If you’ve ever found that putting a book on your “to-read shelf” has led to an inevitable avoidance of reading said book, I’m in the same boat. It seems to be much easier window shopping through bookstores and picking up novels that cycle endlessly through Instagram and Tik-Tok than actually taking the time to read them. To counteract these habits, I’ve assigned each month of 2024 a book to complete as a goal to stay dedicated to my reading and to spark some inspiration for fellow readers! Here are my picks for 2024:
January: “The Winners” by Fredrik Backman
This is the finale to the “Beartown” trilogy, and I am eager to finish the heart-wrenching story surrounding a hockey town in Sweden and the people who make this fictional place unforgettable. It’s a perfect way to spend time inside during the winter months.
February: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
I shamefully admit that I have picked up and put down this book numerous times, but I’ve dedicated February to finally reading this infamous love story that still holds a prominent influence in the modern day.
March: “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan
In anticipation of a busy spring, I’ve selected this short read for March that has caught the eye of many readers since its release in 2021. Keegan’s prose and ability to fit life size characters into her novels comes to fruition in this historical fiction novel set in 1980s Ireland.
April: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
Despite this being such a notable novel and considering its recent rise in popularity, I’ve still had a hard time picking up this piece of literature by Oscar Wilde. However, its stark themes that deal with morality, youth, and beauty promise an unforgettable read.
May: “IQ84” by Haruki Murakami
As a dedicated reader of Murakami, I’ve chosen to ignore his largest novel of over 1000 pages despite it being known as one of his best works. So, in anticipation of the end of school, I know I’ll have enough time to finally tackle this book.
June: “Just Kids” by Patti Smith
Hopeless, romantic, and youthful is all that I can ask for in a summer read. In the midst of my break from school I’ll be reading my first novel by Patti Smith, and I have high expectations for her work regarding adolescence and love.
July: “Birnam Wood” by Eleanor Catton
If the New York Times has written a review on a book, you can be confident that it’s worth the read. What critic Dwight Garner calls a “fast moving ecological novel and a generational cri de coeur” will prove to be an exciting undertaking for July.
August: “Beloved” by Toni Morrison
I’ve only read one other novel by Morrison, “The Bluest Eye”, and I am eager to continue reading more of her extensive oeuvre, starting with “Beloved”. This book is held in high regard by everyone who reads it, and I am certain that I will too after reading it.
September: “Babel” by R.F. Kuang
Debuting at the top of New York Times Best Seller list, this intricate fiction book promises an entertaining story set in a dystopian 1830s England that deals with themes of imperialism, power, academia, and violence.
October: “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
As an English major, it feels like a betrayal to not have already read “Dracula”, so I’ll be saving this iconic work for the month best suited for all things spooky.
November: “Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin
This past November I read my first James Baldwin novel, the well known and loved “Giovanni’s Room”, a beautifully written and tragic love story set in Paris. He has easily moved up my favorite author list, and I am anticipating another thought provoking book in this next read.
December: “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Last but not least, “Before the Coffee Gets Cold.” The book cover is enough to convince me this is the perfect snowy December read. Cats, coffee, and time travel are exactly how I want to be ending my 2024.
Whether these picks have inspired you to join me in reading these specific books or prompted you to make a list of your own, I have high hopes that you too will conquer the dreaded to-read shelf in 2024.