Being a mum of 3, a parent carer to my 6 year old, and being self employed means I don’t have a lot of time for me! When going to the supermarket on your own looks like the highlight of your week, it’s time to make a few changes.
2024 was the year I turned 40 and I decided that I needed to have more time for something I love. That something is reading. As a child I spent hours reading books from Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, to the legend that is Terry Pratchett. As I got older and busier I went from reading most days, to most weeks, to a book a year!
Towards the end of 2023 I decided to join an online book club which is all about horror and fantasy books. It sparked my love of books again, and in the space of 2 months I’d read 9 books! My son then introduced me to tracking my reading through GoodReads and I decided that for 2024 I was going to set myself a reading challenge.
40 books for my 40th year!
It started well, I got through some books in a day. I read a few full series of books, including Syd Moore’s Essex witch museum, Lana Harper’s Thistle Grove witch series, and the fabulous T. L. Huchu’s Edinburgh night series (which I now need the 4th instalment!)
As Summer came to an end and my usual busy time of September and October spooky season came around my reading slowed down, by November I was 3 books off pace to get my 40 and I was sure I wouldn’t manage it.
Then as ‘luck’ would have it I was struck down with a flu bug just before Christmas and read 3 books in 4 days! (Including pumpkin spice cafe and cinnamon bun book store - cosy quick reads if you need them)
I finally completed my 40th book on 31st December. It felt like a huge achievement. I even treated myself by making myself a book wrap since I never get time normally.
New year New Goal
For 2025 I have opted for 48 books. This year I am also venturing into audiobooks which I’ve discovered I can rent from Bradford libraries on a fabulous handy app! Why audiobooks? Well unfortunately my eyes are getting slowly worse, and my lazy eye is definitely living up to its name. I am hoping audiobooks will give me a bit of a break from time to time, but also something to listen to whilst I’m sewing or ironing (rock n. Roll I know)
Books on my TBR pile this year:
- ACOTAR
- Ghost tree - Christina Henry
- a pile of Terry Pratchett books
- We hunt the flame - Hafsah Faizal
- Thursday murder club series
Excited to see how many I get through!
1 comment
Audiobooks can be great to listen to whilst doing something else. I got through loads of books on CD from the library back in the day whilst crafting.