My 2021 Reading List
I feel like I make this goal every year to read more but I never have a goal as to how many books or to which ones specifically. This year, since I have all the time in the world now, I’m going to make it my goal. It can also continue for when I go back to work actually because I’ve incorporated my main reading time as part of my morning routine.
Now my morning routine was never a solid one to be honest. I would always just scroll through my phone…sometimes for too long. I wanted to change that. Now when I wake up, I start it right off with a nice cup of coffee. I start to boil my water for my coffee and as that goes, I feed my fur baby, and do a little scrolling on the phone until my water is done boiling. I make my coffee and crawl back into bed to read. I read until my coffee is done!
Above are all the books I plan on reading in 2021! I know it seems like a lot for me but I believe I can do it. Some of them I’ve had for a few years, others I’ve gathered last year and didn’t even crack it open and a few I’ve recently purchased. I can confidently say I am happy with what I have and my search is complete for this year.
I’ve always geared towards a fiction book. They are the ones I feel most comfortable reading. I like thrillers, mystery and adventure (if you can’t already tell from the Dan Brown and Michael Crichton books). This year, I wanted to push myself to read some books that were older, others about different topics and different genres. So far on the list I’ve completed Sphere (completed in 2020), Lessons of the Lotus & Home Body and I’m currently reading The Patron Saint of Plagues. I feel I have a pretty good mixture going on and I’m happy with my collection.
What realy pushed me to read more?
I feel like reading enlightens and educates the mind. It doesn’t have to be a book where you learn things from but just to exercise the brain with reading is educating. It keeps the mind creative and flow. Even some fiction books have true facts in there! That’s why I really enjoy Dan Brown’s novels. They are filled with adventure and interesting facts about history and our world. Anyways back to my point.
Well first, I saw some of these books on social media and thought they sounded interesting to read. I then found out about a site called Notion. It’s a place where you can get creative with the simplest of things. I found out about this site from YouTuber Jenn Im. She’s really into reading and shared that she has been doing book reports. I thought it was kind of cool. Yeah I said that. I thought book reports sounded cool. LOL. Who would of thought! I remember not enjoying book reports in school at all. The dead lines, the grammar and precision of the report…like who cares man. They were never good enough. But this site, dare I say, makes it fun to do the book reports and it almost makes you want to finish the book quicker so you can do it.
Notion makes it fun. It offers templates to organize your book list and reports. It also has fiction and non-fiction template report options. Doing these reports after reading my books actually gets me to stop and reflect on what I just read. It’s also a great reminder for down the road if I ever forget about a book - my memory is horrible. Actually I was also hoping it would help with my memory! Another way to exercise the mind.
So all that was my first reason. My second reason was to change up my morning routine. I wanted to not spend so much time on my phone the moment I woke up. Instead I enjoy my cup of coffee and read my book. I also try to read in the afternoon and evening instead of watching TV.
— My Collection —
Here are all the books I plan on reading in 2021. Maybe you’ll find something for yourself.
It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
My newest addition. It’s the only drama/romantic book in this collection. Because it had some mystery side to it, I thought I would enjoy it.
Timeline - Michael Crichton
Purchased back in the summer of 2020. This book involves time travel and sci-fi action. I briefly started this book and then I stopped…I don’t know what happened.
Home Body - Rupi Kaur
Completed just recently! It’s an amazing read and can definitely be re-read for years to come.
Cork Dork - Bianca Bosker
A book on the art of wine? Why not! I purchased this book forever ago and have yet to read it. Besides wine being an enjoyable beverage, it has so much art behind it. I thought it would be cool to become a cork dork.
Flux - Orion Carloto
Again, another read that I purchased and have yet to read. It’s one of a few poetry books in my collection.
Lesson of the Lotus - Bhante Y. Wimala
Completed this year! One of the most enlightening books I’ve ever read. It’s eye opening in many ways.
The Patron Saint of Plagues - Barth Anderson
This is my current read. I was actually a little sceptical as to if I wanted to read this book anymore. Although I did purchase this book this past fall (during a pandemic) and this book is about facing a very deadly virus, I wasn’t sure if it would be too depressing. I turned my mind around and told myself to not let that get to me. Don’t let this pandemic defeat you in a way of what book to read God damn it. I’ve only reached chapter 6 and I’m alright so far LOL. It’s actually up my ally as it takes place in the sci-fi future of 2061.
Origin - Dan Brown
Purchased back in the summer of 2020 and part of the Robert Langdon series. It was the last book I needed to complete my series but not the last book to read in the series.
Deception Point - Dan Brown
As you can tell, this book has been places and I’ve already read it. But I actually enjoyed it so much I kinda want to read it again. Books are like movies right? If I watch Lord of the Rings 1000 times then I can re-read this action filled book.
Sphere - Michael Crichton
Alien spaceship? Time machine? Or is it a fake? I’ll let you find out for yourself. I enjoyed this novel and for the fact it took place in the 1980’s - for me being born after that - it was like watching an old movie. Actually, Deception Point and Sphere were like watching and X-files episode except with no Mulder and Scully.
Be Water, My Friend - Shannon Lee
A self-help book. After reading Lessons of the Lotus, I wanted to get more books along those lines. Growing up watching a few Bruce Lee flicks thanks to my dad, I thought it would be kinda cool to see his side of martial arts and the healing aspects of it.
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs - Steve Brusatte
Ummm…who doesn’t love dinosaurs?! Why not learn a little more about them.
I just realized I forgot to take these pictures with two books - Forget About Yesterday (completed) and The Lost Symbol (to read).
Now I’ll show you how I organize my books
Like I mentioned above, I use Notion. It’s a service that offers many things other than book report templates. You can make notes, journal, to-do lists, goal lists, etc. I currently just use it for my book reports and book notes. I got the idea from YouTuber Jenn Im. She shared how she organizes her books and the template she uses. I use the same template but have made a few additions and changes to make it more me.
This template is created by Ali Abdaal. I have made my own changes such as adding the number of pages, year of publication and the re-read columns, and changed the note status to two separate columns of book status & note status (not seen in photo). You’re able to publish anything online you do on Notion. I’m choosing not to at this time. It’s for my person use only.
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Isn’t it cute? I mean it’s colourful, clean, organized and once you get the hang of using Notion, it’s easy and fun. I love using all the emoticons and customizing the colours within the columns.
Within each book, there is a book report. It’s laid out so simply thanks to Ali Abdaal. There are simple questions to answer about the book and reflection sections as well. There is a fiction and a non-fiction template you can choose from or you can make your own. I personally enjoy using the templates Ali made. Maybe one day I’ll make my own!
I like this because I can look back after a few years and revisit these books and my accomplishments. I also really enjoyed making it! I felt creative and it was something new. I look forward to reading all these books, completing the reports and seeing how well I can accomplish my goal of finishing these books in 2021.