5 Reading Goals for 2023
Goals + Ways to Read Deeper
Introduction
I’ll keep this intro brief. I want to set some book goals for 2023. I have thought of __ number of big goals (and within them are sub-goals) of things I would like to do/read this year. Hopefully you enjoy, and I hope it inspires you to set goals for your reading in 2023.
Author Deep Dives
I had this same goal last year with F. Scott Fitzgerald in mind but, after reading a novel, and one and a half books of his short stories, I gave up, and never felt like reading him for the rest of the year.
This year, although I have all of Fitzgerald’s finished novels and a lot of his short stories, I will try and do an author deep dive on Ernest Hemingway or Yukio Mishima. My goal here is just to get a deeper sense of the author’s works and their life. This would include possibly reading or watching a biography/documentary on them, reading (for Mishima I have an Imperialism In Japan during the 60–70s book), and any possible criticism or guides to reading their work. I hope to just get one of the two authors done this year.
Quality Over Quantity
I read 32 books (+ 3 re-reads) this past year. The year before that I read 39. However, although I read less (though not that much) I believe the depth of my reading was greatly improved.
One thing I learned in 2022 was that quality is more important than quantity. There was a point earlier in this year (and this was more so in 2021), where I was trying to rush through books because I wanted to ‘have read’ them. But I now can see that there is no point in that. There are two points to reading in my opinion: 1) for enjoyment; 2) to learn something. The second is most important to me, and if a book has both of these qualities to it then I think it is great. But, by reading fast and not absorbing what the book is saying (regardless if it’s fiction or non-fiction) then, you won’t be able to enjoy it to the fullest, and you won’t learn anything. Now, there are books that I fly through quite quickly, and they tend to be shorter, faster-paced books that you just can’t put down (Norwegian Wood), and that’s okay. You don’t have to examine every book that you read thoroughly.
So, although it can feel wrong if you haven’t done it before — and I can remember the first time I marked up a book — take out a pen and underline a sentence or paragraph that you feel resonates with you. Fold the corner of the page. Or take a sticky note and use it as a bookmark for a special page in the book.
The Long Reads
I’d like to read at least 3 of these 5 long reads I have selected.
My Struggle (continuing)
~4000 pgs
I have read the first 2 volumes of this 6 volume series (and about to start the third) and have absolutely loved it so far. I am about 1100 pages in of the whopping 4000.
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
1252 pgs (abridged)
An abridged version of a long history on the fall of the Roman Empire. This interests me greatly. Although I don’t read any/very little history, this may be a good place for me to start.
The Brothers Karamazov
718 pgs
A book I almost picked up last year but decided against it. I have read Notes from Underground — only enjoyed certain parts — and Crime and Punishment — which I also only enjoyed certain parts. I’ve come to have an appreciation of the latter through just thinking about the book. The Brothers Karamazov is said to be Dostoevsky’s crowning achievement.
The Man Without Qualities
1770 pgs
I found this pair of books at a used bookstore in Calgary for half its regular price. One is decently damaged, the other looks in pretty new condition — they just look as though they’ve been read. The owner of that store told me that Musil and Kafka knew each other, and given that I enjoy Kafka, I’m curious to see where Musil takes this gigantic piece of maximilism.
The Sea of Fertility Tetralogy
1440 pgs
This tetralogy contains Mishima’s last novel before his suicide. Mishima is my favourite author, and this tetralogy is considered his magnum opus by many. I have the first two volumes on my shelf, and so this is one that I’m definitely looking to read this year, especially considering that Mishima is on my author deep dives list.
Some Things I Want to Improve On:
Read Deeper
- Read slower
Really trying to take my time while reading will help me become more in tune with the book. I’ve realized, when I was a kid reading Harry Potter, I wasn’t worried about the next book I was going to read, or the books I ‘had’ to read, I was just reading and enjoying. It is a lot harder now since I’m not able to just sit and read for 4 hours straight without having things to do, so I will try and embrace that youth in me and become a part of the story.
2. Write about the book
This is just an idea. After reading a book that you really like you could write about it. Whether this be a brief paragraph in a journal, or writing a book review to post here on Medium. It doesn’t matter. Writing will help you retain your favourite parts of the book, plus, if you really liked it that much, going back into the story briefly to write about it should be fun.
3. Only read 1 book at a time
This will be the toughest for me. I have a knack for reading like 6 books at a time. I like to have one novel going usually, but sometimes I can have as many as 3, plus a book of poetry, plus a philosophy book, etc. This all adds up and it leads to a lack of focus I feel. I don’t know if I will actually be able to get it down to one book, because I have a long collection of Clarice Lispector’s short stories I’ve been going through for around 6 months now (I’m halfway through) but I don’t really count that as a book I’m reading currently.
Explore Reading Gaps
I am still extremely new to the world of deep reading. Like many kids, I read Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, etc. etc. when I was younger. And it was only during the pandemic (January of 2021 I believe) that I became obsessed with classics and literature as a whole. There are so many things I want to read, and which I am interested in. And I find, the more I read, the more I know, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know, and how little I’ve read, and how much more I’d like to read. This spirals into bouts of wanting to read obsessively and not wanting to read at all. Regardless, here are some of my biggest reading gaps:
- African Literature
I had a copy of The African Trilogy rented from the library which intents to skim through and see if I liked it, but they tried to charge me $40 for replacement so I had to return it.
2. Greek Philosophy
I am almost done my first reading of The Republic, and I want to get more of a sense into the origin of western philosophy.
3. History
Although I’ve taken history classes in university, and have learned about history indirectly through novels, I would really like to hone in on certain periods of time and learn more about them. In specific I’d say my weak points are: the World Wars, Ancient Greek history, Ancient Roman history, and the Dark Ages. My university courses focused mostly on Europe during the late-18th-19th century, so I’m decently familiar with all that — but I’d still love to learn more.
Let me know what some of your reading goals for 2023 are!
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