January 3, 2010
9:00 AM
Good morning, fellow readers. It is the first Sunday of the New Year, and I’ve been enjoying perusing the blogs and reading the multitude of lists and stats for 2009. I have my own statistical post I’ve been working on…but don’t look for it any time soon. I’ll be lucky if I have the time to get it done before I leave to head back East to visit my family (I leave on Thursday and will be gone more than 2 weeks). But, just in case you’re wondering, I did manage to finish 78 books before the year fizzled out…less than last year (when I read 101), but I am happy with that count. I read many great books in 2009 – and whittled them down to my top 10 (with one notable mention). In the next few weeks, look for my posts about my perpetual reading challenges – I plan to set some reasonable goals this year in those areas.
My last post for the Sunday Salon was on December 20th – seems like a long time ago! Since that post I finished reading:
- the final book of Kristin Lavransdatter (The Cross), by Sigrid Undset (read my review)
- When She Flew, by Jennie Shortridge (read my review) – there is still time to enter the giveaway for this book…but hurry, entries close on January 5th
- Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (read my review)
- Persepolis 2, by Marjane Satrapi (read my review)
- Fire in the Blood, by Irene Nemirovsky (read my review)
- Digging to America, by Anne Tyler (read my review)
My current read is Margaret Atwood’s latest dystopian novel: Year of the Flood. I’m a quarter of the way through the book and, as usual, finding Atwood’s writing imaginative and brilliant. I am not a huge fan of the dysopian genre, but no one does it better than Atwood.
Have you made any reading resolutions for 2010? Do you have a plan for your reading in this new year? I’ve been thinking about this since reading several great posts about just this subject (JC’s post really resonated with me). So I’ve made a list of some things I want to accomplish this year…and some thoughts about what I do NOT want to do:
- Raise money and awareness for a cure for childhood cancer – I really want to do something in 2010 on my blog which has meaning…and this is what I’ve chosen to focus on. I hope you’ll join me!
- Read an average of 8 books a month…to do this, spend less time watching television and cruising around the Internet. Shut off the electronic distractions and just read (if Rebecca can read 500 books in 2009, I think I can manage 8 books a month).
- Focus my reading on review books, books from around the world, books languishing on my shelves, and prize winners. Read sometimes just for fun – read a guilty pleasure or something entertaining from time to time. Resist the urge to join more and more challenges – instead focus my challenge reading in the areas above.
- Read more short story collections and short stories.
- Stop trying to keep up all the time. There is no way I can read every single blog post and comment on the over 300 blogs I subscribe to – sometimes it is best to “mark all as read” and move forward rather than to try to catch up on over 1000 unread blog posts.
- Stay true to myself. My blog is an expression of who I am. Resist the pressure to conform to some kind of rule-based format for blogging. What makes the blogs interesting is that they are all different!
- Continue to participate in a few Yahoo Book groups, but don’t join any more!
The bottom line: I want my reading to stay fun, insightful, and stress-free. I want to continue to enjoy blogging and engaging in the book blog community…but I also need to realize that I cannot do it all – no one can. I think setting realistic goals and boundaries is essential to keeping my life balanced.
Well, if you are still reading and I have not yet bored you to tears…I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and 2010 is everything you hope for. I am looking forward to reading with all of you in 2010 and beyond!
= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
= Not recommended
= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
Wow, you lost me on Rebecca reading 500 books. LOL. I’ll have to stop by there. You has an awesome reading year and I love your goals for 2010. I’m right there with you on most of them. Have a great year!
I am loving reading about everyone else’s goals for the new year. Mine are keeping it simple and just reading but it is fun to see what everyone else is planning. Good luck on that end! I’m planning on working on some of my perpetual challenges as well..hopefully I will be able to make some progress in those areas
Enjoy your Sunday!
Great post Wendy. I am a big believer in #5 — I skim the titles in my feed reader and I do read quite a lot of posts, but definitely not all and I’m quite friendly with the “mark all as read” button. Too many unread items stress me out!
And speaking of reading resolutions … I’ll be announcing a giveaway on Jan. 7 related to just this topic! Hope your travel schedule allows you to stop by and enter the drawing !
Good luck with your goals! I hope you continue to enjoy Year of the Flood. I enjoyed that book!
Have a wonderful time visiting your family and good luck with your goals!
These are very fine goals…and I love the thought of attaching a worthy cause to your blog.
I never make reading resolutions, I just go with the flow
Have a wonderful time visiting your family!
Good luck with you goals, Wendy. The idea of spending more time reading and less on the internet is one I will add to my list! Have a great week.
Well said Wendy! I too lost my focus on why I read and blog last year. This year I want to return to my passion. Like you, I finally realized my “to do” list will never be empty. Just as I cross one task off, three (more like five!) items are added.
Best wishes that you are successful with your goals for the new year!
Your post was not boring at all. In fact, I really enjoyed your resolution list for this year and the one that really stood out was staying true to yourself!! I think that is the key for everyone. Don’t get caught up in stuff…be you, tell us what you really thought about the book, post what you want when you want…excellent advice!!
Have a wonderful 2010!
Lovely post! I enjoyed reading about your goals. I’m rooting for you.
Great reading and blogging goals for 2010. I need to keep this same sense of balance in my own life!
Happy 2010, Wendy!
I love reading and getting inspired by peoples’ resolutions. Good luck with your goals and enjoy your family!
I’ve been working on #5 myself, and will continue to do so. Using folders and skimming in Google Reader help quite a bit.
I’d have to step away from the TV and Internet to read more too – if I did, I suspect I could also manage 6-8 books per month. But I like being online and watching TV with my husband too, so I guess I’ll just live with a less-productive reading life for awhile.
Your goals for the year sound really good, Wendy – good luck!
This is in no way related to reading but I wanted to let you know that I rescued a scared dog on New Year’s Eve out of guilt over our conversation in Portland (if you remember, I neglected to help a big dog on our porch). This one followed us into our garage when we came home from dinner. I thought about shooing him back out but instead I thought “What would Wendy do?” and I kept the dog (some sort of chow mix) in the garage, called his parents and stayed with him to distract him from the fireworks (which had scared him past his Invisible Fence and out of his yard). We only had him for about half an hour but he seemed really grateful. Thanks for making me a better human citizen, Wendy!
Kristy: I was blown away that Rebecca read 500 books too!! Just goes to show you that when you set your mind to something, you can achieve it!
Samantha: Keeping it simple sounds great! Happy New Year and happy reading!
Laura: I leave on the 7th, but I have a feeling I’ll get a little down time in the airport and will be sure to check your giveaway!
Kailana: So far I’m continuing to enjoy Atwood’s latest – I am always just so blown away by her brilliance…she could write an instruction manual and I probably would love it *laughs*
Kathy: Thank you!
Ravenous Reader: Thanks for the kind words…going with the flow is good too
Gavin: I really want to unplug more often in 2010…but we’ll see!
Shonda: I think it is easy to lose WHY we read and blog …especially with all the stuff that goes on in the digital world. Good luck getting back to the basics this year!
Staci: Thanks for the validation!!! Happy New Year to you too!
Vasilly: Thank you, my friend!
Molly: I think it is really hard to stay balanced, isn’t it? Thanks for the good wishes.
Nicole: I like reading other people’s resolutions too. Thanks!
Florinda: It is all about setting priorities for YOU, I think – the best balance is one we set for ourselves. Thanks for the good wishes!
Kristen: You Made My Day!!!!! What a fabulous story – and so glad the little guy found his way back to his family. But watch out, once you save one, a little blinking neon sign starts flashing over your house: SUCKER inside; all needy animals welcome!!! *laughs* Glad I was the little voice on your shoulder for this one
Eight books a month seems like a totally reasonable goal. I don’t watch a ton of tv, but I’m sure if I watched less I could read more. And you’re totally right, disconnecting from all the electronic gadgets is important too. Good luck!
I think your resolutions are wonderful…especially the ones where you just relax and enjoy your blogging. It can become stressful when you try to do it all.
And I can’t believe someone read 500 books in one year!!
These are great resolutions! I need to start marking all as read sometimes. I think I’ve only done it twice, but I came back from the holidays with 1000+ posts to read. I’m glad you said it.
Oof, you scared me for a minute there! I thought, “Who is Rebecca and how come I didn’t know I had competition?” Thanks for the link – you’re a peach. I’m always amazed how you not only find time to follow so many blogs, but how you are so thoughtful about promoting them.
Happy New Year!
Kim: Well, one would think 8 books is an attainable goal, but here I am at the end of January already behind *laughs* Less tv and more reading is definitely a goal for me this year.
Jenner: Yup, 500 books a year – just crazy!
Allie: when the posts get over 1000, my eyes start to roll around in my head! Yikes!
Jessica: *laughs* My pleasure sharing your terrific accomplishment! Happy New Year to you, too (although now it is nearly the end of January!)