These six books are books that I would really like to read in 2020. I should say that I want to read all the books that I own, that’s why I own them. BUT I tend to pick my books based on what I am in the mood to read and sometimes that means a book from the library rather then a book I own. So I’m sure that at a different time during the year this stack would look different but right now these are books that I am really looking forward to reading!
I spent part of 2019 watching how Whitney from The UnreadShelf was reading through her unread books in 2019. I decided that I was tired of by passing the books that I own for shiny new to me library books (or gulp newly purchased books). So I am taking part in the 2020 Unread Shelf Project. Whitney has been kind and shared a lot of ideas on how to get started because it can seem a little daunting and overwhelming. How do you start reading books that you haven’t read yet? You count them (136 unread), you put them all in one area. I have kind of done this, thank goodness for the Ikea cart (pictured above) that my friends gifted me for my birthday a few years ago! and then pull some of the books that you really want to make sure that you read this year (stay tuned for that picture soon!).
There are also some great prompts for this year, in January- any unread book, August- a buddy read (I would love to do this one, so bookish friends, let’s talk!), November- a book from your favourite genre. And if the prompt for that month doesn’t work you are free to choose something else. There isn’t any pressure, which is ideal for me, I tend to be a mood reader, so it’s good to switch it up, even if that switch up is small.
I’m excited to read more from my unread shelf in 2020!
Wow, looking at my little desk calendar today and it is day 361 of the year. In some ways this year has seemed very very long. And in other ways it has flown by. I was able to read a lot of books this year, more then previous years and I think that is because I procrastinated on the things I should have been working on and read instead. So in 2020 I need to find a balance but that is for 2020 to figure out.
Today I wanted to share some of the books that I really enjoyed reading this year. So in no particular order here we go!
A Bitter Feast- Deborah Crombie- this is like 16th in a series but it reminded me of how much I love Duncan and Gemma (British Mystery series)
Dear Girls- Ali Wong- I laughed SO hard at parts of this book I was crying. I’m not anyone mother’s and I still found it to be very relatable.
Still Life- Louise Penny- I finally started the Inspector Gamache series in September of this year and I don’t know how it took me this long. So atmospheric.
Veronica Mars- Rob Thomas- I re-read the two novels that were released after the movie in 2014, still enjoyable, especially as I was getting ready for the new tv series (I am still not ready to talk about the last episode).
Delicious!- Ruth Reichl- a fictional novel by the former New York Times restaurant reviewer. I really loved this one. It was like a nicer Devil Wears Prada- but only because it takes place at a magazine, but it is quickly shut down and it is a food magazine. So not like Prada at all.
Save me the Plums- Ruth Reichl’s nonfiction about her last days running Gourmet magazine. I am not an adventurous eater at all, but this book had me wanting to eat some of the meals that Ruth described.
Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn- I don’t even know how to describe this series. Veronica lives in the late 1800’s but has very modern ways of thinking. She solves mysteries with Raker and there is some romance and will they/ won’t they and it’s delightful.
The Proposal- Jasmine Gulliroy I have really enjoyed the whole world that she has created with her characters and her books, this year I read a lot more romance then I have before and I think that Jamine’s books were the gateway.
The Paris Spy- Susan Elia MacNeal- The Maggie Hope series was another new discovery for me this year. I liked this one because it takes place in Paris during the Occupation, I always like books that tell the story of what women were doing during major historical events and this one has the added bonus of spies.
The Huntress- Kate Quinn. I didn’t want this one to end, but I also had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. Before reading this book I didn’t know anything about the Night Witches.
Next Year in Havana- Chanel Cleeton. I really enjoyed this book and it’s sequel this year. I didn’t really know anything about Cuba or what happened when Castro came into power and I feel like I learned so much from this book.
I’ll Be Your Blue Sky- Marisa de los Santos- so this is the third book of a trilogy but I read them out of order and started with this one. And I really loved it.
But I’m back!
As this year, and decade (I can’t believe THAT fact) is coming to a close I have been thinking more and more about my reading life. What I want to get out of it, how I want to share it and how I’m going to do that. So I have decided that in 2020 I am going to make a HUGE effort to read more from my unread shelves.
There is an bookstagram account on Instagram that called @theunreadshelf that inspired me. I can’t wait to see the prompts for 2020 and hopefully I can incorporate some of them into my own unread shelf project!
I think I am going to try to read almost exclusively from them and I am going on a bit of a book buying ban. I own a lot of great books and it is silly that I push them aside to read a book that is popping up all over Bookstagram to only read it and be disappointed. A book buying ban just makes sense when I own a lot of great paper and ebooks already. I am not saying no to books as gifts, just me buying books for a while. I’m sure it won’t last all year, but I am going to make an effort to only buy really special books.
I’m also going to try to read less library books as well because I put off reading books that I own because there is a chance to get a new book RIGHT now. Does anyone else have a fear of missing out when it comes to books or is it just me?
One of the biggest changes that I am looking forward to starting before 2020 starts is to slowly start changing over my @essentiallymeagan Instagram account. I made it to share my love of essential oils, and while I still love them, I find that I am wanting to share a lot more things that I find essential on that account. Books, oils and natural products, cool local spots in my community, pictures that made me smile during the day, craft projects, these are all things that I find are essential to a happy life and I’m looking forward to sharing them in a specific spot.
Do you have any plans for 2020 and your reading life?
Essentially Meagan 