Today’s discussion is about reading goals. In this post I will discuss why I think setting reading goals is important, why I set reading goals, and my reading goals for 2017. Now these are just my personal opinions on the matter.
Why is it important to set reading goals?
It’s important to set reading goals because it gives you something to work towards with your reading, yet still reading for enjoyment. Setting reading goals can also help you read more. A reading goal could be the number of books you want to read in a year, how many minutes/hours a day that you want to read, and page goals. When you achieve those goals, you feel accomplished, and it is such an amazing feeling knowing that you did something that you set your mind to doing.
Why do I set reading goals?
I set reading goals because I like to have an idea of how many books I want to read. I only set yearly goals, as my reading can vary month to month. Since I have set yearly reading goals, I have found that I actually read more. Last year my goal was 15 books, I read 28. This year I set my goal at 50 books, and I am currently reading book 72. You may be wondering why that after I surpassed my goal of 50 books I didn’t raise my goal. I didn’t raise my goal because I wanted to use the final total of books read this year (2016) as a way to make an estimate of my reading goals for 2017. Which brings us to…
My reading goals for 2017:
I want to try and read 75 books in 2017, what I love about Goodreads is how easy it is to adjust your reading goal throughout the year. There are ways that I am planning on doing this:
1.) Try to read more short stories/Novellas
2.) Read more plays
3.) Attempt a couple of audiobooks, something that I have never done before.
4.) Read some poetry
Read more diverse books: For this, I am taking a tag that I saw on Claribel Ortega’s BookTube Channel and incorporating it into this section of this post. She also has an amazing blog too! She created the Diverse8 Tag! I highly suggest subscribing to her channel and checking out her blog!
1.) Why is diversity important to me?
We live in such a diverse world, and I think it’s important that the literature we all read is reflective of the world we live in.
2.) What was the last diverse title that I read?
Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine- there is a really diverse cast of characters in this book!
3.) What are some of your favorite diverse titles?
I actually did a blog post with the diverse books that I have read, and absolutely loved.
Most of the books are non-fiction own voices.
4.) If you could choose one movie or TV show with diverse representation to become a book series what would it be?
I’m ashamed to say, that I haven’t watched too many diverse TV shows or movies, but growing up I did love The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, that would make an amazing book, I also think Dr. Ken would make a good book too. I really need to diversify what I watch on TV/Netflix
5.) If you’re a writer (if not skip this) do you include marginalized people in your books?
I’m rewriting a short story that I wrote when I was eight, and the MC and her family are of color.
6.) Is there a particular identity or experience you wished was touched on more in fiction?
Characters with ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities.
7.) Do you think diversity is important to BookTube & AuthorTube? Why?
I think the importance of diversity extends beyond BookTube and AuthorTube, it’s about the book community as a whole. It’s important to get the thoughts and opinions of others and listen to those opinions and take them into consideration.
8.) What are some of your favorite blogs and resources about diversity?
Twitter, has been my favorite source of diversity, there is always so much discussion. A lot of discussions that I take part in are always positive. I would list my favorite people to follow who promote more diversity in literature, but there are so many awesome people that I follow and I don’t want to leave anyone out. I actually need to find more diverse bloggers too! I also know that I need to learn more about diversity in literature.
Those are my reading goals for 2017. Do you set reading goals? Why or why not?
Inside My Minds 
I’m going to start weekly reading goals starting tomorrow thanks to your post. It was really inspirational. I’m an author too and wrote a book when I was nine and re-wrote it when I was ten. I then published it this year 🙂
I’m not an author, I have no intentions of publishing my story or ever becoming published.
Your blog is amazing either way 🙂
My reading goal is 25 this year… I set it low so I will feel better when I go over, lol.
Pingback: #2017ReadingGoalsUpdate – Inside My Minds
I love audio books that are well voiced (which is rare in my experience). One of the best I listened to recently was I, Ripper. Loved how the author combined fact and fiction. Any good plays you could reccoment?
Anything by Shakespeare, and The Oedipus cycle.
I’ve read some Shakespeare. My favorite so far is A Mid Summers Night Dream. Thanks for the suggestions.
I totally agree that reading goals are so important – I especially love the Goodreads challenge, even though I’m not known for reaching my often lofty goal! 😀 I read practically zero poetry – I’ve never been a big fan I think because it’s usually tough for me to fully get the meaning out of a poem; they can be so abstract. Good luck with your reading in 2017! 😀
Thank you!! I read poetry for english classes but always had to analyze it, so I didn’t really enjoy it. I want to read it and enjoy it.
Me too! I couldn’t stand analyzing and reading into every word of a poem! I want to learn to like poetry though!
I do too!
I actually like setting reading goals! Though I find that being too specific about my goals (i.e. making a list of exactly which books to read) may have backfired, so for 2017, I’m going to try just setting up a numbers-based goal. I also plan on signing up for a couple of reading challenges, just so I can keep motivated in writing reviews. Good luck for next year!
Thank you! And I totally get what you’re saying about making lists of exactly which books you’re going to read, although, for readathons it does make things easier.
Good luck with your goals, Ashley!! I’m not sure what kind of poetry you enjoy but I really loved milk and honey by Rupi Kaur and the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace!!
Thank you! And thank you for the poetry suggestions.
Sounds like great goals! I will warn you that audiobooks can make or break a book simply by the narrator or if the subject matter takes a lot of concentration to understand. If you’re into Colleen Hoover, I loved her audiobook version of November 9. Also, comedian memoirs / books in general are usually read by the author, which completely ups the happiness factor. Trouble Maker by Leah Remini was an amazing audiobook too. Oh boy, now I’m rambling 😉
Do you have any specific diversity book goals in mind? (Specific countries, time periods, fiction vs. nonfiction, etc.)
I have a few general goals for the new year, such as read one book from each decade from 1900s to today and to read at least one Netgalley/Edelweiss and one goodreads First Reads books each month. I will definitely be signing up for a few checklist type challenges in the next month as well – they do wonders for stepping you out of your comfort zones (in the best way).
Wish you the best ❤
Thank you! I tend to stay away from romance novels, and I’ve never been into reading Colleen Hoover. I’ve seen a lot of things on twitter about how problematic her books are, and after seeing those things I’m definitely not going to read her books. I also don’t have any specific diversity goals, I just want to read more diverse books in general. I have heard that the Harry Potter audiobooks are amazing, I’ll probably try to find some shorter ones.
I can see that about Hoover, her books are more emotional than logical – she’s definitely my guilty pleasure 😉
You will have to let us know if you do the Harry Potter books as audiobooks. For whatever reason, that has never even crossed my mind and it’s such a good idea.
Good luck with your reading challenges!
Thank you!! I’m doing three in January!
I only plan on doing two yearly ones (one being Goodreads’). That could change though 😛
Two of the challenges go along with readathons that have reading challenges in them, then Beat the Backlist and my challenge start in January!
Sounds fun! 😀
Yeah, January will be a busy reading month for me!
What a terrific post. Thanks for sharing.
Great goals and answers to these questions.
I do not set reading goals except for the Goodreads Challenge. I don’t like to stress myself. 🙂
I don’t know what BookTube and AuthorTube are. Will check them out…thanks.
Happy 2017 Reading!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog
Thank you!!