Sunday, February 3, 2013

Sunday Salon: Staying Cozy this Winter-And Busy

I had a good reading month in January; I read 10 books or so, and enjoyed most of them. But how did I stack up against my goals? Here are my goals for the year:
  • 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 actually 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! Nope.
  • 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! Check, although I haven't found an audio I wanted to finish yet. I DNF'd two and am looking for a new one. Any recommendations? I also DNF'd one nonfiction bedside book and started another that I'm loving, Agent Zigzag by Ben McIntyre.
  • 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.
  • Six Booker Prize winners for the year. Nope.
  • Three NYRB Classics by June.Nope.
  • One graphic novel per month. I DNF'd one graphic novel in January. Onto bigger and better things in February.
Well, not necessarily bigger! This month I'm concentrating on short books. My rule of thumb is that the spines can be no thicker than 1/2 inch. The purpose of this rule is to force to me to read some of the little things that have been lurking in my TBR pile, both old and new. NYRBs tend to be small, so I'll likely start on my goal of 3-by-June. Also, crime novels tend to be short.  So far I've already completed one thin book, The Father and The Foreigner by Giancarlo De Cataldo. It was very good. I'm starting Comedy in a Minor Key, by Hans Keilson, today. I'm also reading The Dervish House, by Ian McDonald, which is not short but I started in January so I'm allowed.

How are you doing with your reading goals this year? Do you have any? I'm not sure how all this is going to work out but sometimes giving myself goals helps me to remember to read things that I would put off, and I'm almost always glad. I hope you have a great Sunday! More Sunday Salon on Facebook.

13 comments:

Ali said...

It has to be a pretty bad graphic novel to turn into a DNF, at least for me, because they go so fast. (There have been a few, though!)

Alex in Leeds said...

I like the idea of tackling the thin books for a month, I seem to buy three novellas for each one I read. :)

wellwell2 said...

Wow. I am impressed by all those goals. I have to keep my goals fairly modest because I tend to read very slowly. And I like to take a long time to compose my thoughts as well. Right now I have that time, but come spring I won't.
I'm also intrigued by graphic novels, but don't know where to begin. I bought one for a friend for Christmas -- Marbles -- about bipolar disorder and scanned through it before giving it away.

Hillary said...

I too am impressed by all those goals. My only goal was to read 200 books but dec 31. So far i am behind but I have been sick so I guess i could count that as an excuse.

Sandy Nawrot said...

Just keep your eyeball on my blog, and you will get some audio recommendations. Or look at my best of post for audios for 2012. I listen to so many good ones! I love anything by Kate Morton, or Joshilyn Jackson, or Tana French. All phenomenal narrations.

Steph said...

I'm with you on the shorter books. And actually, I'm surviving on single essays and short stories, whenever I can fit something in. Work has been crazy and I've discovered it's crazier to try and fit in a novel lately. Short pieces have been very attractive and enough to satisfy the deep longing to just read.

Do you have Fair Play by Tove Jansson? That's a short NYRB. And I recommend After Claude, too, which is hilarious. There's a review on my blog.

bermudaonion said...

It sounds like you're doing well with your goals. I didn't set any, which is a good thing because I'm hanging on by a thread right now.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

The End of Your Life Book Club was a very good audio IMO.

Mary said...

Those are all excellent goals! Good to make ones like this. They keep you trying different types of books. I wondered where you've been. I'll have to look for Angela Thirkell. I've never heard of her, but the stories sound intriguing.. :)

ChaosIsAFriendOfMine said...

As far as audiobooks go, I think anything by David Sedaris is fabulous on audio because he reads the books himself.

Bryan G. Robinson said...

After this book I'm reading right now, The Shining by Stephen King, I'm with you on the shorter books. I've read a few longer ones to finish last year and start this year so I need to return to shorter books, especially graphic novels.

JoAnn said...

You've probably already read it, but I'm loving In the Woods by Tana French on audio!

Michelle (Red Headed Book Child) said...

I'd say 10 is a pretty good achievement!