New Year Reading Resolutions

[CaptBuckyOHare]

Do any of you have reading resolutions or goals for 2023?

Mine are:

• Read 50 pages every day
• Read more non-fiction
• No buying any new books until I'm at least halfway through my 'to read' pile 😬

@Tr1skel1on

As no one has replied, fiction is such a broad field, one readers amazing is another's absolute shite - what sort of stories would you find yourself wanting to invest in?

@Sadik thank you for the suggestions, they look great!

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I have no idea where to start! Definitely not romcom stuff, nothing too scary or violent, something a bit quirky I guess.

Definitely with you on getting through the massive pile of books on, (well actually inside), my bedside table before I buy any more.

I'm going to try and get more books from the library and charity shops as well to save money / the wastefulness of buying a new book to read once.

I'm going to go for

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Have a look at each of them, see if any grab you

I'll wander over to the 50 books thread. I think I'll revisit my 2022 resolution of one fiction and one non-fiction book a month. I managed that, on average, but didn't review all of them.

Yes! This is the thread for me!

No buying new books in 2023.

Give away extra copies.

Make a list of the books I hope to read.

I want to figure out a way to read daily.

I have a very busy schedule (work f/t, single parent to 3 DC, who do sports & other activities every single evening + all day weekends 🤦🏻‍♀️). I get up very early to exercise so I am too tired at night. I don't like reading during my v short lunch break - tho I do find it easier on my wfh days.

I have tried bringing a book while waiting for them at activities / training. That works ok, but the phone is too tempting!

Other resolution is to read more fiction (I love non-fiction, it's also easier to get into & pick up & put down than fiction - I hate getting into a novel, then having to stop abruptly for a few days).

@Tr1skel1on I just realised you were asking for fiction recommendations! As a mostly non-fiction reader I get on best with fiction that has something additional to the plot to hold my interest, if that makes sense. So SFF with interesting world building, or unusual use of language / structure etc.

One very short - more like a novella - book I enjoyed a lot was The Prince's Pen by Horatio Clare, a (somewhat) dystopian future retelling of a story from the Mabinogion.

Another definitely quirky recommendation I picked up from the 50 books threads & liked a lot was Christie Malry's Own Double-Entry

And keen to hear non-fiction recommendations to add to my list too :)

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit the chrysalids was one of my favourite books many years ago.

I'd almost forgotten about it and you have given me the perfect starting point. Thank you so much for taking the time to suggest so many books, it's much appreciated

@sadik if you like Horatio Clare have you read "down to the sea in ships"? I think you might like it

One fiction and one non-fiction is what I'm going to do after reading your post. Great idea.

In October I made a massive TBR in a notebook - there are a few author goals in there - read all of Agatha Christie and Stephen King (most of the King will be on audiobook, as he works really well that way) plus clear my huge backlog of books. It's been working really well so far so I will carry on clearing the list, probably for the next 3 years or so! I also got some books for Christmas, so they will go on the end of the list.

Mine is to mainly read the book club set books and not fudge it, or quickly bone up from Good Reads before attending the club!

But my true love is Russian history and I want to re-read alot of those books that I have.

(Oh, and one of my absolute happy wins... my older DS claims to hate books and reading. He is 12 and has ASD and a serious gaming habit. His computer is removed an hour before bed and he has started reading to himself before lights out. He has demolished The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole in 3 days and is looking for more and has asked for a waterstones trip. I am thrilled thrilled thrilled. )

@SnowAndIceLobelia

That's fabulous! (I've a 13 yo reluctant never reader, and very occasionally a book will grip him, usually a spirts biography & seeing him absorbed in it instead of drifting between phone / tv / xBox (he does also play a huge amount of sport, in fairness) really lifts my spirits!)

I want to read 20 books. After years of not being consistent with reading, I think 20 books is a reasonable and feasible goal.

I have so many unread books on my iPad and my bookshelf so I'm going to start there which should take me to around 15 and then I'm going to treat myself to Michelle Obama's new book.

Mine is to read much more more. I love reading but stare at the tv/phone way too much. I have so many unread books and I'm going to read them in 2023!

It;s such a wonderful feeling! I am always of the opinion of 'whatever they read as long as they are reading'. I obsessed over horse books growing up and Sweet Valley High and I think my parents despaired but it all worked out okay in the end! (not reading my book club reads notwithstanding... )

I do wish DS would get a bit mroe into sports though. We will see... I never thought he would read a book willingly. Even the joys of Harry Potter passed him by!

Even the joys of Harry Potter passed him by!

It's funny you mention HP! My eldest (DD) read & loved them all; my two DSs initial books only & reluctantly - too long, too involved (character-wise). I then realised I don't actually love HP myself! I am not a fantasy fan, and actually (grown adult & all!) I found some parts scary!

I know one can't force them to read but I will always believe that engaging with anything written - even the sports sections of the paper! - yields so much for overall development, life skills, comprehension (and in my work at third level it's borne out).

It's an ongoing challenge to try & find books they might enjoy!

In my own family, 3 of the 4 of us read voraciously (all before screens which helped), my youngest DB did not. As an adult he still rarely reads books, especially fiction, but he reads multiple newspapers & opinion pieces & is incredibly well-informed especially on politics & international affairs. So I guess it works out!

I might now give Adrian Mole a go!

Aww how lovely, that made me smile

I'm also going to try and read books while I'm still excited by them and get more out from the library instead of buying even if it's only 99p.

I'm going to try to use the library more rather than buying new.

I used to go the library weekly with my toddler but now they are at preschool we only tend to go about once a month ☹️

So I'll try reserving at the library etc but if I can't get the book or can't get to the library easily then I'll look for second hand on Amazon. Far to easy to buy new with the one click thing on the app but want to make the effort to buy preloved.

Also want to use the Kindle app on my phone more when I'm sat round or waiting on the car etc. I use my actual kindle every day so should use the app more as it syncs so it super easy to switch between the two!

Not sure what my aim is for next year, thougth I did have an idea of going for a pattern:
Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something true.

The 50 Book Challenge 2023 has begun and is available to new joiners!