Every year I convince myself that I'm going to read a few books that have been sitting on my shelves for way too long, and every year I end up forgetting what I wanted to get through. Last year I got sick of this and challenged myself to read a whole set of classics/long books/books that intimidate me, and writing it down really helped me to keep this in check. I mean, I only read seven of them, but I'm pretty sure that's seven more than I otherwise would have done. So, let's get into it: here's my big reading bucket list for 2019!
The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman. The cover on this is almost too pretty for me to want to touch it, but as a long ass new addition to the Northern Lights trilogy it's something I HAVE to read.
N-W by Zadie Smith. I've got a couple of her books lining my shelves that I really want to get stuck into, so I'm hoping to make a start this year.
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. I've heard only good things about this, and Matt nails every tweet he writes so I'm hoping the same can be said about his books.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. This v pretty book has been left unread for way too long. It'd make a nice short classic to get through, and I'm interested to see what it adds to the Gothic genre.
Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe. This was on last year's bucket list, but I just wasn't in the right headspace to read it at all, so I'm hoping I can find the time and energy to dedicate to it this time around!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. How have I still not read this?! I haven't seen the film yet either, so this will come spoiler free and I'm ready to see why everyone loved it so much.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I read The Kite Runner last year and it was just so incredible that now I need to read everything Hosseini's ever written tbh.
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry. I bought this after all the hype about it died down, but that was still a little while ago so it's time to make my way through it at last.
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. I studied English Lit at uni and I STILL get book-shamed over the fact that I haven't read this.
Lolita by Vladmir Nobokov. I've tried to read this a couple of times, but started it and found it too, well, paedophile-y, but this year I'm determined to crack it.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This has been recommended to me so many times and I'm sorry for promising everyone I'd definitely read it and then completely ignoring the book.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and other stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Another one from last year's bucket list, this little one intimidates me because I'm just not sure how I feel about short stories?
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. I always expected Sherlock novels to be very long winded and full of excessive description, but I read a couple a few years ago and they were so accessible and quick to get through.
Dracula by Bram Stoker. I know I'll get through this one because I'm reading it right now! I took these photos and decided on my list a few weeks ago and then this got announced as my work book club read. It was like fate (or would have been if I hadn't suggested the idea).
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. Another key classic that I've ignored, I've not yet watched the film for this one either.
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I read one of her novels as a teen and remember being blown away by it, so I'm on a lifelong mission to read everything the author's written (I'm still just on that one book currently).
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees. One of my goals for the year is to make my reading more diverse, because if we only read books by cis white male authors, that's what publishers are going to sign up. Sirees is a Syrian author, and this book is all about Syria's golden age, and I'd love to learn more about it.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. I've got a big fear of the ocean, so I imagine this won't exactly help with that, but I'm hoping it's less depressing than Robinson Crusoe???
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin. I read A Game of Thrones last year and loved it 100 times more than I've ever thought of the TV series (totally not sorry on this one). Now I need to see where the series goes because erm we ended with Daenerys letting some dragons suckle on her?!
The Secret by Donna Tartt. I wasn't the greatest fan of The Goldfinch when I read it, but I'm ready to see why everyone raves about this one too!
What's on your reading bucket list for the year?
Some wonderful books here! I loved Dracula, Lolita and A Clockwork Orange. Some of these are on my TBR list too, it's never-ending!
ReplyDeleteEmily from http://emilyunderworld.co.uk x
Dracula is one of my all time favourite books that I so want to re-read this year! I'm determined to get through it
DeleteSteph x
What a great idea! I'm the same way lists motivate me! Of the ones you've read I've only read Benjamin Buttons but I really enjoyed it and I hope you do as well
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping it keeps me motivated this year! Oooh I hope I enjoy it!!
DeleteSteph x
Great idea - and Lolita is one of my all-time favourite books. Although, it is quite disturbing in places!
ReplyDeleteI still haven't read many of these yet! Absolutely need to get on it
DeleteSteph x