I’ve been thinking about my goals for next year. One of them is to read more books. In particular, I would like to read more Japanese books.

Although I read Japanese every day in my job, and I read Japanese newspapers, I think I should read more. Especially fiction. I have only read three Japanese novels this year. When I read novels, I forget that I am reading, and I enter the world of the book. So when I read in Japanese, I don’t feel like I am studying. I am just absorbing the langauge and the language patterns as I participate in the fictional world.

I usually read books by Matsumoto Seicho, but next year, I’d like to try some different authors. I would like to read something by Naoya Shiga. I would also like to read more books by Yukio Mishima. I have only read two or three of his books, and I enjoyed them (although they were a little difficult). I think I should also read some contemporary novelists too.

Maybe I will start going to the library again. I haven’t been there for many years. It will be cheaper than the book shop!

I wonder, how many books can I read next year? I guess that will depend on how busy I am with work. But I will try to read one in English, then one in Japanese, then one in English, then one in Japanese… I wonder if I can do it?