Happy New Year 2011!
You know what that means... resolutions galore. In the interest of keeping the new year stress-free (an expression that's getting a lot of use around here lately), I have made only a few resolutions and set very modest goals.
1. Read the books I already own.
My shelves are full of so many wonderful books just waiting to be read, yet in 2010, only seven books came from my collection. To help with this resolution, I've signed up for C.B. James' TBR Dare. It concludes in April, but I'd love to last even longer.
2. Top priority goes to book club selections.
3. Keep commitments to a bare minimum.
No challenges, blog tours, or scheduled posting dates for now. I do enjoy read-alongs though, and plan to join in as time allows.
4. Remember that numbers don't matter.
Although I would love to read a book per week, that hasn't happened in several years. I love long books and will not shy away from them in 2011. One quarter of the books I read in 2010 were over 500 pages, and that may be even higher this year.
5. Get back into the short story habit.
Short Story Monday posts seem to have fallen by the wayside over the past six months. I love short stories and am not quite sure how this happened, but it's time to return to the routine.
6. Read more nonfiction.
I'd like to read one third nonfiction, but I've been stuck at 20 to 25 percent for the last few years.
I could easily add a few more, but six seems like a manageable number. Have you made reading resolutions for 2011?
Onward we go...
I made many of the same resolutions as you, although I am not joining the TBR Dare because I don't even want to commit to that. I want to read what I want, when I want! :)
ReplyDeleteThese resolutions do indeed sound manageable - which is always the key to keeping them throughout the new year.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your family have a nice relaxing weekend, JoAnn!
JoAnn, I really like your resolutions. I'm planning on reading from my own shelves as much as possible this year. Most of my books are in storage, but I have 3 plastic bins of regular books to choose from and I also have my Kindle. I think I'll make out OK. I might be interested in trying a read-along this year. I've never done that and it might be a good way for me to commit to a classic read because those are hard for me to want to try. I'll be on the lookout for what you'll be doing and may tag along on one of them. :-)
ReplyDeleteNo reading resolutions for me this year. I am resolving to do a good job running the two "challenges" I have set up this year. Other than that, just read.
ReplyDeleteI would like to get back to the daily hour or two of reading that I used to do. That will mean fewer DVD's. And I'd like to spend more time in my studio.
I like all your resolutions for me too except #5 - I hate reading short stories. I've been especially bad about #3 and I hate the pressure of commitments! I think I'll try your 5/6 resolutions also!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your resolutions, JoAnn! I like thinking about mine more than finalizing them, I'm afraid, but I love reading about what others are planning (reading more of the books I own, more chunksters, and more nonfiction would also figure among my own plans). Happy New Year from an occasional lurker at your blog!
ReplyDeleteGreat resolutions. I've not joined the TBR dare but I will be reading off my shelves exclusively for at least the first few months, and I have plenty to keep me going!
ReplyDeleteThose are some great, practical resolutions. Good luck and happy new year!
ReplyDeleteA really good set of resolutions. I hope that they work for you and that you wil read more wonderful books in 2011.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I signed up for the TBR Dare, and my other goal is to actually read fewer books, because I have some chunksters languishing on the shelves. I signed up for the Chunkster Challenge too--I can kill two birds with one stone.
ReplyDeleteYou've got some good resolutions here. I came up with 3 book blogging resolutions, and 3 personal resolutions for 2011. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy new year!
Great list of manageable resolutions. My reading resolution this year is the same as last year- get more books off my shelves. I think that is why I like Diane at bibliophile by the Sea's challenge of reading from your own shelves. Worked well for me last year and joined again this year.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your resolutions and may your year be wonderful.
"5. Get back into the short story habit.
ReplyDeleteShort Story Monday posts seem to have fallen by the wayside over the past six months. I love short stories and am not quite sure how this happened, but it's time to return to the routine.
6. Read more nonfiction.
I'd like to read one third nonfiction, but I've been stuck at 20 to 25 percent for the last few years.
I could easily add a few more, but six seems like a manageable number. Have you made reading resolutions for 2011?"
Me too, on both of these. I've started a little draft on what I'd like from my 2011 reading year, and those are both there. I can't do the 'monday' all the time, but I used to do a 'today's short story' which I'd like to return too. And essays which I'm thinking of calling, 'an essay a day ...'
These are some of the same ones I promised myself.
ReplyDeleteMay 2011 be your best and most enjoyable book year yet.
Happy New Year JoAnn
I think you're with a lot of people with your goals. It really seems to come down to remembering to make reading fun again.
ReplyDeleteI love your list...can I steal it? Haha I really want to keep things simple this year too, and maybe you and I can have a personal competition to see how long each of us can last on our TBR Dare!
ReplyDeleteThat is great that such a great percentage of your books were over 500 pages! I'd like to read more chunksters this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family!
Great resolutions JoAnn!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and I wish you all the best in 2011!
Most of those could be my resolutions too. I have a few chunksters that have been laying around since 2008 that need to get read. I try to keep commitments to a bare minimum too, although my top priority goes to review copies.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to pull off the TBR Dare. :) My TBR shelves nearly doubled this year. Or maybe they did double. Math was never my forte.
ReplyDeleteHeatherlo - That's exactly what I plan to do this year - read what I want, when I want... as long as I already own it!
ReplyDeleteMolly - We're having a great weekend so far. SU basketball today, and dinner with extended family tomorrow. The year is off to a good start.
Kay - I'd love to have you in a readalong group! No plans yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time...
C.B. James - Your ' challenges' are going to be fun. I'm even reconsidering the western one now that I realize Stegner and Cather fit the bill!
Rhapsodyinbooks - Short stories definitely aren't for everyone, but I do think these are manageable resolutions.
Richard - Thanks so much for taking the time to comment... and Happy New Year to you, too!
Sam - Hurray for reading the books we own! We bought them in the first place because we wanted to read them... so let's get to it!
Softdrink - Thanks, Jill. Happy New Year to you, too!
Fleurfisher - Thank you. I think I can manage these modest plans, and it should make for a better reading year.
Amy - I'll probably end up reading fewer books, too. No Chunkster Challenge, but many of the books I own fit the category.
Jo - I'm on my way over to check out your resolutions... Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteKaye - I came very close to signing up for Diane's challenge... good luck reading from your shelves.
Nan - I think one of the reasons I stopped the short stories is that it's hard for me to post on Mondays. Something like 'Today's short story' might work better. Essay posts would be so interesting! I'd like to read some, but have no idea where to start.
Diane - I think many of us are striving to reduce pressure and keep thing simple this year. Good luck to you, too!
Lisa - Exactly!
Sandy - I like that idea!! There are easily enough books in the house to keep me reading for the entire year. The problem is every time I read a great review, I run to the library or bookstore and push my tbr pile aside.
Melissa - I've loved losing myself in big, long books ever since I was a kid... it may have started about the time my best friend in 5th grade read Gone With the Wind.
Thanks, Darlene. Happy New Year to you, too!
E.L. Fay - Well, here's to getting all those chunksters off the shelves!
Christina - I never had this tbr problem before blogging. We're probably all enablers, LOL!
Great goals. I've never been able to keep up with my TBR -- I mean not even when I was kid. I've given up on that idea!
ReplyDeleteHave a super new year.
I definitely plan to read more non-fiction and short stories as well! I look forward to reading with you - your resolutions definitely make me feel less intimidated to start my 2011 reading year!
ReplyDeleteGreat resolutions and I'm sure that you will accomplish them all. I don't worry about the number of books read at all...I just read way too much!!
ReplyDeleteI second #1-4. Sounds like a simplified and balanced endeavor. Enjoy! I've also decided to re-read a favorite each year.
ReplyDeleteThese sound like healthy choices. I dont think I'd read anything without a challenge, but I can see why you might want to take a break. I'm also interested in a few more non-fiction. So I might pop in here to see what you recommend... Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThose are very sound resolutions to make. My own resolutions would be just to read from the TBR. Yesterday I counted 108 unread books on the shelf. I would probably purchase a few over the months but not as much as. I also am not joining any challenges this year, only readalongs, like you. Happy happy new year, JoAnn! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful resolutions, JoAnn. I am excited about getting through lots of my own books! Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year, JoAnne! Your resolutions do sound manageable, and I particularly like the short-story and read-your-own-books resolutions :)but I'm making no "official" resolutions concerning reading or blogging. Maybe just a challenge or two including books that are on my TBR pile.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list of resolutions. I think that challenges are going to be something I avoid in the new year as well. They just stress me out. Reading is supposed to be fun and I like being able to read something on a whim instead of a schedule.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - Your tbr pile was out of control even as a kid? I had tons of books then, but it seems like I read them all. My 'problem' started when I discovered online book groups, but then got totally out of hand when I started blogging.
ReplyDeleteCoffee and a Book Chick - I'll look forward to seeing the nonfiction and short stories you choose!
Staci - I am always amazed at the number of books you get through - you must be a fast reader! I think I'm especially sloooow :-)
Kim - Rereading old favorites was the next one I was going to include. Only had one reread in 2010, and I'd love to have a couple this year, too.
Tamara - "Healthy choices"... I like that! Will strive to make them in both food and reading!
Kissacloud - I'm actually afraid to count my books, Claire, but there are a lot of them! Hope we participate in some of the same readalongs, too. I haven't been able to comment on your blog this week. I think WordPress thinks I'm a spammer :-(
Happy New Year!
Gavin - I am really excited to read some of the great books I already own, too. Still having trouble commenting on your blog. They may be going to your spam folder... WordPress doesn't like me these days:-(
Ivana - No official resolutions means no stress and no failure. I'm sure you will still read lots of great books. Happy New Year - I hope all goes well for you in 2011!
Jennifer - I'm hoping that these resolutions will keep the fun in my reading. Happy 2011!
I hope by having a daily short story as part of my reading this year that I will get through all the collections on my shelves!
ReplyDeleteAmanda - Exactly! If I make reading short stories part of my routine, I'll be able to get through more of them.
ReplyDeleteofficially I have two goals: 52 books and decrease the TBR. I would like to put a little more thought into what I read though, last year was a lot of "eh"
ReplyDeleteLisa - They sound like great goals...and manageable, too. I enjoyed my reading a lot more after I got more selective about the books I choose. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI, too, am hoping to read what's on my shelves and have joined the TBR Dare. Perhaps, if we're still going strong come April, we can prolong the Dare! Best of luck with your goals!
ReplyDeleteErin - We'll see how I feel in April, but I'm all for prolonging the dare now.
ReplyDeleteThese are all fantastic goals/resolutions. If I were going to make any this year, most of these would be on my list (though I'm only shooting for 24-26 books this year).
ReplyDeleteUlysses readalong in February? ;) I still can't believe I let that dang Jill talk me into it...
Hope 2011 is fantastic for you, JoAnn!
Trish - Are you REALLY going to read Ulysses next month? Luckily it's not on my shelf so, due to the TBR Dare, I'll have to pass... whew!
ReplyDeleteThat Trisha and Jill have made me crazy. I blame them. ;)
ReplyDelete