Following on from yesterday’s highlights of 2021, it’s first of all time to wish you all a very Happy New Year! Let’s hope that 2022 is a little less fractious than last year was… I did promise that I would take a look today at possible reading plans and events which might be coming up, although as usual I’m a bit reluctant to commit to too much as I always prefer to following my reading whims!
Of course, I’m already involved in one event which started appropriately enough in December and is carrying on into 2022 – the Narniathon! I really enjoyed my reacquaintance with “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” last month, and January will see me reading “Prince Caspian“. I’m hoping that because the books are slim I should be able to keep up the momentum.
January *is*. however, a month with some challenges, and I shall most definitely be taking part in! The first is the Japanese Literature Challenge, hosted by Meredith and you can find out more about this here.
As you can see from the image, there are some titles which are immediately shouting at me from the TBR, but it wouldn’t take me long to pick out some more!
Then there’s the first of Annabel’s challenges, NORDIC Finds, which features books from any of the five Nordic countries – Finland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
Again I do have a few obvious titles shouting at me from the TBR, any one of which would be a lovely read; but I’d also be keen to explore further from any of the countries. I read a *lot* of Scandi-crime and a fair amount of Icelandic crime pre-blog so I’m not sure if I would revisit these. But there’s lot’s more out there and Annabel has more guidance on her blog, plus a list of featured books for each week.
Then there’s the LibraryThing Virago Modern Classics group monthly themed read. January is for books featuring nuns, teachers or governesses, and a quick dig in the TBR revealed these possible unread titles:
The two Kate Fansler titles are perhaps stretching things a little, as she’s a university lecturer turned detective, but they *are* Viragos, so we shall see!
Added to all this, there’s the temptation of Twitter readalongs, and two are calling at the moment – Finnegans Wake and Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet. I really would like to commit to these two, but frankly am not sure if I would keep up – I anticipate it being a bit manic when I return to work next week, so we shall have to see…
Apart from these events, if I’m truly honest I would like to make a big dent in Mount TBR; it has grown considerably over the Christmas period, as you might have seen, and some of the older books on it could probably do with a bit of a prune. Meantime, here are some titles which are calling particularly strongly; whether I will have the brain space for them when I go back to work next week is another matter, but I will certainly try!!
So, plenty of choices for me… Are there any there which appeal to you? And do you have reading plans for 2022 or are you just prepared to wing it?? 🤣🤣
madamebibilophile
Jan 01, 2022 @ 09:35:04
These all sound wonderful plans Kaggsy! I definitely don’t feel able to commit to very much at the moment but like you I’d really like to make a dent in the TBR. It’s so much easier to acquire books than find the time to read them unfortunately! I’ll look forward to seeing what you read in January 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:56:29
Well, I called these plans tentative for a reason because I know myself as a reader! These books and events are there if I want them, but in the end I shall go with what I *want* to read!
Lisa Hill
Jan 01, 2022 @ 11:13:12
I’m impressed by all these ambitions, but I hope you don’t exhaust yourself trying to achieve them all!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:55:38
Well, I’m going to go with my heart when push comes to shove and if I’m not feeling it I won’t force myself – it only makes me rebellious. It’s nice to have possibilities but I doubt I will stick to them all!!
Lisa Hill
Jan 02, 2022 @ 07:22:16
Good for you.
I’ll be reading whatever comes my way from your blog, and grateful for it.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 02, 2022 @ 14:05:02
Thanks Lisa! 😊
Helen
Jan 01, 2022 @ 11:53:17
I’m trying not to make too many plans for 2022, but all of those January events sound very tempting. Good luck – and I hope you enjoy your reading this year!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:54:52
They’re very enticing, aren’t they, although I probably won’t manage everything. Happy new year of reading to you and yours!
Tredynas Days
Jan 01, 2022 @ 12:59:37
Some tempting stuff there.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:53:02
Indeed – the difficulty, as always, is choosing…
Margot Kinberg
Jan 01, 2022 @ 13:24:51
Those are some great challenges and plans! I’m impressed! I wish you well with all of them, and I look forward to your keeping us updated on your progress. Happy New Year!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:52:42
Happy New year to you too Margot – and here’s to a great year of reading!!
Bellezza
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:18:54
That’s what I get for not blogging as I used to: being unaware of the Narnia Challenge. I would read The Lion…., and/or The Magicians’s Nephew every year to my class, and my son’s personal favorite is The Horse and His Boy. I am definitely in for this challenge! Thanks for posting about it. Also, of course, your Japanese stack looks wonderful, and who doesn’t want to dent their TBR pile?! I even want to REREAD some of my shelves.☺️ Happy New Year, dear Karen!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:51:47
Thank you Meredith, and to you too! The Narniathon is a lovely thing, and I’m looking forward to carrying it one. As for the Japanese challenge, I do have many more unread titles on the shelves so this could be fun. I might even re-read too!!!
elisabethm
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:35:48
Happy New Year, Karen! 🥳 May it be filled with bookish pleasures and all other things good!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:50:36
And to you too Elisabeth! 😊😊📚📚
mallikabooks15
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:43:53
That’s a lot of tempting challenges and readalongs; looking forward to your reviews! I’m joining in with Chris’ Narniathon of course, and the Japanese Lit Challenge as well.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 14:50:14
Reading events are always so enticing, but I suspect I shan’t keep up with them all. About to spend some time selecting my next read!!
Julé Cunningham
Jan 01, 2022 @ 16:06:53
As always, you do have many tempting books to choose among, though whatever you pick out I look forward to hearing all about. I do have a few plans that I’ll be posting about in a few days. Enjoy your first reads of the year!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 18:55:15
Thanks, and I’ll look forward to seeing what you’re planning for 2022!!
lauratfrey
Jan 01, 2022 @ 18:40:20
Winging it!! As mentioned I may try the 1954 week but no other plans at the moment.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 18:53:50
Winging it is good! And 1954 is a great year, so if it fits in..
heavenali
Jan 01, 2022 @ 19:26:50
Wow, lots of amazing potential plans there. You’ve also told me about several challenges that had passed me by. I can definitely recommend I’m Not Complaining, it’s a wonderful novel. I’ll have to look at my tbr and see if I have anything to join in with those challenges. Happy New Year.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2022 @ 19:33:02
There are some good reading events about, and if they fit in with what’s on th TBR that’s even better!! Happy new year to you too!
BookerTalk
Jan 03, 2022 @ 18:36:01
I hadn’t heard of the Alexandria Quartet readalong – who is hosting that Karen? I’m already gasping at the number of events/challenges you’re thinking of joining at the start of the year. Mind you I too start off with enthusiasm and then find myself losing energy ..
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 03, 2022 @ 18:39:39
It’s a Twitter readalong, co-ordinated by Paper Pills @ReemK10 – and tbh I don’t know if I will be sticking to this or the Finnegans Wake one, as real life is already throwing too much stuff at me. As usual, I’m all plans and enthusiasm and then it instantly goes wrong!!!
Vishy
Jan 07, 2022 @ 13:01:16
Wonderful reading plans, Kaggsy 😊 Beautiful collection of Mishima you have! I just read his Five Modern Nō Plays and liked it very much. Would love to hear your thoughts on it. I want to read Tove Ditlevsen and Lawrence Durrell sometime. The Kate Fensler books look very tempting! Happy reading 😊 Will look forward to your posts on all these wonderful events!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 07, 2022 @ 13:27:05
Thanks Vishy! The plays are calling me strongly, thought I’m currently reading Life for Sale and loving it very much. Maybe I can get to the plays at some point!
Vishy
Jan 08, 2022 @ 16:37:32
Happy reading, Kaggsy 😊 Will look forward to your thoughts on them both.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 08, 2022 @ 17:04:44
I do love Mishima’s writing!
WordsAndPeace
Jan 08, 2022 @ 19:39:51
Nice plans!
I’m also doing the Japanese Literature Challenge. And the Books in Translation Reading Challenge
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 08, 2022 @ 20:36:21
Excellent! I’ve managed three Japanese titles so far this month which I’m pleased about!
Emma
Jan 09, 2022 @ 20:36:22
Great plans! This is going to be a great reading year.
You’ve seen my plans now, I hope I’ll keep up with them.
And Mount TBR. Yes. Let’s try to keep it at a reasonable level. 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 10, 2022 @ 15:47:48
I’m feeling quite positive at the moment about 2022 reading but yet – the TBR does need to be tamed…
Emma
Jan 10, 2022 @ 20:02:45
The TBR is quite a beast to tame. 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 10, 2022 @ 20:34:57
Oh, it certainly…. 😳😳😳
Emma
Jan 11, 2022 @ 20:10:52
It’s like lizzards: you cut its tail and it grows back. 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 11, 2022 @ 20:31:57
.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Marcie McCauley
Jan 19, 2022 @ 22:08:03
That Virago theme immediately appeals (but, we’re already well into January!) and I find those two classic readalongs tempting (especially the Quartet) but, yeah, I know that’s not going to happen. I loved my project reading last year and I have some remarkably vague plans for 2022 but compared to my usual style, it’s going to be an open year.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 20, 2022 @ 10:58:16
The Virago theme is very low stress, and I think I will try to stick with it. Some of the plans have already gone by the by, but we’ll see how the rest go. I’m saying I want as few commitments as possible but of course have #readindies2 next month and a club in April!!