reading resolutionsIt is that time of year again—resolution time! For me, it’s the same few goals I set every year: lose weight, eat more vegetables, try not to worry so much and read more books! But…what kind of books?

A spate of Goodreads friends have been posting ‘reading resolutions’ for the new year. Here are mine!

1) Read 100 books. I set a goal of 50 last year and fell just shy; I am hoping a loftier goal will inspire me to spend less tablet time goofing around with Temple Run and Drop 7 and more time reading!

2) Do a thematic reading project. I was inspired in this one by recently going through my grandfather’s large, but thematically simple book collection. His many volumes were all on the same few topics—tools, jokes, local history etc. I want to do some reading that is less random and will allow me to learn a lot about one subject. To that end, I plan to make a collection of Jewish-themed books on my Kobo and aim to read at least one of them every month.

3) Read another book of daily essays—and finish it this time! Last year, I plowed my way through a wonderful book called [easyazon-link asin=”B001D08CQU” locale=”us”]Simple Abundance[/easyazon-link], which featured an inspiring essay for every day of the year. I greatly enjoyed it, but toward the end I fell behind and had to binge-read to finish it. I want to read another daily essay book thus year, and stay caught up! In keeping with my Year of Reading Jewishly, I have chosen [easyazon-link asin=”B004QX052A” locale=”us”]The Book of Jewish Values[/easyazon-link] by Joseph Telushkin.

4) Read more French. This is like taking my medicine, alas. I resolve to every year and never seem to. What I need to do is stockpile these like I did the Jewish books, then pick one a month and just do it.

5) Spend less money. I resolve to do this every year as well, but unlike my other annual attempts, I succeed at this one; my spending has decreased every year. What I plan to do for 2014 is simply this: see how long I can go before I buy something. The beauty of ebooks is they won’t run out of stock. So if something catches my eye I can simply wish list it. It will be there later.

So, those are my reading goals for 2014. How about you?

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"I’m a journalist, a teacher and an e-book fiend. I work as a French teacher at a K-3 private school. I use drama, music, puppets, props and all manner of tech in my job, and I love it. I enjoy moving between all the classes and having a relationship with each child in the school. Kids are hilarious, and I enjoy watching them grow and learn. My current device of choice for reading is my Amazon Kindle Touch, but I have owned or used devices by Sony, Kobo, Aluratek and others. I also read on my tablet devices using the Kindle app, and I enjoy synching between them, so that I’m always up to date no matter where I am or what I have with me."

9 COMMENTS

  1. I spent almost eight years in various literature courses as I got my degrees so I never, ever plan how many books I must read a year. Been there, done that, got burned out. I read what I want when I want, and ignore the number of books I read.

    That said, I normally read 100 pages an hour so I can read a book a night even if I watch an hour or so of TV or go on a solitaire binge.

    One of the pleasures of being a novelist is the varying subjects I must learn about. I’ve read dozens of books on the Civil War, other historical periods, the native plants of South America, the history of stage magic, and arcania and the paranormal. Fun stuff, and the reading has a point.

    As to resolutions, I’ve also aged out of that. I just tell myself every day to be kind, even to myself.

  2. Some of the goals I have for myself this year is write more for myself. I spend such a large chunk of my days writing for other people (work), but then never do anything for myself. I have a couple of different blogs — one that was very popular in its niche. I want to get back to enjoying that and cultivating those relationships that were created because of it.

    Oh, and read 50 books.

  3. My resolution is more a rejection of last year’s resolution.

    2013 was the year of the indie book for me. I vowed to give more new authors a chance and, at the same time, save money on my book habit. After 12 months of substandard writing, I can recall not one book that I would recommend to another reader. I found myself flying through so many awkwardly written books that I actually saved nothing because I ended up buying more books in my futile effort to find an indie author I could fall in love with.

    On January 1 I purchased a NYTimes best seller…and was reminded all over again why I love reading.

  4. My reading goals are to get through about 20 of my self-help books I’ve been collecting as recommendations for my business and personal objectives that I haven’t yet touched! I plan to start reading once a week at least, and work up to every single night. 🙂 I used to love reading before bed, what happened to me? 😀 Happy new year!

  5. I love reading. Last year I read lots of books chosen by my three book clubs. This year I want to read more of the books I have bought for myself. Some are about spiritual growth, some are about history, and some are novels. Some do not fit into any of those categories.

  6. Love that you want to read 100 books and some in French. I do a lot of reading but mostly articles. You have inspired me to add 25 books, 2 a month is doable.

    A few years ago I started to reevaluate all my purchases before actually buying anything. Mostly because I know I would be moving and did not want to pack anything else. Fortunately it became a habit and now I only buy necessities which has allowed me to really live bare bones.

  7. 100 BOOKS!! I put a goal of 4 books, LOL. I do admit I’m a slow reader but what can I say. On the other hand, that is 4 non-fiction books – I tend to read a lot of non-fiction books. Love the idea of thematic reading, I’ve been looking into that as a monthly project. When my kids were little we would have thematic summers – primarily of countries – it was a lot of fun. Now you have my creative juices flowing – I enjoyed your post and look forward to hearing how you’re doing during the year 🙂

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