Why? I'm just not feeling very...resolutiony this year. I think resolutions often come with the implication that you're planning to "fix" something in your life, and this year I don't feel like there is much to fix, at least in terms of my reading goals. (I've decided not to list my personal, non-book, non-running goals on the blog this year, not that they're that interesting anyway, but I'm keeping them to myself.) :)
With that said, I do have some reading habits from 2015 that I'd like to continue to incorporate into my reading in 2016:
1. Keep it flexible: I did a pretty good job in 2015 of not getting bogged down by a ton of challenges or a too-full tour schedule. I'd like to keep that up this year, because having extra time for "free range" reading was awesome.
2. Don't fear the chunksters: When I started the blog, I took a big step back from reading very long novels. The reason is simple: when you're trying to start a book blog and generate traffic, you don't have time to spend weeks and weeks reading 1 book if you want to keep posting frequent reviews. In 2015, with my blogging becoming less frequent (and me becoming more okay with it), I embraced some of those longer novels again. It felt great to lose myself in a 600+ page epic once in a while. I'm hoping to do more of that this year...there's too many I've been putting off!
3. Embrace the library: In 2015, I started to make a habit of perusing the adult fiction New Release shelf at my library every time I brought the boys there for a visit. This was fun, because it allowed me to grab some of the latest reading material, but it also required me to make FAST decisions (my kids reach a level of Maximum Destruction in the adult section of the library in about 8 seconds). In these hurried selections, I ended up with some excellent new reading material. Getting on board with
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
,
Girl on the Train
,
The Shore
, etc. provided a fun change of pace from my at-home TBR of mostly backlist titles. I plan to do more library perusing in 2016!
4. Embrace the home TBR: I can't ignore my home shelves, though. As always, they are weighty with unread books! I'll work in as many of those as I can as well (especially because several of them are on my 30 Before 35 list...can't wait to keep truckin' on that!).
I think that's about it! No goal for a certain number of books, no particular challenges to complete. Just keep up the fun and flexibility in my reading habits. I guess that's a pretty good resolution, eh?
What are your reading goals for 2016?
I hear ya on the chunksters and blogging! I usually try to read a couple short books before reading a chunkster so I have some reviews to post while I'm reading. But, the downside is if the chunkster turns out to be not so great, I feel like I really wasted time. I'm less willing to take a risk on them.
ReplyI totally hear you on the wasted time. This happens to me a lot with lengthy classics. I tend to have less luck with them vs more modern long novels, and I hate spending all that time just to write a bad review!
I feel ya on these! I love a good meaty book and since I don't do individual book reviews anymore I don't even look at page count.
ReplyTanya Patrice
Girlxoxo
It's such a nice feeling! Maybe I'll finally get to Outlander this year. Haha.
I feel ya on these! I love a good meaty book and since I don't do individual book reviews anymore I don't even look at page count.
ReplyTanya Patrice
Girlxoxo
Sounds like some good practices to continue! Last year I set all kinds of crazy goals, and of course failed miserably. This year, I'm not going to do any challenges, and basically just try to read what I want. I think we as bloggers put so much pressure on ourselves sometimes, and it's nice to just let some of that go which it seems like you achieved! :)
Reply2013 was a year when I did wayyyyy too many challenges. I felt so stressed by them by the end of the year! I think that's why 2014 and 2015 were more laid back for me, and it's certainly been a nice change.
Yay for fun and flexibility!
ReplyMy reading has changed a lot since my pre-baby days, which I knew it would. I figured my number of books read would plummet, but really I'm just getting my reading in other ways... lots of comics, using audiobooks to re-read some favorites, and just not as much time sitting and reading new(-to-me) books. I've started a much more detailed spreadsheet than I've used before, and I'm really curious to see how those numbers turn out at the end of the year.
Glad to hear you've been able to flex your reading to fit the baby craziness! :) I totally understand. I remember worrying that I would have zero time to read after my oldest was born. Then I realized I could read, just in different ways. I also got really into audiobooks (when I was still working--I would listen on my commute both ways), and I switched to the Kindle more...easier to read it with one hand while breastfeeding. Haha.
These ARE great goals for the new year. I'm hoping to read more of my own books as well. I have so many I've had for YEARS that I need to make time to check out. I also like utilizing my library as well!
Reply-Lauren
Yes, some of the books on my shelves I've had since high school! Such a long time. Hard to ignore all the shiny new things being released though. :)
I am doing challenges again this year. I am in a place in my life that challenges keep me focused. One is a Read What You Buy challenge and one is more of a dare than a challenge. The dare: read only books from your shelves from now til the 1st of April. That will help by clear out the bookshelves!
ReplyThat is a great dare! Hmmm, if that is around next year, I may have to jump on board. That would be a GREAT way to clear my shelves a bit!
Good on you for giving yourself some flexible, low-key goals this year. Reading challenges aren't worthwhile if they only stress you out or don't really fit with your reading style, right? I especially like your "Embrace the library" goal!
ReplyThanks! And agreed on the stress with challenges. I find them fun, up to a point. If I have too many to focus on, they become less of a fun adventure and more of a to-do list.