Setting unconventional reading goals via the monkey method

[@HeatherGashgarian]

I’m not making a goal for 2025 but my goal for 2024 was a smashing success! I only read books by authors from countries I haven’t read before.

[@eyesonindie]

That is an AMAZING and impressive goal!

[@BettyAnn9681]

I mentioned in another post that, after finding your channel this year, I decided to make small press the theme for the book club I organize in 2025. I was worried it would be a theme that might not appeal, but I'm getting a lot of enthusiasm. So, I'm hoping that at least half my reading this year will be small press books, and I like goal #6 of looking for the essential sentence in each book. Or at least a sentence that speaks to me.

[@eyesonindie]

I remember your comment! It made my day then, and you made my day now!! I've wanted to do a small press book club for a while! Love having it as a theme for the year and so glad you have gotten enthusiasm for it!

[@awebofstories]

You are brave! I think your little monkey is going to keep you on your toes in 2025!

[@eyesonindie]

Ha! yes, he definitely is keeping me on my toes!!

[@kathleencraine7335]

One of my goals is to read my books from the publishers that I collect (Virago, Persephone, nyrb). I have about 50 unread titles from these publishers. I'm aiming for 25 books in 2025, so we'll see! My other goal is similar to yours--read as many of the books I buy in 2025, and read them in 2025 (whether or not they're new releases). Another goal is for every book I buy in 2025, I donate, give away, or sell 2 books from my shelf--thinking shelf space, here. So if I buy 50 books in 2025, I get rid of 100. Another we'll see....

[@eyesonindie]

WOW! Those are great goals!! Good luck!!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

🐒 🙈 🙊 🐵 🙉 Cool goals I'm resurrecting my reading journal. Like you say it's useful to create notes before starting the next book and my journal helped me with that - more than my commonplace book

[@eyesonindie]

LOVE that - I've tried so many times to keep a reading journal. Let me know how it goes!

[@syncionebresgal8523]

Well, after discovering The Republic of Consciousness, and then this channel because of that list, and then your great newsletter, I bought over one hundred books this year! So, my main 2025 reading goal is to get through most of those books. I am really looking forward to it!

[@eyesonindie]

I don't know whether to apologize or not!! LOL! Sorry for all the books but also...it's so fun to get new books! Good luck and thanks for your kind words!

[@syncionebresgal8523]

@eyesonindie no apology necessary! I'm so happy I found you and I'm looking forward to all my books.

[@alysereads]

If you can read The Weird in one month the n you can make it through anything! Looks like you’re starting 2025 off with a bang!

[@eyesonindie]

Ha - we'll see!!! :) Hope your 2024 is wrapping up well!!

[@MyBookHauledLife-Essie]

I have been recording a sentence from several books which I felt summed up me specifically. I am definitely also going to track essential sentences as well!

[@eyesonindie]

Amazing! That makes my day!

[@kirstenm_atx]

This was fun to watch! Your goals were so interesting and got me thinking about my own. I appreciate your content 🤩

[@eyesonindie]

Thank you! You made my day.

[@josmith5992]

The monkey strikes again 🙈😂, love the banana blaster game by the way 🍌 . Nice mix of the specific and the general Sarah and hey, you’ll hit one of the goals you didn’t pick by reading short stories in January 😉. My goal is to be goal free as in not plan, except for some buddy reads, read more by whim and, after counting up my unread books recently, reading my own shelves and reducing my book buying 😊

[@eyesonindie]

Ha! So true about the short stories!! Goal free is an excellent goal - I'm doing that one next year! :)

[@sarah-roadworthy]

I do hope you are planning on hosting another RoC discord discussion. That was great.

[@eyesonindie]

Yes!!! :) :) :)

[@stephenn3727]

Great video!

[@eyesonindie]

Thank you and thanks for stopping by!

[@judybrown1624]

Since the huge book is short stories, can't you read it over the entire year? 😊

[@eyesonindie]

That's why I'm grateful to have you around, Judy! Always thinking!! :) I'll propose that to the monkey assistant.

[@judybrown1624]

@eyesonindie need to catch him in a good mood!

[@clarepotter7584]

Read my own challenge to try and reduce the number of unread books in the house! That's my goal.

[@eyesonindie]

Love that goal. It's a constant struggle!!

[@Book_Hugger]

I am going to join you in the Republic of Consciousness long list reading goal! Also, I love the goal options you listed, so since I don’t have a “Monkey assistant”, I am going to think on those for the next few weeks and decide on one more.

[@eyesonindie]

Amazing!! I can't wait for the longlist to be announced; hopefully I've already read a few of them!

[@tanyam6197]

Such a clever parent. Including your son and having fun together. Hi from Australia ❤😊

[@eyesonindie]

Thank you!! And thanks so much for stopping by!!