Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Goodbye 2013; Hello 2014



Seriously? 2013 is over? Well, then I suppose it's time to think over the year that has been and start looking forward to the coming year.

2013 was a strange reading year for me filled with a lot of great books but also several spells of reading malaise. I met my Goodreads goal of 75 books for the year but that was a number I adjusted earlier this year when 80 started to look unreachable. I put a dent in my reading time when I started, for the first time in my life, working out regularly. So far I haven't been able to read and walk at the same time.

I did better on challenges this year than I have in the past. I completed the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge and Audio Books Reading Challenge months ago. I finished the Foodies Read 2013 Challenge, the Books-To-Movie Challenge and the War Through The Generations Challenge. I was one book short of completing the What's In A Name Challenge and probably could have raced to read that last book but opted not to do that. On the other hand, I fell far short of my goal in the Mount TBR Challenge (25 of 36 books) and bombed the Telling Tale Challenge (1 of 10) when I all but stopped reading fairy tales this year.


So, 2014, here you are right around the corner and, as usual, goals must be set and challenges issued.

For challenges, I'll once again be joining the Historical Fiction, Audio Books, Foodies Read, What's In A Name and War Through The Generations Challenges. I'm also adding the Women Challenge #2 and the Chunkster Challenge. You'll notice I've not signed up for any of the TBR challenges; not because I'm not planning on trying to read more books from my own shelves but because I'm going to try to go at that a different way this year. The Chunkster Challenge will take care of some of the TBR issue - I have a lot of big books I already own ready for this one. I also need to concentrate on the five-year Classics Challenge and all of the books on that list are books I already own.

My reading goals for 2014 are:

1. Limit the number of books I accept for review. This one's going to be hard; every day there are interesting books coming to my attention. But I'd like my reading to consist of no more than two books for review every month and I've already got quite a backlog to work through as it is.

2. Read at least 12 non-fiction books in 2014.

3. Read at least 15 books for the Classics Challenge.

4. Read at least 20 books written by authors from or set in countries other than the U.S.

5. Get back to my beloved fairy tales - Fairy Tale Fridays will return at least once a month.

6. Give myself permission to give up on books that aren't working for me.

The thing I'm most looking forward to in 2014 is making reading fun - after all, that's what made me a reader in the first place!


14 comments:

  1. I know re 2013 - where did it go?!!! Happy New Year!!!

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  2. Those are some great plans! I could certainly work on my chunksters too.

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  3. Yeah you for working out! I can't listen and run and do listen to audio when I'm walking the dogs (or taking a walk to be outside).

    I no longer take any books for review, but do use netgalley and edelweiss occasionally. I do miss out on a lot though.. but I'm doing what I feel I can deal with and enjoy reading!

    Have a lovely new years Lisa!

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  4. I have no problem giving up on books that do not work for me. I did that several times this year, but didn't always post about it.

    Happy New Year!! I plan to eat Chinese food, watch movies and finish The Rosie Project which is fan freaking tastic.

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  5. Wishing you the perfect 2014! Hope all of your goals are met.

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  6. Giving up on books is hard for me too. I keep hoping they get better! Happy 2014!

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  7. I smiled while reading your goals because they practically mimic mine verbatim! Happy Nee Yesr!

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  8. I'm cutting way back on review books too--or at least reviews with a specific date. I want to do much more reading of whatever strikes my fancy at the moment. Cheers to a wonderful reading year!

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  9. Hope that this year is a good year with little malaise! You're right that reading should be pleasurable and not work. Working out...could you do the recumbent bike and read? I could bike and read but treadmill and elliptical were out. Though I did sometimes do audio and walk/run. Mostly I just want to listen to poppy music, though. ;)

    Happy New Year!

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  10. They seem to fly by faster every year....Congrats on getting your goals done!!! Looking forward to Fairy Tale Fridays again :) Have a happy New Year and a fabulous reading year in 2014!

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  11. Thanks for taking part in the War Through the Generations challenge and for joining us again this year. I hear you on needing to accept fewer review copies and be willing to give up on books that just aren't grabbing my attention. Good luck with your challenges and your reading goals!

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  12. Hi Lisa and welcome to the Women Challenge :)
    Happy reading!

    Valentina
    www.peekabook.it

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  13. I also don't know where 2013 went! Looks like you have some great goals for 2014. Good luck and Happy New Year.

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  14. I wish I could say my 2013 went by in a whirlwind. I'm just glad it's gone and cautiously hoping this year will be more quiet and pleasant.

    I think your goals for the New Year are great, Lisa, and I wish you luck with them! I am making this year one of Re-Discovery. At least that's my hope. I'd like to revisit some of the author's whose books I have enjoyed in the past. For the past few years it seems like the majority of the books I read are by new-to-me authors. Nothing wrong with that, but I'd like to get to some of those other books I've been meaning to read, you know?

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