Reading Goals for 2025

On September 8 I wrote about my 2024 reading goals.  While you can see from that post that I have a few concerns about setting reading goals, I do like having them overall, and want to set some for 2025.  

1. Read 50 books.  So far this year (as of December 19), I've read 64 books.  I've already met the 50 book goal, but 64 books seems like an anomaly compared to previous years.  I'm going to keep the number at 50 for 2025.
2. Read 18,000 pages. My average book size this year was 360 pages.  If I read 50 books, that will be 18,000 pages.  Number of pages is a new goal for me.  I'm able to do it because I have created a Story Graph account.  Story Graph will convert audiobooks to number of pages.  
3. Read at least four Spiritual Development books. 
4. Read at least 30% new books.  As of today, 53% of the books I have read have been new to me.  I like re-reads, but I don't want to only re-read.  Hence this goal.

This isn't a reading goal, but I also want to revamp how I track my reading in my bullet journal and in my reading journal, so I'm giving that some thought. 

I'm keeping updated accounts in both Good Reads and Story Graph.  So far that hasn't proven to be an issue at all. I like what each one provides even though at first blush it might seem duplicative. 

I love data!

By the way, this is an image from UnSplash of someone else's library. Do you love to look at pictures of wonderful libraries?  I do.

Update on End of Year Book Tag

I thought I would take a moment to update the End of Year book tag post that I uploaded on November 11. After that, I'll talk (later this week) about the reading goals I'm setting for 2025.

Is there a book you have started that you would like to finish by the end of the year?

I finished Hounded - a book I started on January 25.  I also finished Go Tell the Bees that I'm Gone by Diana Gabaldon - a book I started sometime in 2021.  I discovered (she says facetiously) that if you read a little bit of a book each day, you can get to the end.  I found as I read these books, that I wanted to read a little bit more than a little bit each day.  Two books down that I have wanted to finish. 

Do you have an autumnal book to transition to the end of the year with?

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, my sort of autumnal book. 

Is there a new release you are still waiting for?

The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2) by Nora Roberts was released on November 19.  I read it (listened to it). 

What are three books you want to read by the end of the year?

As of November 19, this was my TBR so far for the rest of the year:

• Inheritance (The Lost Bride Trilogy #1) by Nora Roberts - Finished.
• Artificial Conditions (Murderbot #2) by Martha Wells - Finshed today.
• Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood - Finished.
• All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas - Finished - maybe before Advent or very close to the beginning of it.
• The Mirror by Nora Roberts - Finshed.
• Hounded by David Rosenfelt - Finished.

Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

The Mirror was a five star read for me - a new favorite. That's not shocking.