About Me

The story behind A Book A Week, and the reader behind the reviews.

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Line drawing portrait of Ethan

Hi, I'm Ethan

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Loose hand-drawn fountain pen illustration

Review Disclaimer

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Contact

Have a question about the blog, a book you think I should read, or just want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you.

Drop me a note using the form below.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

Publishers & Authors

Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

General Inquiries

Have a question, a recommendation, or just want to talk books? Those messages are welcome, too.

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Book Review

The Goal: How I Plan to Read A New Book Each Week

Sunday, January 1, 2012

A Book A Week
Review / archive
My goal is simple. There are 52 weeks in a year, and I plan to read at least 1 book per week. Therefore, I plan to read no less than 52 books this year.

Allow me to explain this madness. I am an active composer, teacher, and student. To say my schedule is busy would be an understatement. As a child, I struggled with reading, and was encouraged by my mother to read as much as possible to help overcome my challenges. By the time I entered high school, my reading skills improved significantly and I was a fairly avid reader. Now, as my schedule has gotten so overcrowded, I have struggled to maintain the pace of reading that I would like to have. One of the last novels that I read took me a little less than three months to complete. It was only 350 pages!

All this considered, I have decided to set the goal of reading one book each week. As with other aspects of my life, a deadline will help me to maintain this goal. As I read, I will write a review of each book and post it on this blog. I invite other's to join me in this challenge, and look forward to hearing about your successes , and receiving book recommendations from you. The year is young and I only have 52 books to go. Good Luck!
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11 Comments

Comments

  1. Fall Into BooksJanuary 2, 2012 at 6:01 PM

    Hi Ethan,

    Thanks for following! I've followed you back. Good luck with your goal!

    Amber
    http://falln2books.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Posh YlaJanuary 2, 2012 at 9:25 PM

    Hello there! Im sure you'll reach your goal. Just "make time" for reading ;) I'll visit your blog from time to time to read your reviews :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. EthanJanuary 10, 2012 at 6:48 PM

    I just learned that I can comment too! Thanks for the well wishes!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kimberly @ Turning the PagesJanuary 14, 2012 at 4:29 PM

    Hi!
    I think 52 books is a great goal!
    In 2008 and 2009 I only read 50 books a year because I got out of the habit of reading for a while. I'm sure you'll reach your goal and good luck! I'll be sure to check back often.

    -Kimberly @ www.turningthepagesx.blogspot.com drop by sometime!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dorothy ExploraJanuary 22, 2012 at 10:27 AM

    wow, that IS ambitious! good luck to you; not that i believe in luck. my goal of a book a month now seems petty next to yours... thanks a lot! ahah, jk. i am glad to say that i have finished 4 books in the last week, alone though. 3 of those being the hunger games trilogy - due to all the hype for he anticipated film. anyways... next on the list are 'the shadow of the wind' and 'soulless' ...so we'll see hhow that goes.

    anywaaays, i'm looking forward to following you this year and hoping to gain new exxposure to diff titles :) thank you!

    http://theymaysaythatimadreamer.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EthanJanuary 22, 2012 at 3:51 PM

      Thanks for reading! I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of The Hunger Games just yet, but with all the hype I may have to read those soon.

      Delete
    2. Book GirlFebruary 1, 2012 at 2:16 PM

      Ethan; a commendable cause! I too used to be a book worm as a kid and then adulthood happened and I was reading very, very little. I am a pretty fast reader, but it just seemed there were always more important, or mandatory things to do. A few years ago, I got into audio books and now I usually go through approx. two books a week. They are a great substitute. Pros: enunciation and pronunciation improves, Con: spelling suffers. Audio books might further your cause too.

      Delete
    3. EthanFebruary 1, 2012 at 3:42 PM

      I never thought of using them. I may have to give that a try!

      Delete
  6. Ed WagemannFebruary 2, 2012 at 1:41 PM

    Ethan, do you ever worry that you might get burned out on reading? I'm always reading a book myself, but I give myself a little latitude. Like if I'm reading a book and it starts to drag, I'll just not finish it and go on to something else. Maybe I'm just a wuss like that and I should challenge myself more. But on the otherhand, why torture myself?
    Anyway, I like your blog. Here's a link to mine--it might help you find a good book or two:
    http://generation-add.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EthanFebruary 2, 2012 at 8:42 PM

      I'm not afraid to stop reading a book if it just isn't working for me (unless it comes from a publisher or author for review purposes). I try to read a good variety of things so I don't get burned out. With my busy schedule, I have found that setting deadlines helps me to keep on track. Of course, there are always exceptions to the book a week rule. If I know I will be reading a longer book(I've been working on Cloud Atlas for two weeks now) I'll try to read a shorter book so I at least have a new review for that week.

      Delete
  7. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenJanuary 1, 2022 at 1:52 PM

    Awww, your very first post! Love it, and I am so glad you started this adventure ten years ago. Here's to more great reads in 2022, friend <3

    ReplyDelete

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