Hello bookish people,
Tomorrow it’s my birthday which means that I have two more years before my 30s. Am I excited? Not really! However, I am excited that I now have a deadline to read some books. In my life, there are many books that I start but never finished or books that I want to read, but it intimidates me, or even an author that I want to read or everyone is telling me to read, but I always say maybe the next time.
So I decided to make a list of 28 books that I want to read before the next big step in my life, my 30s. This list has many different books and genres; some are famous; for some, it’s by a renowned author.
Let’s start with two middle-grade series. One is seven books, and the other is thirteen books.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Progress: I don’t have the book, and I read it first years ago, but I will reread it.
Why? Years ago, after watching the last Narnia movie, I decided to read the seven books of the series. I borrowed the books, but I only read the first one, The Magician Nephew. Now, I need to finish this series I started years ago.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Progress: I read the series until the eighth book, so I have five books to read to complete the collection and maybe buy them as I only listen to the audiobook.
Why? I started reading this series in primary school and in French, but I stopped reading it before the seventh book. I restart listening to them in 2020, and now it’s my quest to finish it and know the ending.
Next, we have two well-known feminist non-fiction. I still don’t understand why I haven’t read them yet.
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Progress: I bought this book recently; it’s the first step!
Why? I want to read this book for a long time. It’s been on my want to read list since I started reading feminist essays. So, I don’t know why I didn’t read this book yet.
Le Deuxième Sexe I by Simone de Beauvoir (eng: The Second Sex)
Progress: I have this book on my shelf.
Why? I saw this book every time I was going to a bookstore when I was living in London in 2017. However, I wait until last year to buy it in a French bookstore as I have the rule to read a book in French if the author is French.
Then we have the category of books that I will struggle with the most: the classics before 1900, and we have six books here.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Progress: I don’t have it
Why? Since my childhood, I think that it was a big old book, but when I saw it in a bookstore, I was surprised how thin it is. Also, I heard many people loving this book, so I don’t have any more excuses to read it.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Progress: I don’t have it
Why? Same reason as for the previous one. Also, it feels like if you don’t read a book by the Brontë, you miss a lot in your life.
Emma by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Progress: I have Emma but not Persuasion
Why? I want to read a Jane Austen book for a long time. So now it’s time to do it.
The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? I am a fan of myths and legends, especially when it’s greek. Also, now that I’ve read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, I want to read those books.
Now two very different books, and I already read one of the authors and not the other.
Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? I don’t know. I have this idea that you need to read at least one of his books in your life. This book is the one I will read with precautions as I don’t know if I will like it.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? I read Rebecca last year, and I really like it, so I will continue to read books by this author.
Also, here we have five books from recommended authors, but it doesn’t mean that I choose their most famous work.
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? Earlier this year, I read her collection of poems: Dearly, and I was tempted to continue with her novels. However, I don’t want to read The Handmaid’s Tales, even if it’s her most famous book, and I discover this one.
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? Everyone told me to read at least one of her books. So I will start at the beginning with her debut novel.
1Q84 by Murakami
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? I love reading Japanese literature. It is normal to read one of the most famous authors with his most famous work, no?
Transcription by Kate Atkinson
Progress: I have this book since its release
Why? Some people told me that she is an author to read that’s why I bought this book. So now I have it, and I just need to help to read it.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? He is another famous Japanese author, and I will start with this one even if it’s his last work as I don’t want to cry while reading Never Let Me Go.
And last but not least a play.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Progress: I don’t have the book
Why? I encounter this book a lot in books. Like it’s THE reference when there is a play in a book, I didn’t know this one, which intrigues me a lot.
This is a challenge, but I’m excited to do it. I hope that I can read the majority of them, but it means that I need to read at least one book per month. We will see as I don’t know what my Olympus TBR game will ask me to read. Next year, I will do a post to see how I am doing, so if you want to read only this post, I will see you next year. For the other…
See you next week,
Liz.
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