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.