I love the start of a new year--there's something about a clean slate that's so exciting. Like so many others, I've spent the past few days reflecting on 2013, thinking about the things I'd like to leave behind and the things I'm hoping to accomplish in the year ahead. (Anyone else love New Year's resolutions?) With 2014 just around the corner, I polled my fellow OOMers to ask about their "reading resolutions", both the ones they created for 2013 and the ones they've lined up for 2014.
How about you? What are your reading resolutions? We'd love to hear 'em!
- Nadia's goal for 2013 was to read 60 books. She's read 59 and is almost done with book 60! For 2014, she's aiming for 65 books. ("I have a big pile of physical books I want to read, so part of my goal is to tackle those," she explained.)
- "I just want to read great books that make me smarter," said Tyler.
- Emma's resolution for 2013 was to finish every book she started, as she had gotten in the habit of quitting a book halfway through if she wasn’t immediately captivated by it. "I am proud to say that I accomplished this goal!!!!! (Insert clapping emoji here!)" she wrote. Congrats, Emma! Her resolution for 2014 is to read more literary nonfiction.
- "My 2013 resolution was to create a spreadsheet to keep track of all my reading — something I've always wanted to do and never did," explained Morgan. "I don't know why I never did it – it's so easy! And helpful! Now when people ask me for book recs, I just pull up my list. I definitely plan on doing it again in 2014. (And for what it's worth: I've read 35 books this year — and counting — not including all the Baby-sitters Clubs I re-read on a regular basis. Not too shabby!)"
- Mike had three reading resolutions for 2013: read at least two nonfiction books (check!); donate to his local library (check!); and re-read a book he read in high school (oops). This year, he's committed to re-reading that high school title (he's thinking The Scarlet Letter or 1984); substituting an hour of TV each night with an hour of reading; and reading aloud to his niece and nephew during the holidays.
- In 2013, Jessica resolved to read to her twin daughters every day. (She did read to them every day for as long as the attention span of tiny people allowed.) "We’re getting better," she said. In 2014, she's resolving to read more adult books and to keep better track of what books she reads over the year.
- "I resolve to read more in 2014," says Brittany. "Stephen King, Neil Gaiman and Kurt Vonnegut are all on my list for the new year."
- When it comes to her 2013 resolution, Megan said she'd read more nonfiction, which she did. She also said she'd try to be more patient with books she didn't like right off the bat, but admits that she wasn't. In 2014, she wants to read the newspaper more. "Like actually paper, on a Saturday, not blazing through 10 websites per hour," she explained.
- My primary resolution for 2013 was to always have a book going. Oftentimes I'll take a break between novels and spend the subway commute catching up on emails or doing crossword puzzles. This year I was determined to constantly be reading something. I signed up for the Goodreads challenge, hoping to read one book per week; unfortunately, I only read 32 books instead of 52 (even though it feels like so many more!) I'm determined to actually stick to these resolutions in 2014. Practice makes perfect, or so they say...
May your 2014 be filled with great reads!
