book blog Archives - Hygge Dreamer

Agatha Christie Reading Challenge

As a lover of the classics, I could not believe how long it took me to read my first Agatha Christie book. It was just a few days before Halloween in 2017 that I picked up Murder on the Orient Express. The book was the movie edition, so I’m fairly certain I planned to read it before the movie, but I never actually did get around to the movie.

I absolutely loved my reading experience with this book. Poirot is such a cool character, and Agatha Christie writes her books – most of them at least – in a way where I can never guess who the killer is. I love the mystery of it all. With Murder on the Orient Express, the book is broken up into parts, which I really liked. It was a unique reading experience, and I can honestly say I’m so glad that I picked that book up to read!

This Agatha Christie Reading Challenge is self-imposed and ongoing. I don’t want to say I’ll finish this in a year or even two years. It’s been nearly 6 years, and I still read her books off and on when I feel like picking them up. I try to read the books in order of the series, so with Poirot, I did start at book one eventually, and with Miss Marple, I’ve only ever read the first book (so, of course, I need to revisit it one day). I’ve then read a handful of her standalone, but there is such a huge catalogue of books that this will definitely take some time!

Note: This is by no means all of what Agatha Christie has published, but this is what I’m focusing on right now. Maybe one day, when I finally catch up with these, I’ll dive into even more of her catalogue.

2023 Classics Reading Challenge

Who here loves a good classic read?

I do!

It has been only about four years or so since I first started reading and loving classic literature. I recall watching various BookTubers discuss their favourites, and I really wanted to be able to know what they were talking about!

It was Lucy the Reader’s video on Easy Classics For Beginners that really got the ball rolling for me. A few of her recommendations included Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte and Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. I picked them up and loved them both, especially Agnes Grey. I had to read more classics, so I watched more videos, and soon my shelves were overflowing!

Of course, while I have a load of classics on my shelves, that doesn’t mean I’ve read them all, so now I like to find ways to challenge and motivate myself.

My Exciting Adventure Reading Stephen King

Back in 2017, I picked up my first Stephen King book.

Actually, that’s a lie.

Let’s go back to the days when I would go to the library with my mom, and I would be one of those overly ambitious readers, bringing home books I knew I was never going to finish.

I remember bringing home books like Thinner and Needful Things and getting through maybe half of them, but then I’d lose interest and not finish reading them.

I had great goals to read Stephen King, but he wasn’t for me.

The 2023 Bookish Books Reading Challenge

I love a good book.

But do you know what’s even better than a good book? A good book – about books!

There’s something so meta about reading a book involving book lovers, or that takes place in a library, or that jumps from book to book within that book. It’s like a secret that only book lovers can appreciate.

When I saw this reading challenge over on Susan’s blog Bloggin’ ’bout Books, I knew I had to sign up. I could already think of a handful of books with book themes on my shelves that I wanted to read, and what better motivation to read them than a reading challenge?

Simple & Relaxed: My 2023 Reading Goals

If the past three years have taught me anything, it’s that being busy isn’t a lifestyle I want to choose for myself. I absolutely LOVE my downtime. One of my favourite times of day is when everyone goes to bed, and I can cozy up in my room with a good book (especially if the window is open and a nice cool breeze comes through). I really wanted my 2023 reading goals to reflect that.

My 2023 Reading Goals

Make lists – but don’t stick to them.

Or, in other words – don’t feel like I HAVE to stick with them. Personally, I love to compile and list or stack of books I would love to read in the month, but chances are I’ll throw the list away and read what I want. Sometimes I might stick with it, but it’s rare. I don’t want to force myself to read something I don’t want to read.