In 2025 I vowed to be a more intentional reader. I’ve realised that this doesn’t mean taking myself too seriously but rather that it means knowing why each book is being read and taking myself too seriously time to dissect the topics addressed no matter how simple or complicated they are.

As such I’ve created a numerical goal of 35 books with 10 of these being non-fiction in the hopes that this will get me reading even when life gets a bit too busy. Thirty five is my number!

I have curated some books that, should something happens that makes it hard for me to read these are the books I will love to read.

These are fiction books that have peaked my interest for a wide range of reasons; be it popularity, suspected difficulty and even just finishing of a series.

I thought I should share these books with you just in case you need some inspiration.

Book 1: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Described as Steinbeck’s “magnum opus” – I was really itching to get into this one as an introduction to the author. I should be done with this book soon and it has been a terrific read and I can’t wait to talk about it when I’m done.

Book 2: Those Who Leave Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

The third in the Neapolitan Quartet series. This book I actually finished reading in January and will be reviewing it together with the first and second book. This is by far my favourite series, I fell in love with the story of Lenu and Lila when they were ten years old and I have not stopped being blown away by the story.

Book 3: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

A book that is seen as an epic love story by some and a tragedy by others. This is my second attempt at finishing this book and I am very confident that I can get it done in 2025 (hopefully by the end of February).

Book 4: Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

A book by one of my favourite writers! This is Toni Morrison’s third published book and my forth encounter with her work (sort of, I’m yet to finish Beloved). I don’t know much about this book and I intend to find out when I start reading it, however I have never been disappointed by Toni Morrison and I know I will enjoy this one.

Book 5: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

This is a story about three brothers, their father and a murder and Fyodor Dostoevsky’s last novel. This book I expect to be my most challenging read, as I attempted to read this behemoth of a book in 2024 with no success! I am hopeful that 2025 is the year for me and Dostoevsky, I can feel it!

Book 6: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Another book I’ve taken a stab at before, this one I believe I tried reading in 2023 and it was so beautifully and lyrically written, I could tell just by the first few pages that Ralph Ellison did not hold his punches. I’m diving back into his words in 2025 and just like The Brothers Karamazov, I have a good feeling about this one.

These are just five of the ten books that I desperately need to finish in 2025, I will share the other five later on this week.

I am really looking forward to being an intentional consumer of literature in 2025, I hope you are considering becoming more intentional about what you read as well.

See you in the next one.