More time reading, less time on the internet in 2016

[highlandcoo]

My one and only NY resolution!

I've faded away with my reading this year, partly due to a lot going on at home, but also tbh because of faffing about on MN and other sites at times when my concentration hasn't been too good.

I'm worried that I'm losing my reading stamina, so next year I am really going to try to regain it.

Aiming for 100 books, with regular posting on the 50-book challenge thread to keep me focused.

I need to find some good big absorbing reads to get immersed in now

[Kazzawazzawo0]

I need to wean myself off the internet/phone too and read more. I love reading, but somehow it's much easier to waste time checking mn or fb ..

I started a separate thread asking for suggestions of what to read - sorry, hadn't seen this thread.

[Rozalia0]

I read 20 books last year. Dreadful. I had a hard year and an iPad. It's reassuring to see I'm not the only one who fannies around on the internet while the pile of unread books grows ever higher.

One of my NY resolutions is to read more books ( others being to meditate daily, read at least one poem a day and salute the sun every morning). I'm off to join the 50 books thread.

[Chillywhippet]

get a crap phone and a kindle great plan Ipity

If it got you to 40 books you'll be well placed for the 50 book challenge thread which I have joined more in hope than expectation

[IPityThePontipines]

The best thing I did in 2015 was to get a crap phone and a kindle and force myself to pick up the kindle instead of the tablet. Not sure how many books I read last year, but it was definitely at least 40, which is a huge improvement for me and I loved spending so much time reading.

Hoping to do even better this year!

[Movingonmymind]

Joining you as also would like to read more. One suggestion which works for me with tired eyes and lots of travel/long commutes is audiobooks. I can really get through them in a way I no longer can with the written word. Used to be such an avid reader, now a somewhat avid listener.

[southeastdweller]

New thread up now so sign in here

[Quogwinkle]

Like Joyless says, personal recommendations on MN are the best. I've discovered Robert Macfarlane and Roger Deakin through the 50 Book thread on here and many more. Beats the completely random computer generated recommendations on Goodreads, although if you gather a group of like-minded friends on there then it begins to work in the same way as MN :)

[BaconAndAvocado]

What a brilliant resolution!!

I agree heartily

[JoylessFucker]

Another one here recommending the 50 Book challenge threads on here. I've used it and Goodreads, but the MN threads have been a much better source of recommended reads than any others I've found this year.

[onemouseplace]

Right, I am definitely joining the book challenge thread - I do keep a log of the books I read and I have read a grand total of 11 books this year - that is less than one a month!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I'm intrigued to see if there IS a film that we both like, though.

[CoteDAzur]

That's alright then

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Cote - I don't imagine that you and I will be going to the cinema together any time soon.

[antimatter]

Film thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2538072-film-recommendations-please

[guineapig1]

Film thread is in chat. Sorry can't do links on phone for some reason!

[MrsS182]

Hello, this is my resolution too! Far too much time spent on the Internet. Looking forward to seeing everyone's recommendations and hopefully discovering new books/authors. I feel a bit stuck in a rut with my reading.

[CoteDAzur]

guinea - Where's the film thread you started?

Remus - Unless by 'quirky' you mean stuff like eXistenZ and Dark City, our taste in films is as diametrically opposed as our taste in books

[MyIronLung]

I love the 50 book challenge and I also log each book read in Goodreads, mainly so I can look back over the year and see what I've been reading.
I've read so many good books that were on the thread this year that I wouldn't have heard of otherwise.

I tried for 100 this year but I've managed 50. I'm going to be putting the iPad away in the evenings from now on!

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

I'll be in too :D didn't keep updated with it this year (50 book thread) and have had many distracted moments. Still read plenty though!

I'm interested in the film thread idea too :)

[guineapig1]

Remus, yes ok will start a post! Sympathise with you on the DH front - my DH and I have entirely different tastes when it comes to both films and music. I like period dramas, biographies, films based on true stories. DH enjoys sci-fi, action and romcoms. Music wise I love pop, 70s and classical. DH's playlist consists solely of jazz and indie stuff, neither of which I can stand!

[HairsprayQueen]

Yy, in the same vein, to go along with this resolution I am also vowing to stop watching endless repeats of Friends on tv and watch some films and documentaries instead.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Guinea - I like the idea of watching a proper film each week too. Don't suppose you fancy starting a thread, with recs?

I like sitting down with a film but dp and I struggle to find ones we both fancy. I like quirky and a bit daft, or period dramas and he likes foreign language films and horror! Some that we have both loved include:
Pride (everybody should watch this - one of the best films I've seen in years!)
The Theory of Everything (Eddie Redmayne is absolutely sublime in it)
Moonrise Kingdom and Hotel Budapest
Juno

Sorry for the slight hijack, readers!

[IndridCold]

Yes, yes this is me. I was saying to DH only yesterday that I must put my iPad down and read. I still buy books as I used to and have plenty of wonderful reads just waiting for me to get my shit together!

[Quogwinkle]

I find it useful to keep track of my reading on Goodreads as well, using their annual Reading Challenge which launches on New Year's Day. With that, you just enter the number of books you plan or hope to read in the year, which can be altered at a later date if you think you will read more or fewer books, and it keeps a tally for you. That way I can easily look back over my year's reading, write reviews, and add comments and copy over onto MN. It helps with encouraging you to keep going, plus you can add friends on there and see how everyone else is doing