Happy 2014 to everyone!

Vee, I've been collecting my thoughts and going over my notes before posting anything about any resolutions. At the top of my list: I resolve to take better notes of what I read. What a mess I usually make in remembering things, if I remember them at all! Uh, well, I've got one reading resolution that I might be able to keep. My perennial resolutions mostly evaporate by January 10th.

So I know what you mean about unmemorable fare. I imagine, though, it's the fault of my brain wiring rather than a dearth of well-written fiction. Today's quality of writing is probably no worse than what it was five or more years ago. But I do think fiction today is different, trending toward stuff of which I have little affinity. I can't make any suggestions, at the moment, for your second question, but I'll think some more.

Oh-oh! Why is that as soon as I hit the submit button on a post I think of something else?

My second resolution is to read three books that I promised I would read and comment on back in July 2013 for lemonhead's Century of Books project. I committed to six and read three almost immediately, but I keep going off somewhere and forgetting to take the other three. I've read them all before, so perhaps that's why I tend to shunt them to the back of my mind. They are A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler, The Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna, and The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier. My apologies to lemonhead! Maybe better late than never, though. :-(

I think I should try new authors I haven't read before, although still in my preferred cosy murder genre!
I shall have to read the four requested library books that have just arrived first, though!

After looking over the list of books I read last year, I am in urgent need of reading resolutions!

This year I hope to do two things. First, whittle down the TBR pile by actually reading the books I've bought. A revolutionary idea for me, we'll see if it can be done ;). Second, I want to read books with some substance and of better quality than the below-average, instantly forgettable romance novels I gobbled up last year. Don't get me wrong, I still thoroughly enjoy romance novels (and am looking forward to new Nora Roberts books in April and May), but a steady diet of them isn't good for me. It's like eating only dessert (which, it must be said, always seems like a good idea at the time ...).

I recently discovered that I can get Louisa May Alcott books for free on my iPad, and I'm re-reading Eight Cousins, one of my childhood favorites. I'm hoping that will start my reading year off in the right direction.

I have decided that this year I will not punish myself by finishing a book that I am NOT enjoying. In the past I have felt guilty abandoning a book and forced myself to finish it-I have told myself I will not do that anymore!
With all the reading available at my fingertips with just a click - that old saying-So many books, so little time!

Pat

Resolutions
1. New reading lamp by the bed. I have a regular lamp right now and it just isnt bright enough. I don't use reading glasses but my night vision isnt what it used to be. Something with a spot light kind of thing so I don't disturb my husband. I have a backlit ebook which is great, but I still prefer books.
2. Download ebooks from the library more. I don't do it often enough and when I do it takes me awhile to figure out how to do it again.
3. Check the library before taking advantage of the amazon emails that say 70% off and free shipping. It's not a deal if I can borrow it from the library.
4. Cull my hordes of books and have a book party --- and invite all my friends to come over and browse and take their pick. Donate sci-fi books since no one will take those. :)

As for choosing a "future classic" from the past five years, I have been giving this lots of thought. I can't come up with one that isn't from my fav genre. I think it is because I have become more critical when it comes to books. A possible side effect of menopause? LOL. All I know is that in my teens, 20s and 30s I was constantly wowed by books and would rate them 9/10. Now they would likely get a 7. Don't get me wrong, I still love my books, it is just before if a book had a great story I would overlook some bad writing. For a book to be great now, it needs a great story and great writing.

I would paraphrase what sheri wrote and tell myself to read all the books that are actually on my shelves! I am still merely staring at "American Sphinx" on a shelf by my bed, even thought I am an admirer of Thomas Jefferson. This past week I did, however, make myself go to Barbara Tuchman's "The First Salute" and peruse the parts of it that interested me about the American Revolution, especially the role of the French and defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown. I find I tend to use "serious" NF books as "reference" books that I delve into occasionally but never actually read the entire work. So even though I may not oven their covers for years, I hang on to them, just in case....

I wish I would read loftier books, but I love to read for fun too much.

My only resolution is to keep on reading!

I am not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, but I am going to try to read at least two books by one or more Brontës (a project I began last year) and try to finish at least 60 books from my TBR shelves instead of constantly borrowing from the library. I had the goal of finishing 50 TBRs last year and succeeded in reading 60, so I'm upping the stakes this year. I have also resolved to buy fewer books, but I never succeed in keeping that one ;-)

I have over 700 TBR books and I sometimes get the feeling they are looking at me accusingly when I reach into my book bag for a library book or pick up my Kindle to read something I've downloaded off Project Gutenberg.

700 books on your TBR pile netla! You could open a mini-library and issue books for a small charge allowing your volumes to broaden their minds through travel, stop giving you accusing looks and finally, when they return to you, appreciate having been well-cared-for in their undisturbed state.
Since our mobile library service 'folded' I have been forced to read more of my TBR pile. Visiting the nearest town library is something of a chore. I have to beg a lift from the DH (we are a one car family) and even if he can be persuaded to enter the building, he hovers by the door and sighs. Parking has also to be paid for. I found I was taking out too many books, just because they were there and they had to be returned within a fortnight or the fines set in.

Vee, isn't there somewhere nearby where you can send your DH for a browse while you are in the library? A hardware or computer shop?
I can lose my menfolk for hours in somewhere like that! I was usually accompanied to my UK library by my patient CKC spaniel who didn't mind waiting in the foyer and getting patted.
Do you have an e-reader, tablet or whatever gadget people use to read books on these days? Nearly all my reading i'net friends have them. I have enough books from the libraries to manage with. Too many today when four requests came at once!

I've been reading everyone's responses with interest.

Firstly, my own resolutions for 2014:

Try to read more good non-fiction.

Rediscover my love for the Victorian novel.

Be brave and let myself tackle several really big books. I tend to shy away from books 600 pages and over.

Stop buying books, and read the ones I already have. I rearranged my books shelves recently. I decided to arrange all the unread books at the front, so I don't have to rummage around for something new. I will however let myself buy any new Gladys Mitchell reprints from Vintage. I love those editions.

Responding to Friedag's comments:

When it comes to a recommendation of a recent book, I am going to cheat and recommend Richard Yates, though the man himself has been dead for 20 years. His books have only recently come back into print, and at his best, he must surely be among the great American post-war novelists.

What happened to the Century of Books project? Did everyone just give up on it?

I will be interested in reading your response to The House on the Strand, which I finished after Christmas. It was a very offbeat, strange, yet compelling story.

Try to spend more time reading.
I never waste time on a book I'm not enjoying....and that includes those highly recommended by friends !k

To each their own tastes, and sometimes I just don't share the same taste in books.
No more guilt trips.
Toss it aside !

Not exactly a reading resolution, but I have just filled a large shopping bag with books to take to the used shop. The past year I acquired many books that I will never look at, including many cookbooks that won't be used. Although I am very careful about culling books, these won't be missed and now I have room for more!

1) To read more.
2) Recommend Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
Happy New Year Everyone!

To read more off my ever-growing TBR pile...!

Optimistic, I know.

:-)

I mentioned on another thread that my aim this year is to read one 'good' book for every 'kindle trash' book I read. Most of those are romance/erotica and tend to blur after a while.
From the last 5 years I would recommend Wolf Hall (and if you have trouble sorting the characters, listening to the audio version by Simon Slater will be a delight).

1 - To read at least 70 books

2 - To Read 2 classics this year. I have some and I never get around to reading them

3 - Read more books that I already have from my TBR pile, seems like this is a popular one for most people

Chiming in a wee bit late. Reading resolutions are hard for me because I often become a hummingbird reader. I flit from book to book, genre to genre quickly and without any forewarning.

I shall attempt to:

1. Read several classics
2. Stop looking at my TBR pile as a thing to be tackled but to be more positive about it... I have thousands of unread books in my house. Rather than whine about it, I shall embrace it. Their presence gives me comfort and I will read them when I am good and ready. They are no threat, and it is not a race.
3. Visit the library. Even if I do not take out any books, just being there calms me.
4. Enjoy the books I am reading instead of feeling guilty about the books I have yet to read.

This is a start...
PAM