I had originally planned to write and post a review today but really? New Year's Day? Who was I kidding? I have instead read part of my book, felt queasy, gone for a walk, drunk a lot of coffee and mulled over the fact that I'm back at work tomorrow. No reviewing going on here, then.
Still, it's a new year and a new year deserves a new post.
2012 saw me sign up for 3 challenges that committed me to read a total of 28 books. My official "books read" total for the year was 58. If I'd completed all of my challenges, nearly half of my reading would have been pre-determined. Put another way, I would have had to read at least 2 challenge books per month. If I'd thought it through a little bit more, I think I would have realised that that was a little silly.
2013 will be started with a clean slate and will be a year of no challenges. Not even a target number on GoodReads! I've actually seen a few posts over the past few weeks with challenge-fatigued bloggers bowing out of the fray for this year. I have very nearly succumbed over the past few weeks but I realised that it was actually the browsing through my shelves and making lists of the fabulous books that I own and can't wait to get to that I enjoyed the most. Once those lists are ready? I'm not too fussed about reading from them...:-/
I do have some general thoughts about what I want to get out of my reading in 2013, though. For one, I want to read more classics and literary fiction. Reaching for the YA is fun and easy but it isn't overly fulfilling all the time and I want to read more of the books that give my brain something to chew on. Also, I want to read more epic fantasy. I used to think nothing of picking up 1,000 page tomes but in the quest for a higher number of books read in a year. This year, I haven't set a target for the number of books that I want to "get through" and, although I will of course keep track, it won't be any kind of driver in what I choose to read.
I will still be taking part in a few read-a-thons and will be keeping an eye out for a read-a-long or two. Just those that are a little more...relaxed :)
So that's it: 2013 - more classics, more tomes and less fuss.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, FELLOW READERS! I hope you all have superb years!
