As the new year is approaching, I'm reflecting on what I want to see from myself in the next year. I'm not big on the idea of resolutions, but I do like setting goals for myself (which yeah, some people consider the same thing, but goals just sounds so much less stressful). As far as bookish things go, there's quite a bit I want to do/try/accomplish.
1.) Read this freaking book.
Normally, when I have books lying around that I bought longggg ago but haven't read, I generally don't feel too much guilt (though of course there are exceptions). However, when it's a book recommended from a friend, particularly one whose taste usually differs quite a bit from mine, I feel so much guilt not reading it. I've been looking forward to reading this for so long (both because of the recommendation and because I wanted to read it before that), but I just haven't gotten to it.
2.) Relax on reading non-obligatory books (aka books I haven't promised/need to review or read for a class).
I struggle with this so much. I have next to zero self control when it comes to requesting more review books or general obligatory books. Because of that, I feel SO AWFUL when I try to read a book that I don't HAVE to read when I have piles of books I do need to read. I seriously can't remember the last book I read that I didn't have to read. Since I'm a fairly quick reader, it logically is far from the end of the world if I squeeze in a just-for-fun book here and there, but I just can't seem to get that through my head.
3.) Read more manuscripts/improve my reader reports.
I intern at a publishing company and literary agency which I love so much, and I really want to focus on honing in on my thoughts about manuscripts and being more critical.
4.) Have more fun with blogging!
Sabrina and I have both talked about being more relaxed when it comes to the blog and having more fun with it. I'm already feeling less stress about it, and that automatically makes it more fun and enjoyable.
5.) Explore more adult fiction. Examples:
Sometimes I get so caught up in reading MG, YA, and NA, that I forget how much I like adult fiction. I want to mix my reading selections up more (which is so hard being a mood reader sometimes).
6.) Get a bookish tattoo.
I just recently got my first tattoo, and I really want my second one to be book related or inspired.
7.) Make more bookish friends!
I seriously don't think you can ever have enough of them. :)
8.) Read at least one of the series where I own all the books in it, but have yet to read a single one of them. Examples:
9.) Finish one of the many completed trilogies where I've read the first or the first and second book but haven't gotten around to finishing the series.
10.) Last but not least- make butterbeer! It's supposed to be really sweet, and how else am I going to pretend the Harry Potter world is real? :)
What your bookish goals for the new year?
great goals! I have the same few goals : read more adult books this year :D and also, I want to read some of the many books I own and just never read because they get to the backburner. Also I want to finish a bunch of series. I kind of want to do less review books, but who knows. I was pretty good about splitting them fifty fifty this year so as long as I do that I'm fine. happy 2015!
ReplyDeleteDiamond @ Dee's Reads
Goldfinch is also on my bucket list. I did pretty good with adult fiction this year, but I hope to keep the momentum going in 2015. A bookish tatt sounds awesome! i wish I have the guts. Lol.
ReplyDeleteYou have some good goals. :) I know I want to read a couple trilogies that I have almost all the books from. I'm going to work on that next year.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of the same goals for 2015. I definitly need more bookish friends... All of my RL friends get bored after a while. :)
ReplyDeleteI like your goals for 2015. Have more fun blogging. That may help with your other reading related goals. Mix genres a bit. I would love to read your take on the Goldfinch and other adult books. I hope 2015,turns out to be your best year ever! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Xmas! I usually avoid goals/resolutions for 2015, but yours are rather good!
ReplyDeleteLess stress more fun!!
Nice goals, Samantha! I need to do a few of these too- finish some series that are on my shelves and do more non-oblig reading. I need to say no to some of the review commitments this year.
ReplyDeleteThe backburner is such a sad place for books, but they sometimes go there so often. I like to think its just keeping them 'warm' though :). I really like your goals too! And I greatly admire the fifty fifty ratio- I'm hoping with slow progress I can get somewhere near that.
ReplyDeleteI've heard so many good things about Goldfinch, and I just love that cover. For the tatt, after I got my first, I was just hooked! It's a "wow, I can actually do this" kind of feeling after. Sometimes it takes a while to get there, but it's worth it!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yeah, it's just like "Ok, bought the first one. This looks awesome. I'll get to this soon." *one year later* 'Oh hey, look, it's the sequel. I should get that. I have the first one at home. Oh yeah, I'll definitely be reading these soon, especially since now I have the first two." etc. etc. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, I understand! I'm lucky to have some good bookish friends IRL, but only one or two read the same kinds of books I do. Which isn't bad at all (yay wide tastes), but I like being able to chat about books both me and a friend have read! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Merry Christmas to you as well! Yeah, I think what most of this boils down to is me accepting that relaxing is ok- good even! I'll be happy if I can make at least a little progress with that next year.
ReplyDeleteYes! I usually avoid them as well, but this is also the first year I really thought about just how much I needed to relax instead of thinking of all the accomplishments that NEED to happen. I think if I set "have more fun" on my to-do list, I might actually check it off. :)
ReplyDeleteGirl, I feel you! I have such a hard time saying no to them. When so many books sound SO GOOD and shiny and pretty, it's like pulling a tooth trying to step away. I barely remember how I approached reading before I had review commitments attached.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes! It's even worst when you buy two books, then the third comes out and you tell yourself that after you get it, you'll just marathon the whole series. Haha...that never happens for me, regarding the Lunar Chronicles...and Syrena Legacy. :)
ReplyDeleteIt really only gets to me when I I see people gushing about their fav books. Or, for instance, the recent GR choice awards. The YA selection made me realize I had read NONE of the fantasy books. Which made me super sad, I had read several MG and one Debut, but that's it. Also, the recent tags like the GIF tag, I couldn't complete any of them bc at most I had only read 2 of the 10 books people made on their list. (And I honestly checked over 15 different lists!) :( so I feel out of the loop. Anyway, let's change that for 2015! :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, I think I need to add a few of these goals to my list. I read some of my friend's copy of Wildwood and really loved it but never got around to buying it myself. I also have so many books and series that I am yet to read because I've been so preoccupied this year with reading texts for my English Studies class. I'm looking forward to reading books because I actually want to read them. xx
ReplyDelete