Monday, January 4, 2016

It's Monday! And I Have To Get Out Of My Pajamas!

The decorations are down, and things are back to normal in my house. I spent much of last week in my pajamas, and I was kind of disoriented when the alarm went off this morning. Everything just starts again? How can that be happening already?

I have not made a 2016 reading resolution, nor have I joined any challenges (yet). The big one I joined last year – the Roof Beam Reader 2015 TBR Pile Challenge – was a disaster for me. It turns out that the reason why I don’t read many of the books on my leaning stack is that I don’t really want to. I suppose that’s good to know! And with that, I just came up with my resolution: I’m going to read what I feel like reading all year long.

(The one caveat is that I’m going to continue with my own Diversity Challenge Bingo. A post on that is coming soon.)

Last week I posted two reviews – one for The Wonder Garden by Lauren Acampora and another for Ghettoside by Jill Leovy. I also posted my Top 5 of 2015. I finished Laurie Colwin’s A Big Storm Knocked It Over, and my review for that book is upcoming.

Also last week I had seven books arrive for me at the library. I hate it when that happens. Now I have a difficult decision to make about which books to read and which to return untouched. 


I’m going to start by FINALLY reading the now-not-so-new Jane Smiley trilogy. Some Luck is one of the books that arrived from the library, and for the fourth time. I keep getting it and sending it back. Some of you have recommended it highly, and you know that I love a good intergenerational family story.


How about you? What’s the first book you’re going to read (or have already read) this year? Do you make reading resolutions?

(It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Is hosted by Book Date. Now that Bill Gates is an official book blogger, do you think he’ll participate?)

15 comments:

Lisa H. said...

Make sure to read the Jane Smiley series. They are wonderful. Just waiting for the last one to show up in my 'leaning stack of ebooks' library email. :)

jennifer said...

Thanks, Lisa H.! I love Jane Smiley, and it's a mystery to me why it's taken me so long to invest in the series. I think I've been intimidated by the length of the books -- especially since I got so bogged down in enormous novels last year.

westmetromommy said...

I've been wanting to start those Jane Smiley books as well. I've really enjoyed her books in the past.

Lindsey said...

That looks like a great stack of library books! I am currently listening to the second book in the Jane Smiley series. I hope you enjoy it!

The Truth About Books said...

Great books that you have picked up. I read a lot of library books also. You can see mine here: http://theresaraymer.blogspot.com/
New Follower.

Elizabeth said...

Love your comment about your leaning stack of books. :)

Have a great reading week this week.

Happy Reading!!

Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My It's Monday, What Are You Reading

Kathy Martin said...

I have made a resolution about my TBR mountain - read it or donate it. I plan to start with the oldest and try them. I know my reading tastes have changed over the years which likely means that many will be donated unread. Here is what I read last week. Happy reading!

Lisa said...

I just got a notice that three books from my hold list are now waiting for me at the library. Our library was closed both holiday weekends, and I really missed going there on Saturdays. Now I really have to get there, to pick up these books. I was planning to focus on my leaning TBR stacks - these will tempt me away.

Lindsay said...

Great resolution for the year -- read what you want, when you want! I've done a couple challenges in the past and they can be fun, but I didn't like feeling constrained.

I totally know what you mean about too many library holds coming in at once! My library actually offers a "freeze" function for holds but I always forget to use it -- even though I work there! I read "The Bookseller" last year and thought it was just ok, so if you have to nix a book and get it again, that might be a good one. I think I might finally try the Jane Smiley books this year too. They seem to be pretty well-liked!

jennifer said...

Lindsay,
Thanks for the heads-up about The Bookseller. It's one of those books that ended up on my request list, but I don't actually remember putting it there!

jennifer said...

Kathy Martin, thanks for the suggestion! It's true that my reading tastes have changed over time.

jennifer said...

Lisa, I am impressed with your dedication to your TBR pile! You'll have to let me know if you succumb to the new or stay the course!

jennifer said...

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by!

Beth said...

I know the feeling when suddenly the library throws everything from your hold list at you at once. It happens even when I think I'm managing it cleverly -- books I was number 15 in line for show up! But it a fun kind of problem to have -- which one of these to read instead of "oh no I have nothing to read."

I will keep an eye out for your diversity bingo challenge -- I want to add a Diversity Challenge to my challenge lists this year.

jennifer said...

Thanks for stopping by, Beth! You're right -- not such a bad problem to have (except I hate waiting for requests. So sad to get back in line!).