Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish
I didn’t really have a ton of resolutions and goals last year due to having the foresight that, with wedding planning, I would be lucky if I could keep this blog even alive. So now I’m ready to make some goals and resolutions.
1. I resolve to not be afraid of reading chunky books.
I’ve shied away from chunkier books because I’m always so contentiousness of my stupid Goodreads challenge book count and reading a big ol’ fat book would take me the amount of time to read 2-3 shorter ones. This year I really want to not care and maybe be more impressed with page count?
2. I resolve to be a good commenter like I used to be.
Somewhere in between wedding planning and the craziness that I dealt with in 2012 I became a horrible blog friend and commenter. You KNOW commenting back and discussion and sharing the love is like my PILLAR of blogging and I feel like a horrible blogger. Like I wanted to stop blogging for the fact that I felt too bad to have people comment on my posts and me not to be able to comment back or visit back. So this year, I WILL BE BETTER. Because I love you guys and I like talking! You can check out a post I wrote about commenting!
3. I resolve to start reading classics again.
I used to read classics a lot more than I do now. I actually my classic count for 2012 was a big fat ZERO. So, I figure I can only go up from there! Mission accomplished even if I only read ONE I win! haha
4. I will get better at putting books down that I don’t like
I admitted this to you all in a blog post where I confessed how I can’t put books down even if I don’t like them because I fear that if I put them down there is a possibility of, if I had stuck it out, that I would have LOVED the book. I even started a feature called Reconsider or Release? in which I list my books I’ve set down (far and few between) and you weigh in on if you think it’s worth picking back up or not — because you guys KNOW me so well and what I’d like!
5. I resolve to cull my OWNED books.
I have accumulated an insane amount of books through book sales, book signings, publishers, etc. and I just have no more room on my shelves. There are books on my shelves that I KNOW I’m going to never read because I bought them years ago and still they are unread or they just don’t interest me anymore. And not only that but there is NO PHYSICAL WAY I CAN READ ALL OF THESE BOOKS. So I will be donating and passing along to friends!
6. I resolve to get back into adult fiction.
I’m really new to the YA scene — in the past two years — so I’ve done a lot of “catching up” on YA books and authors. I LOOOOOVE YA so much but I do miss some adult fiction authors that I loved. Going to integrate adult fiction back into my reading diet.
7. I resolve to fix and update my review archive.
I haven’t updated that baby in a year or so. And then I switched to WordPress in April 2012 and it got all messed up and everything was getting all redirected and what not. I’ve been too lazy but THIS YEAR IT WILL HAPPEN.
8. Start a book club or get involved in one
I’ve always wanted to be involved in a really fun book club that is super laid back and informal — preferably with cocktails or wine and FOOD. This one might actually happen because I’m in the works of starting up a Philly suburbs chapter of the FYA book club! So, email me if you live nearby and want to join! It’s just another girl and myself so far!!
9. I resolve to read outside of my normal genres and dabble in territory I’ve ignored.
You all know the stuff — contemporary, dystopian and verrrrry limited paranormal. I just started to get more into science fiction and fantasy but still very new. I ALSO want to try to read romance novels– like steamy Fabio covered type romances or historical ones. I’ve always turned my nose up at them for some reason but I WILL TRY THEM. So give me recs!
10. Fix all of the housekeeping, behind the scenes that I’ve neglected since my move to WordPress.
I just can’t even think about it. I don’t wanna do the NON-FUN THINGS. I just want to keysmash and squeal over books. But these things must be done…slowly but surely!
AND now for my most important, main overarching resolution-ish thought:
Have fun. Read good books. Have good conversation about them. No stress. No pressure. Don’t worry about reading or blogging slumps.
So tell me…what are YOUR resolutions and goals? What do you think of MINE?
Christine @ BookishlyB says
I was in a book club once with two friends and we ended up being more of a happy hour club that… And yay for adult fiction!
Rachelia (Bookish Comforts) says
I am also working on commenting more/better – it is so easy to just read and exit sometimes. But I am taking the stance that if I had 3-4 minutes to read a post, I have another 1 to leave a comment that could make someone’s day 🙂
I also am working on getting back into reading the variety of books I did before I started blogging: such as adult literary and historical fiction as well as non-fiction. I’d love recommendations if you have any!
Good luck Jamie! I’m sure you’ll do great on your goals – just remember, have fun 🙂
I recently blogged about my 2013 goals while celebrating my blogoversary.
Vikk @ Down the Writer's Path says
Great list, Jamie. I think a lot of folks are aiming to knock down that big ol’ TBR pile. I know I am, of course, I resolved to that last year and I did but…. So this year I joined the TBR pile challenge. We’ll see.
Good luck with all your resolutions. I really enjoy reading your blog. Keep it up (and congratulations on your wedding.)
Danica Page @Taking it One Page at a Time says
Wow! What a great list of goals. I can understand about the commenting thing. I’ve been bad at that lately.
Best of luck with all your goals!
Here’s Mine
~Danica Page
Taking It One Page at a Time
Gaby @ Queen Ella Bee Reads says
Great list, Jamie! We have a lot of the same goals, I think, but the one that really stands out to me is the book club. I really want to get involved with a local bookish group. Good luck with your list!
Kelly @ Belle of the Literati says
I need to get back more into adult fiction too…I’ve been catching up as well and I miss my adult peeps 🙁
Allison says
Great resolutions! I read pretty much all adult fiction, so feel free to stop by and grab some titles (and knock our your comments resolution at the same time).
Sarah O says
I don’t read too many romances now but I did back when I had my kindle so for historical maybe start with Sarah MacLean. I think she’s pretty popular.
Reason #9473027 I could never be a book blogger: I could never get rid of a single book. I’m really weird like that. I just don’t think I could do it.
I also need to do the classics thing. I always liked the books we were required to read in HS so I need to start reading some again. I might start working from a list there are tons online.
I wonder if I should do the book club thing. It’s kind of a joke amongst all my friends that I am part of “book club” which is made up of 3 or 4 of us who always start talking about books at a big group thing. We’ve never actually read books at the same time though. But also one of my friends reads at 1/4 my speed AT MOST so I’d probably just get really frustrated.
Belle says
A lot of your resolutions are similar to mine. I got married last year and had other issues that made me feel like a terrible blogger, and I hope to get back into it – including commenting etc – this year! I also want to get back into the classics and cull my owned books. Good luck!
Melissa @ Writer Grrl Reads says
Great list of resolutions — and these sound totally do-able! I’m also aiming to read some bigger books this year … I think that Goodreads should do an alternate challenge based on page counts, so that we’d be encouraged to read longer books as well. And I’m totally with you on rejoining the big kid book club — I read SO much YA this year … but barely any grown-up books, and I miss them. 2013 will be the year for this!
Sandra @ Fresh Ink Books says
Great goals. You’ll find a bigger book usually gives you a better story, and it’s more memorable.
Always good to keep reviews in good order and easy to find. I’d rather spend more time commenting than forcing myself to continue a book I don’t like. Some great ideas here. Happy reading in 2013. My post is up.
.Ambur. says
Great resolutions! 😀 I did more life general ones for myself this year, but I really like the idea of book-specific ones! 😀
I’ve definitely put off reading a big book so that it wouldn’t hamper my Goodreads challenge too! In 2012, I totally broke that rule and started the A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R. R. Martin though…and I was a good 30 books from finishing my goal! Oh well, I got hooked on an awesome series so it worked out okay. 😉 And I’ve been a bad commenter too…but look at me right now…I’m commenting! Progress! ;D
Oooh, I could definitely recommend a few new books for you to try out. For romance, I’m a fan of sports or musician/music related kinds. Jaci Burton’s Play by Play series is one of my favourites, so if you wanna give sports romances a try, that would be a good one. I also love Olivia Cunning’s Sinners on Tour series….but they’re REALLY dirty, especially if you’re new to romance, so you might want to work you way up to it if you want to try that series out. They’re really hot though. 😛 I haven’t read too many steamy Fabio covered ones though, but if you find an awesome one…definitely let me know. 😀
Good luck on your resolutions, Jamie! 😀
Janita (Book, Interrupted) says
I’m trying to read outside of my comfortable genres as well. I’m actually really good at putting down books I don’t like since I don’t have the time or patience for it. Check out my full list for TTT on my blog.
Nicole @ WCW says
I wish you luck with your goals this year!
A book club could be fun, but I’m with you on the classics, adult fiction and commenting more. There are so many classics I never had to read, and reading them is definitely something I want to do. I think working on that TBR-pile is going to be pretty popular, but it’s good to know I’m not the only one who needs to work on it!
Ashley says
I actually have many of the same ones that you have. Four and five are my big ones. Mostly five, even though that kills me because I must read ALL the books. Even if logically I know that is not possible. At all.
Which is probably why I run around yelling “SO MANY BOOKS AND TV SHOWS SO LITTLE TIME”
KateB says
Absolutely number 5! I have that one as one of my own goals. I love buying books… and somehow new books always trump old ones. New is always better? Probably not but it still doesn’t stop me from buying new instead of reading already owned.
Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies says
We’re on the same page! “Have fun. Read good books.” Definitely sounds like the right idea to me! I also have to do some serious culling this year, and I’m planning to break out of my genre ruts and branch out a little bit. Good luck with your goals!!
Lisa
Lola (Reading by Lamplight) says
You have so many great resolutions! Admittedly, I started a list, barely made it to #5, then copped out. Your list is inspiring! I definitely need to pick up larger books and more adult books! 🙂
Larissa says
I am completely with you on number 4. I also tend to get stuck in books I’m not really into, and in the end it only takes time from books I am not reading during that time…
Ashley says
Yes to four and five! They didn’t make it onto my list but they should have. Actually, just overall you have a lot of great resolutions that I now want to copy.
Kim @ Divergent Gryffindor says
These are great goals! Hey, about #1, why dont you participate in a page count challenge. I have that challenge somewhere here, you just have to scroll through it. Good luck with these goals! 🙂
My Bookish/Blogger Goals
Lori says
I love all your goals, Jamie! I know what you mean about reading long books. I’m the same way, but I love high fantasy soooo much. I think I did pretty good about still reading a few huge books last year (The Diviners and Froi of the Exiles) but I want to do even better this year! Especially since my reading is going to be limited anyway.
Good luck with all these. Although, I’m sure you will do great!
lulufrances says
man, I love your resolutions 🙂 you are really relatable haha! especially the most importan 11th resolution is something that I feel we bookbloggers sometimes neglect a bit. so yay!
I really want to read many classics this year because I always said to myself – 2012 is gonna be the year where I read classics. and what did i read? Pride and Prejudice, and that was about it in the classics department haha…so for 2013 i’ve planned crime and punishment (actually on chapter two now – yay!) and anna karenina and maybe jane eyre and white night and maybe some childrens’ classics like peter pan and wonderful wizard of oz. hooray for classic reading in 2013 😀 xx
Lucy (The Library for Delinquents) says
Some great ideas on your list – especially starting a book club, that sounds fun. I hope that if you do it, cake will be involved! Reading outside my comfort zone is also one of my 2013 reading resolutions and having a bookshelf cull would probably be sensible! Good idea to pass them on to friends and family 🙂 Happy reading in 2013!
Christina T says
These are fantastic goals! I know about finding “chunkster” books intimidating. It helps me to read them on my Kindle if I can so it doesn’t feel like such an overwhelming read. I am currently reading Les Miserables and one of my reading goals is to finish it this year!
Book groups can be a lot of fun especially casual ones. I lead two book groups at my library and I often wish I could be part of something more relaxed outside of the library. My groups can feel like being in a lit class sometimes!
I hope you reach all of your reading goals this year!
Fiona says
I agree with most of your resolutions. I especially want to get into reading more adult fiction. I was part of a book club for around three years through my library, but we never had really consistent membership so we disbanded. I’ve been looking for a new book club ever since, but there aren’t very many around me. I hope you achieve all your goals!
Sunny says
I really like your goals! I need to do #2 as well and although I never read classics before, I might start. I don’t know. YA is so much more fun 😉 And I already decided about #6 as well! My mom was the first to introduce me to the love of reading by showing me HER Adult books and they are still my favorite books. I’m new to the YA scene, but I can’t turn my back on the genre that started it all. 🙂
My TTT: http://blueskyshelf.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-goals-for-2013.html
tarynwanderer says
These are great resolutions (and not just because I have some of the same ones, haha)! I especially admire your commitment to putting down books you don’t like, and I think a blog feature that debates the pros and cons of a potentially put-downable book is a fantastic idea.
And don’t feel too bad about not commenting as much–it’s time-consuming and people are understanding that real life should take precedence! 🙂
You can find my TTT over at Bookwanderer!
Spencer says
Good luck on your bookish goals! Many of mine are similar to yours: comment more, read outside my usual genres… My list also includes blogging more and reviewing books at least 1-2 weeks after reading them. If I don’t write up my thoughts on a book ASAP, details tend to slip away or blend into the next book I read. Talk about confusing!
Also, if you’re interest in dipping a toe in the romance genre, I’m your gal! I know they tend to get a bad rap, but I’m always eager to help change someone’s mind and put them on to great authors/books. In fact, have you considered starting with the New Adult genre, since it bridges the gap between YA and romance? Just think of it as a “gateway genre.”
But, if you’re looking to just dive right in to romance, I suggest Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She writes contemporary romance and her Chicago Stars series is THE BEST. “Natural Born Charmer” and “Match Me if You Can” are the highest-rated of the series and down-right hilarious. I could go on and on with more recs, but to save comment space, I’ll save them for later 😉 Let me know if you’re interested!
Jenny says
I was going to suggest Susan Elizabeth Phillips too! She is so great. Every book I have ever read of hers was great. Match Me If You Can is my favorite! Jamie, you should definitely read her books!!
Jill says
Love Susan Elizabeth Phillips, although so many of her books are part of a series or include characters from previous books, so just a heads up that it’s a little tricky if you just pick up a book at random. I love Julie James too, who is very similar – super funny, great chemistry between the leads, strong female characters.
Ginger @ GReads! says
I resolve to help you meet goal #6 😉 Oh yes! Bring on the boob books! hahaha
Christina (A Reader of Fictions) says
1. Ha, chunky books. I’m about to be reading two, which means I might not be able to post many reviews this week, but I shouldn’t let that bother me.
2. Commenting is so hard! I think we’re ALL trying to be better at that. Just looked at your post on commenting, and oops long posts and no prompts most of the time. Le sigh.
3. Oh, classics. You are on EVERY list. Well, I didn’t put them on, but I THOUGHT about it.
4. This is on my list too.
5. I need to do this as well. If I like a book at all, my default thought is to keep it, because what if I want to reread and I gave it away, but, honestly, I don’t want to reread everything, so I really need to learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Jill says
I am part of a book club that is coming up on our 5 year anniversary (wow!). It is SUPER FUN, and seriously usually my favorite night of the month. As your setting up your club, I recommend setting up a consistent meeting time (ours is the 3rd Sat of the month, but time of day varies per host’s preference), and choosing your book schedule in advance. We choose all of our books for the year in the summer, so if you know you’re going to have a particularly busy March, for example, you can read ahead in Jan or Feb. We also have trivia before we start discussion with little prizes that are usually related to the book (ex: when we read A Homemade Life, we had recipe cards, egg timers, tea towels, etc). And the food is always amazing, too. You’re welcome to join us if you feel like driving out to Lancaster County!
Jill says
Gah. “As *you’re* setting up your club…”
Deanna says
I feel the same way about adult fiction. I have read so much YA in the last couple of years, I feel like I need to take a break and read something more substantial. Also, I have read a TON of just-okay books on my Kindle, NetGalley, for reivew, etc. just because they’re free. I need to buck up and either pay for what I really want to read, or find it at the library. Quality over quantity (and price)!
Manda C. says
Number 4 is a struggle for me also. I drag through most books even if I dont like them. I can remember a handful of times that I’ve stopped reading a book right in the middle, and then I felt guilty and picked it back up some time later.
I guess it’s okay to not like a book, and not have extreme guilty over it, huh?
Good luck with your goals!
Ashling says
I love your resolutions! I wish I lived near Philly, because I would totally sign up for your book club. Starting/joining a book club is one of my goals this year too. My BFF and I started one in high school, and I really miss it.
I really need to read more adult fiction too, but I’m so in love with YA that it’s hard to give it up. And I’ve totally neglected the classics since college. Before & during college, I read the classics all the time, but since then, I can’t even think if I’ve picked up one that wasn’t a reread.
Good luck with your goals!
Asheley Tart (@BookwormAsheley) says
All of these, yes. Chunky books and classics. And adult fiction for the win!!
In fact, I was just thinking you YOU and The Bird Sisters this morning. *tear sniffle* I need to re-read that book, but without my own personal life attached since it isn’t attached anymore. Just because it is a wonderful book. And Blackberry Winter, is that the one? Yep. And the Rob Sheffield.
Yes, please get back into adult fiction so you can pass along all of the great recommendations to me! Pleeease and thank you.
Rachel says
I like your goals! I really want to try to read outside my comfort zone this year as well. There are some books I’ve been avoiding (Cinder, etc.) because I don’t feel comfortable with the genre at all.
Stormy says
I really need to work on #4 as well. I honestly don’t remember the last time I didn’t finish a book. Luckily, I liked most of the books I read in 2012, but there were some I should have just not finished, and instead trudged through anyway. Life is too short to read books I don’t like! Especially when there are so many potential future favorites out there waiting for me to pick up and read them.
Magan says
Great, great goals! On my TBR list right now is one of your same resolutions – I need to update our lists on the blog. It’s so time consuming and HARD and I wish there was a way to auto-generate these lists, but I don’t think there is. Haha. Lame.
Commenting — I also need to work on this more. I go through spurts where I’m really good about it, and then others where I just feel lame. I’m trying to comment back on each post I wrote for RBR too. I haven’t done that in a long while & I just … should. I love it when people reply to me. 🙂
Happy New Year, love!
Alexa Y. says
I can totally relate to avoiding chunky books in favor of shorter ones so that I can reach my Goodreads goal! I did that a few times last year (though a few chunky books slipped in there), and I really don’t want to be subject to that again this year. I’m hoping to tackle a few of the books that have intimidated me with their length, as well as tackling quite a few classics/books that were required reading.
Housekeeping for the blog is my least favorite thing, but I try to keep up with it so I don’t have to do it very often. I need to set a day where I’ll simply do all the unfinished stuff (review archive, post formatting, etc). Maybe I should come to visit and we can do all that silly, boring stuff over cupcakes + hot chocolate + tea! Haha.
And yay for adult fiction! I’m especially excited that you’re going to try reading historical romances, as those books are some of my favorites. I can totally supply you with recommendations!
Heather says
Great list! Many of your resolutions are similar to mine (although I meant to include your #5 but forgot). I especially feel you on the “not being afraid of chunky books” thing. I used to LOVE reading large books, but then I read too many of them one year and got kind of burned out. My plan is to read at least one big novel this year!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
I’m the worst at commenting back to people on my own site. I’m resolving to do that better!
I just started an FYA book club here in Toronto and it’s fun! =) Tips: don’t over-advertise – smaller is better. Don’t just stick to the assigned discussion questions. Sometimes the discussion ends up better if you go off track. And choose a location where you can always get a seat! =P
Putting down books is the hardest for me. I just can’t. I don’t feel right.
No pressure and no guilt is my biggest book blogging resolution. It’s super-hard, but I’m trying…
Kaley @ Books Etc. says
SO many good resolutions! I think I need to copy down other people’s goals to add to my own list of 10. There are so many others that I hadn’t thought of that I should probably integrate into my plans for 2013!
Laurie says
I belong to an informal “book group”. I’ve put it in quotes because we no longer talk about books even though we did start out that way. About two years ago everyone got so crazy busy that we realized only one of us would actually read the book so we gave up choosing books to discuss. Now we just meet up to chat over tea and snacks. We’ve been meeting for over 10 years now and do share books occasionally and talk about them a little. It’s fun and highly recommended and I hope you find one that suits you!
Alita says
Great list of goals! I’ve been wanting to read more classics too – at the beginning of 2012 I listed 4 that I wanted to read during the year, and didn’t read a single one of them. Whoops.
I hope you can get the book club started! I’m part of the FYA Vancouver chapter, and it is the bestest. We’re actually getting together tonight to talk about Code Name Verity and chocolate beer floats will be involved.
Ciska (@_Ciska_) says
I really love your put the book down when you do not like it resolution. It is something I have difficulty with too.
Hope you will manage all of your goals 🙂
Bethany says
I’ve ALSO been a terrible blog friend/commenter in the past year. With that said, I looooooooove your blog redesign! Also: Reconsider or Release. BRILLS.
Kelsey @ The Lost Book Reports says
last night I totally had a mental block when writing my list ( i was also tipsy) going through your list, just reminded me that like 80% of these need to be on my list as well. Great goals and good luck = )
Cecelia says
#5 is one of my resolutions, too! And I back #8 100%. I love my book club, and I’ll go sometimes even if I haven’t read the book. Nerdy reading friends are the best friends. Great list!
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
Great resolutions! I’ve been shying away from “chunky” books too because I’m like READ READ READ NEED REVIEWS.
I also need to comment more…. I’ve grown so lazy. It’s terrible!!
Aside from the many other goals we have in common, I changed my views on DNFs a lot too. I hate not to finish, but I really started to because honestly, I was only doing it and pushing through it because I had the resolve to review – I stepped back and thought of my life before blogging and realized I never would have finished if I wasn’t pressuring myself to do so.
Good luck with your goals!! 🙂
Jenni Elyse says
Great list! I stayed mainly with reading goals and not blogging goals on my list. But, I do have blogging goals too and they’re along the same lines as yours are. 🙂 Good luck with everything!
Sarah (Clear Eyes, Full Shelves) says
These are great resolutions!
I did a lot of #4 and #5 this past year and it’s been great. Dropping a book that’s not working for me is completely liberating and actually getting rid of ones I don’t want is awesome. I donate mine to the local library book sale and they’re always thrilled to get them, since my books are in great condition. Paper ARCs (which I try to avoid) go to a classroom at the high school my mom used to teach at and the teacher is always thrilled to get them for his kids.
I coordinate the FYA book club in Portland and it’s been one of the best things I’ve done. We’re really tightly-knit these days and book club day is pretty much my favorite day of the year.
Angela @ AJ Arndt Books Blog says
I’m with you on the chunkers. I end up looking at the stack of other books and thinking, “oooh, I could read three of those or this giant clunker.” I eventually abandon the chubby…it’s a horrible mind-set, I know. Reading from different genres made my Top Ten this week too 🙂
VeganYANerds says
What a great list! I have put off reading chunky books (Hey, The Diviners, I’m looking at you!) because I wanted to reach my goal and I too want to read some classics, I just think I’ll get bored with them compared with YA. But I’m going to try!
Good luck with your goals, they are all totally achievable!
Sarah says
Great goals Jamie! I used to shy away from non-fiction or chunky books a lot too because they take me longer. I try not to feel so bad about it now.
Good luck in 2013!
SweetMarie83 says
We have a lot of similar goals this year, Jamie! I’m fairly new to YA too and last year I strayed away from adult books but I miss them, especially some of my favourite authors that I’d been reading for years. I’m the same way about chunky books…I avoided them last year but this year I have at least a dozen I want to read that are 500+ pages and I’m tired of putting them off just because they take so long. Maybe for every giant book we read, we could read a novella or super-short novel to make up for it? 😉
~Marie
My Top Ten Tuesday
Christina @ BookTasty says
I totally agree with your comments about reading chunky books! I try to wait until I find them on audiobook, but they’re never checked in at my library (probably b/c it’s taking forever for the person to listen to it!). I still haven’t read Bitterblue because its so huge! 🙂 Good luck!
Lucybird says
I started a reading challenge this year to help me do #9. Hopefully I’ll find some great new authors and genres
Chrystal @ Snowdrop Dreams of Books says
So many good points in this post. I need to not shy away from the chunky books too. Sometimes they overwhelm me just looking at them, but then I think, “Hmmm, I could be missing an amazing story in there.”
Also – the commenting thing. I really made a point this week to stop by and comment on posts, facebook and twitter. I miss that communication with other bloggers/friends. The last few months have been too crazy for me, but now I hope to get back to commenting again and replying to more comments on my own blog. 🙂
And lastly, I really need to get some housekeeping done on my blog too – including updating my review list. *sigh* And part of me wants to have a blog redesign done… just not sure what I want, though I want to keep my aqua colour. Thinking about it and guess I should research how much it would cost so I can save up for it. 😉
Good luck with your goals and happy reading!
Melody says
Reading really thick books and housekeeping are the ones that stand out to me on your list. I definitely need to improve in these areas.
Good luck with your goals!
Cheryl Sammons says
This list sounds so much like me and where I want to be. In the last year I’ve found YA fiction. I think Harry Potter helped. LOL I used to read alot when I was younger, but kids and life took over. I’m back to reading again and trying to catch up, realizing that I never will. Sad, but true. But you’ve given me the inspiration to try. Thanks!
Amanda @ Late Nights with Good Books says
Reading classics should be another goal of mine. Maybe I’ll make it an unofficial one. I actually read YA exclusively when I was a younger teen, but then I moved on to adult novels and classics around when I went to college. Just started getting back into YA about a year ago, but, like you, I don’t want to ignore other genres. It’s hard, but I think that’s a great goal to have! Best of luck on your resolutions!
Bonnie says
Great goals, we share so many! I love the idea of participating in a book club. I definitely need more bookish friends in my life! Not in Philly though. 🙂 I’m really bad about not calling it quits with books I dislike… I need to work on that too.
Good luck with all your 2013 goals! 🙂 My Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013!
Molli says
Jamie, I love ALL of your resolutions. I’m right there with you on several, but mostly, your “main” one just echoes my whole mindset for the blog this year. I was commenting on another blog, but I think the theme I’m seeing so far is to get back to basics in 2013 – to all remember why we started blogging: because we loved reading. 🙂
My Top Ten Tuesday
Carrie @wvredreads says
I like your goals. I have some very similar one too. Commenting, reading the big, important grown up stuff, and while not on my list I have been working a little every day on tidying up my older posts and making the site more uniform.
Good luck and have a great year!
Cassie says
Ah! Read more adult! YUP, on my list too! And i heard some people talking about a book club at Barnes and Noble the other day and I wanted to be like wait, what, where, when! I wanna join one too!
Rie says
Hi Jamie,
What a great list of resolutions. I agree that I need to learn to say when enough is enough and put a bad book down. Life is too short right?
I think my favourite has to be your last. The whole reason we read and then decided to chat about the books we love is because we enjoy doing so! Putting stress on ourselves to read to certain targets blog to specific targets and maintain a crazy schedule around our already busy lives. I am certainly going to focus 2013 on blogging because I love it!
You can check out my new years resolutions here.
Love Rie x
April Books & Wine says
A really great way to fit in classics is to do them via audio. Like, this week I’m listening to Frankenstein and it’s da bomb dot com.
Same with thick books. Pretty much audiobooks win everything.
And speaking of adult books, you should listen to or read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, pretty much all of our friends who have read it LOVED it thus that means you should read it because it’ll help you to accomplish a goal and it’s really good and excellent and blah blah blah. Also, um speaking of comments and such I think you should check out my TBR vlog lololol because it’s long and rambly and I go on and on for like 5 minutes about how you were all read Under The Never Sky but you aren’t a gangster or thugging but still awesome. I guess you just have to see it to understand it hahahaha AND THAT WILL HELP YOU WITH YOUR COMMENTING GOAL. Look at that I’m helping with ALL OF THE GOALS OMGGGGGGG.
<3
Amanda says
I’m actually going to read more YA this year. Looking back at 2012, the books that brought joy to my heart were often YA so I’m going to put those in heavier rotation starting with everything John Green ever wrote ever.
Caro says
Great list! I particularly love the resolution about classics, because in the past year I’ve fallen in love with them and, short of tying my family up and shoving Great Expectations in their hands, I’ve done everything I could think of to make more people around me read them. Worth noting: it has not worked very well. Perhaps I should consider the tying-to-a-chair part. 😉
A few really good romance novels are Private Scandals, Birthright and The Villa, all by Nora Roberts, and All Night Long by Jayne Anne Krentz. The Villa, in particular, always makes me wish I had a glass of Malbec to accompany it.
Good luck with your goals!
Kara @ Great Imaginations says
Your goals are awesome. A lot of them are the same issues I run into. I haven’t updated my review archive in forever, I am totally afraid to read chunky books because they will put me behind in my challenges, and I definitely want to cull my owned books. I have already quit buying so many so I am getting somewhere. But I think these are great goals to aim for and I wish you luck! I look forward to hearing about your progress!
Sara (of the Page Sage) says
#4 is the hardest to do, but I’m working on doing that myself. I always feel guilty when I stop reading a book, but if I’m not enjoying something after I’ve read half of it, why bother?
Best of luck with all of your resolutions!
Shelver506 says
I like your list! It sounds like you’re headed for a healthy place of balance and moderation. Also, fantasy is FAB! Join the dark side. We’re so much fun.
My TTT: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-10-tuesday-bookish-goals-for-2013.html
Miss Remmers says
I, too, really need to look at the “under belly” of wordpress. I just haven’t spent the time on it! This year though!
Jasmine Rose says
So, um, what’s FYA? Because if it’s something I can do them I am all freaking over it. It was one of my resolutions to join a book club as well, but NONE of the book clubs around read the books I want to read or actually meet at places I can go (hello, not everyone is 21.) If you could send me links or something on Twitter I’d be eternally grateful 😀
@ARoomWithBooks
Marie says
Pretty much the same resolutions as mine. Totally agree!!!!!!
Hannah @ so obsessed with says
I know I’m WAY late to comment on this post, but I’m going for it anyway. Oh lady, I have lots to say.
I love your goal about not being afraid of chunky books. I always pick one up and put it back down because I start thinking about how long it will take me to read and how many other books I could read in the meantime… so then I don’t end up reading it. I hope to be better about that this year too!
I’m trying to be a better commenter this year, too. Even though I’m clearly only doing so-so since I’m just now getting to this post haha!
YAY CLASSICS! If you ever want to read a classic with someone, please let me know. I love reading classics with a friend because it keeps me focused, on track and gives me someone to be like “did I read that right?!” with.
I really need to get better at DNF-ing too. I rarely do it, but there’s just too many good books in the world to waste time on one that’s not for me. I struggle with feeling like MAYBE THINGS WILL TURN AROUND AND GET AMAZING and so I keep giving it more chances until I’m like 50 pages away from the way so then I’m so close to being done I just have to bring it on home.
I’m terrible about getting rid of books, but I need to do the same. While I may not have accumulated quite as many as you, I know I’ve got some on my shelves that I’m either never going to read or never going to re-read. It’s just time to let those go…
I’m new to YA, too, and I feel like I’ve been binge reading it the last year or so trying to catch up on all the awesome stuff that’s out there. I do miss reading adult fiction though, and I hope to prioritize it a little more this year.
And yay for new genres! I’m challenging myself to do the same, and I’ve really enjoyed the results so far 🙂