Sandi Shilhanek | My Reading Resolutions

I want to start by wishing everyone happy healthy new year! I hope that 2009 is a great year for all.

Every year there’s discussion in my yahoo groups about resolutions. Some people
make more personal resolutions about things such being more fiscally
responsible, getting healthier by exercising or watching their diets. Some are
making resolutions about their TBRs and/or potential reading choices.

Last year I attempted to do an alphabet challenge. This was to have had me
reading at least one book by an author whose last name started with every letter
of the alphabet. I was doing fairly well at this, and even had been told who to
read for X and Z, but then I lost my list of what I had read and gave up. This
year I’m going to attempt it again, and can use those authors from last year’s X
and Z challenge, because I haven’t read those books yet. I knew procrastination
was good for a reason!

This year I’m also going to attempt to join in the challenge the same group is doing and read the selected word of the month. This means picking a title that has a certain word in it. To assist in that I’m currently reading NOT SO SNOW WHITE (snow is the January word) by Donna Kauffman. Lastly I’m going to work really hard at reading the book for our the DFW Tea Readers Book Group. For January the author is Laura Griffin, and while I won’t read her current book I will be attempting to read her first book ONE LAST BREATH before our meeting.

So, now you know what I’m going to attempt with my reading. I want to know what
your reading resolutions are. Would you also like to share your personal ones
as well, and perhaps we can form a little support group and cheer one another on
during the year.

Sandi
DFW Tea Readers
Readers 'n 'ritas... celebrating literary obsessions

Comments

14 comments posted.

Re: Sandi Shilhanek | My Reading Resolutions

Hey, Sandi!

I made a couple of resolutions this year that I hope will help me and my obsessions. One is that I have to clear ten books out of the house before I can buy another book. My TBR pile numbers in the thousands, and at the rate of 150 or so books a year, there's no way I'll ever read everything. Well, not at that pace, anyway...

I also resolved not to take any more books from the various swap shelves I visit unless I'm actually swapping 1 for 1. I've already broken that one, though. Sigh.

My final book resolution of the year is to finish the books I started and put aside. I have at least three stacks of them taking up space on my TBR case, and it's been driving me crazy. I've had to trick myself into this one, though, so what I've been doing is reading two books at a time. I alternate a chapter in one then a chapter in the other until one of the books really grabs me, then I finish that one and add something new into the rotation. I still have my bathroom book, my purse book, and an audiobook in the car, so I have lots of choices. I actually started the alternating chapter thing at work (I'm a substitute teacher) because it helps me remember to look up and walk around in the classroom when the teachers have left seat work for the kids.
(Mellanie Crowther 12:57pm January 4, 2009)

Okay I have a 2009 New Year's resolution and so far so good! It's going to bring about boos from the writing community but I have to do this. I will not buy more than four books per month and I must read four that are in my TBR pile. So four in four out and more to be read monthly if I can get up to reading speed again. The other half of that same resolution is to hold on to nothing. Either they go to PBS or get passed on to reader friends. These days I have read very few that are truly keepers so there is no point in loading up my closet. As I read they go! Bottom line there will be some room on my book shelves at the end of the year.

Livia
(Livia Holton 1:26pm January 4, 2009)

My only New Year's reading resolution is to try more new authors and maybe try to get into more ebooks. I keep seeing some that look really really intersting.
(Debbie Beverley 1:39pm January 4, 2009)

Eeek. Thanks for the reminder. I need to read a book by this month's author. As for resolutions, I'm gonna go with the classic of getting healthy. It is soo happening this year. I even took the icky "before" pictures on Friday.
(Summer Sharp 1:59pm January 4, 2009)

I joined many reading challenges and I'm hoping that will keep me focused on reading the books in my TBR.
(Yvonne Hering 3:01pm January 4, 2009)

Hi Sandi, Please tell me where to find the challenge for the Word of the Month. I would like to join. Thanks.
val
(Val Valleau 3:13pm January 4, 2009)

Hi Sandi, I like your resolutions and they do sound fun! I was reading at my normal rate until moving, then I slowed down and then stopped. So for me I just need to find the time to read again. I still love books and add new/used ones all the time to the TBR. But looking at them isn't enough, now, is it! I hope you will keep us up to date w/ your word of the month books, that is a fun challenge!
(Pam Nolan 5:21pm January 4, 2009)

Several years ago I gave up making resolutions! That said I am going to try to loose some weight & be as healthy as possible. My weight is way more than I like & my blood pressure is a bit high! That was a surprise as it has always been "really good" normal reading. Since I know how to be & stay healthy there is really no good excuse except bad habits!
Sandi, is the word "snow" in the 2009 Challenge for H/S?
(Donna McClure 6:58pm January 4, 2009)

I work full time and have only a few hours to read so I read whatever I am in the mood to read.
(Joyce Mandle 7:21pm January 4, 2009)

Thanks to everyone who posted! It's amazing to think that so many of use really have basically the same resolutions. I
have broken the no new book one already....but I have had an amazon g.c. since before Christmas that I was waiting to
spend, and now am trying to spend it down....so did I really break the resolution since it's not my money?

As for the word challenge. That's something that is happening in one of the yahoo groups I belong to. Each month the
challenge is to read a book that has the preselected word in the title. It's not in any way tied to the 100,000 challenge
that Harlequin is doing. It's simply a challenge the group started to help generate some book discussions, and I thought
sounded fun especially because I had a book that fit the word on my shelf, and miracle of miracles even knew exactly
where!

Thank you all again for checking out the blog and once more I hope everyone has a great 2009!
(Sandi Shilhanek 7:58pm January 4, 2009)

Great blog as always, Sandi! I've never made reading resolutions before. Frankly, I don't make resolutions at all, but do hope to take better care of myself physically and try to lose some of the stress in my life in the coming year. I suppose that could lead to more reading time if done properly!

Happy New Year, Sandi - I hope it's a great one!!

Hugs to you!
(Laurie Damron 10:06pm January 4, 2009)

My reading resolution is simple...keep finding new authors to read...There is nothing as fun as discovering a new author! Happy New Years!

Tina
(Tina Sporer 10:11pm January 4, 2009)

My reading goals are pretty simple also. I will continue to try to read 100 books in the year. I, too, would like to find some new to me authors. I plan to read more from my TBR stack, and I'm doing some of the book site challenges.
Love reading your blog!
Gail In Alabama
(Gail Pace 11:17pm January 4, 2009)

to read as many of my TBR pile as possible before going out and buying more!!
(Shauna George 7:42pm January 7, 2009)

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