I want to read a book a week.
To some people, that's nothing. They can read a book a day. Maybe even two. But I've said before that I'm a slow reader, and I certainly don't read as much as I'd like to. I don't think I'll ever be a fast reader, so I want to focus more on the consistency aspect.
If I can make reading part of my routine, if I can make it a habit, if I can add just a little to every day, then I'll at least read more, even if I still read slowly. I mean, that'll be 52 books in a year, and I've never read that many. Just thinking of that number feels overwhelming, but I think it's a doable goal. I've seen over and over through writing 1k a day that things add up even in little steps. It has to be the same for this.
I'm so much better at little steps than giant leaps.
So that's my one ridiculous goal. Wish me luck:)
Good luck! Reading is so awesome! Let me know if you need recommendations! :) (I read over 100 books this year and that's about 70 books shy of what I did 2 years ago.)
ReplyDeleteCome join us at 52 books in 52 weeks. We'll cheer you on and oh and ah over your reads.
ReplyDeletewww.read52booksin52weeks.com
Good luck and Happy New Year! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've read about 25 books in the past few weeks, and I wish I'd been able to read more. Unfortunately, I'm always so busy during the school year that I almost never have time to read, so I end up stuffing all my reading into a few short weeks. -sigh-
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your reading goal, though! Wish I had the time for that. =P
I make a similar goal, and write down the titles as I read them. That makes it easier to recommend books to others if I can see a list of what I've read. There's just too many wonderful books to remember them off the top of my head! Good luck on your goal; you can do it!
ReplyDeleteThat's not ridiculous! I'm a slow reader so I totally understand.
ReplyDeleteIf you're anything like me, GoodReads will help! (Get a regular account not under your full/author name.) You can keep track of your books and make use of the very motivating progress counter on the homepage!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea/goal. I think I may join you. I always have a pile of books ready to read and I only seem to make time during vacations from school. I read 4.5 books this week but would likely not read another (except as classroom read alouds) for months. Good luck!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is a wonderfully brave goal! Especially with the addition to the family coming this year, publishing stuff etc.
ReplyDeleteI need to set some writing goals, I have a hard time justifying writing, when there are lots of other things that need my attention too (mostly housework etc), hopefully I can work on it this year!
My husband and I have challenged each other to give something up for the year, so he has given up Cola drinks (particularly Pepsi Max), and I have given up chocolate in all forms for the year! A bit scary, but I am pushed along by the fact that most of my family are adamant that I won't last the year! Talk about a lack of faith!! We made the final decision to go thru with the challenge on the beach on New Years Eve (it was hot, it still is here, new years day was over 40 degrees celsius), we had no pen and paper, so we sent a text message to each other! I'm confident that we can both make it through, and be better for it!
Good Luck with your reading goal!
That's a great goal! I tried to read 50 books in 2011, but only made it to 41. Boo! This year, my goal is 45 :)
ReplyDeleteAnd writing 1k words a day is a great idea! If I was able to be a writer full-time, I'd definitely consider that. I might do a weekly word count goal though... that's a thought. hmmm.....
And to Melissa above: no chocolate for a year... that's incredible. I've already lost that one and it's day one. hahaha. Good luck!!!
Not a ridiculous goal!! More like AWESOME goal. I am SUCH a slow reader. I read every day, and still I am so. so. slow.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you!! I set the goal to read a book a day - but as I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old, I am TOTALLY counting picture books :)
Goodreads is an awesome tracker. They have a widget that tracks your reading. Yay bar graphs!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally pulling for you - last year I set the ridiculous goal of 100 books. EPIC FAIL. Blech.
And if you need extra good mommy inspiration, remember: babies like to be read to. =)
That's a wonderful goal, Natalie! My goal for 2011 was to read 60 (one a week plus a few more during the summer). Um, I finished my 24th yesterday, lol. Not quite what I had hoped for but I'm still proud of my accomplishment. I decided to drop my goal to 40 this year (with the hope of writing more). Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI had the goal to read 50 books lsst year and failed miserably. I'll try it again this year - we can check in with each other if you want. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYou can absolutely do it! It's a wonderful goal. :-) Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteThat was my goal for 2011. I didn't quite make it, I managed 47 books, though I didn't count books I spent a lot of time on but didn't finish.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy with the amount of books I read even though I didn't make my goal. I read a lot more after I made the goal than I would have had I not made it.
Wow, that's an awesome goal! I'm lucky to get one in a month, but I should shoot for more!
ReplyDeleteI definitely wish you luck! And what a great goal to have! I saw one person whose goal was a book a day... too much for me, but this one sounds like it might be attainable.
ReplyDeleteIs it going to be ANY book? Fiction? Books on writing? Children's books?
I'm going to dig into the YA section of the library. So much to read, so little time!
That's a great goal. I, too, am resolving to read more. It's not only great for refilling the brain tank, it helps to improve your own writing. I don't read nearly as much as I should, and I'm aiming to change that.
ReplyDeleteOoh, great goal! Can't wait to hear about the ones you like!
ReplyDeleteI've been reading a Dickens novel for weeks now, no joke. I used to be a fast reader but now I'm a slow one. I like to take my time with a book and read it when I can give it proper time and attention, when I have a nice long stretch of quiet time ahead of me. Needless to say, those moments are rare.
ReplyDeleteThat was my goal last year! I wanted to read 52 books, averaging out to one a week. I ended up reading 57. Part of that goal was promising myself that I would put down books I wasn't enjoying. For some reason that was the hardest part! Good luck to you, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteThis year my goal is to read ten more books than I did last year.
I'm sure you have all kinds of literary books in mind, but I just read one last week that blew me away, and is short, and I shall now recommend, and you can add it to the list and read it on a time-constrained week. It's ONCE by Morris Gleitzman, which is possibly the most lovely and heartwrenching children's book about Nazi-occupied Poland since Spinelli's MILKWEED. Which, come to think of it, could be on your list, too. Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a ridiculous goal at all, especially since you have other responsibilities and a new little one on the way. I used to be a fast reader too--if I focused, I could read a 300 page book in 2 days. But now it takes me like 2 weeks.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your goal--I'm sure you can do it!
I think it's a great goal! I wish I could do it too. I came kind of close last year but not quite. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way! 52 in a year is a LOT. Best of luck!!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it! And tell us about all the good books you read!
ReplyDeleteConsider looking at the Cybil finalists in picture books and making them part of your book goals. Some weeks, you just need a shorter book. Here are our resolutions:http://thepenandinkblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/pen-and-ink-official-new-years.html
ReplyDeleteRead on!
I don't think that's a ridiculous goal! You can do it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your goal! I'm sure you'll do it! :D
ReplyDeleteIt's a worthy goal!
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