THE RULES
What do you want to accomplish in the New Year? Will reading a book help you reach your goal, keep your resolution, or complete your project? The New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge starts now and goes through the end of January. Start the year off right by reading books that support your goals, resolutions, and projects.
Whether you want to write a novel, start a new career, or be happier, there are books to aid you in your quest. The New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge is to read one to four books that will stimulate action on your goals. Here are the levels:
Resolved: 1 bookThe books can all support the same resolution — you could read four books on getting organized, for example. Or, read four books to help with four different projects — one book on moving to a foreign country, one book on health and fitness, one book on small business, and one book on knitting (on your way to becoming a healthy expat entrepreneur with great scarves). Stay tuned for information on upcoming Twitter chats and our New Year Read-Along book. This link is for sign-ups only. Each Wednesday through January, there will be a link list for posts about your New Year Reading and your book reviews.
Determined: 2 books
Committed: 3 books
Passionate: 4 books
MY GOALS
This year, I'm working on several things, so I have lots of books that would fit this challenge. Between now and the end of January, there are exactly seven weeks. So my goal is to go beyond resolved, determined, committed, and passionate, all the way to "ridiculously addicted." I want to read five to seven books, seven being — of course — the number I hope to achieve. Here are my book choices (which may change) and the resolution each supports. When I finish a book, I'll come back here and link the title to my review on this blog.
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth ~ by Reza Aslan, 2013, biography.Determined: 2nd book (Dec. 21-27)
Why? Because I'll be teaching a class that's studying this book, I need to read it. This is probably the book I'll start with.
Knocking on Heaven's Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death ~ by Katy Butler, 2013, memoir, 9/10Committed: 3rd book (Dec. 28-Jan. 3)
Why? One of my dearest friends is dying. She is not expected to live to the end of this month. I'm reading this one for me, as I sort out feelings about death and dying.
Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions ~ by Rachel Held Evans, 2010, memoir, 9/10Passionate: 4th book (Jan. 4-10)
Why? I'm hosting an online book club at Book Buddies, and this is the book we are currently discussing.
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers ~ by Anne Lamott, 2012, religion.
Why? I'm writing a book on prayer, and I want to see what Anne Lamott considers the three essential prayers.
Whistling in the Dark: A Doubter's Dictionary ~ by Frederick Buechner, 1993, religion, 8/10Fervent: 6th book (Jan. 18-24)
Why? I have a word blog, and this is a different kind of dictionary. I expect to find words that are interesting enough to write about. One word I noticed is "funeral," which is on my mind right now (see 2nd book).
America's Women: Four Hundred Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines ~ by Gail Collins, 2003, history.
Why? I'm also writing a book about Women Unbound, and this book covers 400 years in America.
Embracing the Human Jesus: A Wisdom Path for Contemporary Christianity ~ by David Galston, 2012, religion.
Why? This is the book my face-to-face group will be studying next. There are so few of us that each of us must read and take notes to keep our discussion going.
Love your extra levels!
ReplyDeleteMy husband really liked Zealot and found it useful for understanding the times of the 1st century in that area of the world.
Sorry for the sad times you're facing -- I hope the books are a comfort.
Joy's Book Blog
All of these books seem very intense, I hope you are giving yourself some light reading as well in the new year :-)
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about your friend and hope that the book you've chosen helps you sort out the feelings and emotions that come with the passing of a friend.
Thanks, Joy and Helen. Yes, I have light reading on hand. Jane has been one of my friends who provided the light side and laughter when we're together. I'll write about her (again) when she dies. One hard part is that she wants me to do her funeral, and I've talked with her twice about what she wants that to include — once with the pastor at our church, who will conduct the funeral with me.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your friend, also. Reading memoirs from someone who dealt with something often helps me when I'm dealing with the same thing. I've heard a lot of good things about Anne Lamott's book. I've listened to a couple of her others on audio and loved them, although I'm not a religious or spiritual person.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laurie C. My friend Jane died on December 29th. I officiated at her memorial service and graveside service, but I haven't written about her yet. For a week, I posted nothing at all. Maybe I'll do it today.
ReplyDelete