Hello and welcome to Kell-Read, I’m Kelly and this year it is my mission to become more well-read (see what I did there)!
One thing to know about me is that I love to buy books, and then I don’t read them for a really long time. Let’s get into books that I already own that I HAVE to read this year. I guess this is kind of a way to keep myself accountable for my reading. Less screen time, and less time re-reading. Of course, not that there’s anything wrong with either of those two things, but it’s come to the point where I need to choose books more.
The first one is a book that I have been trying to finish for too long is the Iliad by Homer. I think it’s because of how different the writing style is to anything else I have read that is causing me to struggle through it. I feel like I can only read a few pages before I need to put it down, but I am determined to finish it this year. I’m reading the translation by E.V. Rieu, so I’m thinking a different translation might be a good idea when I inevitably reread it. I have the Robert Fagles translation which is in verse which I feel like would be a very different experience. If you have ever read a translation of the Iliad, I’d love to know which translation you read and whether you enjoyed it!
On the same theme I have the Odyssey by Homer on my TBR for next year! I have four different translations; one is the Robert Fagles edition and my most recent purchase was the Emily Wilson translation. It’s Emily’s translation that I am most excited to read since I have heard so much about.
Another one in the Robert Fagles ballpark is his translation of the Aeneid by Virgil which I am VERY excited to read. I don’t know much about the Aeneid, so I think that’s going to be a bit of fun.
Staying in the ancient world, we’re moving to Stephen Fry’s novels; Mythos, Heroes and Troy. I’ve had Mythos and Heroes on my shelf for way too long, at least two years I think and this year, my lovely boyfriend completed my collection with a beautiful hardcover of Troy. I love anything mythology, especially Greek, so the fact that I have left these two books unread for so long is truly despicable. Once I finish the Iliad then I feel like I’ll be able to read Troy.
The trend continues with more ancient books including Theogony and Works and Days by Hesiod and the Constellation Myths. I have read snippets of all three of these works for either uni or work so it would be so lovely to sit and read each of these books.
Next is probably one of my most anticipated reads for 2021 and that’s The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab. Everything I have heard about this book has been nothing but praise, and the premise is SO enticing.
Next, we have two books, Aurora Rising and Aurora Burning by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. I have seen SO MANY people react to the ending of Aurora Burning that I was hesitant to read it considering the next one isn’t out Next, we have two books, Aurora Rising and Aurora Burning by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. I have seen SO MANY people react to the ending of Aurora Burning that I was hesitant to read it considering the next one isn’t out. But my intrigue for what made everyone exclaim so passionately has won me over so I will be getting to these two this year.
I have had a book by one of my favourite authors burning a hole in my shelf since it came out, and that’s Burn by Patrick Ness. I have read most of his books (I didn’t finish the Chaos Walking series, but I will one day I promise), and More Than This is one of my favourite books of all time so to say I’m excited to read this is an understatement… If anyone can tell me why I literally never read books that I am super keen to read for ages that would be awesome cause I do it to myself all the time! I am a notorious re-reader…
I was given two books by Erin Morgenstern for Christmas this year (yay!) so on my TBR for 2021 is The Night Circus and The Starless Sea. These are two books that have been floating around in my peripheral for SO long, I have meant to pick them up time and time again, and finally, they’re in my hot little hands and will be read in 2021.
Next. I have Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This is a book that I have been meaning to read FOREVER, and this is finally the year. I picked up a super cute, second-hand edition of it and now there is no excuses. This is the same thing for Dubliners by James Joyce!
Finally, I have Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. This is the first in the Farseer Trilogy, and once I heard Regan from PeruseProject rave about it this year, I knew I had to read it! I only have the first one so far, but soon the next two will be in my possession!
That’s a total of 17 books which is absolutely doable! I am also a part of a Jane Austen Bookclub so each month I will be (hopefully) reading a Jane Austen book! All these things are keeping me accountable which I need, and honestly love.
So that’s what I’m hoping to get through this year, and I am very excited to work my way through this list!!