So how are you coming on your 2019 reading goals?
I’m starting a new monthly feature today. The last Friday of each month, I’ll share an update on my own personal reading goals. I’ll also provide a little overview of each book or play I finished that month, along with a few things I especially liked and/or something I learned.
Sharing my list is two-fold. One, I want to hold myself accountable for keeping up the pace on my own goals. And two, by sharing what I’m reading, I hope you’ll find a new title that sounds interesting you want to add to your reading list.
MY 2019 READING GOALS
If you remember, my personal reading goals for 2019 are to read 35 books, as well as the complete works of William Shakespeare. I’m a little behind the pace I need to be at to finish this goal. But some of the titles I have on my To Read list in the coming month are shorter non-fiction or memoir type books. These should help to get back on track.
For the Shakespeare works, I definitely need to pick up the pace. But the good thing is that most of the plays can be read, or listened to, in less than three hours. For Shakespeare, I plan to do most of these with audio versions rather than actually reading. The reason for this is simple: Shakespeare is drama. It was meant to seen and heard, not read. So the audio versions allow me to experience the work in a little more authentic way.
(SIDE NOTE: I have read a number of Shakespeare plays and poems in my past college classes. But since it’s been a few years, I want to read those ones again. Some plays I’ve read multiple times, but still find new things I missed in previous readings.)
In past years, I included smaller challenges built in to my overall reading goals. I would do things like taking a month to only read books written by authors from a certain region of the world, or only books published in a certain decade. These challenges can be a fun way to add some variety to your own reading goals. If you need some smaller reading challenge ideas, check this out.)
This year, I’m mot doing themed challenges. My focus is on getting through the stack of books I’ve had on my To Read list for some time. The one exception to that is a series a friend recommended. I fell head-over-heels for that series so want to catch up as quickly as possible. The problem – there are currently 18 books in the series and a new one comes out this summer!
MY 2019 READING LIST… SO FAR
GIANTS MUST FALL by Louie Giglio
In this book, best-selling Christian author Louie Giglio uses the story of a young King David to outline how God helps us overcome the many challenges we face in life. The principles he presents center around the story of David as a teenager, stepping up to fight the Philistine giant know n as Goliath. The familiar story of a young boy taking down the giant demonstrates unyielding faith in the midst of great odds.
This book follows similar ideas as previous book about David versus Goliath. But these principles are always a good reminder of how faith helps us overcome those giants in our lives, those seemingly impossible situations.
Rating: 3/5
RUNNING DOWN A DREAM by Tim Grahl
In this book, writer and book marketer Tim Grahl, shares the sometimes painful journey with his entrepreneurial and writing journey. The thought of working for yourself and making a living from creative pursuits sounds wonderful on the outside. But the real work, and sometimes emotionally painful work, required can be daunting. Grahl offers a vulnerable and honest look at the struggles – financial, personal, and business -he went through before reaching his goals. What you often see from successful writers, business leaders, and online influencers is the final products. They don’t often show the dirty work and failures. Grahl opens up his life to show the dark side of being a creative entrepreneur.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to pursue turning a creative passion into a business. There are a lot a great things about working for yourself, but as Grahl illustrates, you have to be ready to get dirty so to speak. The reality of building a business or a creative portfolio isn’t always an Instagram-worthy image.
Rating: 5/5 (warning for some explicit language)
TROUBLEMAKER by Leah Remini
Actress Leah Remini was an outspoken member of the Church of Scientology. She joined the church with her family as a teenager, and worked her way through the different classes and levels expected. When she achieved fame as an actress, she joined other celebrities in touting the church’s value. But, after years of seeing friends losing their life savings, physical and mental abuse, and seeing the corruption of church leaders, Remeni left the church. Now, she has made it her mission to pull the curtain back on the inner workings of the Church of Scientology.
This is Remini’s personal experience, and her account is raw and uncensored. Because of leaving the church, she has been the target of attacks by the Church of Scientology, trying to discredit her personally and professionally. But in spite of the attacks, she has continued to share not only her story, but the stories of other former members in a television documentary series.
Rating: 3.5/5 (Warning for explicit language)
PRINCE OF FIRE by Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon series #5)
I was first introduced to the Gabriel Allon series by a friend at the end of last year. After reading the first book, I knew I had to read them all. The problem – there are now 18 books! So I’ve got work to do.
Gabriel Allon is an Israeli spy/assassin who’s part of an elite secret service tasked with tracking and eliminating the most serious threats to Israel’s security. In this fifth installment, Allon must track down a terrorist planning a large scale attack in France. Using his contacts around the world, Allon locates the terrortist, but soon realizes the job won’t go like planned. Allon’s disabled wife was kidnapped by the terrorist group to force him to be a scapegoat in the bombing.
Rating: 4/5
The Winter’s Tale – William Shakespeare
For my Shakespeare studies, I decided to start with one I read in a graduate level Shakespeare course. This isn’t one that is read often in general English classes, but it became one of my favorites. I listened to an audio version this time, which helped differentiate between characters and added to the dialogue.
In this play, paranoia gets the better of a king when he believes his pregnant wife has had an affair with his friend, who happens to be the king of another country. The queen is thrown in prison. When the baby is born, the king instructs that the infant girl should be taken away and left for dead. But when the baby is found and raised by a shepherd, a magical plan is set in motion to return her to her home, and restore the two kingdoms. This play is a little different from some of Shakespeare’s other plays in that there are supernatural/magical elements. But it is those elements that provide the play with its ultimate conclusion.
Rating: 5/5
WHAT’S NEXT
I’m currently reading the 6th book in the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva. (Did I mention there are 18 of them??) Once I’m finished with this one, I’ll probably switch back to Shakespeare for a couple more plays. Since they’re better on audio, I can knock out a few of those in short order. I plan to listen to some while cleaning my apartment and doing laundry. Shakespeare will be a good way to make cleaning more appealing.
**What are you reading right now? How are you coming on your 2019 reading goals?**
Reignite your creativity!
Subscribe to get new content, monthly newsletter, and important updates. You'll also receive a free download - "30 Days of Creative Inspiration."
