This year I got myself a 2010 calendar solely for my reading. If I am going to be reading deliberately I need to have some idea of what I am going to be reading and when, right? Right. Now if I could only remember to consult it. I have all of my THIB! dates, guests, times and books in there and a tour or two set up. I just have to learn not to commit to anything (readalongs, challenges, etc) before I look at my book calendar. The whole thing is probably more easily accomplished if I stay off Twitter and don’t read any blogs!
I think it might be too late for January and probably February too, but maybe I will be able to make a fresh start with March. In the meantime here are the hundred or so books that I want to read and a lot more of what I need to read for January 2010.
January 2010 Reading List
The Lotus Eaters, by Tatjana Soli – I got this one from the Book Browse early review program. It’s about a photographer living in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and her experiences there. It would be perfect for the War Through the Generations (Vietnam War) Challenge which Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit and Anna at Diary of An Eccentric are hosting, but I don’t know if I have enough books to enter that one. Dragon House would have been perfect for this one as well, but I was already reading it for 2009.
The Little Stranger, by Sarah Waters – I have been collecting books by Sarah Waters. I have this one as well as Fingersmith and The Night Watch and I have yet to read any of them. I am so glad to finally be reading this one with Vasilly for my show with Rebecca from The Book Lady’s Blog.
War Child, by Emmanuel Jal – I’m reading this for my THIB! show with Natasha from Maw Books and it will also serve as one of my books for the Social Justice Challenge- I am joining but have not yet posted about it. It’s about child soldiers, so I already feel that is is going to be a heartbreaker. Natasha did put together an excellent post that included other resources that go along with this book including a documentary that I have ordered from Netflix. This means that this will work for my Read the Book, Watch The Movie Challenge as well. A three-fer, sweet!
Almost Home, by Pam Jenoff – The author sent me a copy of this one. Hopefully I will have an interview to go along with my review as well. It is hinting at a murder mystery and family secrets. I have been looking forward to reading it for some time.
East of Eden, by John Steinbeck – This is one of those things that started out as a Twitter conversation with Jen at Devourer of Books and Vasilly from 1330v and by the time I had turned around and logged back on again it had become a quarterly thing complete with website, Classic Reads. I only hate that I won’t be able to use this for the Chunkster Challenge. We start reading it before Feb 1. Boo. But I am pretty sure it has a movie, so yay, another overlap.
Keeping the Feast, by Paula Butturini – Lisa at Books on the Brain and Mari from Bookworm with A View are hosting a Winter Reading Series and I am so excited to be able to participate. Just the words couple and Italy were said and I knew that I wanted to read the book and participate in the conversation. I love intricate relationship stories and I love reading about places in which I have lived or visited so I am happy to be reading this!
Between Here and April, by Deborah Kopacken Kogan. – Awhile ago on Twitter, of course, I asked Gayle from Every Day I Write The Book when she would be be holding her next EDIWTB Book Club and she just announced one last week. I am so glad that she posted about it before I unplugged for the holidays because otherwise I would have missed it. This looks like it is going to be one of those really heavy novels that stays with you for awhile, and leaves you wanting to maybe switch up and read some lighter fare after. I have to make sure that I have something on hand. Doesn’t look like I have anything that will do the trick on this list so far.
Eye of the World Reading Schedule
So, I am reading a lot of big books and rather early in the year, like now. This month and into February I will be reading a fantasy
novel entitled The Eye of The World, by Robert Jordan for the THIB! show with Heather from Age 30+… A Lifetime of Books. I won a copy of this book when Heather did a giveaway a few months back, not knowing what I would soon be reading it for the show. It’s about 800 pages and I am sure it will go quickly if I remember how fantasy books went when I was younger. But just in case, I made a little reading schedule for myself so that I will have some idea of where I should be at all times to make sure that I can finish it in time for the show.
Week of:
- December 21: Chapters 1-8 or pp 1-118
- December 28: Chapters 9-16 or pp 119-129
- January 4: Chapters 17-23 or pp 230-347
- January 11: Chapters 24-31 or pp 348-466
- January 18: Chapters 32-38 or pp 467-581
- January 25: Chapters 39-45 or pp 582-688
- February 1: Chapters 46-53/pp 689-782
I worked on this draft awhile ago so it’s a little old with respect to The Eye of the World. It is going very quickly, I am totally into it and way, way ahead of schedule so far.
Other reviews and posts:
You are so organized, Nicole! I tried to keep a reading calendar last year, but I rarely kept it up to date other than for my scheduled book tours. I look forward to reading your thoughts on The Lotus Readers. I am really interested in reading that one, but am not sure I’ll be able to. Depends on if I can hang onto a gift card long enough. LOL Otherwise, I’ll be waiting for it to come out in paperback. I’m looking forward to reading Sarah Waters for the first time this year as well. Have a great reading month, Nicole!
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..War Through the Generations: Vietnam War Challenge =-.
I think I only noted blog tours last year too. I probably won’t be able to be incredibly strict about it, but I would like to have some idea of what I have coming up for the weeks/months.
I have a separate blogging calender and should probably buy a reading calendar too! Time just gets away from me. Good luck with your reading schedule!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Julie of the Wolves =-.
We will see how long I am able to keep them separate. I don’t usually well with having separate calendars for stuff. Maybe I will just have to always keep it with my reg calendar.
What organization! My Type A personality is smiling right now! Maybe I should think of doing something like that in order to manage all of the challenges I’ve signed up for!
.-= Amused´s last blog ..My Top 5 Books of 2009 =-.
I know people with challenge spreadsheets. I have to set something like that up to- the problem with me is that I love making lists by hand!
Wow, there was me thinking I was being organised by writing all my challenges down in a book and working out which books to read first. I am impressed. Can I access your radio show from England via the web at all?
.-= vivienne´s last blog ..It is my blog’s first birthday! =-.
Yes! It will play anywhere that you have internet. Here is the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thats-how-i-blog I think I have interviewed about 10 bloggers so far.
We’;; see if I am able to stay organized throughout the year. It’s early days yet. But I will do my best.
I have a blogging calendar as well. I keep track of my posts and ARC commitments, but that is about as organized as it gets! It seems you totally have your ducks in a row, Nicole!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..You’re beautiful! =-.
Ha! It just seems that way! But I am trying to make a concerted effort to track my reading more.
I tried a reading calendar from the end of ’08 to the beginning of ’09(about 4 months). I wasn’t too successful, but I still like the idea. I broke mine down pretty much how you have. I’m inspired to give it another shot. I did mine on the computer. Are you using a paper calendar or electronic/online?
I have to use a paper calendar. I tend to not pay much attention to online calendars. They seem less authoritative to me. You should try again. We can compare results.
The Wheel of Time is my favorite fantasy series! I’ll definitely have to remember to call in when you guys discuss it!
.-= J.T. Oldfield´s last blog ..Listen to the Wind Winner! =-.
Please do! That would be really fun. I am loving the book so far.
Looks like you have quite the month ahead. I’m trying to read both Liar and Speak this weekend for THIB conversation and hope to start The Little Stranger at the beginning of this week as well. That way I’m pretty well prepared for almost the entire month
Tell me about this Book Browse….
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..An Abundance of Gratitude =-.
The Little Stranger is so good from what I can tell of the beginning.
Book Browse is great for pre-pub reviews and they also have their own lottery for titles up for review with a paid year membership, which I think is $25. It’s a great resource. I would definitely recommend checking them out.
Don’t you just love getting new office supplies? Starting out the new year with a fresh calendar is like bringing a notebook to the first day of school
I used a desk calendar to schedule blog posts, reading, etc. last year, and it really helped me stay on track. This year I’m trying to use a Google calendar to cut down on the paper. I don’t know how I’ll do, as I’m very tactile. We’ll see …
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Happy New Year: resolving to not make resolutions =-.
I think that I am the same way. I need to write something down and open and flip through pages to be mindful of a calendar. I have follow through issues with online characters. They just seem less real somehow.
I love lists and making them but I’m afraid that I would be able to stick to it!! Enjoy the Jordan book, read this series a long time ago!
Yeah. We will see how much I am able to accomplish. Making the list is always a joy, but paying attention to them once finished is another thing entirely!
Happy New Year my new friend, I will look you up next time I get home (NYC)
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Thank you for sharing your upcoming list – I have added a few to my list. I’m reading The Weight of Heaven right now and just love it so far. Then Keeping the Feast. Gayle always has good book selections so I might have to add this title to my list too!
Yes, please look me up next time! That would be so much fun.
The Weight of Heaven has a title that just sounds as if it should be good. Hope that it continues to please.
You are one busy woman, Nicole.
A friend gave me Eye of the World almost two years ago because she wanted me to give fantasy (of the non-young adult/kid’s lit kind) a try. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten to it yet. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it.
Happy New Year!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..My Year of Reading (in Numbers) =-.
I really like it so far. There is a book that I need to read sooner than this one that is just as good, but I think I have to finish this one up first!
I have a reading calendar also and I don’t understand why I waited until this year to start using one. I’m dubbing January the month of the read-alongs. I have several thick books I’ve reading along with others bloggers, including you. I really need to start reading The Little Stranger now! Happy reading!
.-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Favorite Books of 2009 and Wrap-up Post =-.
I know! The little Stranger is right around the corner so we need to figure that out! 2010 in general might be the year of the readathon for me. Looking forward to Admission.
I really love the idea of a reading calendar. I don’t know if I’m organized enough to stick to it, but it might be fun to put together at least!
I almost envy you starting the Wheel of Time now. I was so addicted that I read the first nine very quickly and I’ve been waiting for the end ever since. Luckily there should be less than two years wait now! And I’m glad to have another show where I can listen to the book club segment.
.-= Meghan´s last blog ..Review: The Bird Room, Chris Killen =-.
Looks like you will be busy reading…remember Vietnam War Challenge, you can sign up for any time during the year, so if you find you read more books that fit, please do sign up. we’d love to have you!
.-= Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)´s last blog ..Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds =-.
Wow You are organized! You are my new role model
Little Stranger is suppose to be good. I also liked ALmost Home; Jenoff when I read it.
.-= diane´s last blog ..Monday Mailbox =-.
Thank you so much for this post.
I am gobsmacked. (In the best possible way.) And completely jealous.
Having a reading schedule is such a wonderful idea. If only I’d be able to stick to one. LOL
I’m crossing my fingers and saying a little prayer for you, Nicole. If you succeed with this, it means there’s hope for the rest of us.
.-= Ann-Kat (Today, I Read…)´s last blog ..Giveaway: Wish by Alexandra Bullen (Autographed) =-.
I am trying to be more deliberate too. I have joined too many challenges. I wanted to join no more than two or three. Good ones kept coming up in the Googlereader. I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t. I have one more chapter to read in Julia London’s One Season of Sunshine. This book came from Pocket Books. I really enjoyed it. Next, I need to read Buzz A Memoir by Katherine Ellison. It’s really good. It’s about a mother and son who suffer with ADD. I am in the middle of it. It shouldn’t take long to finish, but you know that goes. Life happens, etc.
Thanks for mentioning War Through the Generations on your list. The Vietnam War Challenge ran from Jan. 2010 through Dec. 2010. This year’s challenge runs Jan. 2011 through Dec. 2011 and focuses on the U.S. Civil War.
Serena´s last [type] ..83rd Virtual Poetry Circle