#TopTenTuesday My Bookish Resolutions/Hopes For 2021

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

The rules are simple:

Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post. Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists. Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

This week’s topic is Resolutions/Hopes for 2021. My list contains nine book-related resolutions with a common theme of getting up-to-date, and one hope that I expect a lot of you will share.

  • Read the remaining 7 books on my Classics Club list
  • Complete the What’s In A Name and When Are You Reading? challenges
  • Take part in the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge
  • Read and review the 24 books (oh dear!) on my NetGalley shelf with publication dates prior to 31st December 2020
  • Retain my 80% plus feedback ratio on NetGalley
  • Read the books on The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2021 shortlist before the winner is announced
  • Read and review the 7 books won from Readers First that were published prior to 31st December 2020
  • Reduce the number of titles on my To Read shelf on Goodreads from 857 to 500 – or fewer!
  • Read and review the remaining 6 books received from authors before I stopped accepting new review requests
  • Attend a literary festival, ideally Henley Literary Festival, in person

What are your resolutions (if any) or hopes for 2021?

My Five Favourite December 2020 Reads

My 5 Favourite December Reads

I finished the year with a flourish reading eleven books in December including some that have been on my bookshelves or my NetGalley shelf for way too long. I found something to enjoy in all the books I read but there were a few that stood out. Links from each title will take you to my review. You can find a list of all the books I read in 2020 here.  If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.

The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis – the Brontë sisters turn detective in the second in this historical mystery series

A Time For Swords by Matthew Harffy – the first in a new action-packed series set in the Viking age

The Running Wolf by Helen Steadman – mystery set at the end of the 17th century about the sword makers of Shotley Bridge

The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn – inspired by the true story of Jeffrey Hudson, court dwarf to Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult – a compelling story exploring the issue of racial discrimination which still feels incredibly timely

What were your favourite reads in December? Have you read any of my picks?