A reading experiment

My blog has been forgotten by me. Not on purpose, but life happened, and there was suddenly insufficient time for it. But the time since my last entry has also allowed me to figure out what to do and how to do it. To start at the beginning...

New Year's Eve - 2022

I'm not a fan of making new year's promises, mostly because I know I will break them sooner or later. I'm simple that way; I know I lack the stamina to stay away from the pleasures of life; good food and drink, chocolate and funky stuff. Measuring every ounce and gram of everything, despising my own reflection in the mirror and so on - oh my god, I'm done bringing myself down and feel like a complete failure over and over again. So, as I stood there in the snow with a glass of terrible champagne, I made a vow: My new year's resolution would bring me joy.

I would read for pleasure again. 

Many years have passed since I last managed to sit down, turn off the world and dive headfirst into a novel of my own choice. In my many years of studying subjects like history, music, language and didactics, I had read hundreds, if not thousands of pages - because I had no other choice. I lost the ability to read for pleasure. Reading had become strictly business.

So, this year is going to be different. I installed a "reading timer" on my phone, added books I knew I wanted to read and set my goal: 30 books and at least 1 hour of reading daily. I chose to combine physical books and audiobooks since I was out of practice, and to be honest: a well-read audiobook is just as satisfying as the one I make inside my head when I read.

It felt like a quest, I was entering the world of fiction again!

And from now, my blog will be linked to this literary adventure. I will post updates from my quest and book recommendations. 

Started on January 11th - and my god: I am hooked! So far, I've read these titles:

• Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman
• The Gilded Ones #2 - The Merciless Ones - Namina Forna
• The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss
• The Wren Hunt - Mary Watson
• Tin - Pádraig Kenny
• Maus - Art Spiegelman
• Scythe - Neal Shusterman
• Thunderhead - Neal Shusterman
• The Subtle Knife - Phillip Pullman
• The Call - Peadar O'Guilin
• On Tyranny - Timothy Snyder

So beware, I will share - when I have the time.