Happy New Year, all! Especially to those of you on the other side of the pond where it is rapidly approaching midnight. 🙂
New Year’s Eve is pretty low-key around here. My family and I usually have a nice dinner and watch fireworks on TV (or drone shows… impressive but prosaic). Sometimes I like to read some F. Scott Fitzgerald, which is about as much partying as I can muster. I far more enjoy the list-making aspect of a new year, always trying to make a few goals.
2022 Recap
Let’s see how I did this past year, based on my goals for 2022…
- ❌ Read lighter books on purpose – HAHAHAHA. I mean. Uh, no. It was a year of Dark and Dreary Tomes, to match my mood. The funniest story I read was “Shoddy Lands” by C.S. Lewis, which wasn’t even supposed to be funny. It’s ok though… it was easier to tackle some heavy topics while I was feeling somber than to force myself to read lighter fare. I learned so much from all of them, and being at this point in my life, I was better able to empathize with the themes.
- ✅ Find a good RSS reader and update my blog list – I gave up on finding a good desktop RSS reader for Linux and just use Feedly (online) now. It works well, though I still dream of coding the “perfect RSS reader” someday.
- ❌ Read more books recommended to me by others – Alas no. But 10+ books that I was reading this year were for readalongs, so that was cool.
- ❌ Read more books I own – The spirit of this goal was “books I own already” so I can’t really give this one a pass. However, there were quite a few books I bought and read immediately, so I am glad about that.
- ✅ Continue Reading the World – Yep! Not as many this year, but good progress was made.
- ✅ Read Dune with my brother – We started it!
Bookish Goals for 2023
My goals for the new year are pretty simple this time:
- Finish Dune
- Finish Kristin Lavransdatter (!!!)
- Travel to the next stops on my Voyages
- Keep improving my YouTube setup
A thin list this time, but I have a ton of other projects going on outside of reading…
I didn’t have the focus this year to apply to writing like I wanted to, but in 2023, I intend to rewrite the novel a couple of you proof-read back in 2019 (oof, 4 years ago already). Ironically, everything I have experienced since then has illuminated what needs to change in that book for it to be really good, and one of my good friends is holding me accountable for working on it. 🙂 So let us hope that this time next year (or sooner), I will be announcing a final draft complete! There won’t be a lot of updates here (in an attempt to avoid self-promotion), but I’m going to try to be more active on my author’s blog and Instagram.
Classics Considered 
Happy New Year Marian! Almost 10PM here so no fireworks yet. It’s also a little damp (raining pretty much all day) but that never stopped anyone around here [grin].
Hope 2023 brings you some things that you want, some things that you need and some things that will help you on whatever journey you’re on.
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Thank you, Cyberkitten! 🙂 Hope your 2023 is fantastic as well!
(As for things I want, rain is always welcome, haha!)
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Sounds like you didn’t do too bad on your goals. I think it’s good to keep them realistic, not too ambitious, and of course don’t lower the bar too much.
I almost always aim to read a book a month, 12 each year. I’ve reached that goal a few years, and some years I miss it. Either way, it helps me keep reading books…not just watching movies or playing games. 😉
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12 is a great goal! I’ve been thinking lately how there is value in giving yourself a little space around each book, to contemplate before moving on.
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You accomplished much and do please write and promote your book! I had no idea about it and I am very excited about it. Hopefully 2023 is the year for it and the rest of your lovely plans.
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Thanks for the encouragement, Silvia! 🙂
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Happy New Year, Marian…I wish you all success on your book. I’m sure I read that you had been working on something. That’s exciting!
I was thinking while I read that you can read heavy topics while you are in a somber mood…I gravitate toward biographies of people who experienced something very difficult and persevered. It somewhat encourages me.
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Yes! I think that is why I got into reading about T.E. Lawrence… he had a way of articulating his sufferings, regrets, and lessons-learned in an inspiring honesty. Somehow he never lost the beauty of life even though he had been through the hell of war.
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Happy New Year!! (or almost!) Your plans sound manageable which is very encouraging. I’m trying not to commit to too much and go where my reading leads me. But most of all, to read more. Happy reading (and writing) in 2023!!
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Thank you, Cleo! I’m looking forward to our reading paths crossing with various readalongs 🙂
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Happy New Year! I’m glad for the progress you’ve made this year, despite its challenges. I hope 2023 waxes better and better for you. I look forward to reading and listening to more of your thoughts, bookish and otherwise….
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Happy New Year, Stephen!! And same to you!
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This all sounds great!! I’ve signed up on your Author site…🎊Happy New Year
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Thanks, Jade! Happy 2023 🙂
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Firstly Happy New Year Marian! Secondly you deserve a prize for finishing Kristin Lavransdatter! That my friend is an achievement of the highest order. All the very best in 2023
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Happy new year, Cirtnecce!! I am hoping to finish Kristin L this month… thankfully I have a reading buddy to read it with (and hold me to finishing it) 😀
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Wow, ten readalongs! I didn’t do nearly that many this year and I kind of miss it! I hope you have a great year in 2023!
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thank you Beth, and same to you! Yes it was a lot more than I realized 😮
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