this year? Anything on this list? Comment below!
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