I missed a few targets last year in my reading, failing to complete most of the challenges I set myself.
On the basis of that my reading goals this year will be somewhat less ambitious. I have given myself this year and next year to complete my sidebar challenges, my main goal again will be to get to 120 books read.
Additionally.......
Match my wife's reading...... I lost track of what she read in 2014 though I have a fair idea, I want to read her 2015 books as soon as possible after she has completed them, so I don't fall any further behind....plus nibble away at the ones she has gotten to that I haven't.
Play catch-up on certain authors whose progress I had stayed on top of matching them book for book before falling behind. I won't erode totally the sidebar list but it would be good to chisel it down.
Maybe also read some short series, find a few authors that I have 2 or 3 or 4 books from and plough though them start to finish.
Perhaps read some African, Asian and Scandinavian authors this year.
Read and get rid of more books from the library than actually come into it. I'm aiming for 10 months in the year where more books go out of the library than come in. If I can read 120 books this year, I would like no more than 50 coming in the replace - a net reduction of 70 in total. I've got to start somewhere.
50 books in still seems a high figure, but as I had a voucher for Christmas and did some early 2015 purchasing with it, I've already had 20 plus come on board......(what the hell is wrong with me?)
Discipline, self-control and willpower and a steely determination will be required..........ha ha apart from a total lack of those particular attributes, I should be fine.
On the library front, I'm hoping to get more organised and will continue to catalogue the tubs, which will take the rest of the year at least,
I'll report back in 2016!
Acquiring 20 books in the first month does rather seem like you're setting yourself up for a REALLY big commitment to restraint for the rest of the year...but it's good to have goals. I find it easier these days because I only buy from local stores and books are expensive here compared to what I could get them for if I bought from Amazon or Book Depository. But I still have a huge TBR (181 as at the end of January) and I toddle off the library nearly every week...but at least I take those back :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your 2015 reading...whether you achieve your goals or not I hope you enjoy the books.
I don't believe in making things too easy for myself, wouldn't be much of a challenge otherwise. I could have been a lot worse - I still have £20 left on my voucher!
DeleteFor now trying for 5 reads 1 new book allowed!
Col, of all people when you say that you have missed a few targets, it's time for me to go into hiding! I think you read plenty of books in spite of falling behind on your challenges. I find you constantly experimenting with new authors. In that sense I'm quite rigid; I stick to the beaten path. Like you, I want to read some Asian and Scandinavian novels this year and I also want to read more physical books from my own collection (I'm not a member of any library — thank heavens!). In terms of new books this year, I bought just one, THE CITADEL by A.J. Cronin, one of my favourite authors. Good luck with your reading in 2015!
ReplyDeleteI suppose I'm a bit too harsh on myself, but part of me thinks if I'm awake and not reading, I'm wasting time! I'll scale back the new authors a bit and try to get some more existing books read, I hope!
DeleteCol - I think it's always a good idea to re-adjust and set different goals. And I really respect you for setting such high goals for yourself.I'm actually trying broaden my own reading horizons a bit this year - we'll see if I actually get there!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to us both then Margot!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your challenges! If you've not already read them, Burial Rites and Wolf Winter are both great reads set in Iceland and Swedish Lapland respectively. Revenge by Yoko Ogawa is a fantastic Japanese read too.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more inspiration from your reviews through 2015 :-)
Cheers Stephanie. I've not read any of your three recommendations, I'll check them out and see what I think, thanks. I'll no doubt be adding at least a couple to the list, if not the stacks!
DeleteHope your 2015 rocks in all things!
Good luck with that Col - it sounds as though you've gone for doable (just about) targets so I hope you make it. How much longer will you be logging the library? Will that free up more reading time...?
ReplyDeleteMoira, cheers. I think I have.......sharp intake of breath....80 altogether - give or take.....so into 2016 at a rate of one a week!
DeleteI recently realized that I have too many goals for this year, and I haven't even signed up for all the challenges I had planned to. Your goals sound very ambitious to me. Good luck to both of us.
ReplyDeleteI kind of thought I was being a bit modest in my approach, but re-reading maybe not...
DeleteI suppose the biggest challenge will be achieving more out than in - I would really like to do that, and it will be so hard.....