Books of 2011 and reading resolutions

The slow days between Christmas and New Year are perfect for holing up and sticking one's head firmly in a book. Which is where mine has been for the last couple of days. Reading during daylight hours is a pleasure I usually deny myself, knowing that if I started, whole weeks would pass with nothing concrete to show for them. Consequently, my reading has to be slotted into the evenings and therefore tends to proceed at a much slower rate.

But in spite of this, the year has not been a bad one, volume wise. My Goodreads list records some 39 books (I tend not to count recipe, craft, reference books or re-reads) and my ratings say they were more good than bad. 

When I glance through the list though, I am struck by how many books I read for reasons other than me choosing them. A couple, I was checking out in order to wean Mark off his self imposed diet of non-fiction (The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series has been a big hit in that respect). A couple I read with Johnny, some were book group books, or related to authors or genres we were covering and others were review copies, or lent to me by friends so I felt obliged to read them in order to be able to talk about them.

Unsurprisingly, the ones I loved the best, were the ones I chose just because they appealed to me at the moment I needed something new to read.

Which probably tells me something about what my reading resolution for 2012 ought to be. Read what you want - not what you feel you ought to. I might even be bold enough to allow myself to do it during the daytime.

 

Comments

[dottycookie]

I thought I ewas doing well with mine - 25 books last year - but some were rereads and quite a few were books I read with the girls. Maybe this year I should aim for 25 books that I am reading for myself ... though I did end up with some terrible end of year chick lit ;-)

[Gill]

What an excellent resolution! I especially like the concept of "daytime" reading because I hadn't realised before now that I too feel rather bad about sitting down with a book during the day.

My "problem" is that since I started to need reading glasses, I can no longer simply pick up a book and read but have to search around for the pesky specs (because I'm far too vain to wear them on a string around my neck ;-)

I guess that's even more of a good reason to restrict myself to reading just what I want, too!

[Sue]

Even I feel guilty when I read in the day time and I'm someone who lives a life of bountiful leisure. I've just embarked on some Dickens. I had Great Expectations as a Christmas present and am finding it immensely readable.

[Toffeeapple]

I'm going through a reading slump at the moment. I have Middlemarch on the Kindle and have come to a complete halt with it. Bess of Hardwick in paperback, made a good start but left it for a day and forgot who was married to whom. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (free copy) arrived this afternoon and it doesn't look very promising. Perhaps I'll start a list on 1st January and see how I go...

[kirsten]

funny, i just posted about a stack of books - how did you make your mosaic picture of book covers? That would be fun, to make one every year. I read about the same number as you it looks like. Here's to a book-ier 2012!

[Sarah]

goodreads looks interesting... I used to keep a notebook with all the books I'd read but have slipped out of doing it, but it's good to look back on isn't it, especially now that most of the books I read now come from the library so don't sit on my shelves to remind me they exist!

We have quite a few 2011 books in common, maybe I have the same people suggesting them to me as you ;)

[kristina]

I know just what you mean about reading during daylight hours. I tend to save my reading for the evening too. Though I did have a sneaky half hour during the day today :) K x

[lina]

Like many things I'm a little all or nothing about reading. I'll barely pick up a book for 3 months and then I'll read 10 back to back. I tend to read at bed time which will explain my poor run rate of a book a month!

[louise]

I always put 'reading' on my to do list (I live by lists!) to try and make sure I find time and always aim to read during daylight too. I'm not happy if I can't fit in a good read!

I am planning a similar post about my read this year. I do count re-reads and non-fiction and at the beginning of the year I set a challenge to myself to read 12 books off my shelf as I've not had time or not made time to read in the previous few years - so far this year I have read around 70 books so I'm feeling very pleased with myself and after a year, finding time to read has become part of my daily routine so hopefully I won't fall behind again!

[Annie]

I'm like Mark, fiction, with the exception of the classics and Terry Pratchett, has lost its allure. Nice to have some recommendations :D

[Megan]

Do it, Ali. Read in the daytime!

[Louise]

I haven't seen Goodreads before but it looks interesting: I do try to keep track of my reading and trying to use the library a bit more! And, yes, reading in the daytime is very luxurious but good for the soul!

[Amanda]

Definitely, read what you want! This has been my worst year ever for the number of books read. I must make sure to fix that next year!

[Anita at Bishty]

You're right about daytime reading although I don't seem to have the same guilt about reading a pc screen (blogs!) or the newspaper. Perhaps a pc looks like it might be work and a book of fiction just looks frivolous?! Thanks for the Good Reads info - I'll be signing up!

[French Knots]

I read in bed every night and usually drop the book on my face when I nod off. I like 'interesting but not exciting' so I don't stay up till the early hours reading a gripping novel but roll on the day when youngest is at school and I can fit in some daytime reading!

[lazylol]

I seem to read less and less as the years go by! Something I need to change.
39 books - wow!

[Monica]

I'm on 45 this year. Down two from last year. And I've included re-reading of the Twilight series. (I should probably be embarassed about that!) Looking back I think it's been a good year... not vintage and certainly there have been some duds... but hey... onward and upward.

(what's on you bedside table now?)

[Gina]

This is the only time of year I allow myself to read during the day too. For exactly the same reason! Are there any in your list that come with a strong recommendation?

[domesticali]

Snow Falling on Cedars, I think. It's so hard to make recommendations though - read what calls to you.

Ali x

> To: alisonhudson03@hotmail.com

[The Coffee Lady]

I gave up on Goodreads - too many websites open at once! Though I love the idea of recording; I kept meaning to start a Pinterest board of my reads. And then I think - remember when I used to just READ?

[driftwood]

I'm with you on just reading what you want to, this year I unashamedly didnt finish several bookclub books that I was "supposed" to read just because I wasnt enjoying them, and there's little enough time without finishing a book because you should.....

[karen]

I was in a bookclub for years & then is came to a halt. Guess what? I have read more since it stopped. The secret is that you read more when you choose. I am nearly 50, an English graduate & an English teacher - I am a slow learner aren't I?

[Petit Filoux]

Ooh I have enjoyed reading during the Christmas holiday! Coming up to Christmas, I was so busy with crafting and cooking, reading became a complete luxury - in which I completely indulged the last couple of days - 150 pages in 2 days, I'm on a roll!

[Janice]

I have kept a list of books read since college days but also keep list in Goodreads and LibraryThing. Love your mosaic. What program did you use?

[lucylocket]

That's an impressive collection of books Ali - and I like the idea of Goodreads to keep a record. I might try that for this year as I have treated myself to a Kindle because I have discovered that with one I can knit and read at the same time - no having to hold a book open! Lucy xx

[UK lass in US]

My book choices depend mainly on what my mum brought over to read on her visits, what my father-in-law has passed my way and what the secondhand bookstore has in stock. Maybe it is time that I was more proactive in my book choices.

The pile next to my bed is getting dangerously low right now.