Setting personal reading goals for 2023

Every year I sit down and think, “should I set personal resolutions this year?” and every year the answer is the same, “no”. However, I still set personal goals. This is how I achieve everything, and why I never dream up resolutions. This year, my primary objective is based on reading for fun. Sounds terrible, right?

My “to-be-read” pile has blossomed over the last few years. There are more unread books and comics in my home than I care to admit. A lot of this is benign. People know I like books and reading, so I end up with this stuff as gifts. Additionally, I buy myself books. Over time this accumulates because I have a habit of overestimating the amount of time I’ll have to dedicate to reading. Schedules change, I spend too much time in libraries, and life always has no end to unexpected events that seem to exist solely for gobbling up free time. A couple of years ago because I had a long commute I was able to read, almost uninterrupted for about three hours a day, five days a week. It was glorious.

During that time I was racing through books and magazines and what have you. Sadly, I’m not able to do that anymore and I have a collection of things just begging for my time and attention. This year I decided to take stock of that and have made the very reasonable choice of reading, at least, 12 books for leisure this year. I’m not talking about stuff for work or obligations like writing reviews. I’m going to make it a point to read through one book a month, no matter the length for 2023.

My first selection is Songs of the Sun and Moon: Tales of the Changing Breeds. It’s a collection of short fiction that was written to support the Werewolf: the Apocalypse tabletop role-playing games for the World/Chronicles of Darkness. I’ll put up a review on it after. This has been a book that I acquired a long time ago and has finally decided to read. 1/12. I’ll compile a list as I make my way through the year.

For now, it’s enough to know that I’ve put myself to the task, and publicly declared my intentions. Once it’s out there, there’s no going back and people are allowed to shame and ridicule me (lovingly, of course) for making good on my commitment. Besides, reading is good for the mind and the soul. Why wouldn’t I do it?