I no longer set reading goals for myself because I tend not to work very hard to meet them. The only one I really set last year and which I intend to continue in 2014 is to read more diversely.
I did not do a wrap-up post for the A More Diverse Universe blog tour this year. Mostly because I didn't have much time to do so, but partly because there wasn't a ton of participation. I was sad about that, though I suppose it was inevitable, given the very little time and resources I put against promoting it.
But I've been reading many other people's reading goals for 2014, and it's really warmed my heart to see that "read more diversely" has popped up on several people's goals for this new year. Honestly, I can't tell you how wonderful that makes me feel. I said on Amy's blog that I want #diversiverse to be more a lifestyle than a weekend, and it's true. If that one weekend of low participation at least got on people's radar and made you think about how active you must be in your reading choices in order to read a diverse range of authors, then A More Diverse Universe was a success, and I'm so happy to have contributed at least a tiny amount to that (even if I can't really take any credit for it at all). It makes me feel really good. So thanks!
In other news, I have joined the Chicago Public Library Foundation's Junior Board! I haven't been to any meetings yet, but I met with someone yesterday to talk about goals and plans for 2014, and I really think that I can use my experiences and thinking and passion to make the library an even stronger asset for this city, and make it a place that everyone feels welcome to visit. I'm really excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to meeting new people and making a positive impact in a way that is meaningful to me.
It's Long Awaited Reads month! I am reading a book from my shelves right now, Demobbed, as part of this event. I am also REALLY HOPING that Wild Ones comes in for me at the library. I suppose I haven't been waiting YEARS to read that one but I did request it from the library back in October after listening to the brilliant 99% Invisible podcast, and it has been "in transit" for over two weeks now and once I get it in my hands, it will feel like I've waited forever to read it.
I do also have many books out from the library at this time, so I'm not sure I'll get to any other long awaited reads in January, but considering the bitter cold and huge amounts of snow we've gotten recently, it may mean a lot more time spent inside reading, so who knows!
I have been doing many more audiobooks than podcasts in the past few weeks, so I don't have any new links to share with you on that front. But rest assured that I will share with you what I like!
I wouldn't get down about lower participation in the More Diverse Universe this time around. I've noticed a very steep decline in reading challenges, etc. over the last two years. My own annual TBR Dare is also down, but I've not promoted it as much either.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand why so many of us have stopped setting reading goals, I've largely stopped myself, I do think it's made the book blogosphere a bit less interesting. I know very few of us ever met those reading goals, but it was fun to have them.
I never thought of it that way, but you may be right. Quite honestly, i completely ignored people's sign-up posts and progress report posts on their challenges, though if the challenges did serve to make people read out of their comfort zones a bit more (I'm not sure they do - people seem to sign up for the ones that most appeal to/align with their established reading tastes), then I completely agree.
DeleteI didn't make any goals last year, but I decided to be a bit more 'formalized' this year. I didn't really read and my TBR got REALLY out of hand because I still got my new books in series and by favourite authors... And maybe had credit at the second hand bookstore... Who knows what will happen but I haven't been going to the library in an effort to concentrate this year.
ReplyDeleteMy goals would be...at least 12 books read that have been on my shelf for over a year
ReplyDeleteI have also seen 'read more diverse' on many bloggers' goals for the year. I did very bad on it last year mostly because it was a guilt-reading kind of year for me. Hoping this year will be better. Hope you have a great 2014!
ReplyDeleteI'm not great at reading goals either. After while I just forget about them and read whatever I want :) The library board sounds cool -- I hope you will share more about that!
ReplyDeleteha I don't work very hard to meet my reading goals either, so I didn't really set any this year and I also want to try not to commit to too much.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay about people wanting to read more diversely!
I'm always determined to try and hit my reading goals - I might not manage, but I guess having something to aim at helps me at least get part way there until I burn out. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your long-awaited reads! And the library board opportunity sounds fantastic. I hope it lives up to your expectations!
I absolutely want to read more diversely because it freaks me out how little I do- I'll pat myself on the back for reading, say, a Japanese author but then I apparently go 'oh, that's it, I'm good', which is terrible. I really like reading your posts because you always make me get excited about reading, you know, not just dead white guys, so thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that! I do feel like the more that blogosphere begins reading diversely, the more all of us will know what is out there and appeals to us. So we just need to start changing the cycle!
DeleteMore diverse reading is one of my goals for the year! I'm aiming at twenty percent non-white authors, which somehow seems both way too low and pretty ambitious? So we'll see.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on joining the board! That sounds really cool! I hope it turns out to be a wonderful experience, and that you get to do a lot of awesome stuff with the library.
I know exactly what you mean by too low and too ambitious. I was nervous about my 25% stated goal, but got up to 40%. I feel like it may be hard to get above that based on my other goals for the year, but we'll see what happens!
DeleteI didn't make any reading goals at all last year, and I felt like my reading was just very much a lot of the same stuff, even though I read some amazing books. I just want to push the boundaries a little bit and read more widely. But I AM also very glad that I took a year off from really worrying about what I read or when. It felt good and it was something that I needed.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to read Wild Ones! I've been thinking about it ever since you posted about it a while back. The Junior Board sounds so interesting and amazing! I can't wait to hear more about it.
I've been thinking about the book since then, too, and it STILL HAS NOT COME IN for me!
DeleteI'm so impressed and excited about you being on the library foundation board! Big city libraries have such a huge reach; it's pretty incredible to be part of that. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteWell, it is the JUNIOR board, not the ACTUAL board, so I don't know that I will have a great deal of influence yet - but maybe in time? :)
DeleteI'd be so thrilled to see more diverse reading in the blogosphere, because it would make finding POC authors so much easier! As it is, I still have to do most of my own research/digging to turn up that 50% of my reading, which is a bit sad and frustrating.
ReplyDelete(Upon rereading, that sounds short and cranky. I'm just trying to limit my typing! But yes, I share your thrill. I'm always so excited to see bloggers gushing about POC authors I've never heard of.)
ReplyDeleteI bet you'll do an amazing job as part of the Board - they're so lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm happy you're taking part in LAR Month and I'd love to hear your thoughts on Demobbed :)
How fun about the Library Board! Enjoy. And I'm sorry about my inactive participation in #diversiverse. I do think it a wonderful idea and one to carry on all year long.
ReplyDelete