Monday, January 02, 2012

2012 Readolutions

I love readolutions.  This year, instead of making a list, I will write a bit about the kind of a reading year I hope to have in 2012.

I look forward to reading with my kids (ages 12 & 7). I read to them from a chapter book just about every night, and I read books with Skye for our mother-daughter book group and our teen book club at the library. I'd like to find more time to read one-on-one with Felix, and I'd like to remember to make time for picture books, which they both still love.

I plan to continue to track my reading on Goodreads. This has been a great resource for me. I joined in July 2011, and since I had already been keeping a book list, I added all of the books I’d read from the start of the year on. I'm really enjoying taking a look at everything I read in 2011! I love how you can put the books into different groupings (called "shelves").

I will participate in my reading communities! I am a co-moderator of StorkNet's Reading Circle, so that’s a priority; I will do my best to post a reading update there each week, and to read the group reads and post about them on our discussion threads. I will participate in the challenges there. I’ve been enjoying FridayReads on Facebook. I love the Chicklit forums and hope to post more there. Maybe I’ll even jump into some discussions at the Republic of Pemberley. My biggest leap will be to enter the bookish blogosphere more fully.

As for my blog, do I even have to say? Of course I want to post more. Maybe this pretty new format will keep me motivated for awhile. I’m also signing up for the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, so that should help, too.

I just posted a goal on Goodreads of reading 100 books in 2012. That will include the chapter books I read with my kids, too. I have been reading lots of middle grade & YA fiction, which I love, but I'd like to find a bit more time for "grown-up" books this year.

I also want to:

~ Read more books from my shelves. I’d like to especially focus on my lovely collection of Persephone books, as well as books that have been given or loaned to me.

~ Organize our bookshelves. We got some new shelves this year, but the organization is maybe only half-way complete. I love doing this, but I think I put it off because it seems more like a treat than a must-do.

~ Rein in my bookstore shopping – at least make it more purposeful. I will focus on book club books, the kids’ Christmas book stacks, and keepsake books (ones I love and want on my shelves.) I will try to avoid those impulse buys.

~ Participate in Buy a Friend a Book week at least once this year. I’d forgotten about this cool tradition!

Ah.  I love envisioning my great reading year ahead.  Do any of you make reading goals, or have any special reading plans for 2012?

5 comments:

Michelle said...

Great goals, Caryl! I'm hoping to utilize Goodreads a bit more. I have to spend some time getting comfortable over there. I was just thinking about Buy a Friend a Book, too!

Caryl said...

I didn't know you were on Goodreads, Michelle! I just plugged in your email address, and I think I found you there. I sent you a friend request.

Angie said...

New to your blog through the Comment Challenge ... and love that term "readalutions." You are the first person I've heard use it. I may steal it for use with my students next week (I'm a teacher librarian)!

Angie said...

Drat. Logged in to the wrong account. I talk about books as Ms. O ... www.msoreadsbooks.com. This multiple Google Login thing still gets me sometimes. :]

Caryl said...

Angie, I got the term from the Chicklit Forums (see the link in my sidebar). Please share this wonderful word! And thanks for stopping by. I'm off to check out your book blog.