You may know, that I give myself a book budget every year. It is not really to keep myself from buying to many books it is actually more the other way around. I tend to not buy what I would like to read and read books I can borrow or come by on a deal instead. Not always a smart move. So when the end of 2020 approached I had quite a bit of money left and I decided to buy all the books I had on my wishlist and that I did not receive for Christmas. So my reading goals for 2021 will include a lot of those purchases.
Pleasure reads, fantasy and favorites
- Midnight Library by Matt Haig – popped up in my Instagram feed and has been on my reading list for a few month. ✔️ March 2021
- Shades of magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab – on my TBR since 2016. I bought the first book early 2020 (as it was in my reading list 2020) and received the second one for Christmas. The third is on its way so I can start. ✔️ January- March 2021
- The Vegetarian by Han Kang – one of the books I was able to swap recently and which I have been eying for a while. ✔️ March 2021
- Homegoing by Yea Gyasi – a book I found in my parents book shelf ✔️ June 2021
- The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar – look at the cover and now tell me you don’t need to read it. ✔️ May 2021
- Where the Crawdads sing by Delia Owens – made the top list of so many people in 2020 so I am looking forward ✔️ June 2021
- The Bear and the Nightingale by Kathrine Arden – another book to long on my TBR ✔️ December 2021
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – after reading The Great Alone many people told me this one was better.
- Berlin for Instagramers by Silvie Bonne – I have the pleasure to know Silvie and even went one or two outings for the research of the book. I will love to read this.
- Into thin air by Jon Krakauer – I love a good adventure record and this one seems so thrilling ✔️ April 2021
- Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – one of those big epic books. Love those. ✔️ August 2021
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – not sure how I came across this one but its on my kindle ✔️ December 2021
- Evanthia’s Gift by Effi Kammenou – a family saga sitting on my kindle since 2018 waiting to be read. ➖did not finish, way too boring
German authors and German books
I rarely read German authors and I have no clue who is actually a rising star or an accomplished bestseller author. So I want to venture here a bit. Also I will read a few more books in German by authors not natively writing in English.
- Neujahr by Julie Zeh – another book from my parents bookshelf and an author my mom frequently reads ✔️ April 2021
- Ein treuer Freund by Jostein Gaarder – my all time favorite author. I have two of his books I haven’t read yet. ✔️ January 2021
- One book from my classics selection but I am not sure which one. I go with my mood here. ✔️ June 2021 Dream Story by Arthur Schnitzler
- Geboren am 13. August by Jens Bisky – a book I must have received a few years ago and have apparently forgotten all about
- Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón – also a book swap steal and an author I want to read as I have only heard of him through his death ✔️ March 2021
- One book by Daniel Kehlmann either Vermessung der Welt (Measuring the World) or Ruhm (Fame) – a recommendation by my dad. ✔️ April 2021 Vermessung der Welt (Measuring the World)
- Ein mörderischer Morgen (A Murderous Morning) by Bernadette Calonego – I just love the settings her crime novels are taking place. Perfect winter read. ✔️ August 2021 Die letzte Erkenntnis
Challenging books, non-fiction & guidance
- The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity by Natalie Burke Harris – the topic intrigued me and I wonder if I may have a trauma to work through. It will be a tough read I am sure. (copy provided by publisher) ✔️ June 2021
- The Unwinding of the Miracle: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything That Comes After by Julie Yip-Williams –I rarely read biographies but this one sounded like something I would like to read even though it is a rather somber topic (copy provided by publisher) ✔️ January 2021
- The Talmud – after reading the Bible (2019) and the Quran (2020) its time to dive into Judism.
- Das Kind in dir muss Heimat finden by Stefanie Stahl – a bit of personal development work I want to do ✔️ February 2021
Overall I am aiming for 60 books this year. As tradition has it I am not putting 60 books on the reading goals for 2021 but only about half aka 26 so I have enough space and flexibility to choose upon my mood. And I just realized I already own all the books (but one) I mentioned here. wow…
Did you set a reading goal this year? What are looking forward to reading most?
Happy reading
7 comments
I’m so impressed by your booklist. All the best to reach your goal! You can do it, girl! Happy New Year!
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Oh thank you so very much. I am excited to dig in. Happy New Year to you too.
You have two of my favorites on your list! Crawdads and Nightingale. Crawdads got me out of my slump last spring when my kids started remote learning and my reading life felt like it dried up. I think I will always have a special place in my heart and on my shelf for that book! Beautiful photo, Tobia.
“The Midnight Library” was one of my first books of 2021, & I LOVED it. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it, too!
Oh that’s exciting. Unfortunately I decided yesterday to start a trilogy so I have to be patient a bit more.
I love your list. I have not yet decided on books I want to read in 2021 – but I have a running list on Goodreads and I’ll choose by whatever becomes available at the library.
I have so many unread books that it is basically also choosing from a library. On the end reading should be fun so the list is always just a guideline