It’s time for my annual “what I read this year” post! About five years ago I started photo journaling the books I read each year, for my personal benefit, and for my friends and readers. I get many messages all year every year, asking for book recommendations. A photo journal has become the easiest way to keep track and to be able to quickly refer people to new titles, along with a short review.
Without further ado, here are the interesting reading facts, in the form of the questions I get most often:
What was your 2021 reading goal? I set a goal to read 65 books during the year. However, I quickly realized that I had made an unrealistic goal. We bought a ministry property and moved (a crazy process that took 7 months). It was a roller coaster year for many reasons. I considered doing what I did two years ago- cut my goal in half- but even that seemed unreachable. So I decided to just read what I could, and scrapped my goal. At the end of the year, even I was surprised at the results.
Did you reach your reading goal? How many did you read? While I didn’t reach my goal, I did end up reading 27 books in 2021. That is still an average of just over 2 books per month. This year was so bizarre in that I even forgot to record my books consistently along the way, making me think even now that I have possibly forgotten some that I read. But I can remember 27 of them, so I’ll go with it!
Where can I view your album? Here is the link to my 2021 reading journal. You will find a photo of each book and a short review.
It’s a public album so you should have no trouble accessing it. Enjoy, and I hope you find some good reading material for 2022!
One final question- What is your reading goal for 2022? I’m turning 40 later this year, so I think it will be fun to aim for that many books as well. I’ve already finished my first book (it was fantastic!) and started my new public Facebook album, so feel free to follow along for ideas. And I’d love to have ideas from you all as well!
Happy reading!
I don’t set a reading goal per se at the start of the year, but I’m always reading. I do like your practice of doing a photo log of the books you read during the year. Think I’ll use that this year. For me, I have the habit of a few pages almost of everyday in these genres — Bible reading with some type of written guide (i.e., Tabletalk), devotional (to read in the evening), Christian self-help, and a non-fiction, non- Christian book (love biographies!), and once in a while I’ll throw in a classic or fun novel. Get most of my books used, but I find many treasures that way. Will check out some of the books you mentioned. Don’t you just love comparing “reading stacks”? I do! God bless and Happy New Year!