nomadreader

Last year I made ridiculously lofty goals and resolutions. And I failed. But who cares? I read more than I did the year before. Sometimes setting hard goals you may or may not meet is still a good thing. For this year, however, I want to keep it simpler. Here are my reading goals and resolutions for 2020: 1. Read 104 books. 104 isn't a magic number. That's two books a week, which should be doable. It's a realistic goal that shouldn't challenge me, but it's also a goal I haven't hit for a few years. 2. Complete the Around the Year in 52 Books challenge (and try to stay in order.) Of all the reading challenges I attempted last year, Around the Year was the only one I stuck with until the end. I also love that we suggest and vote on prompts, so I had a hand in helping pick many of them. For me, it's the right amount of challenge. A lot of books I would normally read satisfy its parameters, but it also pushes me somewhat. And the social community on L...

I didn't plan to write about my July challenge on July 1st. I wanted to, of course, because I want everyone to tell me how awesome I am, but I also admit receiving congratulations before actually beginning is pretty meaningless. So I thought I'd wait until I was half-way through to tell y'all I've been doing this challenge. That way, if I failed, no one would even to have know. But I posted a sweaty selfie on my Instagram story after my workout this morning and captioned it "day one of July fitness challenge done." And then a few people asked what challenge I was doing, so I thought, why not make myself vulnerable and write a little about what I'm doing and why? I made up a challenge for myself for July. Here's what I pledge to do each day: At least three miles (probably always on the elliptical, but I might switch it up) Read for at least 1 hour (leave my phone in another room and set a timer) Have no more than one alcoholic drink It's a mi...

Yesterday, I wrote about Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge and looked at how I would have down if I attempted the challenge in 2014 . Today I'm highlighting possibilities for my reading in 2015 to help prioritize. I've found the Goodreads forums helpful in some cases. Many of these titles can count for more than one category, but I will commit to counting each book for only one category. A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25. White Teeth  by Zadie Smith has been on my TBR since it came out Sense and Sensibility  by Jane Austen Purple Hibiscus  by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65. God Help the Child  by Toni Morrison Lila  by Marilynne Robinson Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932  by Francine Prose A collection of short stories. American Innovations  by Rivka Galchen Bark  by Lorrie Moore Can't and Won't  by Lydia Davis Before You Suffocate Yo...

I kind of love that no  hardly any books are published in December. The fall always feel rushed and chaotic, with work and life, and I never manage to read all the new releases I intend too (not that I do in any season, but it's especially noticeable in the fall.) December is my catch-up month. I get invigorated to read as many books as I can before the year ends. And as I work in academia, I get almost two weeks off for the Christmas and New Year holidays, so there is a lot of time to read (even with a baby.) I started making my list of books I really want to read before the end of the year, and it is impossibly long. Then I cut it down to twenty. Twenty. Instead of feeling defeated, however, I rallied to make my bucket list to help prioritize reading the books I most want to read and that have been on my TBR for longer. Of course, I also want to read some of the 2014 releases I haven't yet. And I want to start reading 2015 releases. But rather than prescribe all my reading f...

On Monday, I hit a major reading milestone for the year: I finished my 100th book. For comparison, in 2013, I only read 94 books all year. In 2012, I read 118 books, but I didn't reach 100 until the end of November. In 2011, I read 108 books and reached 100 in December. In 2010 and 2009 (the earliest year I kept good data on my reading), I didn't make it to 100. For me, 100 is momentous whenever it happens in a year, but to reach it on September 22 surprised me. Appropriately, book 100 was  The Burning Room  by Michael Connelly (my review will post on its release date, November 3.) Of the 100 books I've read this year, 27 were written by Michael Connelly. I don't think I've ever read so many books by a single author in a single year. I'm not even sure there are other authors I've read that many books by. Ever. 2014 has clearly been the year of Michael Connelly. I started my journey with Michael Connelly in February. It was Amazon pilot season, and I dec...

Although the distinction may seem somewhat arbitrary, I prefer making New Year's goals rather than resolutions. For me, the best goals are both achievable and aspirational. Finding this balance is crucial. Some yeras, I've set goals that were too aspirational or too proscribed. As I reflected on the reader I was in 2013, I found a few opportunities for gradual change. My goals this year aren't exclusively about reading, however, as I continue to enjoy a variety of media. Ultimately, the purpose of these goals is to help me focus. In those moments when I contemplate how to spend my time, most often when I get home from work and Mr. Nomadreader is still at work, I want to keep returning to these goals in 2014. If I'm on track, great. I can be free to do what I most feel like doing. If I'm not on track with these goals, I hope I'll choose to spend my time working toward them. These are goals I made out of love; I truly enjoy all of these activities and want to s...

San Diego, I quite like you Good morning! I'm coming to you this morning from sunny San Diego, California. I'm heading back to Des Moines in a few hours, but I've quite enjoyed a bit of respite from the snow. I'm here for a conference, where I got to present a poster session Friday night. It's been a wonderful time of professional development and relaxation, but I'm ready to get home to Mr. Nomadreader. Travel and reading Long flights do have the benefit of giving me more time to read than I usually get. On the way here, I read Leaving Everything Most Loved , the latest Maisie Dobbs mystery novel, which will be published March 26. Look for my review on March 29. It was divine to read it in mostly one sitting. Traveling with Maisie was like traveling with an old friend. I've missed her. I'm just finishing up Elizabeth Graver's newest novel, The End of the Point  (out March 5). I'm loving it and can't believe I wasn't familiar with G...