Great plans!! The last few years I have had a special focus on classics too. I love The Great Gatsby, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Invisible Man - hope you enjoy them too!
Liking your list. I’m always pleased when the classics are dusted off and read. Do Enjoy. 2025: Reading by the River list includes all the books selected for our book club, most of the Book Naturalist BC books, our county picks an everybody reads book - this year it is Solito, and on my list. I’m selecting enough books to fill a bookcase of books I’ve paused while reading and books I’ve ment to read years ago. Trusting this column allows me to select books on a whim, rescue books from the land of the unfinished, and retire books from my shelves. I also hope it cuts my spending way back. Joyful reading to you. Glad you are back. You were missed.
Thanks, it's good to be back. Wow, that will be a lot of books - it's crazy to think about the number of books we have unread on our shelves. Solito sounds like an interesting read (I cannot imagine the fear that person felt as a 9 year old doing what he did) - hoping you enjoy it - happy 2025 :)
lol, Brian - I purposely left out Dickens from my list! I remember reading _A Tale of Two Cities_ as a teenager, and while I liked it, my biggest take-away was that it was very, very long. Hoping you enjoy _Great Expectations_ , maybe I'll eventually pick up another Dickens book :)
Good luck with these reading goals for the year. I am hoping to read more classics in 2025 as well. I love The Picture of Dorian Gray and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It is my favorite Shirley Jackson. The War of the Worlds is great as well.
Happy 2025, Fred! Your reading goals for the year are fantastic-such a great balance of literature, science, and personal learning. I’m especially excited to hear your thoughts on We Have Always Lived in the Castle-Shirley Jackson does such an incredible job with unsettling atmospheres. And The Great Gatsby-oh, that one is an all-time favorite for me! I was never forced to read it in high school, so I got to discover it on my own, and I just love its themes of longing, illusion, and excess. Your science reading plan is impressive too-there’s something really satisfying about actually reading the books we collect rather than just admiring them on the shelf! Looking forward to your reviews as you make your way through these!
Thanks Nick! I'm looking forward to reading it all! _The Great Gatsby_ I remember from high school and am looking forward to re-reading. Totally agree, while these science books look great, I really do want to read them too. Happy new year - wishing you the best for 2025 :)
20000 remains on of my very favorite classics of all! It's still overly creative like journey center of earth but it's very serious to them :) Enjoy the adventure. Lots of great picks!
Not you too! You could have knocked me over with a feather when Justin announced (very coyly) that he was going to read some classics and wanted suggestions (not that he took them). I'm just glad to see the "science guys" resorting to literature for whatever reason:)
I love my science reading! I've read a couple classics over the years, and re-read _Animal Farm_ and _1984_ which I appreciated more now as an adult. I'm hoping some of the books I read as a teenager have more impact now that I'm an adult.
Great plans, Fred! Physics was very difficult for me in college - I don't remember doing very well in that one, lol. I really think it's fun that you're planning on reading your World Book Encyclopedia books. It's inspiring me to get to my Time-Life Science ones, one of these days. I also really enjoy "vintage" science and wildlife books! Ecology is a great choice and how wonderful to have the Canadian aspect included to make it more relatable to your area :) I also have 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that I'm hoping to read! If I notice you decide to read it at any point, I may pick up mine too. Hope January is a great reading month for you!
I'll let you know when I start _20,000 Leagues under the Sea_ - I'm looking forward to reading all these classic works :) Nature is amazing. How everything is interconnected and how there are so many factors in play within an ecosystem is enlightening - I'm looking forward to learning more. Have a great day Farrah :)
Nice to see you are reading 📚.. the classics are some good high school memories for me as well. Science books look intriguing. Ecology even. Happy to see the green mug get the fame it deserves.😂
Hah, the green mug is here to stay :) I wanted to re-read (most of) the books from high school as an adult to see if I have a better appreciation for them. Hoping you're doing well - happy 2025 Linda :)
Hi Fred. 1. I love the beard! 2. I like your literary goal for the year. This would be fun, to go back and read some of the books from high school, particularly the ones other schools read that I didn't. 3. I look forward to hearing your updated on your science reading goals. Happy New Year!
Hah, thanks! It's my winter beard :) Ever since reading _Animal Farm_ and _1984_ I have a new appreciation for the works I read back in High School and really want to give them a second chance. The science books - though they are older - still contain a lot of good stuff, at a length that is reasonable - looking forward to reading each of these :)
Happy new year, Fred!! I have never read 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' but I have always heard great things. We never read it in high school entirely; just a portion from the textbook. We did read Lord of the Flies, which I remember fondly compared to some of the other high school books. It seems, to me anyway, that when you are required to read a book, it can be harder to enjoy it. :P Looks like a great bunch of reading plans for the new year. Happy reading! :)
Thanks Matthew - happy 2025 to you as well :) I remember _To Kill a Mockingbird_ having an impact on me as a kid so it will be interesting to see what impact it has on me as an adult. It's very true, when you're forced to read something it's not as enjoyable. I'm hoping to appreciate the ones that were "required reading" more now there is no timeline :)
Nice video Fred! I always like to see what you're planning on reading! I've been on a fantasy kick lately. I just finished my first full fantasy trilogy by fellow booktuber Brian Lee Durfee, I enjoyed it. I'm going to be reading Poetry, Fantasy, History, and Writer's book on how to write conflict, character, and plot.
Thanks Todd! Glad to hear you are enjoying works from other booktubers. Great list of TBR items you have - I have to start reading up on character and plot development too. One of my goals this year is to write a novella (well, something under 50 pages). Happy new year :)
Interesting group of books. Jules Verne and H.G. Wells were amongst my favorite writers when I was a kid. I will be interested in what you think of their books. I recently read We Have Always Lived In the Castle recently. Liked it a lot. My main 2025 goals are to read 75 books and mostly read what I already have
I read _Journey to the Centre of the Earth_ and _The Time Machine_ which were both good reads. Looking forward to reading more from both these authors. 75 books this year is a great goal. Wishing you the best for 2025 Stuart :)
Thanks Allen. I don't really have a favorite playwright. In fact, I don't even have favorite directors/actors/actresses/authors either. If it's good, I'll read/watch it :)
The Great Courses is pretty good! I'm currently watching courses on Information Theory. It's going to be a great reading year. Happy new year Brandy - wishing you the best for 2025 :)
There is this old 80's scifi book called The Third Millenium A Hsitory of the World AD 200 to 3000 by Brian Stabelford which would, at least in idea, be used as a background for 6 books labeled "Emortality" and I shall take a crack at them.
Montie! I have to do a haul video soon - I picked up _The Science in Science Fiction_ and need to find the time to flip through the pages and read some of the concepts in the book. Hoping you enjoy the 6 books on "Emortality" :)
Nope, this year I wanted to focus on literature and science so I'm stepping back from a lot of reading events, including the awesome Historathon. I may do one or two events if they fit in with my reading, but I'm not planning on it.
@ Many people are taking this route, getting back to kind of a pure flow of reading. I keep fighting myself on what personal challenges to do this year and honestly haven’t settled on what or if I will!
Great plans!! The last few years I have had a special focus on classics too. I love The Great Gatsby, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Invisible Man - hope you enjoy them too!
Thanks! I'm looking forward to reading each of them. I will probably read The Great Gatsby in February :)
Liking your list. I’m always pleased when the classics are dusted off and read. Do Enjoy.
2025: Reading by the River list includes all the books selected for our book club, most of the Book Naturalist BC books, our county picks an everybody reads book - this year it is Solito, and on my list. I’m selecting enough books to fill a bookcase of books I’ve paused while reading and books I’ve ment to read years ago. Trusting this column allows me to select books on a whim, rescue books from the land of the unfinished, and retire books from my shelves. I also hope it cuts my spending way back.
Joyful reading to you.
Glad you are back. You were missed.
Thanks, it's good to be back. Wow, that will be a lot of books - it's crazy to think about the number of books we have unread on our shelves.
Solito sounds like an interesting read (I cannot imagine the fear that person felt as a 9 year old doing what he did) - hoping you enjoy it - happy 2025 :)
Hope you enjoy all those great classics. I have Great Expectations on my classics list for January.
lol, Brian - I purposely left out Dickens from my list! I remember reading _A Tale of Two Cities_ as a teenager, and while I liked it, my biggest take-away was that it was very, very long. Hoping you enjoy _Great Expectations_ , maybe I'll eventually pick up another Dickens book :)
Thanks for sharing your list of classics you want to read this year- a lot of them are also on my TBR 😊
That's awesome! I'll try to do a review of each of them as the year progresses :)
Good luck with these reading goals for the year. I am hoping to read more classics in 2025 as well. I love The Picture of Dorian Gray and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It is my favorite Shirley Jackson. The War of the Worlds is great as well.
Thanks Mindy! I'm looking forward to all these reads in the new year. Wishing you the best for 2025 :)
Awesome plans Fred! I’ve heard a lot of great things about the King in Yellow. Dorian Gray is such a good book!
Thanks Chas! I'm looking forward to reading both works. 2025 is going to be a fun year :)
Happy 2025, Fred! Your reading goals for the year are fantastic-such a great balance of literature, science, and personal learning. I’m especially excited to hear your thoughts on We Have Always Lived in the Castle-Shirley Jackson does such an incredible job with unsettling atmospheres. And The Great Gatsby-oh, that one is an all-time favorite for me! I was never forced to read it in high school, so I got to discover it on my own, and I just love its themes of longing, illusion, and excess. Your science reading plan is impressive too-there’s something really satisfying about actually reading the books we collect rather than just admiring them on the shelf! Looking forward to your reviews as you make your way through these!
Thanks Nick! I'm looking forward to reading it all! _The Great Gatsby_ I remember from high school and am looking forward to re-reading. Totally agree, while these science books look great, I really do want to read them too. Happy new year - wishing you the best for 2025 :)
20000 remains on of my very favorite classics of all! It's still overly creative like journey center of earth but it's very serious to them :) Enjoy the adventure. Lots of great picks!
Thanks Kristin, I'm looking forward to reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Verne is a great story teller :)
Not you too! You could have knocked me over with a feather when Justin announced (very coyly) that he was going to read some classics and wanted suggestions (not that he took them). I'm just glad to see the "science guys" resorting to literature for whatever reason:)
I love my science reading! I've read a couple classics over the years, and re-read _Animal Farm_ and _1984_ which I appreciated more now as an adult. I'm hoping some of the books I read as a teenager have more impact now that I'm an adult.
Lovely science set and goals Fred! Hope you have fun with your science projects!
Thanks Justin. It's going to be a fun 2025! Wishing you and your family the best for 2025 :)
That is a great variety of classics 🤗
Thanks Kris! I should be able to get to each of them in 2025. it's going to be a fun year :)
Excellent reading goals this new year, Fred!
Thanks Nathan! It's going to be a fun reading year. Wishing you the best for 2025 :)
Great plans, Fred! Physics was very difficult for me in college - I don't remember doing very well in that one, lol. I really think it's fun that you're planning on reading your World Book Encyclopedia books. It's inspiring me to get to my Time-Life Science ones, one of these days. I also really enjoy "vintage" science and wildlife books! Ecology is a great choice and how wonderful to have the Canadian aspect included to make it more relatable to your area :) I also have 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that I'm hoping to read! If I notice you decide to read it at any point, I may pick up mine too. Hope January is a great reading month for you!
I'll let you know when I start _20,000 Leagues under the Sea_ - I'm looking forward to reading all these classic works :) Nature is amazing. How everything is interconnected and how there are so many factors in play within an ecosystem is enlightening - I'm looking forward to learning more.
Have a great day Farrah :)
Nice to see you are reading 📚.. the classics are some good high school memories for me as well. Science books look intriguing. Ecology even. Happy to see the green mug get the fame it deserves.😂
Hah, the green mug is here to stay :) I wanted to re-read (most of) the books from high school as an adult to see if I have a better appreciation for them. Hoping you're doing well - happy 2025 Linda :)
Hope you enjoy your reads! 😃
Thanks Storm. Wishing you a wonderful 2025 :)
Hi Fred.
1. I love the beard!
2. I like your literary goal for the year. This would be fun, to go back and read some of the books from high school, particularly the ones other schools read that I didn't.
3. I look forward to hearing your updated on your science reading goals.
Happy New Year!
Hah, thanks! It's my winter beard :)
Ever since reading _Animal Farm_ and _1984_ I have a new appreciation for the works I read back in High School and really want to give them a second chance. The science books - though they are older - still contain a lot of good stuff, at a length that is reasonable - looking forward to reading each of these :)
Happy new year, Fred!!
I have never read 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' but I have always heard great things. We never read it in high school entirely; just a portion from the textbook. We did read Lord of the Flies, which I remember fondly compared to some of the other high school books. It seems, to me anyway, that when you are required to read a book, it can be harder to enjoy it. :P
Looks like a great bunch of reading plans for the new year. Happy reading! :)
Thanks Matthew - happy 2025 to you as well :)
I remember _To Kill a Mockingbird_ having an impact on me as a kid so it will be interesting to see what impact it has on me as an adult. It's very true, when you're forced to read something it's not as enjoyable. I'm hoping to appreciate the ones that were "required reading" more now there is no timeline :)
You're making good plans Fred.
Thanks Melissa! It's going to be a fun year :)
Nice video Fred! I always like to see what you're planning on reading! I've been on a fantasy kick lately. I just finished my first full fantasy trilogy by fellow booktuber Brian Lee Durfee, I enjoyed it. I'm going to be reading Poetry, Fantasy, History, and Writer's book on how to write conflict, character, and plot.
Thanks Todd! Glad to hear you are enjoying works from other booktubers. Great list of TBR items you have - I have to start reading up on character and plot development too. One of my goals this year is to write a novella (well, something under 50 pages). Happy new year :)
Interesting group of books. Jules Verne and H.G. Wells were amongst my favorite writers when I was a kid. I will be interested in what you think of their books. I recently read We Have Always Lived In the Castle recently. Liked it a lot.
My main 2025 goals are to read 75 books and mostly read what I already have
I read _Journey to the Centre of the Earth_ and _The Time Machine_ which were both good reads. Looking forward to reading more from both these authors.
75 books this year is a great goal. Wishing you the best for 2025 Stuart :)
@ReadbyFred Thanks Fred. Wishing you the same
Tennessee Williams is my favorite American playwright. Who's yours? Good one, Fred 🎉
Thanks Allen. I don't really have a favorite playwright. In fact, I don't even have favorite directors/actors/actresses/authors either. If it's good, I'll read/watch it :)
Well you have some really great choices there Fred!! I'm looking forward to hearing you talk about them! Also how is The Great Courses going for you?
The Great Courses is pretty good! I'm currently watching courses on Information Theory. It's going to be a great reading year. Happy new year Brandy - wishing you the best for 2025 :)
@ReadbyFred Thank you Fred! ❤
There is this old 80's scifi book called The Third Millenium A Hsitory of the World AD 200 to 3000 by Brian Stabelford which would, at least in idea, be used as a background for 6 books labeled "Emortality" and I shall take a crack at them.
Montie! I have to do a haul video soon - I picked up _The Science in Science Fiction_ and need to find the time to flip through the pages and read some of the concepts in the book. Hoping you enjoy the 6 books on "Emortality" :)
Wait! No Historiathon?
Nope, this year I wanted to focus on literature and science so I'm stepping back from a lot of reading events, including the awesome Historathon. I may do one or two events if they fit in with my reading, but I'm not planning on it.
@ Many people are taking this route, getting back to kind of a pure flow of reading. I keep fighting myself on what personal challenges to do this year and honestly haven’t settled on what or if I will!