2026 Reading Goals
Happy New Year! I’m beginning the year with the usual goal-setting, and that includes figuring out how to add more reading and travel inspiration to this website on a more regular basis. In honor of that aspiration I thought I would share a reading project for 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It is not a novel idea at all, but I want to read one book set in each of the 50 states to mark the occasion. It’s a good reading goal for me because I tend to mostly read books set in England and after over six years living in Europe, I became more interested in reading European history. To aid me in my quest, I joined a 50 Books for 50 States Challenge on the Storygraph App, which is a good way to share book ideas with other readers wanting to embark on a similar challenge.
I thought it would be fun to try to read my books in the order that each state joined the Union, which means beginning with Delaware. It might be a little challenging to find the type of book I’m most interested in reading for each state. I’d like to read a well-known or classic book, something a few decades old at least or that feels specific to the place. A book I’ve heard of set in Delaware is apparently Fight Club, but I don’t think that would be my jam at all, so I’ll keep looking.
How about you? Do you have any reading goals for 2026? Do you have a favorite book set in a specific U.S. state?