19 Books For 2019
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As a current college student with a major in English, many people would probably assume I read a lot.
Well, technically speaking, I do. I read plenty of e-printed materials like news articles, posts on social media, and other blogs. And as a liberal arts student, I get tons of reading assignments. I mean, in the last year I have read a dozen Shakespeare plays, fifteen full short story collections, and countless other stories and screenplays. But it seems that over the years I stopped reading for fun. So this year, I’m making a list of books for 2019.
Let’s be honest, as an English major it can be so difficult to enjoy reading for fun.
After being taught to “think like a writer” while reading, how to analyze structures, and just understanding all the nuts, bolts, and gears that turn inside a book (figuratively speaking, of course), a lot of stories are just hard to finish. And once you’ve learned certain writing and analysis techniques, you read differently and there is no off switch. We know what’s going to happen next because #foreshadowing. We read far too in depth rather than simply enjoying what is on the surface. And we definitely picked up on the symbolism from every single chapter.
I’ll admit that understanding these concepts has made me a better writer.
But I am such a terrible reader. In the past year I have read one book for my own entertainment. Yes, you read that correctly. Uno. Ein. ONE. (Corporate Survival Guide for Your Twenties by Kayla Buell of GenY Girl.) Well, this year is going to be different.
This year, I have a list of nineteen books I will read.
Ironically, I made a list of books currently on my bookshelf that I haven’t read, and ended up with 19. Total accident, but hey it works, right? Granted, five of these are required books for school. But hey, it’s my last semester, cut me some slack! The other fourteen books are my own picks. I don’t have any clue what order I will read these in, or a timeline for them. But I do intend to do a monthly recap/review so you all can hold me accountable for reading them all.
Book #1: Traction by Gino Wickman
This book will probably be the first one I cross off the list, as it is technically required reading for work. At my 8-5 office job I am a business manager, and everyone in management at the corporate level has pretty much read this book and they are now applying it to our company. I somewhat know what to expect – business management tools and tips, obviously – but I’ll let you know my thoughts at the end of the month.
Book #2: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
I’m pretty sure we’ve all seen the Disney version and/or the Tim Burton take on Alice. But I’ve never read the original text. This one (and the four that follow on the list) are part of my required reading for my film as literature class, which means I’ll get the read the texts and watch the screen versions. I’m interested to read this one!
Book #3: From Hell by Alan Moore
The only thing I know about this book is that it’s a graphic novel and the copy I got is thick af. I’ve read one other graphic novel before (Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi) and it was really good, so I have high expectations as of right now. Alan Moore, don’t let me down!
Book #4: Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes
I was always under the impression that the spelling was Don Quixote, yet the version I had to buy for class spells it as above. So that alone makes me nervous about my reading comprehension… Also I think this is the one that Man of la Mancha (the musical) is based off of. Of course, I only half paid attention to the musical when my high school performed it sophomore year because it was terrible and confusing to follow so… *shrug emoji*
Book #5: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Just seeing Dickens on my list makes me cringe from PTSD. We read Oliver Twist in seventh grade and it was absolute torture. Yep, the advanced program in my middle school had 12- and 13-year-olds reading this shit. Let me tell you, the only information I retained from this book in 2005: (1) some dude named Master Bates (why would anyone think this was a good character name, and why would a middle school let seventh graders read this knowing that this was a masturbation joke waiting to happen??), and (2) “Please sir, can I have some more?”
Book #6: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
My knowledge of this book is as follows: Jekyll and Hyde are the same dude. At least that’s what I’ve picked up on through the various references in pop culture, though I have no clue. I’ve read one book by Stevenson (also assigned by the same middle school English class) and was so bored with it. Here’s to hoping that my taste has matured enough to enjoy this classic.
Book #7: The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
I have zero preconceived notions about this one. It’s on my list because I saw it on display at the bookstore last year, it had a cool cover, and I recognized the author’s name as one of the editor’s of an anthology I had recently bought.
Book #8: Carrie by Stephen King
Carrie is a re-read for me. I read this once before in a YA lit class, and I remember I enjoyed it a lot. I’ve added it to my list because I am using it as research for my senior project. I’ll be converting my horror screenplay into a novel, and want to borrow some of King’s techniques.
Book #9: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
To tell the truth, I was supposed to read this book last semester for my fiction class, but I never got around to it. However, I was very interested in reading another well-known horror novel (again, to get ideas for my own) and the (loosely adapted) series on Netflix had such rave reviews, I feel like I need to read it before I watch the series.
Book #10: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Saw the movie before discovering it was based on a novel. I was so extremely impressed with the on screen performance, I had to buy the book. Very excited to read this one!
Book #11: People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins
I bought this one last year from the bookstore because I am obsessed with Ellen Hopkins’s style. I started reading her books in high school and used to stay up to date on all her new releases, but I fell behind and now am building up my collection so I can re-read them all.
Book #12: Get Over Your Damn Self by Romi Neustadt
Can’t remember which podcast I heard about this book on, but I do remember that they were so convincing about how great it is that I went and bought it on Amazon Prime right then and there. It should be a good read for building my business.
Book #13: Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas
Another book referral from a podcast about business and entrepreneurship! Sounded sassy, so I bought it. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet though, and that’s why it is on the list.
Book #14: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Honestly, I’ve had this book for a couple of years now and kinda forgot about it until I was moving stuff around on my bookshelf this week. No clue what made me pick it up, but it sounds like kind of a mystery (something involving murder/death?) so I’m in.
Book #15: Bird Box by Josh Malerman
There was so much hype about the movie on Netflix that I watched it over the Christmas holiday while in Arizona. While my mind wasn’t blown, I did find the movie entertaining, and since the book is almost always better than the movie, I figured I should read it.
Book #16: The Myth of the Nice Girl by Fran Hauser
The full title is longer, but the condensed story here is that it’s on my list for business reading. I stumbled upon it on Amazon and thought it sounded interesting.
Book #17: You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero
Yet another podcast recommendation, but I kept hearing about this book from multiple podcasters and bloggers. I figured since so many people (there were at least four) were into this book, I needed to check it out.
Book #18: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
I follow Rachel’s podcast – admittedly, I kinda skip through some episodes that I don’t feel apply to my life – and she is so inspiring. I have heard great things about her book, so I am looking forward to reading it finally.
Book #19: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham
So I started reading this one last year, set it down and forgot about it, and never came back to it. I ended up loaning it to a friend, but since she still has it I decided to just order a second copy so I can finish reading it.
Nineteen books for 2019.
There you have it. I may end up reading more than just what is on this list, especially once I graduate in May and have more “free time” (lol yeah right). Do you make reading goals or create a reading list each year? What’s on your To Read list for 2019?
