Kicking of 2018: Reading & New Year's Revelations

Book 1 of 2018

Starting 2018, I am feeling renewed in a way that I haven't felt for  a new years in a long time. This sense of renewal is more about energy and reflective motivation than about positivity, but I am slowly instituting some changes in my 1) home-space, 2) eating habits, 3) and reading. I am tending toward the "slow and steady" wins the race mindset with all three, knowing that dramatic shifts in behavior don't stick for me; still, I also think some of the slowness is related to a reluctance to behave differently. So, that's a funky balance to take on, but I do feel like continuously improving my effectiveness will make a difference.

To that end, I have been choosing to read a little more often - not just at bedtime (my routine) but instead of watching something on Netflix/Hulu/HBO/Prime, and more deliberately when I have extra moments. I also felt like reflecting more often on my reading and since we know that this has been an inconsistent endeavor previously, so I'm not trying to go all-out. What would it be like to blog once monthly about the month's books and reading-related remarks? Let's see.

This month, I have so far read three books and am about halfway through my fourth book of 2018. This is not a faster pace than last year, but what's different is: last January, I read one solid novel, a short non-fiction essay book, and listened to 2 audio books. This year's books so far have all been novels and I think this represents more physical reading time (that's not to say last January wasn't legitimate; it just reflected different priorities). Also, the only books I've reached for this month are female authors (the fourth book is written a woman of color, too). I think it's my way of saying fuck the patriarchy in the era of Trump at it's most extreme, and also a grasp at something that feels familiar and affirming at it's least.

Book 2 of 2018

In my renewed reading drive, I am thinking about a few things:

1) What would it be like to read 3-4 books every month?
2) Reading communities are CLUTCH for both inspiration and joy.
3) I need another bookshelf.

1: Reading goals should be the floor, not the ceiling

I mentioned this in my end-of-year post in 2017 - I hit my 30 book goal and then couldn't invigorate myself to commit to a 31st+ book. To be clear, that was fine, but left me wondering about how I see my yearly goals. I have read between 30-34 books consistently for a few years now, and I wonder if setting that bar has left me more complacent than motivated?

So, as I've thought about chunking my goal to have pace setting at 3-4 books/month, I realized I could likely get in an additional 10-18 books. I also have noted to myself: doing this takes more physical reading time but it also should not be a stressor. A floor of 30 books is what I know is manageable - and this year, how much farther can I push my ceiling?

2: Other readers = great people.

I've always had people in my life that I can talk about books with, but this year I'm really thinking about how my circles both in real life and online can aid in my reading inspirations and joy. Having a couple of friends at work who love Goodreads and a couple of other friends who are doing Book of the Month has added to our conversations and opened new connections.

I also randomly joined Buzzfeed's Page Turners facebook group a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have expectations, but I have been far from disappointed. Each day, I find myself reading through the posts and finding interesting ponderings about books and also responding to posts without fear. It's probably the only social media community I'm a part of where I am mostly anonymous, but involved, and where I am not nervous about political arguments or creepers. Maybe naively, but I'm finding it to be a great corner of the internet.

Knowing what I already know about reading communities, what about really getting going on the "Brene and Beer" happy hour at work (aka a little book club and libations)? What about starting a book exchange among my work friends (or others?) to generate new reading ideas and community?

3: The intersection of my space & my reading life

I really want my home space to be functional, neat and cozy. I am mostly settled in to my new place, but still need to get some boxes unpacked / stored, and some systems in place for keeping things tidy. One of the 5 unpacked boxes is full of books. I have the space in my living room to add another bookshelf, and I actually think it will also add an efficiency and decor to the space.

I had gotten rid of a bookshelf in Tulsa and bought a different one for Denver but didn't have room for anything more in my last apartment - I used a built in shelf in my closet and one in my kitchen for books, but neither were fully adequate. In getting a bigger apartment, I did invest in an additional bookshelf in October, which is up and living its best life. BUT I still have this box of books to find a home for.

I found a great Ladder Bookshelf on Amazon and it's in my cart. Ordering it on payday.

I was already envisioning my space projects this weekend - organizing my closet, unpacking the 5 boxes and deciding what's next for the items (throw out, donate, find a space @ home), and getting my luggage out of my bedroom and into my closet. Easy. The bookshelf has thrown a spark into that fire and also given me a timeline. If I order the bookshelf on payday, it should arrive on the weekend to be built.

Seeing books in a bookstore or library relieves stress and brings me joy - so adding this extra shelf feels right.

Book 3 of 2018

So here's to some small-but-hopefully-mighty-changes to my reading life (and beyond) in 2018. There's a lot to shift in my behavior and life in the coming years, but I am taking it one step - one page - at a time.

Check out #mjreadingchallenge2018 on Insta for reflections/reviews on the books so far this year. I'm now off to a few more pages of reading, closet-reorganization, and food prep.

Wish me luck.

Yours in reading,
~MJ