After what went down in January, February is not too late to share goals; in fact, it's probably a good idea to give ourselves a do-over for the New Year. Re: the mini stacks, if you are a reader (you are) and you read to them (you probably already do) and you let them read whatever they want, even if they are 13 and still reading Dog Man, you will be doing all you can do to make them life-long readers. Also, Danielle Steel has sold more than 800 million books!!! Also, Also, I am still thinking about the episode on goodness!!
Love these goals-- especially reading the classics. I have a somewhat similar goal focused on 3 authors-- my goal is to read 24 books from either Toni Morrison, August Wilson, or Octavia Butler. I've only read 1 of each so far, and that feels insufficient given the huge influence each has had on literature.
I am always Team Do What You Need to Do When You Need To Do it. People heap so much worry and stress upon themselves and most of us don't even notice. OF COURSE you had more important real life things going on at the beginning of January. If I had to evacuate in the middle of a work week I would also be concerned about what wasn't getting done.
I don't do goals until my birthday because that's when I feel like doing it. People will be okay!
You rocked your goals Traci! 2025 looks like it's going to keep you busy and in the books. That's 100% where I need to be because...........*looks around*.... DAYUM.
I've been on Storygraph since it was in beta. I managed to track books in January and should probably catch up because I love their reporting. I'm more comfy at Goodreads but they don't do reporting well.
When is your birthday? Yes I still am learning Storygraph but the way folks act like it’s any more complicated than Goodreads is silly. Folks are just more comfortable/used to GR.
Have you listened to Sold A Story about the teaching kids to read industry? Well worth a listen. My son mostly learned at school but finished his first year (our K equivalent) at a weird place, so we spent the summer really focused on sight worlds (which the phonics camp would tell you are a no-no, but I found helped him read a bit faster and a bit more confidently).
Now he's reading at teenage level, but he's quite lazy about it, preferring audiobooks and read alouds.
I will check that out, I had never heard of it. I don't think TK (pre-K) teaches reading which is why I wanted to help them at home, but they will be in K next school year so they will get it then too.
I just published a list of my favorite 2024 reads and had this exact, "time is a construct, get over it" energy 😅
I'm so glad you published these! I'd also love to read more classics, and I'm absolutely going to borrow your "living legends" concept. It fits in nicely with another goal of mine, which is to read "around" the books I'm reading—reviews, interviews, etc. I think it adds a lot of rich texture to the book itself, whatever the genre.
You're a much more prolific reader than me, so you've probably read some of these, but the classics I wholeheartedly recommend are "Catch-22," "The Great Gatsby," and novel translations of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." If you need a Hemingway, I liked but didn't love "A Farewell to Arms." "Lolita" is wild.
I'm actually working my way through "Crime and Punishment" right now, and while I have mixed feelings about it, I'm glad I'm giving it a read and it's making me a more well-rounded reader and writer.
The only one I have read that you listed is THE GREAT GATSBY. I am actually hoping to do it on the podcast one day because there is a theory that Gatsby is a white passing Black person and I would love to explore that more.
Love that you are sharing goals in February! I’m still very much thinking about the coming year and what I am trying to achieve (in my reading life and elsewhere). And you just reminded me to prioritize True Grit, so I’m going to do that soon.
Traci! My best friend and I have a podcast about the process of learning to read. Per your goal for the Mini Stacks you might find the third episode helpful as it explains development and the stages kids go through as they learn to read. It won’t tell you how to teach them to read but it will give you a sense of where to start and what to expect.
Also, loving your classics goal. I’ve been doing some classic children’s literature (Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, etc.) and found it interesting. I am pumped for Lolita, which I have read but will be re-reading this month. Curious what else you’ll read and what you think.
It’s here on Substack but it’s also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Or it should be. I’m kind of a Boomer with technology and it’s just me and my best friend with some help from my husband. Lol.
My goal is to always read one more book than the previous year, so this year will be 88. I’d like to grow my audience here and on bookstagram, but if I don’t that’s okay. I don’t have the bandwidth to try to write something longer (yet!), so this a fun way to keep the writing chops warm.
Thank you for sharing your goals! I especially love the intentions behind the living legends goal. I started working through Percival Everett and Ann Patchett's back catalogs last year and am looking forward to continuing this year.
Love these goals! They’re so thoughtful. I’ve enjoyed hearing you pop up on some of my favourite podcasts and looking forward to hearing more — and if mine ever returns from its indefinite hiatus, I’d love to have you on.
These are great goals. I have been reading bigger books too this year, but also DNFing if they aren't working. I embrace the DNF. I am planning to reread some faves this year, too!
I love all of the speaking events you're doing! It was so fun to run into you at the Mississippi Book Festival. And ditto Kingsolver and Giovanni. I just read Demon Copperhead and loved it. And just last week I bought a big book of Nikki Giovanni's poems.
P.S. I’m going to take a min to promote my friend Ciona Rouse. She’s a poet here in Nashville and she is about to open a brick and mortar bookstore called Bard’s Towne Books & Bourbon. It’s in a pop-up stage right now, but she’s doing a great job. IG here: https://www.instagram.com/btbooksandbourbon/. Keep her in mind for any future poetry themed podcast eps or book clubs!
After what went down in January, February is not too late to share goals; in fact, it's probably a good idea to give ourselves a do-over for the New Year. Re: the mini stacks, if you are a reader (you are) and you read to them (you probably already do) and you let them read whatever they want, even if they are 13 and still reading Dog Man, you will be doing all you can do to make them life-long readers. Also, Danielle Steel has sold more than 800 million books!!! Also, Also, I am still thinking about the episode on goodness!!
Thanks! I mean at some point they do have to learn to actually read. Thats what I’m talking about. Like how to teach putting it together etc.
ahhh... I see. Very cool that you are taking that on!
Love these goals-- especially reading the classics. I have a somewhat similar goal focused on 3 authors-- my goal is to read 24 books from either Toni Morrison, August Wilson, or Octavia Butler. I've only read 1 of each so far, and that feels insufficient given the huge influence each has had on literature.
What great picks. I love August Wilson's work so much and am happy to see him here with the novelists.
I love the idea of reading the living legends, I might borrow that one!
Please do!
I am always Team Do What You Need to Do When You Need To Do it. People heap so much worry and stress upon themselves and most of us don't even notice. OF COURSE you had more important real life things going on at the beginning of January. If I had to evacuate in the middle of a work week I would also be concerned about what wasn't getting done.
I don't do goals until my birthday because that's when I feel like doing it. People will be okay!
You rocked your goals Traci! 2025 looks like it's going to keep you busy and in the books. That's 100% where I need to be because...........*looks around*.... DAYUM.
I've been on Storygraph since it was in beta. I managed to track books in January and should probably catch up because I love their reporting. I'm more comfy at Goodreads but they don't do reporting well.
When is your birthday? Yes I still am learning Storygraph but the way folks act like it’s any more complicated than Goodreads is silly. Folks are just more comfortable/used to GR.
Have you listened to Sold A Story about the teaching kids to read industry? Well worth a listen. My son mostly learned at school but finished his first year (our K equivalent) at a weird place, so we spent the summer really focused on sight worlds (which the phonics camp would tell you are a no-no, but I found helped him read a bit faster and a bit more confidently).
Now he's reading at teenage level, but he's quite lazy about it, preferring audiobooks and read alouds.
I will check that out, I had never heard of it. I don't think TK (pre-K) teaches reading which is why I wanted to help them at home, but they will be in K next school year so they will get it then too.
I just published a list of my favorite 2024 reads and had this exact, "time is a construct, get over it" energy 😅
I'm so glad you published these! I'd also love to read more classics, and I'm absolutely going to borrow your "living legends" concept. It fits in nicely with another goal of mine, which is to read "around" the books I'm reading—reviews, interviews, etc. I think it adds a lot of rich texture to the book itself, whatever the genre.
Yes, I love the idea of "reading around" the books. That is so thought provoking.
You're a much more prolific reader than me, so you've probably read some of these, but the classics I wholeheartedly recommend are "Catch-22," "The Great Gatsby," and novel translations of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." If you need a Hemingway, I liked but didn't love "A Farewell to Arms." "Lolita" is wild.
I'm actually working my way through "Crime and Punishment" right now, and while I have mixed feelings about it, I'm glad I'm giving it a read and it's making me a more well-rounded reader and writer.
As for new books in 2025, I can't wait for my man Dennard Dayle's first novel, "How to Dodge a Cannonball": https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250345677/howtododgeacannonball/
And I'd be remiss if I didn't encourage you to check out this debut effort: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Leverage/Amran-Gowani/9781668076422
If "Leverage" peaks your interest, I can happily get you a galley.
The only one I have read that you listed is THE GREAT GATSBY. I am actually hoping to do it on the podcast one day because there is a theory that Gatsby is a white passing Black person and I would love to explore that more.
Congrats on your book btw, very cool!
That's super interesting. I just re-read Gatsby last year and loved it. Now I want to revisit the novel again with that framing in mind.
Please read "Catch-22" this year. It exceeds the hype!
Love that you are sharing goals in February! I’m still very much thinking about the coming year and what I am trying to achieve (in my reading life and elsewhere). And you just reminded me to prioritize True Grit, so I’m going to do that soon.
I take first quarter energy Jan-March for new goals ❤️
You gotta read that one — so sweet and good.
Traci! My best friend and I have a podcast about the process of learning to read. Per your goal for the Mini Stacks you might find the third episode helpful as it explains development and the stages kids go through as they learn to read. It won’t tell you how to teach them to read but it will give you a sense of where to start and what to expect.
Also, loving your classics goal. I’ve been doing some classic children’s literature (Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, etc.) and found it interesting. I am pumped for Lolita, which I have read but will be re-reading this month. Curious what else you’ll read and what you think.
You do?!? Drop the link I need to listen. Any and all help is great!
This is my first read of LOLITA and I like it so far. I also hadn’t thought about kids classics but maybe I’ll incorporate some of those too.
https://open.substack.com/pub/athomelibrarian/p/3-the-reading-process-5e4?r=20rfr&utm_medium=ios
It’s here on Substack but it’s also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Or it should be. I’m kind of a Boomer with technology and it’s just me and my best friend with some help from my husband. Lol.
Thank you!
My goal is to always read one more book than the previous year, so this year will be 88. I’d like to grow my audience here and on bookstagram, but if I don’t that’s okay. I don’t have the bandwidth to try to write something longer (yet!), so this a fun way to keep the writing chops warm.
Love that goal!
I have children who are struggling to learn to read, it was expected. We work with school, reading specialist etc. Using the framework of the Science of Reading works, https://www.nwea.org/blog/2024/the-science-of-reading-explained/
Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you for sharing your goals! I especially love the intentions behind the living legends goal. I started working through Percival Everett and Ann Patchett's back catalogs last year and am looking forward to continuing this year.
Two great places to start. Love that.
Love these goals! They’re so thoughtful. I’ve enjoyed hearing you pop up on some of my favourite podcasts and looking forward to hearing more — and if mine ever returns from its indefinite hiatus, I’d love to have you on.
Yes, let’s do it!
Yes to reading Isabel Allende! She is one of my favorite authors. She starts writing a new book on the samJanuarin January every year.
That’s so cool. I love the regimented process.
Thank you for this! I also want to read more classics and I love your idea of living legends. My other reading goals include:
- reading less books, but particularly by reading longer books.
- Doing more re-reads - both of books that I loved and books that I didn't but may try again.
- Reading more books by authors with disabilities
These are great goals. I have been reading bigger books too this year, but also DNFing if they aren't working. I embrace the DNF. I am planning to reread some faves this year, too!
I love all of the speaking events you're doing! It was so fun to run into you at the Mississippi Book Festival. And ditto Kingsolver and Giovanni. I just read Demon Copperhead and loved it. And just last week I bought a big book of Nikki Giovanni's poems.
I love that we're on the same page of Giovanni and Kingsolver. Great minds!
P.S. I’m going to take a min to promote my friend Ciona Rouse. She’s a poet here in Nashville and she is about to open a brick and mortar bookstore called Bard’s Towne Books & Bourbon. It’s in a pop-up stage right now, but she’s doing a great job. IG here: https://www.instagram.com/btbooksandbourbon/. Keep her in mind for any future poetry themed podcast eps or book clubs!
Thank you! Looks cute.