E. G. Bella

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It’s hard to believe we’re already a week and a half into 2023! Work and church activities, as well as the normal everyday responsibilities, are all back in full-swing again for me, and I’m guessing for you too.

It’s busy, and will stay busy, but in the midst of it, I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of reading regularly. I got out of the habit the second half of last year, and I’ve missed books! Both fiction and non-fiction have been creepily calling my name from my bookshelf…

Before the New Year, I shared a list of everything I read in 2022 – a total of 27 books. Although I switched my Goodreads reading challenge goal so that I could feel accomplished (haha), my original goal for last year was to read 55 books. So I fell a bit short.

But that’s okay, and all things considered, I still got to read plenty of great books in 2022. My favorite fiction read being the 2022 fantasy release Wishtress by Nadine Brandes, which I absolutely recommend!

This year, I’ve set my sights a bit higher, for better or for worse. So in 2023, I’m going to try to read 100 books.

Despite my low amount last year, I don’t feel like 100 is an unreasonable goal. I’ve definitely read that many in one year previously, just not for a while.

And while I know I won’t do as much writing during at least the first part of this year (between wedding planning, the wedding, moving in, honeymoon, settling in, legal stuff, extra time with my fiancé then husband, etc.), I’m going to try to read a bit more.

Reading is relaxing for me as long as I can get into it. When I’m stressed, being able to fall into a different world and lose track of time for a bit is a really nice way to unwind. And there are quite a few non-fiction books, mainly regarding marriage and Christianity, that I want to get to soon for obvious reasons.

And, as I pack, move, unpack, and organize things, I’m seizing the chance to sort and thin possessions I really don’t want or need any more. That includes any books that I know I’ll never read again. But there are still a bunch of books on my shelf that I got for extremely cheap from thrift shops that I haven’t read yet, so how do I know if they’re good?

So my goal is to get through a lot of those books soon, for sorting purposes, and just because I have them for a reason. I want to read them. And reading also helps me get in the right mood for writing my own stories, so it’s even helpful in that regard.

All things considered, there are a lot of reasons I want to read more this year, so I’ve set my lofty goal of 100 books, and we’ll see what happens! Maybe I’ll make it, maybe I won’t, but the set number will at least help motivate me to keep working toward it.

Below, I’ve compiled a rough list of 100 books that I want to read this year. The majority of these are ones that are already on my bookshelf, both that I’ve never read before, and that I want to reread because it’s been a while. A handful are ones that my family owns, and a very select few are ones I’ve wanted to get for a while, but I’m not sure if it will be this year or not.

I never end up reading exactly what’s on my list for the year and that’s okay. The fun is in seeing what comes up throughout the year, and how I’m feeling. But this is the list I’m going to start with and see where it takes me. Hopefully I can get through most of these!

This year I’d like to read . . .

Fiction

1. Bread of Angels by Tessa Afshar
2. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
3. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier
4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
5. Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman
6. Wonder by R. J. Palacio
7. Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
8. Claire of the Sea Light by Eldwidge Danticat
9. I’ll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa De Los Santos
10. The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon
11. The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley
12. Unblemished by Sara Ella
13. A Time to Speak by Nadine Brandes
14. A Time to Rise by Nadine Brandes
15. Operation Grendel by Daniel Schwabauer
16. Maxine Justice by Daniel Schwabauer
17. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
18. The Giver by Lois Lowry
19. Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
20. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
21. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
22. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
23. The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
24. The Last Sin-Eater by Francine Rivers
25. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
26. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
27. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
28. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
29. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
30. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
31. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
32. Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
33. The Swiss Family Robinson by J. D. Wyss
34. Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
35. Narnia: Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
36. Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
37. Narnia: The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
38. Narnia: The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis
39. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis
40. Narnia: The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis
41. Daughter of Kings by Isabella Auer
42. Hind’s Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard
43. Captives by Jill Williamson
44. Outcasts by Jill Williamson
45. Rebels by Jill Williamson
46. Operation Lionhearted by Maribeth Barber
47. Prisoner at Heart by Grace A. Johnson (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
48. Held Captive by Grace A. Johnson (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
49. Bound and Determined by Grace A. Johnson (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
50. Ignite by Jenna Terese (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
51. 100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
52. The Stolen Kingdom by Bethany Atazadeh (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
53. The Jinni Key by Bethany Atazadeh (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
54. The Cursed Hunter by Bethany Atazadeh (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
55. The Enchanted Crown by Bethany Atazadeh (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)

Non-Fiction

1. The One Year Bible – New International Version by Tyndale
2. Preparing for Marriage God’s Way by Wayne A. Mack
3. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
4. The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie O’Martian
5. Wife in Pursuit by Selena Frederick
6. Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
7. The 5 Languages of Apology by Gary Chapman
8. Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge
9. Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
10. Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge
11. Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George
12. Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed by Philip Hallie (borrowed)
13. All Things For Good by Thomas Watson (borrowed)
14. The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (borrowed)
15. A Voice of Her Own by Barbara Dana
16. Storyworld First by Jill Williamson
17. Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel by Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson
18. Hope by Dr. David Jeremiah
19. The Name by Franklin Graham
20. Traveling Light by Max Lucado
21. Chasing Vines by Beth Moore
22. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado
23. In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado
24. The Case For the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel
25. The Case For the Creation by Lee Strobel
26. The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
27. The Case for Christ: Daily Moment of Truth Devotional by Lee Strobel
28. The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
29. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
30. The 28 Day Prayer Journey by Chrystal Evans Hurst
31. Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver
32. What In the World Is Going On? by Dr. David Jeremiah
33. Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
34. If You Want to Walk On Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg
35. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
36. The Volunteer Revolution by Bill Hybels
37. Vertical Church by James MacDonald
38. Daily Power Devotional by Craig Groeschel
39. The Essential Wisdom of Mother Teresa
40. How Good is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley
41. Now You’re Speaking My Language by Gary Chapman
42. My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
43. Esther Bible Study by Beth Moore
44. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)
45. Atomic Habits by James Clear (not owned yet – possibly 2023?)

Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think? And if not, are there any that intrigue you? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so chat with me in the comments and let me know!

And while you’re there, what books are on YOUR reading list for 2023? Do you have a goal for how many books you hope to read this year? Any releases you’re looking forward to?

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