I Completed My Reading Challenge for 2019!

Holy crap! I targeted 12 books for 2019 but lo and behold! I eventually managed to read 16 books. I didn't just completed the challenge, I read more than my targeted number of books.

Honestly, if I were to decide on the reason why I think I was able to complete the challenge, it was probably because of ebooks. It was accessible and I was able to enjoy it anywhere on my phone every single time I commute for work. Last year was a tough year. I had a period of which I hated my job and spent every free moment I had reading a book, took toilet breaks and I would read several pages each time. Cause the work sucks and it's better for me to do something beneficial, even more beneficial than the job itself, which is to read some good books.

So you'd probably think 'How many toilet breaks did she took for her to finish books?'

I know. A lot.

You tend to do a lot of things to avoid something you hate.

Anyway, that was not the only reason why because I quit the job that sucks ass around May. My reading progress sped up tremendously after I left the job. Most probably because I was in my happy place. I was comfortable, and I felt worthy, I felt as if my new job respected my personal life and it was healthy.

So I started to read more because I got caught up with really good books. The things good books can do to you. Because I remember I did have a slump somewhere last year because I read Eleanor and Park. You'd probably know it by now if you read my previous entry on how much I hated it. So, bad books can make you just have a book slump and makes it hard for you to pick up a new book.

So here's a complete list of the books I read last year (Not in sequence of my favourites):

I know some people would question me, why do I make such a big deal out of just 16 books!? It's because it's my highest record and I can say, it was a year filled with good books (minus a few of them). I'll highlight on the ones I like on my next entry but for today, I want to focus on, how I do it.

1. EMPTY YOUR TO-READ LIST

I know you have a huge to-read list. I know I do. Every time I go out, I would try to sneak into any bookstore to just see any new books on the shelves, take pictures of the whole shelves, so that I can go back home and browse through Goodreads. Look through the reviews and decide which books I want to have on my to-read list. Trust me, I tend to add a lot. So, last year what I did was, I avoided buying new books but instead, I try to read books that are already on my to-read list.

2. READ DIFFERENT BOOKS AT THE SAME TIME

I think this is, something some people disagree with and I agree at times. I used to think it wasn't going to work for me. It felt like I would lose my focus but honestly it didn't. In fact it made my reading pace faster. The best thing about it is that, when you read a book, sometimes the book isn't so satisfying from the beginning and reading different books at the same time, allows you to explore or take a break from the other book you're reading and just delegate your time in reading between those books. However, you should not feel as if it's a race. Just read the books at your own pace and whenever you feel like it.

3. IT'S NOT A RACE

As I was saying, this isn't a race. Who cares about how much you target, it matters how much you gain from reading the books. So, try not to give yourself too much pressure to finish the books. Sometimes putting a target can make you feel as if you HAVE to finish according to what you targeted. But it really doesn't matter. Reading is a hobby, it's a past time activity. Don't burden yourself into making reading something you hate because it suddenly has a dateline that you need to chase. Don't do it really!

4. EXPLORE DIFFERENT GENRES

When I was younger, I had a very small range of novels in my possession. Most of it are only romance, chick lit. Because the choices were small, I didn't have much to expect. It's almost all the same. So, this year, I decided that I should challenge myself with different genre and it was one of the best decisions I've made for reading. This year, I read my very first non-fiction, science novel called 'The Man Who Wasn't There: Investigations into the Strange New Science of the Self' and it was an amazing discovery. I felt like my mind expanded in so many ways. I also read my very first biography by my favourite astronaut, Michael Collins' 'Carrying the Fire'. Which was so interesting and a look into the depth of how Apollo 11 happened and life as an astronaut. It was all just like entering different lives through a door of those pages. Besides that, I read my first self-help book, a really famous book called The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck. It was good but I do feel like living life after the book, felt as if I am a lost case for self-help books. I care too much lol. So, in conclusion, just widening your options for the genre of books helps to make you read more as you would have bigger options to choose from.

5. RE-READING

There's no harm in re-reading your favourite book. It still counts and it still gives you the satisfaction. This time, I re-read Stay Where You Are and Then Leave. My all time favourite. I still cry a lot from reading the book. In fact, re-reading helps you save money, helps you to just enjoy the things you have. Re-reading can also help you navigate through some plot points that you might have missed the first time you read the novel. So, re-reading is a great way to just, read a lot!

I guess, I have only 5 tips to offer. haha. That wasn't a lot but I hope it helps! This year, I pledged the same amount of books to read as I did last year because, I have to admit, it wasn't easy to complete my books and I understand how little time we have as we grow older. The key is to not put too much pressure on yourself and instead, ENJOY READING!