Reminders (to myself)

I love reading book blogs, but I tend to have a hard time staying focused on my own reading when I do so.  I give in to temptation so easily when it comes to books.  Rather than just writing a title down when another reader writes about it so enthusiastically, I often will request it from my library or even go out and buy it.  I've been slightly tempted by challenges, but if I don't complete them I don't mind.  With these temptations in mind it's always nice to remind myself of the reading plans I've set out for myself.  Ultimately I think that as long as I'm reading good books, it doesn't matter whether it was planned or not.  Still, there are so many books I've wanted to read and small projects/goals that I have set for myself to work on.  It's nice to occasionally remember just what I had in mind to do this year. 

Read more American literature/classics--particularly from the 20th century.  I've read 6 American authors so far, but one now lives in the UK, two live here but write about Victorian/Edwardian England, and one writes nonfiction.  That leaves two with books set in the US.  And what do you do about authors like Jacqueline Winspear and Geraldine Brooks who were born abroad but now live here.  Only one book was a classic, though I am reading Washington Square.  Of course Henry James spent much of his life in England and became a British citizen.  So maybe I'm fudging a bit here.

The Modern Library List.  Only one book so far.  Jack London's The Call of the Wild.  Henry James has three novels on the list.  Of course Washington Square is not one of them.

Read Jane Austen's major works.  I've not forgotten about my Jane Austen project.  I started with Northanger Abbey last year.  Sense and Sensibility is next.  Well, the next Jane Austen, though maybe not the next book.  (You know how that goes).

Read more Shakespeare.  Nothing so far this year.  I've been wanting to read Twelfth Night, but that seems like a good one to read around the end of the year holidays.  I need to pick another play.  Sometime soon.

Ten more books in translation.  Four down (though one was a graphic novel and one a book of short stories), and I'm working on my fifth--Les Misérables.  I want to at least read ten, though more would be nice.

A Baker's Dozen for 2008.  I'm back to reading (and greatly enjoying) Sarah Bower's Needle in the Blood.  Otherwise I have my work cut out for me--twelve more to go.  I'm not very good at reading the books I come up with on these lists (I have more lists, but this is the only one I'll share).  I will note here that the vast majority of my 'Thursday Thirteen' lists are more informational than anything else.  It's just a few of these lists that I've set out to actually read all the books (this year that is).

Read at least one 'big book'.  I'm working on this one.  Hopefully no one's given up on this project yet?  It may take me most of the summer, but I will see it through to the end.  And then pick another long read....

My newest scheme is to read more Viragos, but you already know all about that...

Challenges:

What's in a Name Reading Challenge.  I've read two books so far--The Crimson Portrait and One Fine Day.  I never really formally joined this challenge, so it will probably be the only one I complete.

Russian Reading Challenge.  I've not yet read any Russian authors, but I am still planning on reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina (and looking forward to it). 

Short Story Reading Challenge.  Although I don't copy my posts to the short story reading challenge blog every week (I did at first, but it is frustrating copying from Typepad to Blogger--the formatting gets all messed up), I have been very dedicated in my reading.

Once Upon a Time II Reading Challenge.  I've finished The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Ice Land.  I'm still contemplating what to read next.

Even if my reading has been somewhat blown off track this year, I can't say that I can complain about the quality of the books I've been reading instead!  And there are still months and months to go.

Comments

[Ashleigh]

I can completely sympathize. I've made lists, joined challenges but keep finding myself wanting to stray and read other books. Luckily most of the challenges allow editing. Sometimes I even find that I don't feel like reading the books I've brought home from the library (One Hundred Years of Solitude - though I'm finally getting through it). I want to go back and get new ones. I think that's why I've been checking out smaller books so that I can finish them quickly and get more. But at the same time I crave those big books. It's all very confusing but the majority of this year's reads thus far have been ace so I guess I can't complain!

[Jaimie]

I've been more careful about joining challenges this year also. I want to but simply don't have the time to do all the reading. If you are looking for an exciting play by Shakespeare try Macbeth. It's got witches, ghosts, and murder.
Much Ado About Nothing is a charming little comedy that was made into a movie starring Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branaugh. I love it and watch it once or twice a year.
I would really love to know where you get your Viragos. I can't find any around here and am about to give up and order them.

[Danielle]

Ashleigh--I think I've only been disappointed in two books this year that I've read. And one more so than the other. I tend to neglect my own books when I check out library books, which I've been doing a lot lately. And I can never get them all read in the three weeks they loan them out for. Usually I get the newest titles and there are others waiting, so I can't renew. I'm often returning unread books, which I hate. I should just read from my own books, but when I see the new books come out (and don't want to buy hardcovers), I give in and borrow them!
Jaimie--Maybe I should read Macbeth. That's one of the plays that seems to be taught in school (we read King Lear). I've thought of that one or Hamlet, but I like the sound of Macbeth more at the moment. Good idea! I don't have a lot of local places to find Viragos either. I have a favorite used bookstore that occasionally will have them, but the last few times I've gone there have been none. I also will usually find one or two at library book sales (again--last time not a single one!). Mostly though I just order them, too. I usually go to Alibris or AbeBooks and also Better World Books. Sometimes I luck out and can mooch one, though US copies are sort of hard to come by! I wonder if more readers are starting to collect them now? I think in the UK it's easy to find used/oop copies (not surprising).

[Edd]

You may call it strange but since the age of 16 or 17, I continue to read Shakespeare 15 to 30 minutes a night. There have been only a few times I have not done so and that has occurred during my illness usually while in Intensive Care but as soon as I am out and into a private room Jane has one of my Shakespeare books and of course the latest mystery book I was reading in hand.

[BooksPlease]

Staying focussed on my own reading is also a bit of a problem for me and often it's the library books that throw me. It's so easy to take them home. Sometimes I can renew them but a lot do go back unread - such a waste of time. I'm hooked on challenges as well, but usually end up reading something other than the books I first thought of. I like the planning but also like to read where the fancy takes me and try not to worry about the unread books - there are too many of them anyway.

[litlove]

You are a brave woman, Danielle! I've been terrible about saying I'll read this and that in the past and then never quite getting around to it. I think you are doing very well - we're only a third of the way through the year!

[Dorothy W.]

Those are some great plans and challenges! You can't go wrong with those plans, even if you don't get to a lot of it -- you'll still be reading great books, and that's what matters. I don't think I'm doing very well with my plans for the year, although they weren't that detailed, so it's okay.

[Sam]

I'm getting ready to gather up a bunch of unread library books to take back--again. I checked out a bunch yesterday forgetting that I go on vacation in a few weeks and I would never finish them by then. I guess I just have this weird quirk where I don't like to have any books checked out while I'm away. I also have trouble keeping my planned reading on track because I get distracted by other books. For example, I picked up Helen Mirran's new book and was going to read it and then realized Holocaust remembrance day is tomorrow and I should read The Diary of Anne Frank (never have) and this would be a good time. I could give more examples, but you get the idea.

[Andi]

I'm in the same boat. I don't mind not completing challenges as long as I'm reading good books. Good luck with your goals for the remainder of the year! I need to remind myself of my own soon. :)

[Lisa]

Wow, you have quite a few projects and reading lists going on. I sympathize with your reading fickleness. I often get sidetracked by reading other people's blogs, as well. There are just too many great books!

[Matt]

Being away from San Francisco has helped focus on reading what I have committed to do so. Russian Challenge has been going slowly but I've got 4 down out of the 6 required of the challenge. What I really have to get on is the Chunkster Challenge, which I have read only 1 book. I can understand and therefore sympathize how we wish to stray away and read books that we wish to read. I've been reading a memoir of a man who spent his childhood in Hong Kong back in the 1950s. It has remained on the Hong Kong bestseller for several weeks.

[Danielle]

Edd--I don't think that's strange at all. Actually I think it's really very cool! I would love to know an author so well--to read him/her on a daily basis. And with Shakespeare there is so much to read--you must know those plays inside and out!
BooksPlease--I think I just like planning and thinking about reading. I usually read some of what I wanted and some books entirely by chance. Probably a good cross section in the end. Library books are also my weak spot!
Litlove--I do the same thing--especially when I read about a book on someone's blog. I think I must read that, but sometimes it takes a long time until I get around to it! Actually I am probably doing pretty well all things considered. :)
Dorothy--I never used to plan out reading like I do now. I think blogging as done it to me. As long as I get a smattering of it all in I'll feel good about it. There are just too many good unread books out there!
Sam--I'm going to have to take a stack of books back to the library this weekend as well. I wish they gave longer check out times. In some cases I just get back in line! I've actually taken library books on vacation with me--probably pretty daring as it would be so easy to lose one! Luckily that's never happened--and it's also been a while since I've been on a proper vacation.
Andi--I used to feel sort of guilty (very silly really) when I didn't finish a reading challenge, but if I just read one new to me book (or book I've been wanting read for ages), I now feel pretty good about it. Those year long challenges are also sort of helpful.
Lisa--There are so many books I missed reading when I was younger and so many types of literature that I don't read, making these little projects for myself helps fill in some gaps. And there are so many good books out there.
Matt--I was thinking, too, if I could get away for a while with only a certain stack of books I could concentrate better! Still, I also like meandering a bit with my reading. I hope you had a good time in Hong Kong, though I hope you'll be back to visiting blogs! :)

[LK]

Oh, I'm falling behind on everything. But, I am doing more reading than I would normally by trying. If that makes any sense.

I count Henry James as an American writer. So there.

[iliana]

It's so neat to take stock of what your reading has been like so far this year. I should do this to see how I'm faring with my personal goals. I do know that I was doing so well with my challenges but I I'm starting to fall behind. ah, well, it's still fun.

[Eva]

Ohhh-I need to do this! And I just found my copy of Les Mis again (it's been hiding under the bed-I'm about half way through it), so I'm excited to jump back into that one. :)

[Danielle]

LK--It's nice to hear you're getting in more reading. I think of Henry James as American, too. He did write about Americans in many cases or Americans in contrast to Europeans.
Iliana--It's sort of interesting to watch my progress over the course of the year. I know goals will change, but it's nice to be reminded of what I wanted to do. In some cases I totally change my mind on books, but sometimes I just want to get back to my original plans!
Eva--I'm glad you're still reading! I am about 1/3 of the way in. I think as long as I consistently read (no matter how slow) I'll not let it languish in my pile.