Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2011 Reading Goals

I'm one of those people that gets a little obsessive about my goals. If I say I'm going to do something, I WILL do it, even if it really turns out not to be the best thing for me because it causes me stress I really don't need.

Take reading challenges...I have completed every one that I signed up for. And last year that meant that virtually all my reading choices were decided for me, because they had to fit into one (or two or three) challenge categories. I enjoy being a part of reading challenges immensely because it has broadened my reading horizons and I've met a lot of great bloggers that way.

But this year I need a break. I need to be able to mosey on over to my shelf and pick up whatever strikes my fancy. So this year I'm only doing one challenge that I put together with Melissa at Book Nut and Corinne at The Book Nest.


We each chose 5 books that we wanted each other to read. So here's what I'll be reading:

Corinne's Recommendations:

Davita's Harp by Chaim Potok
A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
A Woman in Berlin by Anonymous or Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place by Terry Tempest Williams
Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
Quest for a Maid by Frances Mary Hendry

Melissa's Recommendations:

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy
Paper Towns by John Green

I love all the stuff they recommend, so for fun I may also read some of Corinne's books for Melissa, and Melissa's books for Corinne:

On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigt
Precious Bane by Mary Webb
The Zookeeper's Wife or The Natural History of the Senses by  Diane Ackerman
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
Pastwatch or Wyrms by Orson Scott Card

A Song for Summer by Eva Ibbotson
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay
My Life in France by Julia Child

To see what I recommended for these lovely ladies, click here and here.

Other than that, I'd really like to incorporate the reading of my husband and my older kids here in some way, as yet to be determined. I'd also like more than half of my reading to be from books that I owned prior to 1/1/11.

I'm looking forward to reading this year and to reading your blogs to see what you are reading. I wish each of you a happy and healthy 2011!

7 comments:

Suey said...

That sounds like so much fun! Enjoy!

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

I'm doing a list swap as well and I am really looking forward to all the books i picked and that were picked out for me. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was soo good. I hope you enjoy it.

Veens said...

This sounds like a fabulous idea!!! I think I should do this with some of my friends :)

Melissa said...

Yay for no challenges! And for choosing one's own reading. I can't wait to delve into the books you've recommended for me. Which reminds me: I should do just that!

Laurie said...

What a wonderful take on a virtual book group. If you don't mind, I do believe I'll suggest it to a couple of my far-away friends...
A note on Diane Ackerman: I'd start with A Natural History of the Senses, as it's more her defining text, unless you're particularly interested in WWII Europe. Our book group read The Zookeeper's Wife this fall, and since we're all teachers whose content sometimes relates, we found it valuable, but most of us prefer ANHoTS...
FYI: My book challenge this year could fit in with your "no book challenge" agenda AND connect you with your family as well. I am simply taking one positive action with every book I read. Some take just a few minutes and require no planning, others take a few hours and can be done with friends and family. Still others are mighty indeed. I'm tracking my books and my challenge at www.whatsheread.blogspot.com
Anyway, thanks for the terrific idea!
Laurie

Corinne said...

YAY YAY YAY!! So many good books. I'm not signing up for a single challenge beyond this either. I just want to whittle away at my tbr drawer and not feel so compelled to find "something" to read that will fit a challenge.

All the ones you great girls gave me will be the perfect thing :)

Thanks for playing with me!

Anonymous said...

That's a fantastic challenge. Reading recommendations is a fun way to connect with people. I love the idea of connecting with your family be reading what they are reading. What a cool way to validate them!