Reading list for 2015!

Here's proof!

When I think about the past year with respect to reading, the dominant thought is about somehow completing the Goodreads Reading Challenge. Midway I'd realized that it'd be difficult to achieve that goal, but I was stubborn about not reducing it, and hence ended up scouring for tiny books to make it happen. Of course, I also loved reading those books, tiny or large, but it didn't feel right. Plus, it's been three years of quantitative reading goals, so this year, I've planned a change. I'll read a lot, of course, but I wouldn't count the number of books. I would make choices based on what I 'feel' like reading, and not because it's a bestseller and I 'have' to try it. I wouldn't look at the size either. 

~ 2014 Review ~

It was a good year for books and reading. Not only did I read more classics and different genres, I looked at books and stories with an even wider perspective. Beginning my professional life that's also centered on books, I had more exposure to the different kinds of books, themes and readership. It was incredible, and it was fun. Now that the base has been set, I'm sure the coming year would be mature and super exciting with books.

Some noteworthy books from what I read the past year would include:

1. Short stories by Edgar Allan Poe. I hadn't read Poe before, and it was a nice surprise to discover the genre in which he wrote. It was just so different, and remarkably crazy, from what I'd ever read. The Tell Tale Heart would be my favourite of the lot! 

2. More classics. I finally got down to reading Dracula by Bram Stoker, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury and a few others. These were mostly because of an online course I undertook, but still. They were just so worth it!

3. The Quilt and other stories by Ismat Chughtai. A well-known Urdu writer, Ismat Chughtai writes about women in bold prose and clever writing. It was great to read a writer like her. ^_^

4. The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey. So wonderfully different in terms of story and writing style!

5. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith. Successor to Robert aka J.K. Rowling's The Cuckoo's Calling. Cormoran Strike is as incredibly observant as ever.

6. Fida-e-Lucknow by Parveen Talha. A heart-warming collection of stories based around the partition of India. It recounts stories from Lucknow, the culturally rich city in UP, India. If you've been wondering what it was like for those whose families were forced to move to Pakistan, you could pick up this book.

7. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. Among those rare books whose movies are just as good! :D

8. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. A heart-warming story of a boy with a facial deformity, Wonder talks about kindness, childhood, tolerance, family and human relationships. 

These were majorly the books I remember with utmost vividness and fondness. Funny that only around 10 books of 61 made it to this list. I hope going the qualitative way would give better results.

~ 2015 List ~

Considering the piling number of books that lie unread at home, my reading goals this year would be to:

Some of 'em!

# 1. Reread favourite books

Until a few years ago, I used to read the same, good books over and over again, getting new ones sparingly. Although reading variety and different genres has been amazing, and I'd still continue that, I'd also be rereading those books I've read so far and loved. These would include:

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (Started with The Philosopher's Stone. The awesome feel! *_*)

2. Wonder by R.J. Palacio (this time, with The Julian Chapter)

3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

4. A secret book I share with a friend.

# 2. The forever-been-pending books

Those books I'd always meant to read but so far haven't. It is seriously worrisome when you see unread books going yellow. Yikes!

1. Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson 

2. Short Stories by Anton Chekov (Plus, this is a borrowed book. It should be a priority.)

3. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (Gifted ^_^)

4. His Dark Materials trilogy (Gifted again! ^_^ This would be read with great enthusiasm. It seems very cool.)

5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Note to self: Don't be scared. I've heard it's slightly more manageable than A Thousand Splendid Suns when it comes to the emotions department.)

6. And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (Depending on whether or not I survived The Kite Runner. And depending on the time gap between the two.)

7. The Hundred Names of Darkness by Nilanjana Roy. Have I gushed enough about how I got a chance to meet this author and found out she's just so sweet a person? Being a fan of her debut novel The Wildings, I attended the launch event of her second book. That's a different matter that it's been just over a year since then and I haven't read it yet. This will be one of the books I'll be picking up really soon.

8. 365 Days of Wonder. This cute collectible has 365 brilliant precepts and quotes to make life meaningful and easy to understand. It's based around Wonder, and it's wonderful!
9. The Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam. Saw it once in a fabulous bookstore, then found it after months at a great price somewhere else.
10. Love Among the Bookshelves by Ruskin Bond. It's an autobiographical sort of book, it seems, talking about how Ruskin Bond fell in love with reading and what inspired him. This was a thoughtful gift from a friend. ^_^

# 3. Classics

This will include the unread books in the TBR pile, plus a select few, popular books. I haven't yet decided on the titles for the latter category, because I want to make that choice whenever I feel up to it, or when I come across something that really excites me. For the former category:

1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (bought on impulse)

2. Rip Wan Winkle and other stories. I've had this book since forever, but never got down to reading it. Let's just get this over with!

3. 1001 Arabian Nights. The edition I have is pretty cool. It doesn't seem much to look at, but when you find it written in non-simplified English, almost like (or exactly like) the original, with footnotes for explanations, it's hard not to feel excited. I mean, I didn't even know the background of these stories until I got the book. It's a big book, so I might be keeping it for bedtime reading. It'll take months if read purely for pleasure.
4. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Frankly, it was Cormoran Strike who made me want to read Sherlock after years!

# 4. The for-review pile

This one would be the hardest to get through, but it has to be done. Those pending books won't let me be unless I write about them. There isn't a list for those either. It'll be pick-and-choose! 

# 5. Listen to 'em
I think I'll listen to at least five audiobooks. I've so far experienced just one, The Secret Garden. Though I still don't consider it in the same league as reading, I'd like to try some. Any recommendations?

This is it for now. Do you find yourself associated with any of these? Would you recommend something to me? :) What are your reading goals for this year?