Reading Goals for 2026

                     

Image by Nong/Californong from Unsplash

Happy New Year! 

I have waffled about this post for a month: pondered ditching it entirely, altering, or leaving as is. In the end, I decided that I don't want to make any goals for 2026, apart from just reading off the shelves and only what calls to me (well . . . there will be book club reads, but that's another story). But, I'm leaving what I wrote a month ago as I wrote it below because I'll have the goals I originally intended in the back of my head and might want to refer back to them, goal-free or not. 

For now . . . my only goal is to enjoy my reading — from my home library. I'll still do the monthly wrap-ups here because I like using my blog as an additional recording device (in addition to the monthly calendar on which I record all finished reads). My December, 2025 Reads and 2025 Reads posts will be up as soon as I manage to upload photographs to the December Reads post. 

Here are the original goals/post I've decided to ditch, for now, written in early December:

New year, new goals! I always love starting out a fresh year with new reading plans. I will note that while I create specific goals and aim toward them, I have learned that life simply refuses to stop interfering with my reading plans. So, nothing is set in stone. These are just goals that I will aim for. If I don't reach them, I'm not going to be sad. I'll just move on. Without further ado . . . 

2026 Reading and Other Goals:

1. Keep reading from my home library only (as much as possible) - Toward the end of the year, when our beloved Isabel sickened and then we had to say goodbye to her (and other things happened), I made some significant stress book purchases. I don't feel guilty; I needed a little bolstering. But, I did revert to reading mostly new books and I want to resume my goal to stop buying and read what I already own. 

2. Purchases should be exceptions - This is often a #fail, although I did have one very good book-buying ban year. But I'm going to keep trying. If I absolutely can't bear not to buy a book because my library doesn't have it and/or I need it for book group discussion, fine. But, I want to minimize my purchases. I have a terrific home library and I need to focus on shopping from my own shelves. I leave myself open to the possibility of stress purchasing if needed. Books are my upper of choice. 

3. Read specific books I've meant to get to - I have a small stack but my priority book is Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley, which my childhood bestie sent me when I was reading Gone With the Wind. I put it on last year's priority list and then totally forgot about it, even though the book has literally been sitting on a chair in my living room since it arrived. Seriously, it's right there (the chair is decorative; nobody sits on it so the book only moves when we clean the floors). I am ridiculous. Others are the Lord of the Rings series, In the Beginning by Nick Girard, and Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (because my eldest son wants me to read it). I keep thinking about others I might want to add, which is probably a bad idea but I mean to be flexible so I'll stop here. 

4. A year of poetry - I am rewriting #4 as I originally planned to keep reading Persephone books as part of my challenge but then I thought, "Maybe I can just do that without making it a challenge item, again?" And, at any rate, I was going to do 1/2 Persephone, 1/2 classics, alternating instead of focusing on one or the other. However, recently I asked for advice on poetry that's accessible and I got literally 4 full pages of suggestions, which led to the purchase of a stack of poetry books. I also have a couple of books about poetry. The reason I specified "accessible" poetry is because it's not something I studied beyond junior high, so I can definitely use a bit of instruction on how to read and understand poetry, although I am of the camp that also believes it's fine taking what you feel from a poem rather than trying to analyze it to death. Anyway. Poetry. Yes. 

5. Continue posting monthly wrap-ups to the blog - I doubt I'll ever return to writing full reviews (although I'm not totally ruling it out if I ever feel like returning full-time) but I'm very happy writing the monthly wrap-ups. I keep an open file and write about each book immediately (or very soon) after reading, while they're still fresh in my mind and then all I have to do is photograph my stack and flatlay, et voilà. One exception: If I read something so fabulous I have to talk about it, I may pop in and do a full review. While I am no longer reviewing for publishers, I also leave that option open and will do a review if I ever accept a book from a publisher, again. However, I don't have a NetGalley account (mine ceased to function eons ago, so I finally just canned it) and most offers are for e-books, so it's unlikely I'll do many ARC reviews, if any at all. 

6. Numbers - I always set my Goodreads goal a little lower than my mental goal so that I can be assured I'll reach at least one goal. I know, cheating. But, it works for me so I'm going to set my goal at 100 books while really aiming for 150. However, if I don't make it to 150 because I have a couple of very large reads in mind, no biggie. Also, in the grand scheme of things, I just like numbers so I count pages and books and  such because of my addiction to math. I'm less concerned about the goal, more about the fun. I will say I think Goodreads absolutely ruined the look of their challenge in 2025; I've only continued at GR because I already have so many records, there. I'll never understand bad updates. 

Note on comments: I still screen all comments so don't worry if your comment doesn't appear immediately. I do still check the blog and will approve and reply to legitimate comments, although sometimes I forget to check comments for a few days. I also still delete spam; spam will never show up here. No hinky links allowed, even if your comment sounds reasonable. 

Wishes for a Glorious Year to You and Happy Reading to All! 

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