I'm not one for making New Year's Resolutions. There's nothing special about the first of the year that will miraculously transform me into an efficient, competent go-getter. But after reading dozens of lists from other people, I thought I'd give it a shot. Start of a new decade and all.
1. Over on Salon.com, book editor Laura Miller makes a case for getting out of your literary comfort zone. Read something different from the ordinary. Choose a new genre. So I'm going to see if I can't expand my horizons a wee bit. Since I read very little fiction, I think I'll try to read one new bestseller every month.
2. Miller is also enthusiastic about writing down everything you read. She claims it's as effective as keeping a diary. While it's true that I do enjoy going back over books I have read, it's even more true that I really dislike making book lists. Probably stems from some grade school summer reading program trauma. You can see how diligent I am about this blog, right? But I'll try.
3. More than one resolution list I've read has had something along the lines of "Fewer blogs, more books." Sounds good in theory. I probably spend at least an hour a day reading stuff online. I doubt that will end any time soon, but I do resolve to keep up with the posts in blogs I love. I did purge a few non-essentials from my Reader, and if I notice too many unread posts stacking up I will happily delete them.
4. I refuse to waste any more time reading books I don't like just because I've started them. I've already ditched a couple this year: Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith and An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. The first was so poorly written I couldn't get through it no matter how hard I tried (I have a special hatred for book chapters two pages or less). I enjoyed Gabaldon's other books, but it's been so long since I've read the rest of the Outlander series that I just can't remember who's who. Not to mention that at nearly 900 pages I can barely lift the thing. Think I'll wait until it's out in paperback so I can just buy a copy and take my time.
5. I could add my perennial resolution of getting all my books entered in LibraryThing, but it won't happen (I AM over 1000 books though!). Instead, I swear that this will be the year that all my books will have a home on a shelf somewhere. No more piles on the floor. Maybe.
About Me
- Julie
- Life just isn't worth living without a stack of books waiting to be read.
8 comments:
Hahahaaa! Good resolutions!:) I really like the one about ditching a book if you are just not into it, that is really freeing!:)
I actually like the stacks of books on the floor look!;)
I resolve to not buy anything else until I delve into the stacks I have at home and if I just can't wait I'll get it at the library!
6. Stop reading, start playing Wii.
Hahhhaaaaa! Agreed!!:)
2nding the boring book ditching
Wholeheartedly agree with you, Julie, about not continuing a book you don't like...I have friends, serious readers, who feel obliged to slog on to the end. However. Just as I realized years ago that the mood I bring to an esthetic experience has everything to do with how I feel about it (discovered this seeing "Fiddler on the Roof"...hated it the first time with my husband, had to go back with my kids and loved it), I've returned to books I put down and enjoyed them to the end. A nice thing about life...so unpredictable!
That's a really good point, Sylvia. Whether or not a book appeals to me depends a lot on my mood or what point I'm at in my life.
Of course, there ARE a lot of really bad books out there as well!
How about an update? I know you are still reading.
How did last years resolutions turn out for you?
Post a Comment