Category: Reading

1. I will make lists of books I want to read for the upcoming year as a guide and promptly ignore it in favor of following wherever my heart and brain take me instead.
2. The books on the nightstand and shelf will eventually be read, if only I stop adding to them. But I know I won’t stop adding to them.
3. Reading does not make me superior.
4. Reading, instead, makes me feel inferior as I have much to learn and sort out how to apply.
5. Bookstores, libraries, junk shops are labyrinths for the mind I plan on getting lost in every time.
6. I will make time for reading, in the same way I make time for food
7. I will read whatever I find interesting including novels, short stories, blog posts, essays, biographies, magazines, etc.
8. I will try not to prejudge or set expectations before read something.
9. I will practice marginalia by highlighting and notating sentences and paragraphs that reach out to me.
10. I will notate and add quotes and passages inside my personal operating system (Fox OS)
11. I will re-read books just like I would have songs on a playlist or re-watch movies.
12. I will make lists of books I want to read for the upcoming year as a guide and promptly ignore it in favor of following wherever my heart and brain take me instead.
13. I will try to bring a book with me at all times. (E-books are great for this)
14. I will read whatever I feel like without hesitation or guilt. 
15. I will read whatever I find interesting including novels, short stories, blog posts, essays, biographies, magazines, etc.
16. I will not allow an author to waste my time and allow myself to label a read as “did not finish”
17. It’s okay to put a book down and go off to do something physical. The book will be there when I get back.
18. Do I want to read more biographies? Will I learn something or is it propaganda?
19. I have a smile on my face after finishing a book and immediately pick up the next one with the same energy.
20. When I find a book that I enjoy, I will make an effort to read other titles by the same author. Maybe even try to discover their influences and read those too.
21. I will turn off notifications and distractions
22. I will not finish books “just because”
23. I have to accept that is impossible to read everything I want to.
24. I enjoy book reviews and discussions of books if done correctly. I will download and skim samples of a book, including the Table of Contents before deciding to purchase.
25. I will follow up on what people suggest after I ask them what they are reading.
26. I will keep, document, and share what I am reading and maybe even explain why.

The Fox Den’s Library page

Meandering through a bookstore is inspirational to me. The thrill of discovering a new title can lead someone down a large literary rabbit hole. But there is something to be said about browsing the eye-catching cover art. Sometimes the cover is the best part of a book. when other times, a profound cover can make or break a book sale. 

I find that the more artistic, brilliantly designed titles are the ones who have been well written, whereas if the artwork looks cheap, than the book is a bomb. Over the decades it gets easer to discern. See for yourself. 

While perusing the bookshelves I began to notice different patterns of artwork on the covers and snapped a few, knowing I would probably never read them. I also get into a habit where i snap book covers to remember which ones I want to read in the near future.

Side note: It was great while it lasted but the free access to the Brooklyn Library membership has expired. Thanks to my intrepid mother who discovered options to temporarily add other library systems so I now have access to the Houston, San Jose and Tulsa public libraries.

Side note II: This article was originally published on 2023/10/09 from my old website.

Every year I set goals on how many books I want to read in a year and end up exceeding them. In the upcoming 2024 new year, I am going to slow the pace down to savor and appreciate what I am reading.

The titles are already chosen with a more than a few backups for a total of 21 books. As book readers know, there are times you devour it quickly, others are cast aside because it just wasn’t worth your time invested into it. There is also a very real possibility that one book lends itself to another, completely different book not on your list but you feel compelled to follow that path and acquire it. I love it when that happens.

I reinstalled the Book Tracker app and added the titles I want to read and then I will update the progress accordingly. Because without it, I consume too much and forget what I’ve read previously. I also signed up for a relatively new social book site called Literal to help track reading goals and discover new titles socially.

The Libby software app requires a library card to download e-books which will help download desired titles and can also be transferred to the Kindle e-reader.

• The Future
• The Divine Comedy, or Dante’s Inferno
• I, Robot
• Foundation & Empire
• The Rest of the Robots
• Gold
• Pines
• The Paleontologist
• Exadelic
• Dr. No
• The Paradox Hotel
• Dune
• XX
• The Age of Spiritual Machines
• Rabbits
• The Quiet Room
• 1Q84
• The Conservative Futurist
• Lost In Time
• Starter Villian
• Alice In Wonderland

Also, the Library page of this website has been neglected so that too will change and get updated with current read and previous reads.

The Fox Den’s Library page

Book Tracker app

Literal website