I participated in the Goodreads Reading Challenge for the first time in 2015 with a goal of 50 books. I read 54.

My goal for 2016 was 60 books. I did it!

I upped the goal to 65 books for 2017 and read 70. So I set my goal at 70 books for 2018 and read 71.

This year, I’m cutting back to 35 books because a few of those novels will be selected from the 100 Essential Novels poster my sister gave me for my birthday last year. Many are considered classics and may take longer to read.

I’m also cutting back on my reading goals because I’ll be writing more than usual this year. (One novella and three novels plus starting a fourth!)

The first two books on the 100 Essential Novels list are Don Quixote and Robinson Crusoe. I’ve read both those books before and have no plans to read either one ever again.

The third book is Pride and Prejudice. I’ve read it several times but it’s a favorite. So it’s the first book I’ll be reading this year.

What about you? Will you join the Goodreads Reading Challenge? What books do you plan to read this year?