I feel like I need to play catch up with just (2) days left in 2012. Over the last few days I caught up on all of my reviews, posted a fun 20 Question Survey about Books Read in 2012, and worried about what I may have forgotten to do, that I should have done.
Christmas was relaxed and fun this year, despite some terrible colds that have gone around. My husband mentioned that this was our nicest Christmas ever, and I have to agree it was special. I asked my son and his wife for a family photo of the two of them this Christmas, and they tried, they really did -- this is what we received ----
Our little granddaughter was in perfect spirits for her first Christmas. At just (8) months old, it was all about the paper, bows and chewing on cards this year.
I've been lax in revealing some new book acquisitions in the last few weeks. Here are some that i either bought, or were sent to me by other Paperback Swap members.
- Girl Reading; Katie Ward
- The Trial of Fallen Angels; James Kimmel Jr
- Astonishing Splashes of Colour; Clare Morrall
- The Outward Room; Millen Brand
- Every Living Thing; Cynthia Rylant
Looking forward to 2013
I've decided to be "challenge free" in 2013. I did well with the challenges I committed to in 2012, however, in 2013, I just want to be able to pick up whatever book strike my fancy and beginning reading it without thought of where it will fit within a "challenge".
My reading and reviews will still consist mostly of a mix of literary fiction, contemporary fiction, memoirs, and picture books for children.
I'm also thinking about a new review format or a change in the way I rate the books I read and review.
I also decided that any books I read will get the (1) chapter or (25) page test starting this year. [ I had a milestone birthday this month and decided I don't want to waste time on so so books anymore.]
Do you have any changes planned for your reading or your blog in 2013?
Diane, glad you guys had such a nice Christmas. The "picture" of your son and daughter-in-law was priceless. LOL
ReplyDeleteI think your 1 chapter/25 page notion is great. I know that it's possible that books pick up from there, but I agree that so-so books are not worth the time. We can only read so many, right? Have a happy new year!
Happy New Year, Diane. I hope your new goals make blogging and reading easier and more enjoyable. With the exception of the Reagan Arthur challenge I too am "challenge free" :)
ReplyDeleteI'll continue to try to read my own books with the occasional review book thrown in. I need to tame my bookshelves once and for all!
Happy New Year Diane. I am going to read what I want but I have signed up to the 5-year Classic challenge and read more French classics as well.
ReplyDeleteHope it's another great year for you and your family!
Yup, huge changes for me. It's all in my blog post set to go live in 4 minutes. Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI love the "photo" of your son and d-i-l. They are very innovative.
What a great photo of your son and his wife! LOL! I'm glad you had such a good Christmas. Children and grandchildren make it a lot of fun, don't they?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your blogging adjustments. I'm going for the 50-page rule more these days, too. I gave up on a couple last week and didn't feel the least bit sorry. I'm hoping to clear some shelves in the coming months and dig out from under the piles of books that have taken over my house!
Have a wonderful New Year and happy reading!
I'm no longer doing reading challenges either - part of my search for the joy I used to find in reading whatever attracted me, before I knew what was "in" or buzzing or what I "ought to" read. I also follow the "life is too short to read bad (or so-so) books" theory.
ReplyDeleteI abandon books all the time! Honesty, there are so many great books out there, I hate to waste my time. I don't have a rule, I just quit a book when I realize I've had enough, whether that is 1 page or 100.
ReplyDeleteI applaud your Challenge Free Year! I signed up for four, but they will be challenges that help me read what I have already and what I want to read.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be turning away more review books. If they don't grab me, they'll get a pass. I also sent an e-mail to one publicist that keeps sending "unsolicited" books, telling them to ask before sending. The worst part about the ones I've received in this manner is that they are books I don't want to read.
Love the stick figure picture!
Here's MY SUNDAY SALON POST
Sounds like you had a lovely relaxing Christmas, the best kind. You've got some great books too, I've got Girl Reading out from the library and I'm hoping to get to it soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm also challenge free for 2013 (aside from the Classics Club, which I don't pressurise myself about anyway) and I'm going to slowly step away from NetGalley. Here's to reading what we want to, when we want to.
I whole-heartedly agree that life is simply too short to waste time on completing books (or any past-time project) that does not bring joy!
ReplyDeleteThe change I hope to make 2013 is to get back into the blogging routine - I have missed it greatly.
Happy New Year to you and your family, Diane!
I love that picture you got!!! Hopefully we will get to read more in 2013!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your new books and a challenge-free 2013! It's probably going to be a challenge in itself just to keep from joining in any of the new ones that pop up throughout the year!
ReplyDeleteGood for you to be challenge free. I think I have gotten in over my head for 2013. They just sound like so much fun, and I think I can do it. We will see. I am going to try to learn to quit a book that is not giving me joy. I read a few of those in 2012. I must do Beth Fish's What's In a Name 6. And I read lots of books that I normally would not have, keeping up with monthly reads online in 2012. Want to do that again. Happy reading to you. ps: loved your picture of son and dil....that is just something my kids would do!! :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new year resolutions re challenges and books to be read. I'm not doing challenges in 2013, except to challenge myself to read from my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteYour son's family picture made me laugh! I've been challenge-free for 3 years. Instead I make reading goals each year (# of books read, new authors, etc). I like your 1 chapter or 25-page rule to abandon a book. Although I'm getting better about not finishing a book, I still have to work on abandoning audiobooks.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had such a nice Christmas, Diane, and just love your son's idea of a family photo! My blogging and reviewing style continue to evolve - shorter, concise reviews will be my goal. The new Monday Mention feature has been a first step in that direction. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteWe had a quiet, peaceful Christmas as well! You'll have to frame the stick figures and hang them next to the real portrait. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteDiane, I have a hard time with reading challenges, which is why I join very few. (I want to get back to reading for reading's sake.) All the best to you and your family in 2013!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Diane! I am participating in only six challenges in 2013. A drastic reduction from the 20 in 2012. Love the family photo!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a lovely Christmas, it must have been so fun to have a little one around the house enjoying all the wrappings! I also feel like there are so many good books out there that it isn't worth reading the ones that don't appeal to me
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you had such a nice Christmas! I love their substitute photo - very inventive!
ReplyDeleteGage is two and Christmas was still all about the paper! Last year was the first one I went challenge free (except for the never-ending Agatha Christie challenge) and I was surprised at how nice it was.
ReplyDeleteBelated Christmas wishes and here's to a wonderful and book-filled New Year. I wish I was a bit more ruthless at discarding books I am not so keen on, but I suspect I won't put this into practice.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture...such a beautiful family! ;-) Will you be framing that one, as well?
ReplyDeleteI've gone challenge-free as well. It's for the best.
ReplyDeleteLove the family photo!
I've been "challenge-free" for several years now, and I've been very happy with that decision. I do have personal reading goals that help guide me to read what I really want to read anyway, but I need to brush up on my abandoning books skills. I read way too many books I didn't like in 2012.
ReplyDeleteSorry you guys weren't well but I love quiet Christmases!! They are the best.
ReplyDeleteThat family photo gave me quite a chuckle.
I thought the family photo was adorable!!! I bet Christmas was extra special with your little granddaughter!! I'm looking forward to seeing the changes you're thinking about bringing to your blog. And yep, I'm making a few changes with mine too!!
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