May | 2015 | Ellayne Shaw

On a whim, I decided to undertake a reading challenge for 2015. It only makes sense to do it because sometimes I get caught up in other narratives (ah, Netflix, my sweetest downfall…I loved you first. I loved you first…) and honestly forget how much I enjoy reading. There’s something magical about the written word, and it’s quite a different experience to watching a story visually unfold.

This is what I’m aiming for this year…

Just as I had a really good reason to tune out the world in favor of Doctor Who (reboot) marathons, I also had a really good reason to pick up this reading challenge. Writers need to read: it’s as simple as that. Need. Not should, ought to, probably would be better off if they did, but need to read. So when I stumbled across a reading challenge, I decided, “Why not?” and committed to reading 50 books in a year. For someone who reads slowly, this is no small commitment, so I’m trying to balance my more serious reading with lighter fare.

I’m trying to plan my reading according to my “to read” list on Goodreads to see if I can hack away at it a bit–a Sisyphean task since I only keep adding new ones to the list. Ah well. Currently, I’m one book ahead of my reading schedule, although I was several books up earlier this year. Then life caught up and Doctor Who became my companion. (Heh.)

Without further ado, the list of books I’ve read so far this year:

Description and Setting by Ron Rozelle
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
Arcanum 101 by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Unenchanted by Chanda Hahn
Fairest by Chanda Hahn
Fable by Chanda Hahn
Reign by Chanda Hahn (These four were a YA series that I ate up.)
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (SO good!)
The Courage to Teach by Parker J. Palmer
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (breathtaking)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (highly recommend)
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Allegiant by Veronica Roth (This was a fun romp, but not as much substance as I’d hoped for in the end.)
Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith
What was Lost: a Christian Journey through Miscarriage by Elise Erikson Barrett*
The Taming of the Chew by Denise Lamothe (ok)
Everblue by Brenda Pandos (like a mermaid version of Twilight…DO NOT recommend)

So this is where I’m at so far in the challenge. I’ve read a decent chunk of YA lit, but I’ve also read several good nonfiction books and dabbled in the classics. I only regret a few books on this list, so that’s not so bad, eh?

Until next time!