My resolution is twofold: Read 30 books, and read more trans writers and writers of color. 2017 was a year of diverse reading for me, but there are still voices that need to be better represented in my reading lists.
— Gary L.
My resolution is to read 12 books for my own enjoyment before 2019, a challenge for me as an English major with a lot of required reading.
— Dani P.
My absolute favorite books to read are the newest queer YA novels. While I'll never abandon that genre, this year I want to change my book goals and read more nonfiction. Specifically, I'd like to teach myself Feminist Studies 101. Red room, watch out.
— Andy A.
Gravity's Rainbow. Definitely. Maybe. Probably not.
— Drew P.
Every year for the past few years I have made an effort to be more socially conscious when reading. I try to read books by people from a wide variety of backgrounds (women, POC, LGBTQ+, etc.). I will continue this practice in 2018, while also continuing my practice of only reading something if I love it. If I am not into it, I am not afraid to leave it unfinished. There are too many books in this world to get hung up on a mediocre one.
— Erin K.
My resolution is to read 55 books this year. I like to leave myself space to grow and change as the year progresses, but still challenge myself to ALWAYS READ MORE!
— Shelby H.
I want to say that this is the year that I will actually complete
Anna Karenina… but to be honest, that’s just not going to happen. I will have a new baby and I think — if anything — my goal is to bring more laughter and entertainment into my reading choices.
— Kate L.
True confession: I have never read Georges Simenon's
Maigret novels, despite the fact that I am a huge fan of the TV series. I have recently decided that 2018 is the year I will accomplish this. True, there are 75 of them, but they're short, so it's not as lofty a goal as you might think. At least, that's what I’m telling myself.
— Sandy M.
Every year I try to read a handful of books that my coworkers are raving about that do not fall into the genres that I usually read. I find that it forces me out of my reading habits, and I discover great books that I would not normally encounter.
— Amy W.
I'm going to make a concerted effort to finish my “To Be Read” pile before I start bringing home more books!
— Carrie L.
My husband and I tried a thing this year where we picked a book and alternated nights reading aloud to each other. I want us to do this more often — it's a great nighttime ritual that doesn't involve TV! I also want to continue expanding the genres I read, and to incorporate more nonfiction.
— Carrie K.
My resolutions are to read at least six titles from genres I don’t usually choose, and to keep a list of everything I read this year. I used to keep yearly lists and it is immensely satisfying to take a look back when the year is over. Here’s to a happy and well-read 2018!
— Patrick D.
Since I read so much fiction, my resolution is to read at least three nonfiction books this year. I'm hoping to delve into one about medieval history, one about natural history, and I'm not sure what the third subject will be.
— Genevieve F.
My book resolutions are to seek out books written by women of color, and to read the last five years of Hugo Award-winning novels. It's gonna be a good year!
— Azalea M.
I’m carving out two hours every weekend just for me and my books. It doesn’t sound like much, but with two little kids, any uninterrupted reading time is a treat.
— Rhianna W.
My resolution is inspired by a
New York Times article to read a book with a viewpoint I know I won't like.
— Amy W.
My resolution is to actually read
Jane Austen. Over the years, people have assumed that I've read her works and I haven't corrected them. Plus, I think I would enjoy them!
— Lindsey R.
I only have one resolution: To finish reading the numerous books I started in 2017.
— Dev S.
This year I’m going to quit struggling through books I don’t like. I always want to finish every book I start, but life is short and there are way too many books to spend so much time on the ones that I’m not enjoying.
— Ashleigh B.
I spent 2017 wandering into whichever books my heart desired — no requirements, no grand goals to improve myself in any way, and no pressure. I’ve decided that 2018 calls for more of the same! This probably means my year will be filled with a very eclectic mix of cookbooks, picture books, nonfiction, mysteries, and fiction, just the way I like it. Reading is one of my greatest joys and keeping it pressure-free ensures it stays that way for me.
— Robin F.
This year, my resolution is to read more nonfiction titles. Fiction is my wheelhouse and my escape; by reading more reality, my goal is to break from old habits and stay more accountable to the world we live in.
— Miranda H.
My resolution is to read more poetry. I used to read and write poetry all the time, but it's been a while and I miss it.
— Lonnan R.
I'd mainly like to read books by and about women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and people with disabilities. These are dark times indeed, and it's really important to me that I read as many diverse books as possible to broaden my perspective, keep myself intersectionally woke, and so that I can support those who are not often heard and represented.
— Brianna B.
I am only going to read books that I already own. I have so many books at home that I never get around to reading. I'm always reading things I’ve checked out!
— John A.
As a huge fan of sci-fi, I've decided to branch out more into its sister genre: fantasy! I recently dipped my toes in with
The Name of the Wind, and I'll be starting 2018 with the classic
Lord of the Rings trilogy… going further down the rabbit hole from there!
— Ben T.
I’m finally going to get through all of the descriptions and classifications of whales and finish
Moby Dick!
— Suzanne J.
When I came to Powell's, I had read a ton of classics and no new fiction. Nine and a half years later, I've read a ton of new fiction and not one more classic! My idea going forward is to alternate between two new fiction titles, then a classic, and then a local author. I'm anticipating this plan will fall apart a few weeks into January.
— Dianah H.
In this coming year I'd like to focus more on reading what genuinely excites me rather than on books I think I "should" read. Life's too short to suffer through a long book that barely holds my interest when there are so many amazing books out there that I still haven't experienced!
— Ariel K.
I want to make 2018 “The Year Madeline Actually Reads Nonfiction.” I always get through a few nonfiction titles a year, but 95% of what I read is fiction. There's definitely nothing wrong with that, but I want to broaden my reading horizons! The goal is for 3 out of every 10 books I read to be nonfiction.
— Madeline S.
To read more cookbooks. I've been feeling inspired in the kitchen this holiday season and I would like to build on that momentum in 2018.
— Britney T.
I resolve to: further break the monopoly dead dudes have had on my narrative consumption, to read voraciously and often, and perhaps most importantly, to cut back a little on the Netflix.
— Cosima C.