Mid-Year Bookish Goals Update

At the beginning of the year, I set six bookish goals for myself. Here’s a quick update on how I’m doing after 6 months of 2021.

Goal #1 – Read 100 Books

Same as 2020 and 2019, I set a goal to read 100 books. I met the goal with 102 in 2020 for the first time. As of June 30, I had read 65 books! This is about 15 ahead of the goal pace according to Goodreads and about 30 ahead of 2020 (I fell really behind but had a great fall). I feel pretty good about my pace and this goal. I think I’ll end between 100 and 110 unless something unforeseen happens, the holidays tend to slow things down at the end of the year.

Goal #2 – Read Diverse Genres

While looking back at my 2020 reads, I realized just how fantasy heavy my reading had been. So I challenged myself in 2021 to read more diverse genres. I’ve been tracking genres and making a conscious effort to branch out. I’ve actually been struggling with fantasy lately and I’ve been presently surprised by a few nontraditional picks. I think I’m doing pretty good so far but here’s my breakdown (including the 2 books I’ve read so far in July):

• Fantasy: 25 books
• Sci-Fi: 11 books
• Contemporary: 9 books
• Romance: 8 books
• Mystery/Thriller: 3 books
• Graphic Novel: 3 books
• Novel in Verse: 2 books
• Dystopian: 2 books
• Historical Fiction: 2 books
• Literary Fiction: 1 book
• Biography/Memoir: 1 book

Fantasy is definitely still winning but it’s actually been more even in the last few months since my fantasy slump.

Goal #3 – Read from Diverse Authors

Similar to goal #2, I challenged myself to read from diverse authors. Specifically, I set a goal of at least 1 book from a BIPOC author each month. I have met this goal each month and exceeded it reading two or more books by BIPOC authors every month except May. This actually hasn’t been hard to do, I’ve found my TBR tends to have BIPOC authors throughout but it is a good reminder and has made me more aware of it. Through June, of my 65 books read, 16 were by BIPOC authors. Not an overwhelming number but a step in the right direction.

Goal #4 – Participate in 2 Readathons

In December 2020, I participated in my first readathon (the Reindeer Readathon by Breakeven Books) and I had a great time. I wanted to participate again and find another. I’ve actually already met this goal and today I just signed up for number 3. I participated in Trope-ical Readathon in March, Whateverthon in June and signed up for the next Trope-ical Readathon in August. Readathons are really fun. I’m a little picky and only go for the month-long ones with a scoring system (I have no desire to go along a path myself, I need a team) but there are so many to choose from. I know I’ll hit four if the Reindeer Readathon comes back but maybe I’ll find some others too.

Goal #5 – Join a Book Club

So, I sort of met this one? I joined a book club online in January and read the book. Then it basically collapsed in February. So still looking but probably going to wait on this until COVID is really over and I can do it in person.

Goal #6 – Complete 4 Series

Oh boy, this is the goal that I’m totally slacking on. I thought it was an easy goal when I set it and then fantasy and I weren’t getting along and it’s been a bumpy road. This year I’ve finished an impressive zero series! I have made progress on some though and looking to finish The Illuminae Files very soon (only one book left) and The Throne of Glass Series eventually (this is a beast but only 2 of 7 left). I’ll get there but mostly struggling.

And that’s that. Not terrible, not great. How are your bookish goals going?