The Readers discussion

I've resolved to read all ten of the New York Times' best books of 2011, plus 6 Man Booker winners, plus six National Book Award winners, plus anything else I damn well please.

My reading resolutions for 2012:

12 oldest on my GRs tbr
12 books on my real shelf (stop messing around and get them read)
12 Man Booker winners
And 18 books total from other groups I'm in here on GRs.

Some books will overlap these challenges so I'm sure I'll finish these with no problem and time to spare for ALL the other book recs that get in the way. ;)

i can't promise to stick to my resolution, but i would like to read twelve classics this year. there are several "classics" that i've never gotten around to reading. and as an english student and teacher, that's just not acceptable!

also, i will read twelve books i own that i haven't gotten around to reading.

Elizabeth wrote: "i can't promise to stick to my resolution, but i would like to read twelve classics this year. there are several "classics" that i've never gotten around to reading. and as an english student and t..."

And you're no help, adding to my home pile of books, missy ;) I may have to bump up my goal number. ;)

that's why you love me!

Elizabeth wrote: "that's why you love me!"

:)

I don't set resolutions per se, but given that Vermont winters are long, I always choose a tome I've been wanting to read during January and February. One year it was "Gone with the Wind," another "Middlemarch," "Atlas Shrugged," and the father of them all, "A Suitable Boy." (That took me until April!) I just started "Middlesex," and I've already zoomed past page 100, so this might take me quicker than I thought. If so, I have "All the King's Men," in preparation for this year's election ready to go right after!

I have resolved to read at least 20 of the books I own that I haven't read yet. I can't quite resolve to not buy any new books.

Yes, you should!! :)

Melissa wrote: "I have resolved to read at least 20 of the books I own that I haven't read yet. I can't quite resolve to not buy any new books."
Melissa, I have a "read books I already own" resolution too but I would never say I couldn't buy new books - I figure I need to replenish the supply as I read the ones I own. If anything I have increased my book buying over the past year as my personal effort to save independent bookstores. Basically it all boils down to more reading and more buying!!

I agree with reading books already owned as a major goal of mine this year. I listed only 12 but I plan on actually reading many, many more of my 'own' books this year. I'm accruing piles of books throughout the house, lol.

Simon wrote: "Great resolutions so far from you all. I am wondering if I should get involved in the 12 for twelve as long as it matches my whim ethics with reading this year."

you could read twelve books on a whim. and so your entire year fits this particular resolution.

I choose reading challenges that help me pick books from my TBR, not add to them. This year I'm doing two:

1. What's in a Name at bethfishreads.com, which has six items that should appear in a title of a book you read (a topographical feature, something you'd see in the sky, a creepy crawly, a type of house, something you carry in a pocket/purse/backpack, and something on a calendar). I'll probably start with The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, my book for a title with a creepy crawly in the title.

2. Reading Like It's the End of the World--12 books that I really want to read but am waiting for no good reason! I have already read Maggie O'Farrell's The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox and am currently reading Emma. Can't end the world without reading a Jane Austen, now, can I? (inspired by Simon and the Mayans)

Joanne wrote: "I choose reading challenges that help me pick books from my TBR, not add to them. This year I'm doing two:

1. What's in a Name at bethfishreads.com, which has six items that should appear in a tit..."

You should most definitely read Jane Austen before the world ends! Hope you enjoy Emma. It is my favorite along with Pride and Prejudice.

Ok, I'm revising my reading resolutions! After listening to some podcasts (*wink wink*) and doing some soul searching, I've decided to let go of the "12 Booker reads in 2012". I just have too much else I really want to read and need to read (cleaning up my real books at home). So that's it, I feel better...*grin*

I'm enjoying the podcasts, Gavin and Simon, although I'm more inclined towards Simon's choices than Gav's.
It's just as well that I hadn't made any resolutions as you keep enticing me with more and more books to add to the TBR pile.
At the start of the year I read "The Coward's Tale" - Vanessa Gebbie. Very Dylan Thomas(ish) but not in verse! I'm now enjoying "State of Wonder" - Ann Patchett, whilst dipping into " Stop what you're doing and read this." Most enjoyable as I like books about reading.