12 months and 12 books

A low key goal that keeps me in a happy reading mood and not chasing numbers.

Each year goodreads asks you to set a reading goal, and each year I always set it to 12 books. One book per month. I can’t exactly remember when I started with that specific number, but I know it came out of all the pressure of chasing numbers from bookstagram. Was it one number I did not want to stress on reaching, it was the amount I books that I read.

Reading has always been a joy for me, and while I entered the social media game with making book related content, I noticed how much focus I ended up having on getting my numbers up. Numbers of likes, numbers of views, shared posts and followers. After a while I managed reduce that focus, by removing likes - not being able to see the amount of likes any posts would get, made me so much calmer.

So I wanted to keep the same calmness while reading throughout the year. The focus would not be about how many books I read, but rather on the act of reading and my enjoyment of it. So one book per month. It is a low key goal as I know I will reach it each year without any problems, and it is fun dedicate myself to reading one book per month - or almost one book per month. Some books are huge and long and take longer than a month to read, not to mention I am also becoming very fond of slow reading.

In that regard, as I was thinking about my reading goals for 2024 - I realized that I wanted to add a little twist to it. In 2022 I made myself a list of books that I wanted to prioritize from the ongoing fantasy reading project. I had five books planned and one “wild card” in an effort to make myself read a little more from the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time list.

And to a certain degree it did work! I did pick up three books out the five and I did have a wildcard book from the list that I enjoyed a lot. In the end I strayed off the list as I fell in love with A Song of Ice and Fire and prioritized finishing that series. Two of the other books ended up on my DNF shelf as I just did not enjoy them at all. Overall, I did manage to prioritize reading more of the fantasy list - a success in my eyes! And I did have fun doing it.

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For the upcoming year I wanted to do something similar, but instead of locking myself in with specific books dedicated to each month, I just decided to go with a pile of 12 prioritized books from my very large unread pile. It comes at a perfect time because, I have to move out my lovely flat — again.

I swear, I must have a vibe with me, it is the third time in three years that this happens. My landlord is selling the place so I will most likely be moving either into a smaller space or a shared flat - thus I will not be able to bring with me, my entire pile of more than a 100 unread books that I’ve somehow managed to squeeze into this one.

Yes I am very impressed with myself.
(I am very sorry to my dad and dedicated friends that will have to help me move all the books out again - I love ya!)

So twelve books.
Out of more than a hundred unread ones. I have spent quite some time just staring at my shelves, but now I do believe I have a very good list of books to look forward to in 2024, and not only that, the genres are not just fantasy! Say what? Am I stepping a little out of my comfort zone? Yes I am, but I am very excited about it!

I am very much a mood reader, so I make no promises when it comes to this list, some might be read and some might not. Who knows what exciting books will catch my eye and change my priorities in the upcoming year?

Anyways, here is the list of twelve books I will (try to) dedicate myself to in 2024:

• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
  I am joining

  Simon Haisell
  and his slow read of the Cromwell Trilogy. I tried reading it this year, but I just could not get into it - so giving it another try in 2024. I am truly excited to join a bigger community reading this series and taking part in a slow read.

• The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Baker
  I had this one recommended to me, and it is sold as a dark grim fantasy. Ouf I am hyped! I do love my dark fantasy books and have not really found anything after The First Law series that I enjoyed as much.

• Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
  I was so fascinated by James Baldwin after the documentary I am not your Negro and the book, that I had to have some more Baldwin in my life.

• Everyone Knows Your Mother Is A Witch by Rivka Galchen
  I have to admit I bought it purely based of the title - I had a whole class on witches back in my masters degree and I love stories about witches. So here we go.

• Song for Eirabu by Kristine Tofte
  Norwegian fantasy! It is rare that I read Norwegian fantasy and this one was also recommended by a friend on bookstagram - so I am really looking forward to it and reading in Norwegian.

• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
  A book on the fantasy list and one I have had on my list for ages but just never go to. Excited to see what this book will bring and if it is a series worthy of the list.

• The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
  I had read some of her before and really liked it, I got this one in Italy this summer and figured I would give it a go in the upcoming year.

• Leksikon om Lys og Mørke (Keep Saying Their Names) by Simon Stranger

  A book gifted to me and one that I gradually became more curious about and plus points as it is in Norwegian. I have been trying to read more Norwegian lately as I have a tendency to only read in English. It will nice to switch it up a little.

• The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

  Ah, I have delayed and delayed this one, but now I want to know what happens - even if book three is still not even close to being published. I know I am putting myself into another fantasy reading slump, but I adored The Name of the Wind and I wanna go back. Wish me luck!

• Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay
  The Wager made me rekindle my love for history and then I came over this one, a historical fantasy set in 16th century Europe? Yes please!

• The Journals of Sylvia Plath edited by Karen V. Kukil
  I have come across Sylvia Plaths deep quotes on so many occasions this year that in the end I just wanted to read her thoughts on my own. I have no clue what I am getting into, but I suppose that is half the fun.

• The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
  Another read from the fantasy list that caught my eye, I ordered it and am still waiting to get it in the mail. It was just something about the title and the description that caught my eye.

As you can see, I have not done a lot of research on the books on this list, I have simply chosen to share my first thoughts around them. Sometimes I do a lot of research before I chose a book, but for the twelve, I wanted it to just about what caught my eye with them - so whatever they are, it will be a surprise.

I do believe the upcoming year will be a good read year for me, I have so many books to pick from and just making this list made revisit a lot of the titles I have my shelves and why I bought them in the first place. Fingers crossed for amazing reads!

Until next time - and next year

Happy reading!