The rain is teeming down outside my window, making our annual Boxing Day walk look less than appealing. Even the dog is refusing to get out of bed. It's an almost perfect day for staying in with a blanket and a book, which is exactly what I'm planning on doing. There are two hundred pages left to go of The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber, a book so flaming intense that I have to finish it quickly before it makes me anxious. (Note to self: Read Christmas-ier books next year. ) I'm only going to emerge from my cocoon to requisition snacks and plates of leftovers, and introduce my mum to Despicable Me, a cultural experience which she has thus far avoided.
Before I settle down for the day though, I remembered I was going to share some reading resolutions for next year. Having had such a good end to 2015 I'm brim full of anticipation about how I can deepen and direct my reading over the next twelve months. I know this impulse is sometimes counterproductive, because while I love the buzz of a new project I almost always lose momentum in the middle of things (see also: blogging). I'm a good starter, but a terrible finisher. Still can't resist the lure of the beginning though - starting a project is better than no project at all right?
- #ReadHarder x #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks
I doubt very much that Mount TBR will ever actually diminish and I think I've learnt by now that limiting acquisition doesn't work for me. That said, there are LOADS of books on my shelves that I want to read and don't because of the allure of new shiny things, which is a great shame. So, in 2016 I'll be joining in with Andi from Estella's Revenge and reading my own damn books. She wants to knock 100 off her TBR (or at least mark them as DNF - did not finish) and is going to buy with restraint. My rules are going to be slightly different, as I'm planning to combine this challenge with another one: BookRiot's #ReadHarder 2016.
This challenge also ran in 2015 (although I hadn't heard of it before now) and for those who aren't familiar it's a sort-of bookish bingo the aim of which is to encourage you to read as widely and diversely as possible. There are 24 categories to meet, working out at two a month if you're the planning sort, which range from the straightforward ('Read a horror book') to the slightly more involved ('Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years'). When I saw the list the first time I immediately started slotting books already on my shelves in to it, toying with how I might complete it. Which in turn led me to a lightbulb moment: I could use #ReadHarder as a tool to give reading from my TBR some direction and shape.
So these are my rules:
- Read 24 physical books from Mount TBR (defined as anything acquired before December 2015), at the rate of two a month;
- As far as possible select the books to fit #ReadHarder categories; it doesn't matter if I double up because I know that it won't be possible to fulfil some from the TBR (e.g. that non-superhero comic category - on which more below).
I really enjoy the thought of this challenge, and I hope it will allow me to pick off some books that I've been anticipating for way too long.
2. Read consciously
It took me ages to decide how to phrase this: read more diversely? Read diverse books? Read more books by male authors? Read more books in translation / by writers of colour / by LGBT writers? I decided all of these were too specific or reductive for purpose. So, instead, this year I intend to read consciously to shift my reading habits. Left to my own devices I will read predominantly white Western women writers, because of my unconscious bias and identification with those writers and the stories they have to tell. This is exacerbated by the unconscious bias of the other types of media I consume. This isn't news to me; I've been aware of it for years and years. I've struggled to find ways to change my behaviour - strict reading regimens, book lists - that haven't worked. In 2016 I'm going to try something more simple. I'm going to take a moment to think about my choices every time I select one book over another, and keep a record of indexes of difference through Goodreads, in an attempt to wake myself up.
3. Follow through on series and backlists
If there is one thing that 2015 taught me it's that reading the books in a series or by the same author in quick succession is a GOOD THING. Rationing books, waiting years between already-available instalments, is folly. If I find something I like I should just get on with it, rather than eking it out and forgetting stuff and losing momentum along the way. I'm not going to set myself a goal of reading particular series or authors, I'm just setting out my stall for future serial indulgence.
4. Try some comics / graphic novels
I think the only graphic novel I've ever read is Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, and I'm not sure I've ever knowingly read a comic. I'm clearly missing out on a whole form/s of storytelling! Towards the end of 2015 I've been exposed to so many recommendations from Ana, The Book Smugglers, Fangirl Happy Hour and BookTube that I'd be crazy not to follow up on them. I've decided not to embark on a buying binge since this is new territory for me, but I've bombarded the library with holds and purchase requests. Where they didn't already have something I wanted already - they had Saga, but no Lumberjanes, Rat Queens, Bitch Planet or Nimona - I asked them to buy it and so am also doing a service for their stock development too. Wins all round. If anyone has other recommendations let me know.
5. Tackle my Netgalley backlog
Early last year, when I was reviewing quite regularly for a few months, I went on a request binge on Netgalley and loaded my Kindle with a dozen or more ARCs that promptly fell by the wayside during my summer slump. As a result my reviewing percentage, which should be about 80%, is currently 20% and this fills me with embarrassment. I really enjoy browsing Netgalley; now and again I'd like to be able to request something without feeling like a complete fraud. There are some great sounding books in this backlog - Kirsty Logan's The Gracekeepers, Frances Hardinge's Cuckoo Song, Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, Lauren Beukes' The Shining Girls - so catching up shouldn't be too much of a chore.
6. Write about my reading in whatever way makes most sense at the time
I was going to aim to 'review more' or 'blog more' but both of those sound a bit daunting to my out-of-practice self, so instead I'm going to go for this less formal determination to simply write about my reading here. I have a terrible habit of getting myself in a funk about reviewing; I've almost certainly mentioned this before. Sitting down to write a short post turns into four hours of essay writing, which does have a tendency to suck the fun out of things. I will attempt to be not so uptight about the process, build it up less in my mind, and just share my opinion however developed or undeveloped that might be.
Eep. That turned into a longer list of resolutions than I intended when I sat down an hour ago. What are your reading resolutions for 2016?
~~Victoria~~