As I've looked back over the past year for the last few days, I though I'd save today, the last day of the year, for looking forward. I don't really want to set forth a list of rigid goals for next year, but there are a few plans I've had in mind now for a while.
- Read more American literature/classics--particularly from the 20th century. For the last few years I've tended to be pretty neglectful of more modern fiction, particularly by American authors.
- I know it's sort of silly to follow any of those "best of" lists, as they all have their shortcomings. I've always been partial to the Modern Library List, however. This past year I read only one title from the list. I'd like to read more as it is a good way to read books I might not otherwise choose.
- Read Jane Austen's major works. Starting with Northanger Abbey (which I will write about this week sometime) and making my way through to Persuasion. I'd also like to read a biography of Austen.
- Read more Shakespeare. Or more about Shakespeare. Or both. I'd like to read at least two more plays.
- Ten more books in translation? I just managed it this year. It would be nice to throw in a few non-European authors, though.
- There is this reading list that I set forth for myself. (And don't be surprised to see more lists, because thinking about reading is almost as good as reading itself and my lists are my way of thinking about reading).
- And then there are those tricky reading challenges. I am still determined to read at least one book for the Outmoded Authors Challenge. I'm all set for the What's in a Name Challenge. I've got Anna Karenina all ready to go for the Russian Reading Challenge. I'm going to continue reading a short story a week, and hopefully five short story collections (not sure which in particular, but I'd like to read something by Margaret Atwood, and Alice Munro, and perhaps the collection by Jumpiri Lahiri), so I might as well join Kate's Short Story Reading Challenge. And I might even be swayed to choose a book or two for The International Year of Planet Earth (I need to read more nonfiction). And if I fail miserably...it's o.k. I see challenges as jumping off places to expand my reading, so even if I just read one book I see that as a good thing. I'm always looking to broaden my reading horizons.
- Yesterday I mentioned how I might follow up reading Don Quixote. I'm not altogether sure. I would like to choose at least one "big" book, though I haven't a clue what to choose yet. No doubt something will come along.
So much for keeping things simple. But these are just plans/ideas. I do want to keep my reading as simple as I can, and the stacks under control. It's sort of funny as my reading is more or less going to continue on as before, but why is it with a new year everything seems new and fresh?
By the way, I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year! Things are generally pretty quiet in my household. There are a stack of movies to watch and I hope I can finish the last two rows of this needlework project. I started it a year ago, so I am itching to get it finished before the end of the year!