Sunday, March 3, 2013

Sunday Salon: February's Reading, March's Goals

I have been so busy lately! It's really nice to be able to relax today- anyway, that's the plan after work today!

I take back everything I said about 2013 not being a flashy reading year. There are so many books I'm excited about now. Simon Van Booy has a new one (I saw the galley at work the other day), and I have more books than I know what to do with to read in March.

What about February? I made some progress on my goals last month, but I still have a long way to go. Having goals makes me pay attention to different parts of my TBR piles and I'm finding some great buried treasures. The theme for February was short books and surprisingly I did not read more books than I did in January but that's OK. Sometimes short books actually take more concentration, oddly enough.
  • One Europa Editions book per month for a total of at least 12 for the year. Probably I'll read more; I tend to! Check! I read two.
  • Six books by author Angela Thirkell for the year. Angela Thirkell's books are largely out of print but I've been able to amass a nice collection of her delightful English country tales nonetheless. Time to make a point of digging in! I read Coronation Summer this month, and it was delightful so 1/6 completed.
  • One audiobook on the iPod at all times; one nonfiction book on the nightstand at all times. The audiobook-listening helps me squeeze in extra books without having them take up space!  I'm listening to Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell.
  • One book in each of the following series: Factory Series by Derek Raymond; Mollison Town Quartet by Tim Davys; World Noir series from Europa Editions. Nope. But I read one of the Kemal Kayankaya series by Jakob Arjouni, which was great.
  • Six Booker Prize winners for the year. Nope.
  • Three NYRB Classics by June. One this month- The Murderess by Alexandros Papadiamantis.
  • One graphic novel per month. 
In March I'll be reading 2013 releases only. So far I'm enjoying The Dinner by Herman Koch and I hope to start The Rage by Gene Kerrigan soon. I also love the looks of Ten White Geese by Gerbrand Bakker, The Woman Who Wouldn't Die by Colin Cotterill, and The Tooth Tattoo by Peter Lovesey. Lovesey is coming to the bookstore this spring- I'm so excited!

What are you up to today? How did your February reading go? Any plans for March?

More Sunday Salon on Facebook.

6 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I don't keep track of my monthly reading, but I guess I should. Today, I'll spend a little time at the store, walk, cook dinner, and hopefully, read.

Sandy Nawrot said...

I like that goal of one GN a month. I generally love them, and they always manage to yank me out of a reading funk. Audios are a blessing too. Right now I am knee deep into reading books that will be featured in the UCF Book Festival. After that, I need to put more thought into what I'm doing, versus just grabbing things.

Bryan G. Robinson said...

I need to read more graphic novels too. Have a pile of them on my shelf...thanks for reminding me.

Vasilly said...

I love your reading goals! Maybe I'll come up with a few goals of my own next month. How's Let's Take the Long Way Home so far? If you're looking for a good graphic novel to read, I just finished Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney. It's a graphic memoir.

Today I'm finishing up Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson. Have a good week.

Anonymous said...

wow, I love your goals! good luck! here is my own Feb recap: http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/03/01/2013-february-wrap-up/

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Hope you are enjoying Take the Long Way Home, as much as i did. How special to have had the opportunity for a friendship like that.

I'm pleased with my February, but want to read so many books over the next few months, and sadly, I know time will be an issue.

Happy reading Marie.