I set a goal for myself in 2016 to read one book a month. For you bookworms, this may seem like nothing. But for me, it’s actually a pretty sizable goal.
I spend so much time reading (and writing) on the computer, that the commitment to finish a whole book can feel a bit overwhelming to me. Let alone 12 of them!
The other thing you need to know about my reading, before I share my 2016 Book List, is that I have read two fiction books in the last five years. No joke. I gravitate toward non-fiction; maybe I think reading fiction is too “self indulgent”.
In fact, when I originally asked for your book recommendations on Facebook, I just assumed I’d only be reading non-fiction. But then you guys recommended so many great fiction books, that I started to change my thinking. Only three of the 12 books on my list are non-fiction.
I am hoping that some of you will want to read along with me one month, a couple of months, or every month. I’m planning to host some kind of “virtual” book club at the end of each month. I am still thinking through how this will work exactly, so stay tuned for more details on that.
January
Inside the O’Briens: A Novel
February
March
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
April
This Is Not a Love Story: A Memoir
May
All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr
June (I picked the lightest reads for June & July, since those are going to be really busy months for me. I’m also “warning” you right now that I may not get through both of them!)
The Rosie Project: A Novel (Don Tillman Book 1)
July
Big Little Lies
August
Outliers: The Story of Success
September
The Language of Flowers: A Novel
October
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
November
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
December
To be determined. I had to make a change in our schedule. The December entry was moved up to February (so I can read it before the movie comes out in June!) and I will pick a new book for December.
If you’re looking for more ideas, check out this master list of your favorite book recommendations. There are over 125 books on the list!
What do you think of my choices? Do you have a list of books you’d like to read this year? Or is your approach to picking books more free-flowing? Anyone else have to “force” themselves to read fiction?
I’d like to read a book a month also, and I also read a lot of non fiction. I just got The Collected non fiction essays of Terry Pratchett, whose sci fi I have never read , but who is very popular. I recently read Boston Girl by Anita Diamant. Historical fiction, you could say. I also spend too much time online but I read a lot of long articles in New Yorker magazine etc. my problem is I stay up too late once I start reading. will check out your list.
Good luck!