Hello, Dear Readers!
Each year I make a list of every book I read (or at least close…sometimes I forget to write one down) and the number of pages! I do this for a few reasons: 1) I want to be able to look back at the books I’ve read and be reminded of the fun worlds, important learning, and great ideas! 2) I want to see how many pages were involved because sometimes the number of books seems low to me until I realize that a few of them were over 1,000 pages (I don’t think that happened this year, though…haha). And 3) This one is the most important! I want to be able to tell YOU about all of these great books and talented authors so that you can get inspiration for your own reading in the new year! Even if you only pick one of these books to read in 2019, I feel like it’s a win!
Looking at my list for 2018, my first reaction is to be disappointed. The list is small, and many of the books I had wanted to read didn’t get any attention from me. And while I think it’s good to see where I would have liked to improve (and set some new goals for 2019), I also need to reflect on 2018 and give myself some grace. I hope you’ll do the same! 2018 held a LOT of ups and downs for me. I sank into a depression deeper than it had been in about ten years, I quit a job in a place I loved, clawed my way mostly out of that depression (don’t kid yourself into thinking I found this easy or entirely possible), began to find my own as an artist (of many kinds), began work on several new projects and continued work on past projects, volunteered, did some public speaking at a few events, helped plan other events, was in one of the best weddings ever, got a NEW job in the same place I love, supported friends and family through highs and lows, led an enneagram group for women, began a new diet and fitness lifestyle and lost some weight, and sometimes remembered to eat (but let’s be real…most of 2018 was spent living on coffee). And sometimes, I even read a book! Whew! Now my list doesn’t look so bad right? So I am giving myself grace and honestly, just being impressed that I could live life and read books without completely falling over. I know that MAY not seem so hard, but I am a through-and-through klutz.
A few things to know about reading this list:
*The page numbers are subjective to the version of the book being read, so take those numbers with a grain of salt.
*I read a lot of poetry and YA because those are the two genres I tend to write in the MOST, but not exclusively. Also, I just really enjoy them… let’s be real.
* There are books on this list that I swore I wouldn’t be embarrassed to admit to reading and that was just a little too optimistic of me! I’ll admit to some mild shame, and say that I’m listing them anyway because I think if you can read something that you actually WANT to read and it brings you joy, go for it. So now that I’ve owned up to it, you have nothing to fear in your own book choices. You’re welcome!
*I have made a goal for myself in 2019 to read 50 books. I have made this goal every year for the last 3 or 4 years and I haven’t met it yet. I’m not quitting! It will happen. You should make yourself a goal and a plan and let me know about it! I’m very curious. And this list that is NOT 50 books long can make you feel good about WHATEVER your goal is, and share it with me!
So, without further ado, here is the list of books that I read in 2018! Enjoy!
- The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss 1,000 pages
- The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace 199 pages
- Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur 207 pages
- The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss 159 pages
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 387 pages
- At Home With Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott 285 pages
- Caterpillar Kisses by Christine Pisera Naman 112 pages
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 374 pages
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 439 pages
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 398 pages
- The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One by Amanda Lovelace 191 pages
- Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor 532 pages
- The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert 359 pages
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert 273 pages
- 7 by Jen Hatmaker 228 pages
- Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers 464 pages
- Divergent by Veronica Roth 487 pages
- Insurgent by Veronica Roth 525 pages
- Allegiant by Veronica Roth 592 pages
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling 320 pages
- Depression & Other Magic Tricks by Sabrina Benaim 75 pages
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling 341 pages
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling 433 pages
- LESS by Rachel Aust 144 pages
- Yesterday I Was The Moon by Noor Unnahar 160 pages
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling 736 pages
- Simple Matters by Erin Boyle 192 pages
- The Zimzum of Love by Rob and Kristen Bell 160 pages
- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett 324 pages
- How To Be Here by Rob Bell 210 pages
- The Road Back To You by Ian Morgan Cron 238 pages
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling 872 pages
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 104 pages
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 434 pages
And there you have it! My reading list from 2018. I’m excited to see what adventures await me in 2019, and I can’t wait to hear from you about yours!
(Also, if you were keeping track, that’s 11,954 pages).
Fair reading!
Sincerely,
Dannika
Dannika Lauren 
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