Looking back,
I think of the past year as a massive success when it comes to reading. After 3 years, it was in 2019 that I could meet my Goodreads Reading challenge. I finished reading 93 books last year; a record I never dreamt to make. I also started my Youtube channel ‘BadBookthief‘ where I review books and plan to do videos about my travels and poetry soon.
Here’s the link to it. Do visit and hit ‘subscribe’ so you never miss a post for me. You can also tell me what kind of content you would like to see up on the channel.
Talking of books, a lot of books I read this year simply astonished me for their sheer richness and the depth of ideas that exploded in my head for their brilliance leaving me gasping for breath.
Some of these books I picked up on an impulse and I am happy I did so. And then there were some I wish had left me alone. This blog post is a brief view of my bookish journey in 2019. This link will help you check out my books and the reviews in peace.
Let me now take you through my year in books, and I have Goodreads to thank, for doing the background work for me!
Let’s begin, shall we?
Here’s a summary.
Now a closer look at the books I read in 2019.
The first book I’d read:
And the last one:
Rebecca is one book I’ve managed to read every year and it feels just right to end the year with it.
That’s that!
For 2020, I hope to manage more awesome books and I would love to have book recommendations from you. Share your favorite titles in comment section below and why you liked them. I might pick it up and then we can together discuss it. What say? Also do tell how many books did you read in 2019 and what plans for 2020 reading challenge.
I shall take leave now.
Wishing you a very happy new year. May 2020 bring you more than you dream of!
Happy reading till we meet next.
Until then, carpe diem! 🙂
~~~~~
Asha Seth
Asha Seth 
Happy new year to you too!
93 books is a pretty good goal to have hit! I was meaning to read Bridge of Clay last year but I don’t know if I’ll get to it this year.
LikeLike
There’s always some book you wanted to read in a particular year or challenge and you don’t get around doing it. Bridge of Clay starts slow but when it picks up, it gets pretty amazing and emotional. Try and pick it this year. I shall review it soon then you catch up with it.
I do not have any reading challenges this year; I’m planning to take it slow. Guess I am just worn out after the mass read last year.
How many do you intend to read? Do you usually do reading challenges?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zusak is a good writer when it comes to the emotional – which is why I wanted to pick it up. Thanks! I’ll keep an eye out for that review.
I’ve put my goal around 75 but I’m hoping to read more. This will be the first year I’m trying year-round reading challenges. I’ve done some readathons before but they’re just month-long – so this will be fun trying to get the books read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you wish to grab a copy, the purchase link is right in the review. Year-long challenges are so much different than month-long ones. For one, you are not so tight-pressed to finish your targets. I hope you enjoy the annual readathon much. 75 is quite a goal and I wish you luck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do think I like to do more year-long rather than month-longs. Unless the month-long has some good prompts I can knock out a couple of books with 😄 thank you! To you too!
LikeLike
I like the rush short-term challenges bring. But the downside, I guess, is I don’t enjoy reading so much as rushing to meet targets when being chased by deadlines with a club.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True. I don’t like the rush of reading I find I have to do. But then the downside of year-long challenges is remembering you’re doing the challenge all year-long 😂
LikeLike
Hehe. It is tricky how these challenges work and change things around for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That it is!
LikeLike
Wow! 93 books and a YouTube channel, You Go Girl! I am very proud of you.
Sindy
LikeLike
Sindy, my friend. You’re one of my oldest blog buddies and I am so happy to be reading from you this year again. I have so much to do this year that at times I feel overwhelmed by the pressure of it all. I so need all your wishes! Thanks, honey. You too have an awesome year. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am SO proud of you. Keep it up. Are we friends on Facebook? If not let’s make that happen. I have 5000 friends and you can use my base girl to grow your audience.
LikeLike
93 is amazing. Congratulations.. 🙂
I will look up your goodreads list.:-) New Year Greetings.. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, PH. Checking out the GR list shouldn’t be a problem; I have shared the links in the post. I read some pretty amazing Indian authors and titles last year that you may want to checkout too.
A most amazing new year to you too. I am always surprised at everything you are able to achieve on your blog. I wish I could do the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will definitely have a look. Want to read more this year (on it. already reading third one this year).
Thank you so much. Means a lot.. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I plan to catch up with your list this year. You had quite some good titles the past year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I am definitely doing better this year. With list and reading, both. 🙂
LikeLike
That’s so exciting. What are you reading currently? I started reading The Book Thief this year again. But I am also chasing A Suitable Boy that Ive been reading since the past year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I am almost about to complete ‘Paper Towns’. 6th one of 2020.
The Book Thief is in my list, though a few of my friends found parts of it disappointing. How is it? I have heard good reviews of latter one. 🙂
LikeLike
Trust me, this book is a slow-moving beauty but never disappointing. Do not listen to anyone. Just pick it. And then tell me if you don’t like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did it finish it few days ago. Loved it! I will sure read more of Green’s works.
LikeLike
Best wishes for a healthy and happy new year!
LikeLike
Wish you the same and more, buddy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love reading but not 😏😏🤓🤓🧠🧠as much
LikeLike
Haha! That’s all of us. I am sure there must be other things catching up your interest.
LikeLike
Happy new year Asha, hope you have a fantastic 2020
LikeLike
Thank you, John. You have a splendid one. Glad you stopped by. 🙂
LikeLike
My Goodreads challenge was of 40 books and managed to read 42. I read some new authors like Elif Shafak & Neil Gaiman and absolutely loved their work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Shaloo, my sweet friend. How are you? Gaiman is such a favorite; I can never get enough of him. Are you planning to read more of him? We could do a buddy read together. I also tried Shafak’s Forty Rules and can’t say it was to my liking. Btw, 42 books is quite a deal too. Congratulations on making it. So what reading goals for this year?
LikeLike
Planning to read Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman next. Have heard such good things about Forty Rules. Have it on my Kindle and will read it too in coming months. The goal is to read at least sixty books. Let’s see how it goes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is 5 books a month. I usually pair up novels with short stories for big monthly goals. Do tell what all you read. Shaloo. 😊
LikeLike
That’s a good strategy. I have started listening to audiobooks now and am absolutely in love with audible. I finish at least one book per month by listening to audiobook while driving to work.
LikeLike
You’re one of the very few people who seem to love audiobooks. I just can’t connect with it.
LikeLike
Recommendations, if you like travel, as I see you do, Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, or The Diary of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Marquez. Or both. They are short and unusual and of excellent quality.
LikeLike
Hello, Silvia. I love Marquez and have read the title you’ve mentioned. He was one amazing writer. As for Invisible Cities, you won’t believe, I picked it up twice the last year but just couldn’t get into the flow of it and I put it off both times. I read Calvino’s short stories instead and loved them. I wonder if something’s wrong with me to not feel it the way other readers do.
Let more of them come, buddy. I am always so hungry for the best books. 😛
LikeLike
I believe you. Invisible Cities is odd. That happens to me occasionally, the not getting what others seem to get, LOL.
I will keep reviewing more, I also check out your titles for ideas. The best, as you say!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome. I might give it a try this year. Hoping I love it as much as Ive loved his other works. Im right back at ya on the 2020 titles, friend.
LikeLike
I loved reading Rebecca. I haven’t done much reading this year. Perhaps I will in 2020. I’m going to focus on myself and start going for my dreams. Happy New Year Asha and many blessings to you!
LikeLike
That’s an awesome plan, Kat. Chase your dreams and do let me know if I can be of any help or motivation. Rebecca is such a darling little book. I am always happy reading it. I am so glad for you as I can sense much calm in your words. I hope it stays that way forever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Asha. Thank you so much I appreciate it. I will let you know. Yes it is. I always enjoy reading. Thank you so much. I hope so too.
LikeLiked by 1 person