For me, this year I failed miserably at reading. This year, I am doing everything in my power to increase how much I read. If, like me, one of your New Year’s resolutions is to read more in the New Year, then this list might help you. It challenges you to read a book a week, and if you are the type to stick to one or two genres (also like me), it might also broaden your literary horizons.
If there’s something I love equally as books, it’s lists – which is why this particular method of increasing my yearly book tally to one a week is compelling to me, and why I feel like I am up for the challenge and ready to take on the year. The biggest question now is where do I start? Do I start with the intriguing romance novel set in the past, or a book set in a country I’ve never visited but always wanted to?
52 books to read next year:
· A book by a New Zealand author
· A book you haven’t read since high school
· A book based on a movie
· A New York Times bestseller
· A self-help book
· A book published in a different century than what you were born in
· A book with a purple cover
· A book with a protagonist who is the same age as you
· A book with a protagonist who is half your age
· A book whose main character is an anti-hero
· A young adult bestseller
· A New Zealand Book Awards winner
· A book set in New Zealand
· A book set in your home town
· A book translated into English
· A mystery novel set in the future
· A romance novel set in the past
· A non-fiction book related to your occupation
· A biography
· A book written by a celebrity
· A book set in a country that you’ve never visited but want to
· A novella
· A book over 600 pages
· A book with a protagonist who is the opposite gender to you
· A book written by a female author
· A book written by an author with a pseudonym
· A book that is based on a film coming out this year
· A book published this year
· A book recommended by a stranger
· A book recommended by a family member
· A book you can finish in a day
· A graphic novel
· A steampunk novel
· A horror novel (read with the lights off)
· A novel where the protagonist isn’t human
· The first book you see in a bookstore or library
· An e-book
· A paperback
· A hardback
· One of the classics
· A book that takes place in a remote location (on an island, in space, underwater etc)
· A book that takes place in winter
· An Oprah’s book club title
· A book you discovered on social media
· A book where the protagonist has your name (or a version of your name)
· A travel novel
· A book that is guaranteed to make you cry
· A book that is guaranteed to make you laugh
· A book from the point of view of a villain
· A book written in second person perspective
· A book by your favourite author
· A book reviewed by NZ Booklovers
Jessica Ellen