Another Year, Another Book Goal Crushed!

Here are the goals I set for 2021:

• Read 50 books.
• Continue to read more nonfiction.
• Read like a writer. Gather a list of lines I love from the books I love and use these lines to inspire my writing.

Here's what I accomplished:

• I read 66 books.
• About one-third of those books were nonfiction books. 
• When I read using the Kindle app, I highlighted lines that I loved. However, I didn't use the lines to inspire my writing. I mostly highlighted lines that were relatable. 

My Picks for Best Books of 2021

I devoured every fiction book I read by Taylor Jenkins Reid this year; however, Malibu Rising was my favorite! I loved the struggle and perseverance of the main character, Nina. Her journey to finding her true self left me reading "just one more chapter!"

“I don’t think what you’re born into says anything about where you’re headed.”

- Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising   

Really, though, every book I read by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a page-turner. If you're looking for a new author. Try her books!

For my nonfiction reading this year, Brene Brown was my go-to author. I had watchedher famous TED talk on vulnerability and read Daring Greatly years ago, but this year, her work hit differently. I couldn't get enough of her research and wisdom. Not only did I read four of her books, but I also listened to her podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead regularly. The book that made the biggest impact on me was The Gifts of Imperfection. 

'There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.' So many of us run around spackling all of the cracks, trying to make everything look just right. This line helps me remember the beauty of the cracks.”  

                     - Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

This book really helped me to do some self-reflection and look deeper into my purpose. If you're looking to read Brene Brown, I would highly recommend this book as the one to read first... then read all the others! Also, she just released a new book, Atlas of the Heart, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! 

Honorable Mentions

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is the book that got me through my ten-day COVID isolation in February. This historical fiction book, like everything by Kristin Hannah, was so well-written. This book transported me from the guest bedroom to Texas during the Dust Bowl. It's a definite must-read!

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is my favorite thriller from 2021. This Reese's Book Club pick kept me on the edge of my seat as Hannah and her step-daughter, Bailey, work together to interpret the last words they have from Hannah's husband and Bailey's father before he disappears. 

New Kid was the best audiobook I listened to this year. The full cast of characters brought this story to life! If you're looking for a book to share with a young reader in your life, this is a great pick. The book tackles microaggressions and challenges of entering a new school in a very real way. The non-audio version is a graphic novel which is both appealing and challenging to young readers. I can't wait to read the next book by Jerry Craft, Class Act. 

2022 Book Goals

So which books will I read to kick off 2022? Well, I'm halfway through Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers. As a transplant-Texan, I feel the need to truly understand the history of this incredible state. This is not my typical nonfiction pick; however, Brian Kilmeade sucked me in after the first few chapters. I've found myself googling things like, "weight of a musket ball" and "how long does it take to travel from San Antonio to Washington-on-the-Brazos on horseback". I am truly fascinated. I also started a book called The Year of Less. It's a memoir from Cait Flanders who gave up spending money frivolously for a year. She declutters her apartment and only spends money on essentials. I'm curious to see what I can learn!

Here are my goals for 2022:

• Read 50 books.
• Read the books in my TBR stack. (I think I have about ten books in my nightstand that need to be read!)
• Write one hour each week for pleasure (52 hours for the year). This could be a blog post, story ideas, journaling, etc. 

As I logged in to my Blogger account to write this blog post, I realized this is the first post I've written since I wrote about the books I read in 2021. While I haven't been posting regularly, I have found that writing down my goals and making them public, helps me to achieve those goals. What are your reading goals for 2022? Share them in the comments, write them on a sticky note... just be a book nerd like me and make a goal. Yeah... whatever!