I’ve been an avid reader since I was about 11 or 12 years old because of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (can you believe there’s 17 books out?), Dork Diaries, and, of course, Percy Jackson. I used to be able to go through an entire book in about a week, which is crazy to think about. Nowadays, it takes me a bit longer to get through them, especially since my drive to read disappears from time to time. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped buying books. It’s become a real problem of mine. At any given time, I’m in the middle of at least two books because every time I go into a Target, I race to the book section anxiously looking up and down the wall of books in search of the latest edition to my collection.

But, I’ve started to exercise some restraint when it comes to my book buying, primarily because I do not have the funds to spend egregious amounts of money on them. I’ve also made a new rule for myself; before I decide to spend money on another book, I must finish the ones I’m reading right now.

These are the books that are on my TBR (to be read) List:

Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Crying In H Mart is a memoir by Michelle Zauner where she writes about how she copes with the death of her mother. I’m reading it for the HHS Book Club and let me tell you, it’s beautifully written. The way Zauner describes herself and the people she sees in the market makes me feel like I’m really there. Honestly, I can’t wait until I have the time to get back into it.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Strange the Dreamer is a fantasy YA novel by Laini Taylor that follows the story of a man named Lazlo Strange who lost his parents due to the war. He goes from living in the orphanage to living in a library. Then, he gets the chance of a lifetime- he’s able to embark on a journey with mysterious people from a city that was thought to be lost to history. Out of all the stories on this list, this is the book that I love the most. The only reason I’m not reading it now is because it’s so long. It’s just over 500 pages. That long of a book would be impossible to read while also reading a different book for the book report in my English class. Hopefully I can get back to it over Christmas Break.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is nothing short of a cult classic with lovers of the book all over the world, which is mainly the reason why I picked it up back in 9th grade. It tells the tale of a man named Arthur Dent who manages to escape the destruction of Earth with his friend, who happens to be an alien, Ford Prefect. Although it’s very good and the humor is exactly my type (sarcasm and dry humor), it is a bit difficult to understand at times. But, once I got used to the sort of weird ways Adams describes things, I enjoy it.

I think I’ll be able to knock out AT LEAST one of these books before the year is over, especially The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy since I’m basically at the end of it. Wish me luck!