Every December, I like to look back before I look ahead. Part of making resolutions for the next year is taking a moment to acknowledge all the good things you did and all the things you want to do better.
I like to keep track of what I’m reading on Goodreads – it’s a simple way to note what you’re reading, when you read it, and how you like it. Although I didn’t reach my goal of reading 48 books in 2015, I still read some amazing books. I want to share the Top 5 Books I Read in case you’re making a reading list for 2016, or looking for a last-minute gift for a reader like me. So here we go!
- The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot – This classic novel is a commitment, but one that pays off. It’s about a brother and sister growing up and facing the expectations of class and gender. If you’re into Jane Austen and a good cry every once in a while, then I recommend this book for you.
- The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle Book #1) by Maggie Stiefvater – I read the first three books of this series this year, and I loved every one! It’s the perfect mix of young-adult drama, mythology, friendship, ghosts, and magic. It sounds like a lot, but trust me – once you get to know the characters and follow a plot twist or two, you won’t be able to put it down!
- The Woman I Wanted To Be by Diane Von Furstenberg – I recommend this book for any young woman, especially those interested in Fashion and the Fashion Industry. DVF describes her childhood, her career, and her thoughts on what it means to be a woman. It’s inspiring to hear her stories of independence, especially in regards to being a woman in business.
- Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg – Like DVF’s book, Sheryl Sandberg writes about what it means to be a woman and have a career. It’s an eye-opening read for women of any age, and I highly recommend it for any woman in the workforce.
- The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy – Thomas Hardy is one of my favorite authors because each novel is so finely developed. It’s at once a novel, a romance, and an epic. I recommend this book for anyone who loves classic literature, as well as anyone who is interested in writing, as the way everything fits together is a fascinating study of plot and structure.
That’s it! The Top 5 Books I Read In 2015. I’m sure I will be setting another reading goal for 2016, but I’m unsure yet what that will be. I usually set a goal number (to read 50 books in a year, to read 48 books in a year, etc.), but I think I might switch it up this year and make myself a reading list of all the books I want to read but never seem to get around to.
What are the best books you read in 2015? And what are your reading goals for 2016?
XOXO
5 Comments
Carol
What an interesting list!
December 16, 2015 at 11:08 amIf you like history, “No Ordinary Time” by Doris Kearns Goodwin is excellent.
Rosie
I read Return of the Native for my studies at 17 and fell so much in love with Hardy’s writing that I made my mum take me to ‘Wessex’ a region that doesn’t exist to visit his home, see the fields that insured him and walk up the ‘barrow’. Needless to say, I was precocious enough to walk around with my copy, reading out snippets as I went. What did you think of Eustacia? Victim or villain?
January 26, 2016 at 1:01 pmHaley
That sounds amazing! I would love to travel to England and visit all the literary places in my favorite books. What I love about Hardy’s novels is that the characters are so realistic – Eustacia included. If I had to say, I’d think she’s a little bit of both. She wants what she wants and she isn’t afraid to break a few hearts to get it!
January 26, 2016 at 1:58 pmThanks for reading!
xo, Haley
Rosie
*inspired. Blinking auto correct.
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