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Me? Not so much. I'd love to have that kind of attitude, but I burned out years ago in the corporate world in the high-achieving category. Therefore, I am the blog sloth. (Haha! I kind of like that term!)
But I do always think about what I am doing at the end of every year. I am generally satisfied with my schedule throughout the week. In my case, three book reviews (really not reviews though...maybe rambling would be a better term), something relating to movies on Monday, a picture on Wednesday, and my Sunday Salon. I take Saturdays off.
I will continue to heavily screen review copies, and join few challenges. Fun = good. Stress = bad.
As far as what I want to read though, here are some ideas:
1. Read more free verse. This was WAAAAY outside my comfort zone in 2011, but I have found that I love it. For all of you that are scared, trust me and just try it ONCE. Two titles that I have jotted down are "Perfect" by Ellen Hopkins, and "I Heart You, You Haunt Me" by Lisa Schroeder.
2. Read more graphic novels. Again, a genre that was off the path for me a couple of years ago. Now I can't get enough. Seriously. My library seems to be lacking. I'm going to put my miner's cap on and go digging one of these days.
3. Immerse myself in the wonders of Simon Vance and Robin Sachs. For those of you who don't recognize these names, they are the audiobook voices that will reduce you to a puddle of mush. More digging at the library.
4. Re-reads. Something I very rarely do. Specifically, I want to read "Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg, "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy, and Stephen King's collection of short stories "Night Shift". These are all books I remember fondly. I want to see if they hold up.
5. Author projects:
- Karen White - Tradd Street series, because I feel left out.
- John Green - I think I have them all, between my daughter and I.
- Haruki Murakami - I will start with "Kafka on the Shore" and proceed further if I am moved.
- Sarah Pekkanen - If you follow her on Twitter, you will fall in love with her. The fact that everyone loves her books, and that she wrote them in Chuck E. Cheese because she has three boys? Can't resist.
- Kate Atkinson - I need more literary mysteries in my life, and I loved "Case Histories".
- Lisa See - Because she is coming to Orlando in March!
I am sure in 10 minutes I will read one of your posts and come up with more things I want to do, but these are ones that have been brewing for a couple of weeks. Any other suggestions or comments?
29 comments:
I'm a sloth right there with you, mostly because I'm the least creative person in the free world. I've become addicted to novels in verse too - you need to try Inside Out and Back Again as well as the two you listed.
What, Lisa See is going to be in Orlando?? Is that on her own or for the UCF book festival?
Murakami is on my list of authors for this year too!
And you are not a blog sloth Lol!! I don't care much for the blogs that have become all super high achieving and competetive!
Love your resolutions! I've just reviewed a free verse novel and it got me thinking that I should read more of them too. As you know I'm right there with you on the GNs, and I give your author projects the thumbs up.
Sounds like you have a stress-free plan. If I don't organize then I don't do it -- that's where my inner sloth comes in. So I'm forced to stay organized.
I haven't yet tried a novel in verse. I admit, I'm not sure it's for me.
Free verse is way outside my comfort zone too. I'm going to try some in 2012. I've got my fingers crossed.
Blog sloths unite!
Good luck with the goals. I hope you enjoy Lisa Schroeder - I love her so much.
When is Lisa See coming to Orlando? I may have to head over there for that. :)
I agree about the less stress thing. I used to want to "monetize" my blog - make it huge, get a name for itself. Not anymore. I don't have the time and I don't want to suck all the joy out of blogging. I'll keep doing what I do because I love to write about books and because I love the little part of the community that I've found myself in. :)
And, I agree with Jenny - you are not a blog sloth!
I'll be a sloth with you too. I do ok on the blog for the most part but I suck at social stuff. Spending a lot of time on twitter or Facebook just isn't my thing and I doubt that'll ever change. Whatever I do has to be good enough. Lol.
I'm making it a goal to read Sarah Pekannen and Beth Kephart this year. You'll love Karen White's Tradd Street books. ( I think). I do.
If 3 reviews and 3 memes a week is a blog sloth, then I'm a half sloth :D I loved Night Shift! That would be an awesome re-read around Hallowe'en or a dark winter night. *Ooh*
I actually want to do LESS of #s 1 and 2! LOL
Ooh, good goals! I came across two graphic novel recommendations that I think you would enjoy. One is called Chew, and there is a compendium of the first three books, and the last three. Also there is a fairly longish series called The Unwritten that is supposed to be amazing. Lots of very cool things in that one. Of course, I don't think our library carries either, but I am thinking of ordering them sometime this year, and you know I will share!
I only have a few goals for this year, but I am reading Middlemarch with Aarti right now, and am joining the People's readalong with Jenners and Jill. That's about it!
You are in for a wild ride with Kafka. I read the book AND listened to the audio. Both were good. I was maybe a little more pulled in by the audio.
Re-reading is high on my list this year too. I hope you enjoy John Green, I'm a big fan. Free verse is way out of my comfort zone as well. I just can't get into it!
my blog is so, so far from a business. except maybe a business going into bankruptcy.
Fun = good. Stress = bad.
that says it all.
I love reading your blog just the way it is, sloth, I think not!
You are so good. I don't have any goals except to keep my blog afloat!
I love Ellen Hopkins! She is wonderful and I am working through her backlist now.
I know Simon Vance, but will have to track down Robin Sachs!
I think relaxed blogs are better "reads" than those that just fly through reviews and spout numbers all the time. I refuse to do anything that makes my blog feel like another job or responsibility. There are enough of us out there for everyone to find their comfort zones. :)
Give yourself some credit … your reviews are awesome and I trust them implicitly.
And I love your bookish goals. I'm trying Murakami too after hearing so much about him. I just finished Norwegian Wood and it turns out this is one of his more straightforward books. It was good but not what I was expecting at all. I'm going to have to pick ANOTHER one to see what all the fuss is about.
And I must try a Simon Vance/Robin Sachs audio since you love them so. What would you recommend to start with???
Ha! You? A sloth? You are delusional - your Salon posts leave me exhausted for all the activities you cram into your week. I do like your approach to goals - built around desires and some broadening of horizons instead of a bunch of ugly chores to cross off the list. Glad you'll be tackling some re-reads - for me they are like a big dessert to savor and explore for some special taste like an undertone that I missed the first go-round, too busy gobbling to notice.
Sloth is NOT a word I would associate with you. Except when it comes to a certain People's Readalong...;-)
"Sloth" is a word I would never apply to you, Sandy! You do so much IRL that I'm amazed at all the blogging you do.
I like your goals! They all seem really manageable!
You are so not a sloth! I am an unorganized blogger. I should really rename my blog The Unorganized Book Blogger! Oh well. I have to have a life too. Sometimes the blog has to take a back seat. You have some great goals!
Wait, what?? Lisa See in Orlando? I NEED to be there for that. Details please?
Murakami should be on my list of goals too. I keep meaning to pick him up and then completely forgetting.
I highly recommend reading the Tradd St. books and Lisa See! Both authors are fantastic for different reasons.
I'm trying to be more proactive about the blog this year in an effort to earn money simply because its where I'm happiest and to quit the full time job, blog, and care for wiggles would be divine...though just a pipe dream at this point.
Free verse is out of my comfort zone too, so I'll be looking out for those you read this year.
I *always* come up with goals I should've, or perhaps, wish I would have, thought of!
I agree about your blogging as a business: I am in awe of people who can, but I do not think I could. I have too much stress in my regular life to be able to deal with that on top, I think.
Good luck with your goals, and a belated happy 2012!
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