I’m not one for goals or challenges or 5-year plans. They tend to make me feel anxious and guilty,
whether I meet the imagined standard or not.
I also read recently that people who don’t set goals are happier in general than those who do. Interesting,
eh? So: this isn’t a list of ‘goals’ so
much as a list of bookish things I’d do anyway (hopefully. if i get around to
them).
Top Ten Bookish Goals
for 2013
1. Read happily –
I often feel an enormous amount of guilt if I’m not reading that thing I promised to read or got in the
mail. I’d like to let go of some of that and remember to simply enjoy the book
and the story.
2. Cull my
bookshelves – I think I’ll be able to fulfill item number one if I decrease
my physical to-be-read pile. This means
giving away books I haven’t touched and won’t get to in this lifetime, and
being realistic about that.
3. Focus on middle
grade books in March – Last year I participated in Jill of the O.W.L.’s Middle Grade in March, and found that I had fallen in love again with books for younger
readers. I plan to make this March all
about MG for a second time.
4. Catch up on recent
young adult science fiction releases – I like YA sci-fi, so I’m going to
read more of it, especially the new stuff.
Maybe I’ll find another Ender’s Game, maybe I won’t – but it should be fun.
5. Read more adult
fantasy and more anthologies of short stories – In the years that I’ve been
blogging I’ve neglected adult fantasy for its YA counterpart. Not a bad thing, but I’ve read a few books
lately that made me long for more. And
short stories are undemanding and guilt-free, so why not?
6. Mail myself the
fourteen boxes of books that live under the stairs at my parents’ house – This
isn’t a ‘must do soon’ task, but I’ve been thinking I should ensure the
survival of my library before my mom decides to donate it on a whim or it's damaged by flooding or some such.
7. Attend book events
– I attended Book Expo America for the first time last year, and I enjoyed it
enough that I think I’ll go again (speaking of, anyone need a roommate?). Also on the agenda: book signings, the
National Book Festival in September, and bookstore tourism while I’m on
vacation.
8. Be a regular at
book club – I’ve been participating sporadically in the DC Forever Young
Adult book club, and I’d like to attend more often in
the coming year. Friends who like
reading young adult books are made of awesome.
9. Match my
non-blogging friends with books – What sort of friend would I be if I didn’t
try to make all of my acquaintances fall in love with great books? The wrong sort of friend, for sure.
10. Begin
volunteering at my local library – Because you save the world a little at a
time through personal responsibility. Or something. Okay, close proximity to books wouldn’t hurt.
What are your bookish goals for 2013?
19 comments:
These are great! I should have thought of #2 as well. My bookshelves look cah-razy.
Here is my list if you are interested:
http://imlostinbooks.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-tuesday-top-10-bookish-goals.html
Loving this list of "bookish to-do's" :-) I loved BEA la year and might go again this year. Sadly, I commute, so I miss hanging out with all you amazing bloggers :-)
I want a book club bad. But then I'm so bad at other's picking what I read. ;)
I can't wait to see which new sci-fi and fantasy books you discover! I would love to attend a book event but don't think that's in the cards this year.
Love your list! I definitely need to catch up on recent releases. Looking forward to it!
Good luck!
Have fun at BEA this year! I'd love to go but unfortunately I live way too far away. :(
Here's my Top Ten: www.best-of-ya.blogspot.com
Great goals. I need to do the feeling less guilty thing too.
Great resolutions :)
Good luck with all of them!
Isalys / Book Soulmates
Wonderful goals! I could add the majority of those to my bookish resolution list no problem. If there's another Ender's Game out there, please let me know! It's basically the only YA straight-up sci fi that I really enjoyed. Reading happily is definitely the most important thing to keep in mind as a blogger, I think. I hope you can accomplish all your goals!
I definitely agree with your first two goals! I've had to become very honest with myself about what I'm really going to read, and have donated the books that spent years on my bookshelf untouched.
Doing so has made me feel a lot lighter, and I don't miss the pressure that comes with feeling that I must read everything!
I also don't care for resolutions.
A great things to do list. I especially like number 9.
I love reading all of the bookish things people are going to do this year! I need to cull my collection this year too, though my problem is that I kind of feel like I need to hold on to every book I've ever read. I need to get over that!
Ooo, I LOVE your number one goal. I need to do that.
Oooh, yes, MG lit. I need to branch out as well. Great list!
My TTT: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-10-tuesday-bookish-goals-for-2013.html
The problem with volunteering at the library, though, especially if you help with the book sales, is that you might end up taking lots of books home! (she says, from bitter experience....)
I love your goals. Your number one goal is one that I'm going to be working on myself in the coming months. I miss reading for the joy of reading.
"Read happily." I like that.
Great goals!
I'm still not sure if I'll be able to go to BEA again this year, but I would sure love to.
#8 - FYA book clubs! *high five* I love my FYA book club and hope you're able to meet up with yours more often this year. Bookish friends who read YA are more certainly made of awesome.
Great goals! I love the last to ones especially... A good friend wouldn't let his non-bookish friend go wandering around without knowing this amazing world. Also I think it is very sweet that you intend to volunteer at your local library! There is only so much we can do to change the world, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't help as much as we can :)
Have a great year and I hope you accomplish all your goals!
Thanks for stopping by my TTT :)
Kar @ Pause Time
Post a Comment