Marina Jo's Place

Last year, I set a reading goal of 30 books. I got to 41. While I would love to raise the stakes higher, I also know that I love setting realistic goals for myself. This year, I will be graduating with my master’s degree. Everyone clap. So I will be focused on that for the first half of the year. The second half of the year, I will dedicate to my leisure activities. Without further ado, the goals:

Read 35 books
I think it’s reasonable for me and allows me to continue all of my other hobbies without feeling like I need to meet a requirement.

Read more nonfiction
This is always a goal of mine. I think it’s important to know what’s going on in the world through the eyes of others—whether memoirs, biographies, textbooks, etc.

Read more poetry
I used to consume so much poetry. I would love to return to that spark and see if some of the new poets are as wonderful as the ones I loved a few years back.

Attend more bookish events
One of the best parts of 2025 was going to a midnight release of Fourth Wing and meeting some of my now-favorite bookish babes. We call ourselves the “Iron Scribes,” and we are a mighty group of ladies. I think events like this will not only put me in spaces to talk about something I love, but I’m also hoping to meet some of the authors behind my favorite stories.

Buy fewer books
This is a wild bookish goal, but hear me out. I have so many physical books in my Lady Den (she shed, lady cave, etc.) that I have not read. I love pretty books, but I also want to consume the things I buy, not just stare at the covers. This doesn’t mean I’m going cold turkey (I’m not crazy), but it does mean I’ll be more intentional about what and when I buy books. It also means actually reading the ones I already own. If I don’t like them, I’ll give them to friends or donate them to a Little Free Library. Ideally, all the books on my shelves will soon be ones I’ve read—or ones I have a clear purpose for.

Catalogue all the books I own
Like the goal above, this is about reducing clutter while also knowing what I already have available to read. This one will be fun!

Read a book before the movie or show comes out
This one is because 9/10 the book is better than the show or movie. I want to get the best version of something first and foremost.

2025 was a great reading year. 2026 will be even better!

Cheers,
Marina