Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Hello 2013, Hello Book-Related Resolutions





I read 41 books in 2012, which isn’t bad, but this year I want to do better.  One book a week seems reasonable (especially considering that I count the audio books that I listen to during my commute), so 52 books is my goal for the year.  And hopefully some of them will be books that I can read and donate or give away.  Most of our books are currently in storage as we attempt to sell our house, which adds an extra element of challenge to reading what I own, so if you are reading this, please cross your fingers that we sell our house soon and are able to move!

My secondary goal is to spend at least an hour a day reading.  This is trickiest on days when I work evening shifts in Rochester, as I wind up starting at 2 in the morning, but so far, so good.  And sitting and reading for an hour straight truly is a pleasure, and one I had nearly forgotten.

So far I’m on pace, having finished Michael Connelly’s The Black Echo and Stephen King’s fifth Dark Tower novel, Wolves of the Calla. 

I liked The Black Echo, but I’m not totally sure why so many people love Connelly’s Harry Bosch series so much.  I’ll read another one sometime soon and maybe I’ll see what I’m missing.  I mean… I liked it, but it wasn’t so compelling that I felt I had to go read the next ten immediately.

The Black Echo is also the first book that I read on my new Kindle (my husband owned it previous to me and gave it to me when he upgraded).  This means that it doesn’t add to or subract from the number of physical books in my house, and it was kind of an interesting experience.  I’m not totally sold on reading in this format.  It certainly is convenient, though, and it doesn’t take up very much space.

Wolves of the Calla is a book I’d been putting off reading for years.  The fourth Dark Tower book, Wizard and Glass, had been my favorite in the series so far, and I was hesitant to go on, especially since I’d heard vague complains about the final three books from other King readers.  For the most part, though, I found this volume compelling, and I’m curious to see where it goes in the final two books.   

I do like the way King refers to others of his works, sort of tying them all together into one world.  I didn’t expect to meet up with Father Callahan from ‘Salem’s Lot again, ever… but there he was.  One aspect of the end of Wolves did make me question what King is planning to do… but I’ll reserve judgment on that until I see where he takes it next.  The sixth volume, Song of Susannah, is currently on my Shelf of Ten, although there are a few other books I want to get through first.

Wolves of the Calla will, like all Stephen King books (even the ones I don’t particularly like), stay in my collection. 

And… back to reading.  For now.



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