New Year, Pt. I: 2012 Resolution Recap
Last January, I posted my 2012 Reading Resolutions for the New Year. How did I do? I'll do a quick self-assessment below, but you can also stop by the original post to read why I made each resolution. And later today I'll post my resolutions for 2013!
1. Slow down and enjoy what I'm reading.
Even though I read more books in 2012 than I did in 2011, I'd still say I did okay at this resolution. I may have read some books really quickly, but I didn't feel pressured to rush through anything. I wasn't constantly thinking about what I was going to read next, and I feel like I gave each book my attention.
2. Read what I already own.
This was a major, major, major FAIL. Y'all. I am seriously so embarrassed. First of all, 65 of the 142 books I read this year were from the library. While I didn't spend any money on those books, I'm still mad that I spent so much time reading those when I could have read stuff I already own... including the 70 books it appears I bought this year. I would have guessed I bought like 30, maybe 40, books. A number of them were from used bookstores, on sale or free for my Kindle, but still. I did not keep this resolution at all.
3. Re-read some of my favorites.
I get half credit here. In my resolution post, I specifically named nine books/series I wanted to re-read in 2012. I did re-read The Book Thief and The Opposite of Love, which were on my list. I also re-read the first three of the Anne of Green Gables series, even though the whole series was on my want to re-read list.
I also ended up re-reading Delirium (before I read Pandemonium) and Love Walked In (before I read Belong to Me), but I essentially only re-read them because I was about to read the second or companion book. Finally, I re-read the Hunger Games series after the movie. Mostly because I can always make time for Katniss.
4. Keep a reading journal.
This is another half credit resolution. I did keep a reading journal for a lot of the books I read, but I didn't consistently take notes on everything I was reading. When I stopped blogging for a while, I also stopped taking notes on what I was reading and I have yet to pick the habit back up. Oops!
5. Get to blogging.
I had just started blogging at the time I wrote my 2012 resolutions, and I'd already started and quit another blog (or two). So I was really excited to realize I could write about sending I was passionate about and hopefully inspire others to read more! I think I was pretty successful at this resolution (despite my little hiatus) and I'm excited to see where the blog takes me in 2013.
I like all of these, Hannah! Especially your reading journal. I love taking notes for my reads, but ALWAYS forget. And I hope to do lots of rereads this year, too!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Thanks Kristilyn! I'm terrible at taking notes on books, too. Terrible! I really do need to get better at it - I know it would make my reviews better, too.
DeleteLet's talk about #3 for a second. I would like to give you more than half-credit.
ReplyDeleteI can never ever ever make a list and stick to it. Never. I just can't. If I am forced to make a list that I am forced to stick to, I will attach a disclaimer that I says I will not be able to stick to said list. In short, making a list is insurance that you do NOT want me to do/read the things on the list. You get me?
So I'm always so IN AWE of the people who plan out what they read or want to read in advance. Seriously. I don't know how people do it. I'm such an emotional reader. Fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants. I have a stack of the books I want to read in the near future by my bedside, but it isn't in any particular order. It depends on whatever mood I'm in *the instant* I finish a book as to what book(s) - always more than one - I'll toss in my bag to start next. And it has to be more than one, because what if I change my mind by the time I get uptown? Or outside to my porch? I am seriously not joking.
So I give you full credit here for making a list and sticking to it in any way. ALSO...
"...but I essentially only re-read them because I was about the read the second or companion book. ---> THIS TOTALLY COUNTS, because I do this!
You are seriously the best. That was the best pep talk comment everrrrr!
DeleteAnd I know exactly what you mean about not being able to stick to a plan. I do terrible if I try to actually plan out what I'm going to read. I have to pick books in the moment. Sometimes I'll finish a dystopian book and want another one right away. Other times I'm like give me a classic right now and then find myself craving a contemporary only a week later.
My Kindle is seriously one of my favorite things for that very reason. I can have so many different books right at my fingertips, so if what I was in the mood for when I was leaving the house isn't what I want to read on my lunch break, I've still got plenty options :)
Thanks for the credit sugar!
I'm excited for your blog in 2013 as well. <3
ReplyDeleteALSO! You re-read some really great books -- namely THE BOOK THIEF and ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and I have to give you mad props for carving some time out of your busy life to re-read some excellent books instead of reading the latest hyped up book. You should really be proud of that.
Thanks April! I really feel like 2013 is going to be a good year for my blog.
DeleteAnd thanks for the props! I love re-reading and really did re-read more before I blogged. Being in this world where you see so many new and hyped books has made it harder for me to stop and read something I've already read and that's often a little older.
I think you did admirably on all your 2012 goals, because at least you attempted to make some progress on them. That's always a winning situation, at least to me!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to be a better re-reader this year, if I can manage it :)
Look at you making me feel better about not meeting my goals :) And yes, I think trying is really the point. I'm all about just attempting to meet some goals and don't beat myself up if I don't meet them. If I still had a good year and fun while I was reading, that's a success for me.
DeleteAnd yay for re-reading!