One of my all-time favorite pastimes was reading. I still enjoy it immensely, but it seems so much easier to turn on the TV or start doomscrolling through my phone’s social media apps than to sit down and crack open a book.

For that reason, I promised myself I would read 12 books this year. It was supposed to be one book a month, but I didn’t start until March and had to start catching up immediately. Mind you, I’m including audiobooks because why not? Both require attention and mental exercise to meaningfully consume.

I’m currently enjoying a more relaxed fantasy book called Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. It’s a good read, and I’m enjoying the more relaxed pace. It feels like I’m following the main character’s journey to a more peaceful future, and I can get behind that vibe.

This book is my seventh for the year. I’ve consumed the following:
A Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
State of Fear by Michael Crichton
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Artemis by Andy Weir

One of my goals moving forward is to avoid buying more books until I’ve read most of the ones on my shelves. We’ll see if that lasts! Looking over the stacks, and excluding my current read, I still have 46 unread or unfinished books, including 5 that are anthology books. That’s…maybe half or more of my collection. Look, I’m a slow reader, and I got a little overzealous at the last book fair! But I am chiseling through them; last year, I maybe read 4 or 5 books. This year, I’m prioritizing my owned ones. I’ve already finished 4 from my personal collection! Wish me luck!