Sunday 5 January 2014

Reading Resolutions for 2014

In December I hit the biggest reading slump I have ever had. I had some awesome books to read, but I just couldn’t get into them. Nothing interested me and I watched miserably as my Goodreads challenge to read 150 books for 2013, slid right through my fingers. I actually thought I might never read again. Shocker, huh!
Luckily after a good break, I am now ready to start reading again and I am pleased to tell you I am already on my second book of the year. I know there are others on their third and fourth, but I am happy to be on my second. I think that might be one of my problems; I get so caught up with how many books everyone else has read and I start to panic that I am not reaching similar levels. I curse myself for slow reading, which in the eyes of others is probably quite fast. So this year, I refuse to see how many books other people have read. I will concentrate on what I am doing and not worry about everyone else.
I do have a few reading goals and resolutions which I would like to share with you. Firstly my Goodreads challenge.
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I hope to read 120 books by the end of the year. This is a lower amount than I have previously ever agreed to and I know I can achieve it. I can also add to it, if I do achieve it. I didn’t want to set myself too high a limit, only to crash and burn again by the end of the year.
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I aim to read 10 physical books and 4 Kindle books each month. The Kindle books will be made up of the back log of Netgalley books I have. I will not add any more to my NetGalley list until I have read at least five and then I will only add one that doesn’t have an archive date. Though saying that, if a publisher should dangle something rather lovely in front of my eyes via email, I  can’t promise that I will be able to resist.
This year I also plan to read one non fiction creative writing book each month to help my own quest to be a better writer. I have so many, as well as a list of ones I need to read, so now is the time to get on with it.
I also plan to tackle some of the chunksters that have sat on my shelves for years. The first one I plan to read is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I have already started it and I am reading one chapter a day. So far I am loving it and I really wish I had started it sooner.
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I would like to read more short stories, but I am worried if I set myself a target I might just fail. So realistically I would like to read 4 short stories a month, but if I can’t do it then that is fine with me.
I also plan to resurrect my American Challenge, but probably on a smaller scale. I really do want to read my way around America and so far, I have only read through Alabama, Alaska and Califormia. I probably won’t be doing a big blog week special like I did before, but you never know I might change my mind when I get into it. For now though, I hope to start next with a book set in Arizona, so if you know any good ones, let me know.
I won’t be taking part in any challenges run by other bloggers as I find maintaining the information tiresome. I get bogged down by reposting and keeping challenge list, that I stop enjoying them.
What are your reading goals and resolutions for the year?

8 comments:

  1. It's too easy to turn what should be a pleasure into a chore. Take it easy, read books that are enjoyable and don't stress about what everyone else is doing. Hope you have a happy new reading year.

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  2. I also tend to get caught up and stressed over everyone else's reading pace. I hope this year I can concentrate more on my reading.
    Here are my 2014 Resolutions of you are interested.

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  3. I had to take a break at the beginning of last year, sometimes you review so many you get a sort of burn out :)
    http://booketta.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a-brand-new-year.html

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  4. I know what you mean. Sometimes I start thinking about the next book before I even finish the current book and that just sucks some of the pleasure out of reading. Good luck with your goals!

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  5. Have a wonderful 2014, Vivienne! Good luck reaching your reading goals. :)

    I haven't set any strict resolutions for myself reading wise because I want to enjoy and savor my reading, not rush to read as many books as possible.

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  6. For a second year running I've initially set my Goodreads number at 75 - I'd rather work upwards than lower it! 2013 I ended up reading 105 books, so that's not bad.

    I've decided to try and get a balance between ebooks and paperbooks (with about a 50:50 split). I'm also going to try and listen to at least 1 ebook a month

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  7. You know, I haven't even finished a FIRST book of 2014 yet. I dont' think I've finished a book since mid-December, actually. It feels good to take a break sometimes. :)

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  8. good luck with these Viv. I'm hoping to jot down my thoughts about reading resolutions and the like this weekend but I think I have some similar ones to you tbh. I am sick of being so swamped with how many books I've read and comparing it to others, also worrying about review books... I'll get to them when I get to them, hopefully the pubs won't mind but if they do and I fall off their lists, so be it. Happy new year and I hope this ones a great one xx

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