2013 Goals
Posted 4th January 2013
Category: Chit-Chat Genres: N/A
8 Comments
This photograph was taken by Jake Wasdin.
Last year I did pretty well but not nearly as well as I’d hoped. However I suppose I always knew that would be the case, as I think a lot of us do of our reading goals. So this year, to combat it, I am making fewer goals.
Something that I decided to take part in order to actually get books read, is Ana and Iris’s Long-Awaited Reads Month, which is this month, January; I’ll be adding the books that are dusty on my shelves to my overall goals list. The challenge may be for January, but I’m going to use it throughout the year as well.
It won’t surprise you that I’m carrying on my classics plan from last year, especially as I’ve now joined The Classics Club. In particular I want to read The Canterbury Tales, Machiavelli’s The Prince, but also from last year’s goals I want to read Anne Brontë’s work and Frances Burney’s Cecilia. And I want to read more Dickens and make a start on Wilkie Collins.
When I looked back at the books I read in 2012, I was surprised to see I had completed my goal of reading more work by Elizabeth Chadwick. I had never set a number of books to read, but am happy with the three I got through: The Marsh King’s Daughter, The Greatest Knight, and The Champion. I want to continue reading Chadwick’s work this year.
So:
- Books I’ve had for a while: Shogun, Suite Française, The Last Empress, Shanghai Girls, The Luminous Life Of Lilly Aphrodite.
- The Canterbury Tales and The Prince (medieval works are lacking in my life).
- Anne Brontë.
- Cecilia.
- More Dickens, Wilkie Collins.
- More Elizabeth Chadwick.
A much easier list than last year, I’d say, and with room to move.
January 5, 2013, 1:20 am
Yay for both Chaucer and Anne Bronte being in your sights for 2013. :)
January 5, 2013, 4:02 pm
Glad to hear you’re joining in for Long Awaited Reads It’ll be a running theme for me throughout the year also.
I have several Elizabeth Chadwick books but haven’t read them yet. I really want to get back to reading more historical fiction.
January 5, 2013, 9:12 pm
Sounds like a plan, Charlie! I agree that it’s good to leave yourself room, because there are always new books that you come across through the year. Congratulations on reviewing every book you read last year, by the way – I’ve wanted to do that in the past but never managed it. Good for you! It’s great to have a record of everything you’ve read.
January 5, 2013, 11:50 pm
Looks like a good list (and not so vast that you wont’ have time to read anything else). Happy 2013!
January 6, 2013, 12:15 pm
I never set myself goals as I find I don’t enjoy reading when I feel pressurised. I do always set simples aims though. This year I’m hoping to make more time for re-reads. I think your simple and fewer goals is a good idea. Good luck!
January 8, 2013, 1:53 pm
Jennifer: Thanks!
Alex: Yep, I decided it was about time for Chaucer and likewise for Anne Bronte – in her case I need to actually keep the resolution one year…
Suzi: Likewise, I’ll be extending it to the year even if it’s not official. Oh do read them, they’re very good!
Andrew: Yes, that is it exactly, you want to have the opportunity to read what you want on any given day. First year I’d done the reviewing every book. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it.
Kim: That’s the plan! Happy new year to you, too.
Jessica: Yes, there’s a good balance to be made between completely mapping out the year and having a few things to work towards. Thanks!
January 9, 2013, 1:29 pm
I like your plans for the year, it’s definitely a good thing to not overly restrict your reading. I have no reading plans for this year, I’ll just read what I want, which is not very different to the past years really. I always read a few classics each year so I’m sure I’ll check some books off my Classics Club list, but I have no idea which ones. I’ll just see where my mood takes me!
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January 4, 2013, 3:47 pm
Lovely goals :) You can do it!