Literary resolutions
It's the time of year when everyone makes resolutions: New Year, new you, and all that. So this week, we've invited a few authors to give you the lowdown on their new year's resolutions, and how you can use them.
Not like Dave, who won't let me steal HIS resolution of keeping a book diary, to better track reading habits. Now I have to come up with my own.
I've gotten a couple of good ideas from our Twitter friends: Catherinette wants to read more nonfiction, starting with Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. And oneeyedcarmen says he's going to read at least 35 books before Dec. 31, 2009. Both are great goals.
So here's mine: I resolve to read more local authors. We've got an amazing stable of writers in Maryland, and they deserve as much appreciation as they can get. Feel free to help me out through the year with suggestions, and I'll make sure to report back on my successes and failures.
Meanwhile, tell me your resolutions, and get a free book from 2008.
While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, 
Comments
In addition to my other resolutions -- eat more and exercise less (at last, resolutions I can achieve!) -- I vow to finish Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters. I'm tired of the bookmark that sits accusingly on page 283 -- halfway through the book.
Posted by: Dave | January 5, 2009 5:17 PM
I resolve to study my favorite book as much as possible - The Bible (Good News Version)
Posted by: NotableM | January 5, 2009 7:46 PM
I made resolutions for my book blog, things like reading/listening to 100 books this year and reading more regularly with my son. My whole (short) list is here.
Posted by: Heather J. | January 6, 2009 9:28 AM
I resolve to let my kids see me reading more often. I usually read late at night before bed, or on my bus commute to work. My son is in first grade, and I want him to develop a love of reading like I have.
Posted by: Karl | January 6, 2009 12:31 PM
I resolved to read 24 books in 2008. It doesn't sound like all that many, but two books per month is an achievable goal. I already completed The Godfather (which I loved!) and now I'm a chapter into a book about the history of California wine.
The Godfather was really, really good as a novel. There's lots more info about Johnny Fontae, and the maid of honor who Sonny sleeps with at the wedding. Reading it weirdly gave me LESS respect for the Coppola movies, because the book has such a fun plot with such wonderful characterization that anyone could have made a good movie out of it. I'll give Coppola credit for making a GREAT movie, but he had a heck of a head start courtesy of Puzo.
Posted by: Clare | January 6, 2009 2:04 PM
I am trying to work my way through Entertainment Weekly's list of the top books of the last 25 years. I had already read a few, but I recently started at the top of the list with The Road. Now I am working on The Liars' Club. We'll see what happens when I get to some of the books that I don't really want to read.
Posted by: Amy | January 6, 2009 4:22 PM
Don't forget your local literary publications when you're reading those local writers!
Posted by: Kate Dino | January 6, 2009 10:19 PM
I'd like to read more fiction. I seem to pretty much read nonfiction exclusively these days. It's great, but sometimes I can forget the magic of a well-written novel.
Also, I need to get out of my newly-developed habit of only reading in bed or during downtime. I used to set aside time just to read, and I miss that. Now I tend to use it to just fill in the space, which makes me sad.
Posted by: aeb | January 7, 2009 6:45 PM
Hi Nancy,
You can check out my reading resolutions...and blog resolutions...for 2009 here:
http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/12/reflecting-back-and-looking-forward.html
Happy 2009- and Happy Reading!
Posted by: Jen Forbus | January 7, 2009 7:02 PM