My Former and Future Book-Loving Self

I grew up reading. My whole family is filled with book lovers. In a house without television for 7+ years, it was inevitable that this uncoordinated little girl would choose to stay indoors to read a book. Or to scour the library shelves weekly for new books to read. Inevitable I tell you.
 
However, once I hit college, I discovered the power of the Internet and the expanse known as YouTube and Hulu. To add to it, I was forced to read—every day. And not interesting things, mind you. The tedious textbooks filled with science jargon and boring theories. Even the books for my major and minor were, at times, difficult take on. In short, this once devote book lover came to hate reading.
 
It’s not something I’m proud of. But it’s a fact.
 
Ever since, I’ve struggled to rekindle my old love.
 
And struggled I have.
 
I think I read five books last year. Maybe.
 
My heart aches because I know that my Goodreads to-read list is at 136 books and counting. I know that I will never be able to read all the books that I want to in this lifetime. And new classics are being written every year. Nevermind the fact that I should probably re-read some books so I can actually appreciate them now that I'm older. It's all so overwhelming!
 
Have you ever watched The Twilight Zone? There’s an episode called “Time Enough At Last.” It may be one of the saddest episodes. I encourage you to watch it because I love The Twilight Zone, so I won’t ruin the ending. But just know that the ending is truly heartbreaking for a book lover. And at times I can relate to poor Henry Bemis who just wants to read in peace, dangit!
 
So, in an effort to get my butt in gear in regards to reading, I’m declaring to the world—and by world, I mean my small blog audience of five people—that I’m determined to read at least 25 books in 2013, 20 required and 5 variables*.
 
Here’s my list of 20 must reads for this year.
 
1. Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
2. The Screwtape Letters – C.S. Lewis
3. The Infinite Atonement – Tad R. Callister
4. Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom
5. Peter Pan – J.M. Barrie
6. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption – Laura Hillenbrand
7. The Scarlett Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
8. Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
9. The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
10. Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier
11. Man’s Search for Meaning – Victor Frankl
12. The Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls
13. Devil in the White City – Erik Larson
14. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
15. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
16. Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
17. The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews – Peter Duffy
18. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy**
19. The Sky is Everywhere – Jandy Nelson***
20. The Fault in Our Stars – John Green


*I'm up for suggestions! Befriend me on Goodreads!
**I actually started this book last summer but only got about 40% of the way through. I'm determined to finish it this year.
**Don't judge me. I think I need some YA fiction somewhere in this list.