January 2016 reading goals

I realized recently that I didn't read nearly as much as I had thought in 2015. It was a little depressing, but it also made some of my dissatisfaction with 2015 make more sense. Last year wasn't great--it actually really sucked in many ways, and I really think not reading as much as I would like had a big impact on the year.

So, one of my 2016 goals is to read more. A LOT MORE.

Reading simply makes me--and keeps me--happy. It keeps me engaged and it keeps me going.

I started tracking my reading a long while ago after reading Nick Hornby's The Polysyllabic Spree (read about it HERE) and then after being coming across the Rory Gilmore Reading List (the inspiration for this blog--find it HERE), but I haven't really tracked my reading much in a while.

It's time to get back to it!

Last month I was doing a lot of tutoring at my local library and started picking up books every time I was there. It was one of the best decisions I made last month! I've continued using my library this month even though I haven't done any tutoring in the last few weeks. The library is close and easy to stop by before or after other errands.

I then decided to start tracking my reading again after coming across bookish posts from two of my favorite creative and business inspirations, Michelle Ward of When I Grow Up Coach and Leonie Dawson from the Shining Biz + Life Academy, they both posted on Facebook asking for book recommendations (in closed/private groups/pages so I can't link to the discussions...sorry!).

Here is my January 2016 reading list with a few notes since the month is more than half over:

• Money: A Love Story by Kate Northrup  
• ~Ing by Gabby Bernstein (loan period expired and no more renewals available...will probably re-add this to my list in the future)
• Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better by Pema Chödrön
• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg--LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! 
• Wiser: Getting Beyond Group Think to Make Groups Smarter by Cass Sunstein and Reid Hastie 
• Duct Tape Selling: Think Like a Marketer--Sell Like a Superstar by John Jantsch (loan period expired and no more renewals available...will check out again in the future)
• We: How to Increase Performance and Profits Through Full Engagement by Rudy Karsan and Kevin Kruse
• Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ! I highly recommend reading this alongside Lean-In!
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (In SPANISH!)
• The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak
• El tiempo entre costuras by María Dueña 

• War of the Foxes by Richard Siken (returned unread -- the first few poems didn't really resonate for me)
• Erratic Facts by Kay Ryan
• We Mammals in Hospitable Times by Jynne Dilling Martin (returned unread -- again the first few poems didn't do it for me)

• Shades of Blue: Writers on Depression, Suicide, and Feeling Blue edited by Amy Ferris (Another one that I loved -- it actually was very uplifting for me)
• The End of Memory by Jay Ingram (had to return it as loan period ended and no more renewals available. Definitely will check out again to finish it!)

In December, I finished these books and recommend them all:

• Beautiful Unbroken by Mary Jane Nealon (memoir; so moving and beautiful!)
• Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (fiction; Not at all what I expected!)
• Like a Beggar by Ellen Bass (poetry; One of the best poetry collections I've ever read!)
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes (memoir/personal development; So funny! Loved it!)

So, what are you reading? What have you read that you loved? What have you read that you hated?