SUMMARY NOTES

Theme for 2025:

• My theme for this year is “renewal,” focusing on reigniting my passion for classic literature.

Reading Goals:

• I’m moving away from my previous goal of 52 books annually to a more curated list of 26 books, emphasizing depth over breadth.

Classics Reading Plan:

• January:
  • I’m tackling War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I’ve dedicated a whole month to it after a previous rushed attempt didn’t work out.
• March:
  • The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe is my choice here because I adore Poe, and I have a stunning edition to enjoy.
• May:
  • Bleak House by Charles Dickens is on my list thanks to a friend’s influence and my own interest in Dickens.
• July:
  • I’ll dive into The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, exploring Middle English literature.
• September:
  • Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky – I’m excited about this one, although it’s dense, it’s shorter in page count than some others.
• November:
  • Little Men by Louisa May Alcott will wrap up my year, hoping for that cozy, festive reading vibe.

Reading Strategy:

• I’m giving each classic a month to fully immerse myself, ensuring I don’t rush through the reading.
• For the months without classics, I’ll indulge in “mood reading” and might join readathons if they fit into my schedule.

Community Engagement:

• I’m excited to start the Classic Ink Book Club on Facebook where we can discuss these classics together, share thoughts, and learn from each other.
• I’m looking forward to hearing which classic you’d pick if you were to start reading them.

Additional Reading:

• If I finish a classic early, I plan to mix in some Shakespeare plays, given his foundational impact on literature.

Viewer Interaction:

• I’m curious if you’ve read any of these classics or which one you’d choose to start with if you’re not a fan.
• I also want to know if you have a personal word or theme for 2025. Share it with me in the comments.

Key Points:

• My focus is on quality reading with classics.
• I want to create a community reading experience through my book club.
• My reading plan is flexible, allowing for mood reading alongside the structured classic reading.