The start of a new year is traditionally a time when we book bloggers start looking ahead and making plans and deciding what challenges to participate in and what projects to undertake. When I first began the Ramblings I was well into that kind of thing and used to fling myself into numerous commitments – usually to fail.. I think I know myself better as a reader nowadays, and for the last few years I’ve kept things light; I dip into challenges and projects as the mood takes me, and apart from our Club weeks I commit myself to pretty much nothing! This seems to work well and I can see no need to change things for 2019. 😀
Some post-Christmas book piles…. =:o
However, there are certainly a few aims I have for 2019, so time for some gratuitous book pictures and resolutions that probably will go very much awry!
LibraryThing Virago Modern Classics group reads
The lovely LT Virago group plan some wonderful group reads every year; most recently focusing on specific authors every month, and I did dip in last year. 2019 is to be dedicated to reading books written in, or set in, the 1940s, with a particular theme every month. January is ‘family’, and there are a number of books from either Virago or Persephone I could choose from, and as I already have several on the shelves it’ll be a choice from these if I decide the mood is right!
I must admit that “Dimanche” and the Attia Hosain are both calling strongly; I was late to Nemirovsky’s writing but do love it; and I read “Sunlight on a Broken Column” back in 2014 and was transfixed. Watch this space to see if I *do* actually join in!
Penguin Moderns
As I mentioned yesterday, I was very fortunate to receive this box set from my lovely Offspring on Mothers’ Day, and although I was happily reading my way through it I kind of got sidetracked towards the end of the year. Hopefully, I can climb back on the wagon soon…
Poetry
2018 was a year with an increasing amount of poetry in it, particularly Russian but latterly French. I’ve been loving dipping into big collections, and I need to keep myself in the mindset that I don’t need to read a collection in one go; I *can* just dip and enjoy as the mood takes me.
The rather large Elizabeth Bishop collection requires attention, as does the lovely French book I got for my birthday from Middle Child; and I really must finish Baudelaire…
Self-imposed Challenges!
I set myself up for failure, don’t I? I get all enthusiastic about something, put together a large pile of books on the subject, read one if I’m lucky and then instantly become distracted by another subject/author/shiny new book. The curse of the grasshopper mind, I fear.
There’s the French Revolution. There’s Utopia. There’s those lovely London area books Mr. Kaggsy got me. There’s two huge volumes of Sylvia Plath’s letters and all of Katherine Mansfield’s notebooks. Any of these would be project enough for a good few months, but will I stick to anything? Not very likely…
Clearing the decks and reading more
I think ultimately that’s my aim this year. I’m not going to impose a book buying ban, because I would fail instantly, but I *am* going to try not to amass quite so many books, and to pass on a book quickly after reading it unless it moves and shakes me, or I think I want to read it again at some point. I’ve been clearing out books I’ve had for decades and either not read or only read once. I’ve hung onto them out of some kind of sentimentality perhaps, but I’ve taken a long hard look and decided in many cases that I actually don’t want to read a particular book or two, and they will go. Which will make room for the recent incomings…
Plus I need to waste less time on YouTube and mindlessly looking at social media, and simply focus on reading more. I *will* continue to enjoy good documentaries when they turn up (as I mentioned yesterday, I’m very much looking forward to Richard Clay’s forthcoming prog on viral memes) but aside from these I want to give more of my time to reading. Currently, I’m deeply involved in this chunkster for a Shiny New Books review and it’s proving completely absorbing.
Whether I can keep up this level of involvement when I go back to work remains to be seen, but I shall try! What reading plans do you have for 2019? 😉
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Jan 01, 2019 @ 08:25:34
Not a one, I’m afraid. Not unless you count being determined to stay off Facebook, which I abandoned during the year and haven’t missed at all.
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:05:23
That’s probably a good one! I’m not a Facebook person myself, but I *do* spend too much time on YouTube videos so I’m going to try to be selective!
Jan 01, 2019 @ 11:08:07
Sounds like some great reading plans without pressure to keep at it if you don’t feel like it – perfect!
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:04:27
Exactly – I never respond well to feeling I *have* to read something, so this is the best way for me!
Jan 01, 2019 @ 11:10:58
Ooh, intrigued by those London area books. What’s in them? And is there more than just three areas available?
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:03:56
I checked with Mr. Kaggsy and he thought only three, and as far as I can see from the BL site it’s only these titles. They’re histories of what they consider iconic areas of London, with black and white illustrations scattered through. Sounds fascinating!
Jan 01, 2019 @ 11:15:08
I’m just going to concentrate on books I already own or books I’ve been meaning to read for years. Mind you, I said that for 2018 with only partial success. I find blogging takes up too much time – I often just don’t blog about a book because I’d rather spend the time reading. I have thought about doing shorter posts but they always end up quite long.
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:02:49
That’s a good plan, and one I could do with adopting myself! I know what you mean about blogging, but I find I need to do this nowadays to fix a book properly and record what I feel about. I hope you will drop into blogging occasionaly this year – perhaps for the Club weeks??
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:25:10
I ‘write’ blog posts in my mind quite regularly, in fact just earlier I ‘wrote’ a ‘very interesting’ one on book hoarding and digitising books 😊. I find that the Year Club and German Lit Month spur me on to blog more frequently. I’m going to check but I think that most of my posts this year were contributions to one of these events.
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:41:20
I do that sometimes too, and then when I get to writing them down it’s all gone… Hopefull the Year Clubs will inspire to join in – 1965 in April is next! 😀
Jan 01, 2019 @ 12:01:40
Ah! The grasshopper mind, how I recognise it. I have massed quite a volume of books thanks to that phenomenon, many of which remain unread on my shelves. Good luck in your reading endeavours this year. Whatever your plans, I am sure there will be some fascinating books and I look forward to reading about them. That volume of Elizabeth Bishop is a doozy!
My own plans are to continue reading through all those books I’ve acquired and refrain from buying and borrowing. I’ve had a few small lapses, but overall I’ve managed to buy only 1 book for myself since March and borrowed only 3 (1 non-fiction, 2 poetry) since May. It’s less than perfect, but considering my previously voracious acquisitive nature it feels like something of an achievement.
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:01:44
I’m glad I’m not the only one with a very random brain…. ;D The Bishop set is just beautiful and I shouldn’t have indulged at this time of year, but I couldn’t resist. I’m very impressed with your self-control and will definitely try to emulate this and read what I already have!
Jan 01, 2019 @ 12:17:04
Still toying with my own aims for the year but restraint in the book purchasing will figure in one shape or another I’m sure. The Virago project sounds attractive – I like the idea of having a broad theme rather than a specific author, it makes it easier to participate without having to go any buy anything new.
Jan 01, 2019 @ 14:59:49
Yes – definitely restraint…. No book hauls for a while from here, I hope. The Virago project is excellent because it’s loosely themed and the sort of thing you can drop into and utilise the TBR. At least, that’s the aim! 😀
Jan 04, 2019 @ 09:42:14
Anything that gets me into using the TBR has my vote 🙂
Jan 04, 2019 @ 10:14:08
Definitely. It’s not as if the TBR is small or anything…
Jan 01, 2019 @ 12:25:17
Some great non-resolutions. I should resolve not to buy any books this year but like you I know that would be an instant fail.
Jan 01, 2019 @ 14:58:32
I know – I *never* try to so no books because I know it won’t work. But I have managed to be fairly restrained so far (easy enough to say on the first day of the year….)
Jan 01, 2019 @ 14:59:42
I would hope you have managed to be restrained so far this year 😂
Jan 01, 2019 @ 15:00:07
Well, you never know…..
Jan 01, 2019 @ 12:51:08
I’m keeping it light too this year. It is easy to become swept up in new challenges and then find it all too much. I loved my Muriel Spark reading and A Century of Books in 2018 but certainly need time to try and get my tbr house in order. I will definitely dip in and out of the LT 1940s read as it fits so well in with what I read anyway. I also enjoy your club events. I am going to attempt to buy far fewer books, get to grips with what I have already and perhaps move some on. Happy new year.
☺️
Jan 01, 2019 @ 14:57:43
Couldn’t agree more – I was feeling a bit stressed by the amount of books everywhere (which is a luxury I shouldn’t moan about) and have spent the last couple of days before going back to work organising a little bit. I feel better now and a little more focused. I will try to dip into the 1940s, and the Clubs are always fun. Apart from that – yes, it’s follow my whim time! Happy new year! 😀
Jan 01, 2019 @ 13:07:48
well for this year i ill try to discover many Victorian classics and a lot of non fiction reading
Jan 01, 2019 @ 14:56:16
Good aims! Happy new year! 🙂
Jan 01, 2019 @ 16:04:06
Good luck in all your reading endeavors!
Jan 01, 2019 @ 16:24:46
Thank you! 😀
Jan 01, 2019 @ 18:56:15
Y
Trying get to the 1000 review mark and maybe a few new countries in the blog it gets harder these days than it was when I had just fifty or sixty countries now it’s a treat to read a book from anew place
Jan 01, 2019 @ 19:23:59
That’s a good goal, Stu, although as you’ve read from so many countries it *must* be hard to find new ones! 😀
Jan 01, 2019 @ 22:20:07
I like your thinking. My own plan is to focus on the books I have and to join in when events work with books I have and want to read.
Jan 02, 2019 @ 06:17:51
I’d like to do that as much as possible. Certainly for any challenges and the Club week’s I always try to read from the stacks!
Jan 02, 2019 @ 11:20:49
I too am planning to keep things more informal (apart from Shiny of course). But I still want to keep reading non-fiction and novels in translation, and more from my shelves. We’ll see! Those London books do look irresistible, so my book buying reduction intention may not happen either!
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:35:48
I always tell myself I should read more from my shelves, but it isn’t always happening. And the London books are so enticing – I still don’t know what to read next after I’ve finished the Hatherley! 😀
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:43:18
I ordered the London books! Couldn’t resist. ;D Would you consider doing one of them for Shiny? I could do another…
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:49:59
They *are* rather lovely! And yes, I could do one for Shiny – which one would you prefer??? 😀
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:52:25
Bloomsbury? But I’ll leave it up to you…
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:56:22
That’s fine – I’ll do another one (though I’ll need to finish the Hatherley chunkster first….)
Jan 02, 2019 @ 16:05:32
I was suggesting Bloomsbury for you, and I’d do one of the others – don’t know whether that came across – but if you’re Bloomsburyd out – any would be perfect!
Jan 02, 2019 @ 16:11:48
Ah right! Yes, very happy indeed to do Bloomsbury – I was leaning towards that as my first read anyway. Bloomsbury for me it is! 😀
Jan 02, 2019 @ 14:15:31
loads of interesting and useful info here! Have fun with all your reading. . . I seem to find out about challenges to late and then panic/sulk so I take note of 1965 in April!!
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:34:56
Yes, plenty of time for you to plan ahead and join in – 1965 has some promising titles! 😀
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:19:02
I spotted Ulysses on one of your piles of books…I still haven’t read it, to my immense shame. And a very pretty copy of Utopia you have there !
My husband suggested the other day that I should start a book blog too. That would certainly be a good New Year resolution. But I’m such a slowpoke of a reader (and writer), I don’t think it will happen for some time yet ! Stalking other bloggers takes up a lot of my time as it is. I often wonder how you manage !
Jan 02, 2019 @ 15:34:28
I’ve only managed the first chapter, but it was easier than I thought – I must get back to it…. And yes, the Utopia is lovely and I need to pick that up too. Starting a book blog is fun, if a little time consuming. I’m not as fast a reader as I used to be, and it can be hard to juggle commitments sometimes. I find the best thing is to schedule posts ahead if you can, for those times when r/l gets in the way… 😀
Jan 02, 2019 @ 23:11:15
I’m looking forward to more Penguin Moderns reviews. And what ARE those London regions books – are they compilations or about the area or … ? I expect I’ve missed the explanation somewhere. I think we should have a resolution to manage to meet up – maybe when you’re Up Near Here or another London get-together …
Jan 03, 2019 @ 15:00:59
They’re history of the specific area of London – I shall be tackling Bloomsbury first (for Shiny) and I daresay there will be stuff about UCL, Woolf and co and anything else relevant to the area! And yes – we need to have a resolution to meet up – perhaps a London trip when the weather is a bit nicer?? 😀
Jan 03, 2019 @ 17:25:29
Ooh they sound good!!! I will watch out for your reviews with interest. I am in London for the marathon in April, might make a few days of it …
Jan 03, 2019 @ 17:35:01
Let me know when you have dates, then, and I will see if I am about! 😁
Jan 03, 2019 @ 14:23:07
You have some great reading plans ahead, Karen! I will be looking forward to your reviews, particularly on the Virago Group books. And I will also try to spend less time on social media… 🙂 Happy New Year!
Jan 03, 2019 @ 14:59:41
Thanks Juliana! Yes – definitely less social media for me! Happy new year! 😀
Jan 03, 2019 @ 17:00:01
Post-ACOB, I feel like I should have SOME structure in my reading, but maybe not too much. The 1940s thing has appealed, but I’m wondering how I ensure the theme topics relate closely enough to the books I choose…
Jan 03, 2019 @ 17:36:22
It’s a difficult balance – if I don’t have a project or an immediately urgent book calling, I can sometimes find it hard to choose. Conversely, too many commitments make me rebellious. I guess I’m just contrary… 😉
Jan 04, 2019 @ 17:03:15
Have a lovely year in 2019. I’ve been eyeing the Penguin moderns myself. Thought I’d treat myself when I finish reading the Little Black Classics set
Jan 04, 2019 @ 20:31:50
The Penguin Moderns are really rather lovely – hope you get to them! And happy new year to you too! 😀
Jan 07, 2019 @ 15:34:41
Looks like you are all set for a great reading year ahead! Glad to see that the Elizabeth Bishop collection among your stacks 😀
Jan 07, 2019 @ 15:58:01
Yeeees…….. You may well have had something to do with that!
Jan 14, 2019 @ 03:31:34
😁
Jan 13, 2019 @ 14:08:06
Never have had any “reading plans” so no change there for me in 2019! Happy New Year.
Jan 13, 2019 @ 19:14:32
LOL! No-plan reading is definitely the best. And Happy New Year to you too! 😀