Hmm. Looking back on last year's post I probably really shouldn't make any plans for 2010. Out of the stack of books in last year's photo I only read one (though I started two others that were never finished and am rereading the Jane Austen now). I have a pretty poor track record when it comes to reading plans apparently. They sound good at the moment, but in a month's time I tend to change my mind. I guess I'll go ahead and share what I'm thinking if for no other reason than next year I can look back and shake my head again!
A few years back I decided I wasn't reading enough short stories, so I set myself the task of reading one a week and then posting about it. I actually stuck with it and read a whopping (for me anyway) 52 stories. You can see the results here. In 2010 I'd like to do the same thing only with essays. I never read essays, but inspired by Dorothy W. who is an essay aficionado, I'd like to change that. I'm not quite sure how I'll approach this, but I pulled out Philip Lopate's The Art of the Personal Essay as a starting point. If anyone can recommend a good collection, please let me know. My plan is to read one a week and write about it on Sunday. I'm not sure how hard or easy it will be to write about a single essay, but we'll see how it goes. If I make myself write about it, I'm more apt to stick to my reading plan!
I plan on continuing on with my Molly Keane project. This is a long term project and I don't expect to read through the rest of her oeuvre in 2010. I only read three novels this year, but that's okay. I have Taking Chances lined up and ready to go.
I've already got John Galsworthy's The Man of Property sitting on my night stand. It's next up after I finally finish Wives and Daughters. There are a total of nine books in the Forsyte Saga and I would love to read them all next year. I've heard it's a very engaging read, so perhaps this will be easy?
And one more. This is a bit of an impulse. I can't even remember how many years Dorothy Dunnett's first book in her Lymond Chronicles, The Game of Kings, has been sitting on the shelf under my night stand. Years and years. I keep waiting for the "right moment" to pick them up. As you see I even have the two companion volumes to the books. Maybe I just need to jump in and see how it goes? As historical fiction goes, these books are supposed to be really good. The first book begins in 1547 Scotland. There are six books and then there is the House of Niccolò, which is in some way related (another six books).
Of course I have this list for reading inspiration and then there's the Women Unbound Challenge as well. All this should keep me pretty busy, though in the end I expect I'll do a fair amount of random reading as well.
Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone! And Happy Reading in 2010!