analytics

thirteen

Well, last year my reading goal got severely derailed, but I think it was good I put it aside rather than push on merely for the sake of saying I had done it.  More important to enjoy the process of reading as it is for my own enjoyment, not for some medal or degree.  And while I more failed than succeeded, it still pushed me to read and reread some new stuff that I had really been wanting to encounter.  But I tried to learn from last year and make this year's goal a bit more doable.  I will still likely burn myself out though... oh well.

My criteria was simply a book by an author I have not read before (or have not finished one of his/her works) and that I already own it.  Due to recent raids on the local Goodwill stores, I have a rash of books I want to dig through.

So here's the plan:

January:
Bible Reading: Romans

Novel: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

I was thinking of slotting 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea here, but I unfortunately started that book earlier today, which would put it in 2012, heh.  So I am adding a new book in 20,000's place and hope to finish Verne quickly so as to jump into Wells.  My copy of The Time Machine also contains The Invisible Man, so hopefully I will read through that story as well.

February:
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians

Novel: Idylls of the King by Alfred Lord Tennyson

I made it a good way through this little ditty before (and really enjoyed it) but stalled out.  Here's my chance to finish.  I could supplement with plenty of my other Arthur material.

March:
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians

Novel: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Decided to make the birthday month an easy/fun one.  I also have Kidnapped and The Black Arrow if I feel like some more Stevenson.

April:
Bible Reading: Galatians

Novel: Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Here's the first, and perhaps biggest challenge of the plan.  I started this once in High School.  Mr. Melville impressed me then.  Will be interesting to see what I think now.

May:
Bible Reading: Ephesians

Novel: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Figured I would take this month easy after Melville in April.  If I wanted to supplement, I could do some Orwell.  For some reason I connect the two, even though they really aren't...

June:
Bible Reading: Philippians

Novel: Paradise Lost by John Milton

Started this once, but was not really processing what I was reading so I decided to stop rather than read it for the sake of saying I had.  Didn't keep me from wanting to give it another go when my head was more into it.  Seemed entirely worth it.

July:
Bible Reading: Colossians

Novel: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Somehow I missed this book in High School.  I should fix that.

August:
Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians

Novel: The Adventures of Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes

This could be my second challenge of these goals.  Scratched the surface of this once.  Felt like I hit the most famous parts in the first few pages.  Not sure what was left.  But I want to find out.

September:
Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians

Novels: The Prince by Niccoló Machiavelli and The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

This is a twofer but they are such small reads I figured they could go together and seemed a funny combination.

October:
Bible Reading: 1 Timothy

Novel: Dracula by Bram Stoker

Never read.  I'll bet you can figure out why I chose this month.

November:
Bible Reading: 2 Timothy

Novel: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

I have read a few of the individual stories, but not the whole thing.  Could be a rough continuous read.  But I really should have read this a while ago.

December:
Bible Reading: Titus and Philemon

All of Flannery O'Connor's short stories

This is the fill-in for losing 20,000 Leagues.  Just found this at a Goodwill store.  I've heard enough about this lady, I figured I should give her a shot, and short stories would be a good change.  Besides, sad stories are always fun, heh.

So there it is.  Simple enough.  Hopefully I make it to April.  Hopefully I survive April.  Feel free to cheer me on, make fun of me, join along, or shake your head in disgust.

Happy New Year.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Cool. I like it. Happy New Year!!

David S said...

Definitely a fan of this list.

Read Slaughter-House five last year! If you want more Vonnegut (and his cooler utopian/distopian stories), Welcome to the Monkey House is great.

Started Don Quixote once...thought it was doable until I noticed it was 4 parts. Also, I decided to read an 1819 edition on Google books for the heck of it, so that might have added to the pain). Quite a ridiculously humourous tale though.