Bookish Resolutions - 2019

It's a new year and with that comes new goals and resolutions. I don't have a huge number of personal ones except for maybe buy a new car to replace my 1997 Toyota Corolla which has seen better days, do a bit of work on our house (that's more my husband's domain - he's way more practical than me. My painting skills leave a lot to be desired too),  celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, work my way towards completing my studies and enjoy life.

But here's seven bookish resolutions I've set for myself for 2019!

1. SET a reading challenge on one of my favourite websites Goodreads but don't bust a gut to achieve it. It's good to read for enjoyment's sake not for reaching a goal's sake. I've set the number of books I want to read this year quite low. Some have set a goal of reading 100 books or 200 books or even 50 books and some achieve that. I know I won't. It's good to have a record of what you read but it doesn't really matter at the end of the day if you achieve the goal of reading a certain number of books each year. Does it?
2. BE more selective about the books I buy! Hello I work in a public library and have access to thousands of books, most of which are free. Last year I bought a number of books I thought I wanted to read and when I sat down to read them, they weren't that good and I ended up donating them to charity.
3. WAIT until I find some really good books to spend book vouchers I received for my birthday and Christmas on rather than spending them on something I will end up not reading.
4. TRY reading different genres. I say that but it probably won't happen as there are particular genres I like. Fantasy, crime, young adult and graphic novels aren't those for me and that's okay.
5. READ an Ebook, try an audiobook and read more children's books. Have you seen the amazing array of books out there for kids and they are gorgeous. Personally, I'm looking forward to reading more of the adventures of Granny McFlitter the Champion Knitter.
6. MAKE a bit more time for reading - eek I already probably spend too much time reading.
7. MOST IMPORTANT - have fun reading and if I don't like a book put it down and find something else! Life's too short to read books you don't enjoy!  

Happy reading in 2019 everyone!

Becoming

Let me start off by saying I don't follow American politics. I live on the other side of the world for starters and I'm not a Barack Obama supporter, Donald Trump supporter nor a fan of Hillary Clinton.

However, after watching an interesting documentary about Michelle Obama which coincided with the release of her book Becoming, I really wanted to read it.

The book is split into three parts - before she met Barack Obama, when she met Barack and then life in the White House as the First Lady. The book only dwells on politics in small doses. It's more about Michelle Obama's own story growing up in Chicago, her relationship with her parents and older brother, some of the losses she experienced as a young woman, studying at Harvard, becoming a lawyer and meeting Barack. The book covers her life as wife to Barack and mother to their two children Malia and Sasha before combining that with being the First Lady.

The book delves into her thoughts and feelings dealing with the pros and cons of being married to the president, how she viewed life in the White House, the intense security, the programs she got involved in and her own emotions dealing with tragedies such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting and other shootings, visiting seriously injured soldiers, meeting Nelson Mandela and spending time with the Queen.  

One part of this book which stood out to me was when Michelle Obama visited a wounded soldier at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and was greeted by the following message on the door of his room.

"ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE WHO ENTER HERE:

If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received, I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery.''

The book is long but it kept me interested to the end - an ending in which Michelle Obama reveals her own plans for life after the White House.

Highly recommended reading!