Last year was not the worst reading year ever, but it was a disappointing one. I did manage to read more than a few books that I really enjoyed, and I still plan on sharing some of the books that stood out. Most of my reading plans/goals pretty much fell by the wayside and I feel like I have sadly lost touch with so many of my bookish friends. Maybe this year will be better on all fronts. And maybe I will just accept the small victories rather than worry about achieving difficult goals. If nothing else, the last couple of years in life and work has taught me that it's best to learn to be flexible and be ready to adapt to changes.
So, here is my new(ish) start to my 2022 reading year. A couple of the books in my pile are carryovers from last year (the bottom two in the back pile). Most are books I picked out and dipped into at the end of the year and I am excited to read. The two in front are books I am reading along with others. Wilkie Collins's Jezebel's Daughter is the first of what I hope will be more classics this year. Smithereens and I are going to take our time and read and chat about it. He is a favorite author of mine. I have read most of his 'big'/famous books, but this looks like it will be classic sensationalist fare.
There is a quartet of books published by Virago Modern Classics written by Dorothy Richardson called Pilgrimage. The four volumes consist of thirteen books by Richardson beginning with Pointed Roofs. I'm joining a group of readers who are tackling the thirteen books over the course of this year. Anyone is welcome to join, you can follow the discussion on Twitter #PilgrimageTogether. On Wednesday there is a kickoff discussion (you can find the link via Evenbrite on the group website). I am really looking forward to this. I have three of the four volumes, and am ready to start reading this week.
I have given up my Excel spreadsheet tracking down all sorts of details of my reading choices (I pretty much end up reading the same sorts of books every year anyway), but I have a new book journal to jot down the books I read and any notes along the way. I have no big plans, but I do have my GoodReads Challenge goal (last year I had to shorten it not once but twice in order to complete it). And I am joining my public library's reading challenge, too.
I have given up my NYRB subscription (I never received my November or December books from 2021--I think it is a sign I need to just buy the books that appeal from my local indie bookstore). And my lone magazine subscription will be the New Yorker and maybe I will manage to read all the stories this year?
Mostly I'll just see where my reading leads me. Interesting things are surely going to pop up this year that will take me in different directions, so I am ready to discover lots of amazing books!
And you? Do you have any special plans? How are you kicking off your reading year?