144 Reading challenge

I don't know why I ever thought this was a good idea. I've felt pressured to read 'enough' books all year. I don't 'read' like that. I read what I fancy reading- or whatever books come across my path. I'm willing to 'glance' through any genre. I have my favourites- and chick lit is like my comfort food! But I also like thrillers, horrors, cosy mystery, biographies. One of my favourite reading pleasures used to be to find a really thick book that would last me a week or more. This year- I have avoided those like the plague. I've read a lot more biographies- because they are usually quick reads.

I have the new Jilly Cooper out from the library. I haven't read one of hers for years- and not sure I'll even get it read before it needs to go back. Whereas if I hadn't been so conscious of this silly challenge I would have picked that straight up.

So I have 3 books left to read- and honestly they are going to have to be really short and fluffy books for me to stand any chance. I'd be really annoyed with myself to get this close and fail by a book!!!!! But I'm not going to stress out about reading ever again!

Next year I am going to challenge myself differently. I need to reduce the heaving bookshelves by at least 60 that I read over the coming year!!!!!!! Dh is grumbling about the books AGAIN- so think I need to liberate a few more to the charity shops. I'll keep a list- so I could read them from the library if I ever clear my tbr list! I don't want to come home and find he's emptied the bookshelves for me! He really thinks I'd love a kindle- so that I wouldn't need books in the house. Whereas I can't imagine a house WITHOUT books. I always remember babysitting as a teenager and being amazed how many houses didn't have books! For all I know they could have been elsewhere. I usually only saw the main room, the kitchen and the kids rooms. My own family didn't have books in the lounge area!! But my greatest pleasure has always been a new book to read. I had a bookcase made by the carpenters at my dad's work. It was custom made and held a lot of books. I guess I never grew out of wanting books around me!

But next year it's time to start reducing the shelves. I know I have way too many books. I didn't used to be able to walk past a discount book shop. I still never buy books at full price. I really don't know how Waterstones manage to stay in business. I LOVE walking around there- but always shop around to get what I want cheaper. I don't actually buy many books these days- I don't need to!!!!!!! But if one or two do sneak in- they really do have to sneak in. It's like having to smuggle things!

So I will tackle those huge blockbusters I've been avoiding this year, I am joining in with the Stephen King challenge and think I'll try to read 6 of those, I want to read 6 classics. The classics will probably be a challenge for me. I took A'level English- but haven't really tackled classics on a big scale. I also need to get through the 4th Harry Potter book. I read the first 3 as Amy got them. The 4th book just set up a HUGE brick wall for me. I have tried numerous times to read it- always get to about the same point. My friend also gave me the audio copy and I am still only up to disc 5. I haven't seen that film- although I've seen the first few and the later ones. i WILL finish that one next year. I will also attempt the Twilight books. Amy had a duplicate set last Christmas- and she gave them to me as she'd refused to let me read her copies!!!!!

I think I am going to aim for around 100 books- about 2 a week. BUT it won't be a challenge set in stone. I usually do read a couple a week, comfortably. But there are those weeks where a book seems to struggle to engage. I'm getting better at discarding those- why waste time struggling through a bad book!





CHALLENGES FOR 2011

I don't think I'm going to set any new years resolutions. BUT will try to follow a few challenges next year. Some of them I think are a great idea. I loved the 52 walk challenge- although at the moment we are needing to fit 3 more walks in. The last month or so we have struggled for one reason or another. Mainly one person sleeping in for hours!

I am going to read 6 Stephen King books. I have about 3 at home that I've had for years. I also bought my best  friends daughter a huge collection for her birthday and christmas presents- and maybe she'll lend me a couple!

I am going to try and keep up with the 52 new recipes a year. I always start this one with good intentions and fizzle out! We have been collecting a series of small cook books from one of the magazines and I aim to try one recipe from each book (at least!). Amy is also supposed to plan, prepare and cook something new every week. That has fizzled out to pizza and chips with bad grace! But we are aiming to give her a bigger repertoire if/when she goes to university. It's a struggle!

I need to do more scrapping. I want to try the mini book classes on UKS, Scrapagogo sounds interesting and I want to try to keep up with the challenges. I need to reduce the scrapbooking supplies aswell. I bought way too much when I first started scrapping and every time I go to prune the supplies I remember how much everything cost! I will try to use the millions of stickers that are now all in the same bag. I have no idea how I will achieve that- but I'm going to try. I also have loads of layouts saved in a BOS over on Two Peas. I need to use those or prune those down. I saved them for a reason- if I can't remember what I liked about it, I can just delete it!

A-Z  challenge. I did see this sort of challenge earlier this year. But I have set up a diary for next year- the dates for each letter. I want to try the book challenge which I do each year. I think I am usually left with V and U. This year I will stretch it for X- I don't want to read another Xinran book. But Pam may be doing a photography challenge- which would be interesting. I will also try to sort out recipes for the theme. I must think of other things I could fit into an A-Z theme aswell- maybe a film to watch.