My New Year's Resolution

I used to really love to read. When I was in school I’d retreat to the pages I was currently devouring and go through several books a week. I still enjoy reading, I just haven’t made any effort to put time towards doing it. I come from a family of avid readers so I have acquired the taste naturally. Even my 90 year old grandmother, who is blind in one eye and can’t really see out of the other, still loves to read. Years ago, one of my aunts got her a tape deck to listen to books on tape but the written word is the only way for her. If she could do it, why was I making excuses?

My niece brought home Little Women in mid November. We attempted to read a chapter a night but even at that, never missing a night (which we did very regularly) it would have taken us over two months to finish this book which had never been one of my favorites (and that I think was a tad over her head). It was around the time we began reading Little Women that I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I had read a book from cover to cover. I think it might have been last January in Mexico and even then, I don’t know if I actually read the entire book from cover to cover or if I cheated and read just the beginning and skipped to the end.

So, I am so excited to share my New Year’s Resolution. I have let it simmer for the past month and a half. I have discussed it with Sean (who probably doesn’t really care but smiles at my excitement nonetheless) and posted a plea on Facebook seeking suggestions. I have researched and read and shopped and really put a lot of thought into this resolution.

I intend to read 12 books in 12 months. This may seem like a very minor task. You may even think to yourself, “psh – that’s nothing. It’s not really a challenge unless you are trying to read a book a week!” But I believe that in order for a resolution to be successful, the task has to be obtainable. I know that I can manage a book a month, at the very least. Perhaps I will get so inspired that I will pick up multiple books in a month (which would be great) but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, one book a month is achievable.

If you are having a difficult time getting motivated, or if you would just like to be my accountability partner, I encourage you to join in or to even make your own list. I had intended on joining a book club as a resolution but have been unsuccessful at finding one. I was looking for something to hold me to my resolution, but I believe my blog will make me accountable to myself… hopefully.

Let me first admit that I sort of cheated just a little bit… I got so excited I started reading my January book in December so I’ve given myself a head start. I think by the time I get to the Oprah books, though, I may need the head start (she has picked some real snoozers).

Here is my list:

12 Reads in 12 Months
January: By popular demand
February: A friend request (book)
March: A friend request (author)
April: A book I never finished
May: A book I never started (but wanted to)
June: My husband’s favorite book
July: A book published in the year of my birth
August: An autobiography
September: A book that inspired a movie
October: Something Stephen King
November: An Oprah Book Club book
December: A 2012 Best Seller

Here is the rule:
I have to start the month’s book on the first day of the month. If I am not finished with the book in a month, let’s face it, I probably won’t. Evaluate and move on.

Stay tuned…