“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

Stephen King

There was a knock at my office door. Phoebe peeked her head in to ask if her friend and her could come in for a moment. I nodded.  Her friend was wide eyed as she glanced around my office.

“You weren’t kidding,” her friend stated in amazement.

“I told you,” Phoebe said.

I looked at them questioningly. My stepdaughter Phoebe replied, “She only has three books total at her house.” Her friend was amazed at the number of books here.

Three books total? I couldn’t imagine. I looked around my office seeing it as a newcomer would. I had three bookcases and used part of my desk as a bookshelf. Plus, I have a table my husband may use when he needs space. I usually have books lined up there. Those are books that I plan to read soon. There were two large built-in bookcases in the den. My grandfather’s secretary held books in it as well and we added two bookcases: one in the kitchen and one in the hallway for cookbooks. Plus, we had four bookshelves in the master bedroom upstairs and a bookshelf in all the kids’ rooms.

“Yeah, we like to read,” I stated.

“Yes, I can tell,” replied the young lady.

Phoebe took her friend on tour of the rest of the bookshelves throughout the house.

We love books. Though I have found collecting books and reading books to be two very different hobbies!

I’m reading my ninth book this month. I set a reading goal of only 30 books this year as I wanted to focus on longer books.  For example, James Michener’s book Texas is over 1,000 pages long.

I am looking forward to expanding my literary horizons.

I’m planning to include a mix of genres, authors, and writing styles. I’d like to add more non-fiction to my list. I’d like to engage with diverse perspectives and voices that broaden my understanding of the world.

Crafting Your Reading List

I created reading ideas for each month of this year. I’m a little late posting the January ones. These are just ideas to try to enhance my reading experience. Feel free to pick whatever works for you and ignore what doesn’t. You can pick one topic each month or more. Just have fun with the list. There is a wealth of materials waiting to be discovered. (Many of the ideas are based on a US calendar.)

Possible reading list for 2024:

On your birthday month pick books by your favorite authors.

January ideas:

Read a book with the theme of winter.

Jan 5 is Twelfth Night. Read the Twelfth Night play by William Shakespeare. (One of my favorite comedies.)

Jan 15- Read a book in memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. Or read a book with the theme of civil rights.

Jan 17- Benjamin Franklin’s birthday. Read a book or documentary about Benjamin Franklin. Or read a book with the theme of the Revolutionary War. 

February ideas:

Celebrated as Black History Month. Read books by African American authors. My husband has been eyeing some of James Baldwin’s titles.

Feb. 14- Valentine’s Day. Pick a romance novel or a novel with the theme of love.

Feb 17- President’s Day. Pick a book (fiction or non-fiction) with a theme of a president.

Feb 29- Leap Year for 2024. Pick a book with the topic of Leap Year. 

March ideas:

Mar 8- International Women’s Day- pick a book by a female author. Or read about an important woman in history. Or read a book from a different culture.

March 12- Daylight savings time. Pick a book about time travel or time.

Mar 17- St Patrick’s Day.  Pick a book with a green cover. Or pick a book with an Irish theme.

Mar 21- Pick a theme related to spring.

March 31 is Easter this year, pick a book about Easter for Christians.

April ideas:

National Garden Month. Pick a theme of a garden.

Apr 22- Earth Day theme.

National Poetry Month. Pick a book of poems.

May ideas:

National Military Appreciation Month. Read a book with the theme of the U.S. military. Or pick a theme with a theme of war.

National Mental Health Awareness Month. Read a book (psychology or fiction) about mental health.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Read a book about sports or fitness.

May 4- Free Comic Book Day. Visit a Comic Shop for free comic books.

May 5- Cinco de Mayo. Read about Mexico’s history or from a Mexican author.

May 12- Mother’s Day. Read a book with the theme of mothers.

June ideas:

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: June is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Read a book from an LGBTQ+ author or theme.

National Safety Month: Read a book on the theme of safety or risk management.

June 19- Juneteenth: Read a book about abolishment of slavery.

June 16- Father’s Day- Read a book with the theme of fathers.

Summer Solstice. Read a book with a summer theme. 

June is the month with the longest day of the year. Pick a book with a theme of light and darkness.

July ideas:

July 4- Independence Day. Read a book with a patriotic theme. Or read a book about the Revolutionary War or war in general.

National Ice Cream Month- Try an Ice Cream Cookbook and try one of the recipes.

National Blueberry Month- pick a book with a blue cover.

August ideas:

Aug 8- International Cat Day. Pick a comic book or book with the theme of cats.

Aug 26- National Dog Day. Pick a comic book or book about the theme of dogs.

September ideas:

Labor Day: Celebrated on the first Monday of September.  Read a book about the theme of workers and laborers.

Remember September 11 or Patriot Day-this day commemorates the victims of the terrorist attacks. Read a magazine in memory of 9/11.

Sept 21- International Day of Peace. Read a book on the theme of peace.

Read a book with the theme of autumn.

National Hispanic Heritage Month. Read a book by Hispanic and/or Latino American authors.

Sept. 29- National Coffee Day: Read a book on the theme of coffee.

21 Best Books About Coffee You’ll Ever Read [2024 Update] (beanpoet.com)

October ideas:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read a book related to the theme of breast cancer or cancer in general.

Oct. 31- Halloween. Read a book in the horror section. Or read supernatural thrillers. Or books about witches., etc.…

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Read a book based on technology or cyber security. Or read cybersecurity novels.

November ideas:

Thanksgiving: Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Pick a Thanksgiving themed book.

National Native American Heritage Month. Read a Native American author or about the history of Native Americans.

National Diabetes Month and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Pick books on these topics. Pick a book about health concerns, etc..

National Family Caregivers Month. Read a book with a caregiver.

Nov 11- Veterans Day: Read a book about military veterans. Read a war themes book, etc.

December ideas:

Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa themed books.

Pick a book with a winter theme.

December is the month of the darkest night of the year. Read about the theme of darkness and light.

December 31- New Year’s Eve. Pick a book with a New Year’s Eve theme.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

C.S. Lewis