We are moving into the final stretch of 2011 and the whirlwind of end-of-year holidays. It is only natural to consider what my reading schedule might be for these next six weeks. It is, after all, my last chance to fulfill my reading goals for the year.
Does any reader complete her reading goals? Finish her year’s reading list? If so, she is more disciplined than I am. I have, however, done a better than expected job of it. There are two books on the list that I will attempt to begin and finish by the end of the year, Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges and Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather by Xingjian Gao. I just began the Borges last night. It may turn out to be a challenge to finish it by December 31st because, while the first story is excellent, it was hard and a bit confusing and I am going to have to read it again. I don’t mind, but if I have to read every story in the book twice I might find it carries over to 2012.
I hope to get in at least one, maybe two more Euripides plays by the end of the year. I also hope to get caught up on my New York Review of Books magazine. I have four of them sitting here begging me for attention.
For books I am currently reading, I will have Wild Life by Molly Gloss ready to go for the Slaves’ discussion by November 30th. It reads along pretty quickly so if there is anyone out there who was thinking about reading it, it isn’t too late!
I should be done with Bryson’s At Home in a week or so. A New Literary History of America is not going to get finished before it has to go back to the library. I am thinking I might like to buy my own copy but haven’t decided yet. I haven’t been reading much of Atwood’s In Other Worlds but I plan to get back to it and hope to finish it by the end of the year.
I finished Ulysses yesterday. Woo-hoo! I’ll be writing about the final chapter tomorrow. I’d also like to read Nabokov’s lecture on the book, I just have to find my copy of it. I know it is around here somewhere.
Other books that I will be embarking on before the year is out include Habibi, a new graphic novel by Craig Thompson author of the wonder and moving Blankets. I’ve been in line for it at the library and I have reached number one so I’m next! Hopefully I will get it before the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.
Also, I am getting in the mood to read something bookish but I haven’t decided what yet. I have narrowed it down to three books, The Dyer’s Hand by by W.H. Auden, Howard’s End is on the Landing by Susan Hill, or Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon. I’d be glad for your opinions about which I should read!
That’s my plan for the rest of the year. Plans are subject to change and I am wiling to bet there will be at least one, maybe two books I had not thought to read that elbow their way to the front of the queue.
In other news, we had our first snowfall yesterday. Finally. We got about two inches; not a lot but enough that I had to shovel the sidewalk. I am so glad the first snow happened on a Saturday. I can’t say how much fun it was being curled up with a quilt, the cats, a hot cup of coffee, and Ulysses, looking up now and then out my front picture window and seeing the snow falling. Life is good.
I only had one formal reading goal for the year, which was to read all the unread books that I acquired in 2007 or earlier. I managed to do that, but I’m not meeting some of my more informal goals. I do have a big stack of review copies that I’d love to get through before the end of the year (I’m sure I’ll decide to ditch a few of them), but I’m not optimistic about getting that done. We’ll see.
Good for you for finishing Ulysses. I can’t say your adventures have particularly tempted me to give it a try, but I’ll never say never.
“I can’t say how much fun it was being curled up with a quilt, the cats, a hot cup of coffee, and Ulysses, looking up now and then out my front picture window and seeing the snow falling. Life is good” — I love this……….Life IS good
thanks for sharing Stefanie!
Sounds like you have some great reads planned to close out the year. Enjoy!
I think my reading goals are always being recast… its as if each book I read opens up new an unexpected interests and questions. My progress from book to book never goes quite as intended.
I noticed you mentioned that you’re reading Bill Bryson’s “At Home.” I just picked the book up yesterday and was planning to start it tonight. What are you thoughts so far?
Read on!
I’ve already given up on my goal for the year (another 100 books). Looks like I’m going to be closer to my usual 80 or so, and I can’t see reading 20 books in December, not being a minister’s wife. I didn’t realize Craig Thompson has a new one. Must get ahold of that.
That sounds so cozy!! I am going to be very far behind on my reading this year. I’ve barely been able to get through my current book in two weeks. It’s taking me forever. oh well. I have a stack of NYRBs to get through too!
Teresa, that’s an impressive goal that you accomplished in my opinion! You never know when the urge to read Ulysses might come upon you. Just a few years ago I never thought I’d do it. Enjoy your review copies and whatever else you choose to read for the rest of 2011!
Helen, the little things are often the most wonderful, yes?
Kathleen, thanks!
Kris, isn’t that one of the most wonderful things about reading? How one thing leads to another and takes you places you never could have planned? At Home is lots of fun. Just beware the bedroom chapter in which he talks about all the critters that live in mattresses and pillows. It gave me the creepy crawlies!
Emily, I think 80 books is nothing to sneeze at. I’ve never managed to read that many in a year! I thought for sure you’d know about the Thompson since you were the one who set me onto Blankets. I’m expecting Habibi will be top notch!
wherethereisjoy, well, you’ve had other things to worry about. I’m sure 2012 will be a really good year
Once again, my reading goals crash and burn as we near the end of the year. It wouldn’t seem like such a defeat if I’d have learned a new skill this year: sky walking? scuba diving? quantum physics? But come the end of December, I’ll make another list!
I never even expect to get through my reading goals – so I think of them now as broad guidelines, and if I read some of the titles I list, that’s good enough for me. I do want to have a think about my December reading, though, as I said I’d read more Japanese, Victorian and YA novels this year and have only read 1 or 2 of each. I’ve actually ditched all plans at this moment because the urge for an Austen reread came over me and could not be denied. So I’m about 50 pages into Sense and Sensibility. Bliss!
Are you a fast/speed reader or do you simply read constantly (or both)? I would love to be able to read so many books in a year.
I’ve done horribly with my goals for this year. I think the instant I commit to something I subconsciously rebel against it and there go my chances of actually getting it done :\ Also, the stress of getting my dissertation done and finishing grad school certainly didn’t help. My plan for 2012 is to avoid challenges and lists for the most part and just follow my whims more.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on At Home, and also on Habibi – I adored Blankets but have seen such conflicting reviews of his new one.
Hmmm … I don’t really have formal reading goals except to try to read more than I did the previous year AND read all the books set by my (main) reading group. I usually achieve the latter though with some multiple family health issues (parents and ma-in-law) I didn’t finish the last book until after the meeting. Last year I read more than the year before but this year – due to that which I’ve already said – my reading has been lower than usual.
I admire your list on your blog of what you plan to read but can’t imagine doing that myself and actually achieving it … oh, but I remember that I do have a third informal reading goal, and that is to make inroads into the TBR. Again I did not too badly last year but his year … well, you know the story.
There’s always next year … meanwhile good luck with that huge plan you have to the next 6 weeks. I look forward to the end of year report.
(Wow, tried to post this last night and my wireless went down. I did a quick save to the clipboard hoping the comment would still be there in the morning to post when we solved the problem, and whoopee, it was!)
I don’t make any reading goals anymore either-no point. I do keep track of my books though. It’s gotten more and more convoluted since I started.
I did manage to finally finish Richelieu and Olivares! Such an interesting, short book (173 pages) but it took me forever to read it! And then I read fluff but my brain seems to have rebelled – at the end of Mercedes Lackey’s Fairy Godmother – cute enough but – cute! enough! so I’m hoping Kurt Vonnegut’s Bluebeard will cleanse the palate, so to speak.
I didn’t do so well with my reading plans this year–I didn’t really have any–just a few books I wanted to read and didn’t even really manage that. At this point I just want to try and finish as many books as possible that are sitting half read on my night table!
Congrats on finishing Ulysses-that is quite an accomplishment! I’ve hear Howards End is on the Landing is good (well–there were some interesting comments, but…) in a thought provoking way, but I’ve not yet read it. Pick that one so I know whether to read it now or wait! 
Grad, LOL
This is the first year in a long time I’ve made a respectable showing with my reading goals. I’ll make more for next year and won’t manage any of them. It’s fun to have goals but it’s nice to not have to always stick to them!
Litlove, calling them guidelines is much less stree-inducing
When the urge to read Austen arises, one must follow it!
Justin, no I am certainly not a fast reader. I just always have a book with me and read whenever there is a spare moment.
Nymeth, the stress of the disseration and finishing grad school takes over everything, doesn’t it? Have you recovered yet? Think how blissful 2012 will be! I try to leave wiggle room for whims in my goals so I don’t feel locked in and rebellious. Doesn’t always work but sometimes it does.
whisperinggums, some years do no support big reading goals. I hope the family health issues are improving. My list is more aspirational than anything and even when I try to read from my TBR I can’t seem to make a dent. But as you say, there is always next year! So glad your clipboard saved your comment when your wireless went down!
Carrie, keeping track of books getting more convoluted? I can’t imagine such a thing happening!
I’ve created a database and am working on consolidating all my various lists into it. Fluff is fun but the brain does eventually rebel. Hope Bluebeard is turning out good!
Danielle, I think your reading plan just changed and you forgot to revise it, that’s all!
Perhaps for you I will choose Howard’s End is on the Landing. And heck I might just read one of the others too. You know how that goes!