Booklist Online's “Year in Reading” list is perfect for anyone looking to diversify their reading or get out of a reading rut. Of course, you can start with any month you choose!
•January: Read a book published the same year you were born; one that reflects the culture, views and lifestyle of that era. Tip: Search online for a bestseller list that includes years.
•February: Read a book recommended on a blog. There are book blogs for every type of interest including The Deliberate Reader, Bookslut, Faithful Book Corner, Tumbling Books and 101 Books.
•March: Read a book that has a film adaptation. Judge the book by its movie and see if your favorite book scene ended up on the cutting-room floor!
•April: Reread your favorite book from childhood. Which book kept you up late into the night, reading under your covers with a flashlight because you couldn’t put it down?
•May: Read a book from another country. Eat locally, read globally.
•June: Read that classic you never read. Maybe you got away with reading the Cliff’s Notes or watching the movie, but now’s your chance to read the whole thing.
•July: Read a book you found on a library database. Our Books & Authors database's easy-to-follow menus allow users to broaden and narrow searches according to author, title, series or awards. Also check out GoodReads and LibraryThing.
•August: Read a genre or format you don’t usually read. Do you avoid non-fiction, audiobooks or a specific genre like sci-fi or romance? Pick up something totally different from what you normally read and find out if it is worse — or better! — than you thought.
•September: Donate like-new books for our Friends of the Library's Oct. 3, 4 and 5 book sale.
•October: Read a book from an opposing viewpoint. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, so pick up an author whose stand is different from yours. Check out “Opposing Viewpoints” on our electronic resources page for both sides to hundreds of issues; featuring articles, videos and maps.
•November: Read an award winner. Books usually win awards because they are great. Check out dozens of award categories from Edgar or Agatha (mystery) and Bram Stoker (horror) to Christy (Christian fiction) and Spur (western fiction) under the “Recommended Reading” section of the library’s online catalog.
•December: Read someone else’s favorite book. Ask somebody you know — your best friend, neighbor, child, doctor or pastor — to identify a favorite book and then pick it up and find out why he or she loves it. My mother once told me that “Girl of the Limberlost” by Gene Stratton-Porter was her favorite book. It really was good.
Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library's reference librarian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Plan month-by-month reading with this list