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Original poster

Your 2021 Reading Resolutions

69 replies

Europilgrim · 17/12/2020 21:58

Do you have any? I like to have a vague plan of what I am going to read so mine are:

  • no goals as regards number of books read (I have done that the last few years and it certainly encouraged me to read more but also meant I avoided any really long books towards the end of the year....)
  • at least three foreign language books (this year - only two)
  • read one Thomas Hardy, one Daphne Du Maurier and one Persephone book (I do this every year)
  • most importantly, I am going to try NOT to buy any books! I have quite enough to keep me busy already and have a well-stocked local library as well so am going to try and avoid buying anything else.

How about you?

OP posts:
rc22 · 17/12/2020 22:37

Mine is definitely to read the books I already have and stop buying them.

Bumbl · 17/12/2020 22:44

Mine is also to read more in foreign languages, and I think I might stop counting too.

Maybe I'll try and devote a set amount of time per week to reading instead, rather than a target of 50 books a year.

SionnachRua · 17/12/2020 22:46

I am going to get properly stuck into the Discworld series and rejoin the library.

In general I really just want to pick up the reading habit again. I thought about doing 50 books a year but unsure.

BookShark · 17/12/2020 22:50

Another no buying resolution here. I catalogued all my books a year or so ago and worked out that if I re-read one book a week, I'd be reading them for at least the next six years...

So that's exactly what I've done this year - it's all in Excel, which randomly generates a book for me, and that's what I read. It's been lovely rediscovering books that I've completely forgotten (or never read in some cases Blush), and I've not spent a penny on books - haven't even gone to the library.

I won't set a target, because not all books are equal - a lengthy classic can take me a few weeks to read. But through re-reading, I'll have a real mix of foreign language, classics, thrillers and chick-lit, so I'm happy with that!

PunchyAnts · 17/12/2020 22:57

Been trying to read one chapter of my book every evening before I watch any TV. Quite often, once I'm reading anyway I'll continue. I'd like to keep that going in 2021.

PamsterWheel · 17/12/2020 23:41

Wow @BookShark how long did that take?

BookShark · 17/12/2020 23:52

The cataloguing? Not that long considering - maybe 30 minutes (I type quickly and just worked through a shelf at a time).

The reading will take a lot longer! I think I had over 600 books, and this year I've read about 45...

But it's so nice going back and rediscovering books I enjoyed 10+ years ago in some instances. And also giving up on Ulysses for the umpteenth time!

Kanaloa · 18/12/2020 00:36

Mine is to buy less books and borrow from the library more. It’s just a shame that my local library isn’t the best but I will go when I take DCs and see what I can get!

Kote · 18/12/2020 04:18
  • Read 52 books (I participate in a challenge on Goodreads with a prompt for each week/book)
  • At least 1 classic (I usually put them off)
  • More non-fiction (same as above, not sure why as I usually enjoy them)
  • 1 reread (I don't often reread but would like to start revisiting some old favourites)
bettbattenburg · 18/12/2020 04:27

To spend more time reading then I do online.

BaconAndAvocado · 19/12/2020 12:46

Definitely read all the books I've bought last year and will get for Christmas before buying any more.

And not feel guilty about reading in the day.

Original poster
Europilgrim · 19/12/2020 12:56

Great to read everyone's resolution. Confession: I have just bought a book to get round the "ban" next year. Blush

OP posts:
ExpensivelyDecorated · 19/12/2020 13:49

To unsubscribe from the Kindle Daily Deals email until I've cleared my backlog.

To spend less time on MN and more reading (I have set parental controls on my phone with this in mind)

To give up if I'm not feeling the love and not waste time slogging through anything that just isn't doing it for me, maybe unless its for my book club.

ExpensivelyDecorated · 19/12/2020 13:52

Oh and to use more audio books. For some reason I've never tried them since the days of cassettes in the car until recently, DH had some spare Audible credits and got me Shuggie Bain and it's been a revelation.

CountFosco · 19/12/2020 14:32

I've already started doing this this year but next year I'm going to continue reading more women in translation. Until this year I'd only read either men in translation (big classics like Tolstoy or Flaubert or Boccaccio) except for children's books. I read mainly women as well, can't face another badly written woman or a story of an old man looking back on his life where women are just there to enlighten us about him.

BreadSaucery · 19/12/2020 14:46

To buy more physical books and not get them via Amazon.
Make proper notes about what I’ve read that I can refer back to, rather than that one with the shapeshifter in that turned out to be her dog vague recollections.

Cherrypi · 21/12/2020 07:35

I've set up a collection of 21 books on my Kindle that I want to get through next year. I want to get back into the habit of reading before bed. I generally want to read more and scroll less.

Peridot1 · 21/12/2020 07:44

To work through the cupboard of books I have that I haven’t read.

We have just moved house and DH was helping me unpack my unread books and commented on one that had gotten wet at some stage. I had to confess it was leaked on by DS’s sippy cup of apple juice. DS is now at uni and hasn’t had a sippy cup for many years!

Also want to read all the books on my kindle.

And definitely more reading less scrolling. No iPad in bed.

PepeLePew · 21/12/2020 07:48

How about a resolution to join the 50 books thread. (Waves to fellow 50 bookers). Not just the nicest thread on MN but arguably the best part of the Internet. And no expectation that you’ll read 50 books or judgement about the types of books you read, either. It has massively increased the quality and quantity of my reading but actually I just like hanging out there.

Original poster
Europilgrim · 21/12/2020 07:50

I've set up a collection of 21 books on my Kindle that I want to get through next year.
I have about 90 unread books on my Kindle. BlushBlushBlush

A lot of them were free or bargains of the day but still...

OP posts:
ExpensivelyDecorated · 21/12/2020 07:55

I lurk on the 50 books thread but I struggle to keep up with the several other long running threads I'm on so I've never posted.

wildraisins · 21/12/2020 07:58

Like you I don't set myself a number to read but I do like to read a lot and a good variety, and I keep a record of what I've read in my journal.

I have a pile of books which have been bought for me as a Christmas present from my mum - unfortunately I can't go see her so don't know when I'll get them! :( But they will make up a chunk of my reading list!

I hadn't heard of Persephone but I just looked it up and it looks really interesting, so I will definitely check that out! Thanks!

Don't like to make resolutions to buy more books as I love browsing book shops and buying something that appeals - so I think the resolution should be just to make sure I read what I buy! :)

wildraisins · 21/12/2020 08:00

(Also - it's actually a great time to be throwing a bit of money towards your local bookshop - so I feel less guilty about buying books than I sometimes do! As long as they're not from Amazon!)

Rae36 · 21/12/2020 08:05

My aim is to keep a note of the books I read. We live in a small place and I don't keep very many so I forget. Or maybe a photo of the front cover on Instagram. That might be a better reminder

ExpensivelyDecorated · 21/12/2020 08:12

I've forgotten to make notes this year too, I did it in my bullet journal for a couple of years but it would be better to have them al in one place.

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