Looking Forward: 2014 Reading Plans

I’ll admit it, 2013 was a lousy blogging year for me – although not actually a bad reading year, as it turns out. So one of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2014 is to get myself on a reduced (from 2011 and 2012) but consistent blogging schedule, starting with three times a week, throwing in some memes, as appropriate. I’m also planning to contribute consistently to Beth Fish’s Weekend Cooking, and maybe get busy with my camera for some Wordless Wednesday fun.

When it comes to reading challenges, I’m only planning on a couple this year. I will continue with Back to the Classics, now hosted by Karen K. at Books and Chocolate. I plan on reading for R.I.P. IX, assuming Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings decides to host again this autumn. Similarly, if Dolce Bellezza decides to bring back the Japanese Literature Challenge, I’ll participate in that one. My daughter and I will also be going back to the What’s in a Name Challenge, now hosted at The Worm Hole, because that was the challenge that made us start a book blog in the first place. Aside from that, it will be book club choices and reading inspired by others’ reviews, including lots of classics and literary and translated fiction, as well as more non-fiction than in previous years, because it’s a genre I really enjoy. I’ll be reviewing mysteries, another favorite genre, throughout the year. And, of course, I’ll be continuing to work through my list of 50 titles for the Classics Club. Here’s what I have planned so far:

Back to the Classics Challenge 2014 1. A 20th Century Classic: Voltaire in Love by Nancy Mitford
2. A 19th Century Classic: Middlemarch by George Eliot
3. A Classic by a Woman Author: Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 4. A Classic in Translation: That Awful Mess on the Via Merulana by Carlo Emilio Gadda
5. A Classic About War: Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (To be honest, I really hate books about war, so I picked a comedy about an accidental war correspondent)
6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New to You: A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes

There are some really interesting optional categories in this year’s challenge, and I admit I’m tempted. But I don’t want to (over)commit right now. So more on that later!

What’s in a Name 2014 1. A reference to time: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
2. A position of royalty: The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg
3. A number written in letters: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
4. A forename or names: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophesies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
5. A type or element of weather: South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami

This second list is far more speculative, and subject to change at this point, depending on what books my book club chooses for the year when we meet in January. The only theme is that they are all contemporary titles I’ve been thinking about reading but haven’t found a reason to do so, and they fit the categories. I may come up with a better theme as the year goes on.

I am looking forward another great year of reading, reviewing and blogging – and especially looking forward to getting inspiration from the other great bloggers I have come to count on for my book recommendations. Happy 2014, everyone!