300 Books to Read in 20 Years (or more)
🔹️Just click the link to bring you to my list.
🔹️It mostly contains books which I'd love to read, either by my favorite authors, or even new authors I'd like to explore.
🔹️It isn't a challenge, so I won't put books suggested by many as "classics you must read..." or "the best classics..." blablabla. I don't have all the time in the world, so from now on I read only for comfort, not for pride.
🔹️Some of the titles are for rereading - books that I'd love to revisit in the future.
🔹️Of course, the list can (and will 🤭) keep changing along the way, because my preference might differ in the next 5 or 10 years. And if I read a new author but don't like it, I would delete his/her other books altogether. Or the other way round, I might add more from a new found favorite author.
🔹️It only contains of 200-ish titles at present, but I keep adding books I'd love to read along the way. You are warmly welcomed to suggest titles you think I might love in the comment below the list! 😊
🔹️I put the original list in google sheet (you are welcomed to take a peek by clicking the link). This will be my way of tracking and managing my reading and book shopping. I've added columns for new author, books I own, and books I've ordered but still on the way. Everytime there's promo on my favorite online bookstores, or I just want to buy books😎, I can check from the list, which books I need to buy (or not to buy). That way, I won't waste my money for books I probably will never read.
🔹️And so, here we come to my new approach to The Classics Club challenge I have mentioned before. With 300 books to read in 20 years, my plan is to read about 15 classics each year - but again, it's not a challenge, so no pressure at all. I might occasionally read non classics too, and I'm still doing (leisurely) the Agatha Christie Perpetual Reading Challenge. There's also the Rougon-Macquart Project which will be going on in the next 3 or 4 years. Anyway, the 15 classics I'm going to read every year would be the base of my The Classics Club lists. It means that, instead of having a fixed list of 60 books to read in 5 years, I will add the titles as I read them, so it will be a sort of an ever growing list for five years. It eliminates the pressure, and I will have the freedom to pick any books from my original list every year. Is it cheating? I don't think so, because the challenge is to READ classics, not to read from a fixed list.
Now I can't wait to begin with this new list (I'm actually in the middle of my #CCSpin book: Eugene Onegin). This is going to be an exciting lifetime journey, don't you think?
Fanda, this is a most excellent idea! Congrats on (soon to be) five decades! I turned 50 in 2020, so I totally relate to your plan. As soon as I complete my Unread Project (that is, I read all of my unread books that I have accumulated over the years), I am going to put together a list of [whatever number] of titles I want to read AND ESPECIALLY re-read in the next [whatever number] of years. I think I need two-three years to finish my unread books first. BTW, I took a peek at your list, and my heart was really happy to see The Little House series on there. :) BEST OF LUCK!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruth. Turning 50 changes your perspective, right? You suddenly see what you want and what not. The Little House series, for example. I read the first one years ago; it was okay at that time, but I never thought of reading the whole series. Then while composing the list, I suddenly felt I would need to read the whole series - it will be one of my comfort reads. Actually I consulted The Classics Club reviews list for most of the titles, and seeing your reviews of the The Little House series, I just knew I needed them too!
DeleteTurning 50 is a huge milestone. No more wasting time!
DeleteYes, I find the LH series to be exactly that: comfort reads! Especially if you find comfort in reading about nature; it is really a pleasure.
A perfect way to organize your reading life, I think.
ReplyDeleteOne thing for sure, it simplifies my life. I can even see or edit it during works, as it is in google sheet. So, it's a goodbye to Goodreads, I guess...
DeleteI can so relate. I am a little older than you, but I did not have this epiphany until I retired last year and realized I could spend the rest of my life reading! I am very impressed with your list, especially all those Whartons :) I also agree about deleting or dnfing books that I don't relate to. Sure, I may try them again (Pride and Prejudice took me 3 tries to finish), because tastes do change, but there are so many books out there, why waste my time?
ReplyDeleteFanda, I wish you very well with your continued growing list, a wonderful 50th birthday and next phase of your (reading) life <3
Exactly my point: why waste time for books I probably won't like? When you are in mid 20s, that's OK (and exciting) to explore, but now I feel like having priorities (not only reading wise).
DeleteThanks, Laurie, for the wishes. You too! <3
I'm not going to congratulate you on turning 50 yet as you're still 49; you may as well enjoy it for as long as you can, lol!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, especially adding in re-reads. And since you have so many books, even though you're aiming for 50 in 5 years, having a list of 300 gives you room to choose and be a little more inspired and flexible. I can't wait to take a look!
LOL.. actually, I'm a bit excited to be 50! :)
DeleteExactly, Cleo! It's kinda liberating to have so many choices, and not stuck to certain numbers.
Fanda, what a great idea! Although I enjoy the Classics Club, it can sometimes feel limiting to read from a list that sounded really good at the time you made it but doesn't actually include all these other great choices. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? The last 2 rounds of my TCC list, I kept changing the titles during the 5 years. In the end I wondered, why did I make a list only to change it later. Hence, this idea.
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