- Since I've spent the last couple of years feeling like I haven't read enough nonfiction or classics, I decided to set myself a personal goal of reading 15 of each this year. That's a few more than last year, but not a super crazy number.
- Related to the above, in order to ease off the pressure and encourage myself to read deeper, longer books, I've adjusted my GoodReads 2014 goal to 80 books instead of 100. I hate seeing "You're 2 books behind" every time I finish a book...I get all anxious, which is pure silliness. Who cares if I break 100? Quality above quantity is the idea this year.
- In keeping with my hope to get back into blogging, my goal is to post once a week. So far, so good! By going more informal, the pressure is off. This is my time.
- Since I've got a goal to read fifteen classics this year anyhow, I've decided to join in the Back to the Classics Challenge. Go to Books and Chocolate to sign up before March 1st. At this point, I'm not planning on anything for the optional categories, but should have no problem with the others. Here's the scoop:
- A 20th Century Classic -Death Comes to the Archbishop by Willa Cather
- A 19th Century Classic -Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
- A Classic by a Woman Author -Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
- A Classic in Translation -Les Miserables by Victory Hugo
- A Classic About War -undecided
- A Classic by an Author Who is New to You -Oil by Upton Sinclair
- An American Classic [optional]
- A Classic Mystery, Suspense, or Thriller [optional]
- A Classic that has been adapted into a TV series or movie [optional]
- A review of the above movie or TV series [optional]
A Classic About War...any suggestions? Nothing is tickling my fancy for that one. Maybe I'll re-read War and Peace. ;)
Well, hello! I've completely missed your weekly posts. I'm on it now though and it's good to see you back in action.
ReplyDeleteIt feels great! I'm not any less busy, but just needed to carve out some time for myself. I decided I'd rather be reading less and still be able to enjoy my book buddies than holding onto any stress or expectations that seem to absorb time without accomplishing anything.
DeleteGreat goals! Actually, I was stumped by the war category too. Then I remembered by reading club is supposed to start on epic poems this year at some point.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that I might put "Oil" in the war category...after the first 1/3, the rest of the book has been about WWI and the subsequent political struggle about socialism and Russia, so that's got to count! I didn't realize that there was a whole Cold War sort of backlash after the first World War as well as the second. The book itself is a bit too political/agenda-driven for my taste, but I'm learning a lot about the culture of the 20s so that makes it worthwhile.
DeleteThis sounds like a worthwhile endeavor and I like your personal choices of classics. Hugo is a special favorite of mine. The possibilities of a challenge like this are tempting.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a challenge that can really work well with your own personal goals - it isn't too confining. I've really enjoyed Hugo's writing so far. I enjoy his tangents just as I've enjoyed Tolstoy's. I need to jump back in to reading it!
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