2017 Goal Roundup--Readingwise

I finished a couple of books and e-books in the last couple days.  One was even part of my reading goals for the year.

The e-book Mother Teresa (Revised Edition): An Authorized Biography was started just a bit last year and I finally finished it Sunday.  So that is one of my non-fiction list that I can cross off.  I also caught up to the December 2016 National Geographic in my Zinio account.  Considering that at one time I was almosr a year behind, that is some progress.

Of course I have also finished two fiction books since the middle of last week.  I mentioned when I set my goals that the fiction would take care of itself.

I usually give up reading fiction during Lent.  It is a way of fasting from frivolous thoughts.  This year, I am considering a more serious spiritual reading plan.  It involves reading scripture as well as a plan for spiritual reading that builds as you go along.  I'm not sure if I want to tackle it for Lent, or  wait till later, but I have all the recommended books lined up.

 

Of course you can't really read your way into heaven, but just like Community Bible Study, it will build the foundation of knowledge to help me share my faith with others.  As the back cover says, "Spiritual reading arms us for battle."  Having a preplanned, progressive plan will help me read with a purpose.

And I can still return to my fiction and mysteries after Lent.

A Few More Goals

Obviously most of my goals for this year were all about knitting.  And I almost have the Turquoise Sockhead hat to the point of decreasing.  A nice soak and blocking will soon be all that remains on that project.

However, I have set myself some goals regarding my reading habits.  

I want to track my reading this year.  I tried a regular form reading journal last year.  It was too formal and time consuming and was soon abandoned.  This year, I am just recording the name of each book read in my bullet journal, adding new sections after later months if need be..

I am also recording the genre and date finished, as well if the book was electronic or paper.

I have no trouble choosing fiction to read, even if they are heavy on mysteries.  I didn't set any specific fiction goals this year.  However I did set a few other goals.

Classics:

• A "new to me" classic that I have either never read, or at least never managed to finish.  I don't plan on wading through "Bleak House" or "War and Peace" ( they are HUGE!). But perhaps "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by Anne Bronte.  I've never gotten more than half way on that.  Or perhaps something else. I have a bunch of hard copies, as well as e-copies of most of the Barnes & Noble Classics on my Nook app.
• I want to re-read at least one favorite classic.  I'm thinking Jane Austen, either "Emma" or Sense and Sensibility" at the moment. It's been a while for both of them.

Non-Fiction:

• I want to read several books to help me on my faith walk, already in my library and/or wish list.
• I would like to read a couple biographies.  I am in the middle of one on Mother Teresa of Calcutta that is inspiring and fascinating all at once.  

In my general reading, I would like to catch up on my reading my magazines.  I have e-versions of several, most notably National Geographic.  I am about seven months behind on those alone and would like to be only a month or two behind at the most.  Then maybe I can start on my back issues of Smithsonian.

 

In case you wonder why I read mostly electronic editions of magazines as well as books, the answer is that they are so easy to read while knitting.  It only takes a flick of a finger to turn a page.  And then they stay turned.  Paper books and magazines aren't nearly so conducive to knitting ease.

Giving Up, Taking On

One thing I didn't mention on my resolution review was how well I am going with my Lenten discipline.

And so far so good. I have not read any political blogs, although I have to confess to seeing some of the same information on Facebook posts. And although I really want to pick up the next book in two different mystery series, I have refrained from reading any novels. I did manage to finish reading Spoon River Anthology, a classic book of poems I was introduced to in high school literature class. A bit draggy towards the end but I finished it.

I have also been reading some books on Catholicism and am ready to start reading a book called The Emmaeus Road, linking the Old Testament to Jesus throughout the Bible. I am quite excited to begin. And on Kindle, I am reading the fascinating book on Cleopatra. (It better be good after I paid for it twice!)

I realize this post could belong on my alternate blog, but it is more about items mentioned here in the past, so here it stays.

In the mean time, here is a picture to distract you of an adorable child.

"And this is my nose."

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Reading Roundup

While the deep (and not so deep) South and Eastern Seaboard are staggering under a real snowstorm this weekend, here in Michigan we are snow covered and sunny. A gorgeous day, all in all.

I believe I mentioned on an earlier post how I had started a reading journal this year, to track my reading, as well as to record books I want to read in the future. (It is the January 14 post, if you are interested, called Knitting and Reading, link in the sidebar.)

I am making pretty good progress on my To Be Read List. I have managed to finish the last two Miss Marple books. And I was very glad to see that Agatha Christie did not kill her off. It must have been Miss Christie's on demise that caused Miss Marples death.

I am continuing my mystery streak with book three in the Lady Darby mysteries, "A Grave Matter." And, I have returned to the book that I lost and ended up paying the library replacement costs. No, it didn't turn up. I ended up buying it on Kindle. That book is "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stephanie Schiff. I usually buy books for my Nook and Kindle apps that are discounted. I really hated paying twice for this one.

I also opened Spoon River Anthology again. I like it, but never stuck to it last time I started to read it. It is one book that may be easier to follow in a paper form rather than an e- book. Only because I kept wanted to leaf back to poems about people I had already read. Maybe I can finish it this time, even if it is on Nook. I still do most of my reading on the apps, so I can knit.

I think I may like this journaling my reading. It makes me more accountable.

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Reading and Knitting

With all the knitting going on here, you would think that is all I have been doing in my spare time. But that isn't so. I have been doing a fair amount of reading too. And even discovered podcasts!

One of my fiber friends posted something on Facebook around the first of the year with a link to a blog called Modern Mrs. Darcy. It was a list of books. I can't remember if they were must reads, or favorite reads or what. I went to the link and was fascinated by the website. As a result, I signed up for the newsletter and am following the blog. And I started a reading journal. In addition to the knitting, I am tracking my reading.

It is very interesting. I am on the verge of finishing my journey through the Mrs. Marple novels on my Nook and Kindle apps. Just one more after the one I'm on now. I am on the third book in another historical mystery series, the Lady Darby series by Anna Lee Huber, and recently read another e-book in the Hildegarde Withers mystery series. I picked that one based on an old movie I had seen based on the book: The Penguin Pool Mystery. And I have already found another series I want to read, the Maisie Dobbs series.

You would think that would cut back on my knitting time, but actually not. That is why I love e-books. I can prop up my tablet and read merrily along while knitting up a storm.

If you love to read, and write, I do recommend e-books as well as keeping a reading journal. I even broke down and bought a copy for my kindle app of that stupid book I lost back in December. And no, the original book still hasn't turned up.

Oh yes, I started another slipper yesterday, and am over half way through the first one, thanks to reading and knitting.

 

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