2008 Reading Goals
This is the cute notebook in which I have been recording all the books I read since 1996. Oh how I wish I had started this earlier as it is so much fun to browse through it now and again and see not only how much I read in a year but what struck my fancy at the time. For those of you who have children who enjoy reading - set them up with a cute notebook to record everything they read. You'll never regret it.
Each year I start a brand new page and since 1999 I have also been writing down the date I finish each book. In 2001 I hit a record high of 82 books read. That was the year I joined the PW Book Club in Santa Rosa - a great time with great women discussing a wide variety of books.
Fast forward to 2007 where cross-stitching all but took over my life and my reading hit an all time low of 28 books including the re-reading of the first 6 Harry Potters.
My stitching goals for 2008 have been set (more about that in an upcoming post) but now it is time to set some reading goals.
Thank you Jaimie http://lavenderandlacestitches.blogspot.com/ for inspiring me to increase my reading this year and leading me to The Pulitzer Project site (link in sidebar under Stitching and Reading Groups). What a great idea to actually read all 81 prize winning books at your own pace.
So here they are - my 2008 Reading Goals. They are actually very simple and certainly very do-able.
1. Every other book I read will be one which I already own but have not read (Sorry HP you do not qualify). Our own library contains a wide spectrum of books bought throughout the years. We must have bought them because they appealed to us and now it is time to get my money's worth out of them.
2. Out of every five books I read at least one will be a Pulitzer Prize winner. We own a number of them and I have read about 10 but think a complete fresh start is in order and I will re-read these along the way.
3. The other two books in every five may be anything that strikes my fancy.
For anyone who is interested these are the winning books which I have read.
2003 - Middlesex (Eugenides)
2001 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (Chabon)
1995 - The Stone Diaries (Shields)
1992 - A Thousand Acres (Smiley)
1983 - The Color Purple
1972 - Angle of Repose (Stegner)
1961 - To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee)
1940 - The Grapes of Wrath (Steinbeck)
1939 - The Yearling (Rawlings)
1937 - Gone with the Wind (Mitchell)
Now I'm off to the library to choose my first Pulitzer. When I come home I will add the names of my first five book choices to this post.
Home again and ready to share the titles of the first five books.
"The Moonstone" Wilkie Collins - own book (01/30)
"The Bridge of San Luis Rey" Thornton Wilder - PP winner 1928 (01/10)
"Into Thin Air" Jon Krakauer - own book (02/08)
"A Thousand Splendid Suns" Khalad Hosseini - borrowed from Sandy (01/24)
"The End of the Affair" Graham Greene - own book (02/01)
Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday and have a good week.
posted by Margaret at 9:14 AM
18 Comments:
Nice idea to have a notebook to keep track of what you read throughout the year. All of my kids love to read, I might think about getting them set up with notebooks. Thanks for the idea ;)
Margaret, that is an excellent idea - record what you have read, especially when you read as much as you do!
Kudos also to you for supporting the library! DH just treated me to another year - I'm in heaven over it!
That is sure a nice idea with the notebooks and we encourage our children to read that is why we go to the library once every three weeks and they will choose whatever they want to read and aside from that they have their own subscription with the magazines they like.
My stitching take over most of my time, perhaps later this year, as i do have some books piled up to read too.
Have a nice week.
Hi Margaret!
I think this notebook is a great idea indeed and I'll think about it seriously for my kids. As for myself, it's another story: I think I'd be completely upset to see the number of books I have actually read this year... Lol!!!
I have just finished the last HP btw, and I'm a little disappointed -both for having finished the series and also may be because I expected something better. Not that it wasn't good, but definitely not the best in the series...
hugs,
Lili
We tried this with Max, but he was *not* interested. Will try again with the younger three ...
My reading goals this year will have to include re-reading some Jane Austen, since I joined Tanya's group. Otherwise, I'll take it as it comes. ;)
Happy New Year.
My children have virtually everything they have ever read recorded , it is a good idea for sure , nice to look back on :)
What a cute notebook, that would be fun to use, just looking at it makes me smile. Good luck on your reading goals. I don't read any where as much as I'd like, but then I don't stitch or do other things either. To many things to do and try and not enough hours in the day. I'll enjoy seeing what you post during the year that you've read, and how you liked them.
Sue
I think I'll borrow your reading notebook idea. I used to read a lot before stitching kind of took over my life. Now I listen to audiotapes instead. Good luck on your reading goals.
Dear Margaret, It's so great to know we're reading along together this year. I'm reading "Bridge of San Luis Rey," right now. Come join our Pulitzer Reading Group-- http://Pulitzer_literature at yahoogroups dot com
Hugs,
Deb
My notebook wouldn't say anything too interesting at the moment. It'd be Harry Potter one to seven in English and then French over and over - LOL.
Being a literature teacher, I get in oh so much. My craze over the last few years is actually looking at the adaptations of novels into film & watching what is chosen as the most significant theme for our generation from novels of the 19th Century.
What a good idea to have a record of books. How many times have I been to the library and returned home with a book I have already read! As everything I do is on the computer I am going to log them on the computer with date started, date finished and comments too. And yes my computer is backed up regularly. Apple's new Leopard with Time Machine is brilliant.
I have a finished scissor fob up for grabs on my blog so if you (or anyone else) is interested just log in and leave a comment to enter the draw.
http://istitchaholic.blogspot.com
One of the nice things about the Pulitzer Project is there is no end date so no pressure! Sounds like you have a good start to your reading. I liked hearing about your notebook with all your books recorded in it. Have you thought about starting up a book blog for those and your future readings?
PS: Margaret, DH gave me a leather journal (by chance) for Christmas and I've been using it as my book organizer. I've nearly filled it already!! LOL You need a book blog. Go to wordpress...I think they have the best blog fronts to choose from.
Hugs,
deb
I did 'To Kill a Mockingbird' at school and I love 'The Moonstone'. In fact, I have almost every Wilkie Collins in print! They're always a great read.=)
Great idea to keep track of your bookreading in a notebook. I should try that too, it might make me realize I read more than I think I do! Have a wonderful week!!
A marvelleous idea indeed.
In our schools, we have a project called 'Nilam' a compulsory thing, where students have this 'Nilam record book' to record down all the books they've read plus their reviews for the books. The highest books accumulated/reader wins a prize comes year ends.
enjoy your reading! xx
Good luck with your reading this year. I too enjoy curling up with a good book and being transported to another world!
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