Sunday, January 2, 2011

Not goals, but hopes for reading in the new year


I don't set goals for myself in reading other than a few fun challenges, but I have been thinking about what I'd like to read in this new year.

I love short stories, and though I can't seem to manage a Short Story Monday, which is hosted by The Book Mine Set, I do want to go back to my own 'today's short story.'

I want to read more essays. I have many books of them, and they sit unread year after year.

I would also like to read more books written in the early decades of the twentieth century. This is quite easy as I read through the Agatha Christie books, but I would like to read others also.


I have a number of mysteries on my shelf which I look forward to reading.

And much, much more nonfiction since I own more nonfiction than any other genre.

My biggest reading hope is that I will sit down more often during the day in our 'new' study and read.

I want to continue writing about everything I read. I love being able to look back and see when I read something and what I thought of it. I really do use my blog in this way, not only for books but for gardening, cooking, etc. It has become a way of keeping track of daily life at Windy Poplars Farm, both indoors and out.

19 comments:

  1. I love the title of this post...not goals, but hopes. Perfect. Your hopes sound great and I too hope that you will sit down more in your lovely home library and read, my dear friend. :-)

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  2. Much good luck to you in 2011. Your hopes for reading mirror mine in many ways. May we both read until our eyes cross and we close the book with a great sigh of contentment. Reading must be among the greatest pleasures of a life.

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  3. All good goals, Nan. I hope you'll be able to carry through. I'm only doing two challenges (it's about all the pressure I can handle), but I think they're both going to be fun.

    I love the vintage poster in your header!

    2011 is going to be a good year, I think. :)

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  4. Ooh a new study! I am in the process of setting mine up properly - it's really my writing room, slightly bigger than a closet, and I think I am still afraid to use it. I hope both you and I get more time to read this year! I like your goals, to read more of what you enjoy and own. Happy New Year!

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  5. I love the way you think Nan! Easy for me to say because it pretty much agrees with the way I think -- not counting the gardening part ;>) (and the beautiful reading room) ....

    But what I really love is the way you write about it!

    I remember our travels and day trips so much more clearly after I write about them and now I do want to add writing about books for the exact reasons you mention.

    Thank you -- and Happy New Year.

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  6. I love your hopes for 2011..enjoy your reading study!

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  7. Hey Nan -

    For essays, try The Rural Life by Verlyn Klinkenborg. I've been following his essays in the times for several months via email - a lovely writer with soothing insights into life outside of the city limits.

    I think you would enjoy it.

    Wishing you and the family the best the new year can bring! Onward we all go!

    - Jeff

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  8. Love your header art :) Your post struck a chord. Spent some time today rearranging books to place them in a more accessible order. We have this amazing Friends of the Library group that hosts these sales where the books go for a song - the result is I have far too many books "in queue" and sometimes feel overwhelmed just looking at them....

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  9. When it comes to reading, my goals/hopes (whichever way you prefer calling them) are very short-term. For instance, I read here on your blog about a book that sounds like something I would enjoy, so I look it up in the online catalogue of my town's library and, if they have it, ask my mum to get it for me (I know! I am incredibly spoiled!).
    Most of my reading material comes my way by recommendation, be it through your or someone else's blog, or talking to friends and family about books.
    But I definitely need more non-fiction again; something to engage the mind and entertain at the same time.

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  10. We have very similar hopes for the New Year, Nan. Here's to more short stories and nonfiction. Happy 2011!

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  11. I can see you relaxing in your study reading just like the lady in this picture.

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  12. Nan, I want to read more books in 2011 too! I want to read all kinds.

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  13. Having an intention is a nice way to go about it. No pressure, just a recognized and stated desire to improve.

    I don't like the pressure of blogging each book, but I keep a notebook recording each one by title, author and date finished. Ah, compromise.

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  14. I'm enjoying your blog and look forward to the reading adventures ahead. Check out My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - as a lover of books and reading, you'll be inspired by his joy of the written page.

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  15. I like your goals, especially the ones about nonfiction and essays. I love both types of books and don't have trouble reading them, but would love to read even more. Have a great year!

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  16. I don't even go as far as you do in planning my reading. I have 2 book clubs who chose month to month usually, and I'm always hearing about new books from reviews - and sometimes I find out about older books, and good mysteries from you - and other blogs. Never a shortage. And I never travel without a waterbottle, a survival orange, and a good book. You never know when you are going to be held up somewhere.

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  17. Kay, I'm not so big on goals in any area of my life. :<)

    Jill, I love what you wrote. I am going to keep that quote.

    Yvette, if I don't I won't feel badly. It will just mean I read something else I love. I love those WPA posters.

    Susan, I love the idea of a writing room.

    Sallie, I will be looking for your own 'book reports.'

    Thanks, Staci.

    Thanks Jeff, for the recommendation and the wishes.

    Susan, that's no fun to feel. This used to happen to me when I'd bring too many books home from the library.

    Librarian, they are definitely hopes not goals. I choose my next book by looking around the bookshelves.

    JoAnn, yeah!

    Lisa, I just happened upon that picture, and I love it.

    Sherri, I'll be interested to see what you choose.

    J.G., I don't like the idea of pressure either, and sometimes if I haven't written about my reads for a while, I just combine them into one posting. Mostly I just want to know when I read something and what I felt about it.

    Thanks, Joanne. A friend recommended this to me, too.

    Dorothy, I just end up reading other stuff too often, and I thought if I jotted them down, I'd think about reading them.

    Commonweeder, I don't plan at all. Honestly I just pick something off the shelf. I love your kit. :<)

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  18. I wish you all the best this coming year, Nan. I hope you are able to accomplish everything you set out to do.

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  19. Literary Feline, thanks; the reading will be fun no matter what it is!

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