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17.Jan.2010 Plan for 2010

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More than half a month has passed into 2010, and I haven’t shared my reading plan for 2010 to you! Well, really it’s mostly for me, so I can look back on my plan at the end of the year and see how much has changed between now and then, and how far I have drifted from my initial course.

But for now, I do have plans:

  • Read more non-fiction. I plan to spend half of my commute time reading non-fiction. I’ve been doing it since last week and it seems to work.
  • Read more short stories. I plan on doing regular Short Saturday (not every week, but hopefully often enough) in which I share my journey to find the greatest short stories ever.
  • New-to-me authors that I plan to tackle this year: David Mitchell, Sarah Waters, Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte (Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre specifically)
  • Start on my personal project to read big readers’ all-time favorite books! I even made a button below to make it official! :)

So the story is one day it struck me that I really have not read near as many English books as I would’ve liked, while some book bloggers may have read hundreds and hundreds, or even thousands in their lifetime. I’m really curious about what their top books of all time would be. Really, among hundreds or thousands, the books must be good! (or if I don’t really like them at the end, at least have some merits) Since I just started reading English novels in late 2003, I have a lot to catch up. This way, who knows, I may catch the best books in more efficient way ;)

The plan is, I’m going to approach some bloggers (my target would be the BIG readers), asking for their list of most favorite books of all time. It can be top 3, top 5, top 16, whatever they like. Then out of the list, I’ll pick one that piques my interest the most, and read it. I will then post my thoughts and if possible, feature a few Q and As with the blogger whom I get the list from.

I’m not sure yet how often I’d be able to do this, but I hope to be able to do it quarterly. What do you think? Sounds like a good plan? :)

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There are 42 Comments to "Plan for 2010"

  • Michelle (su[shu]) says:
    17 January 2010 at 6:23 pm

    Plan numbers 1 and 2 are incidentally, also my own plans for the year: more non-fiction and more short stories. Maybe we can encourage each other as we go along. I’ll be going along with posting on some of the short stories I read on Saturdays, as often as I can. =)

    I like how you’re going to get “Top (insert number)” lists from big-time readers. I have also only recently started reading this much, so I’m definitely going to look forward to the lists that you get, and maybe I’ll pick a book from that list as well!

    Great plan. Hope you have a great reading year ahead!
    .-= [Michelle (su[shu])´s last blog: [SS] Brokeback Mountain – Annie Proulx (plus a little of something else)] =-.

    Reply
  • Gnoe (on Graasland) says:
    17 January 2010 at 9:14 pm

    David Mitchell!!!! My favourite author :) His new book will be out in spring/summer, yay! In May I’ll be going to an opera for which he wrote the libretto. It’s a commemoration project for the ‘fireworks disaster’ that happened in Holland 10 yrs ago.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      18 January 2010 at 7:55 pm

      I know you like him Gnoe. Actually, I know a lot of people like him, so I really have to try him this year! I’m thinking Cloud Atlas now.

      Reply
  • Gnoe (on Graasland) says:
    17 January 2010 at 9:15 pm

    PS I got so enthusiastic I forgot to wish you fun with your reading resolutions :)

    Reply
  • Paperback_Reader says:
    17 January 2010 at 10:14 pm

    Good luck with your plans! They sound very reasonable and exciting.

    I hope you enjoy Sarah Waters as she is one of my favourite authors as is Jane Austen.
    .-= [Paperback_Reader´s last blog: Hibernation] =-.

    Reply
  • Simon (Savidge Reads) says:
    17 January 2010 at 11:32 pm

    Non fiction and short stories are two types of books that I want to read much more of in 2010 so am with you on those two exercises.

    I like the idea of you new project and will be interested to read all your findings as you go!
    .-= [Simon (Savidge Reads)´s last blog: Shades of Grey – Jasper Fforde] =-.

    Reply
  • Jackie (Farm Lane Books) says:
    17 January 2010 at 11:45 pm

    They sound like great plans! David Mitchell and Sarah Waters are both in my top 10 of all time, so you will be already working on my list if you read them! Have fun!
    .-= [Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog: 10,000 Comments!] =-.

    Reply
  • claire says:
    18 January 2010 at 1:23 am

    P&P and Jane Eyre are the best ones to start Austen and C Brontë by. I’ve yet to read Mitchell and Waters (hopefully this year too).

    Rounding up favourite books by big readers is a great idea. Good luck on your project!
    .-= [claire´s last blog: Mrs Dalloway] =-.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      18 January 2010 at 8:00 pm

      And they’re the most famous too (P&P and Jane Eyre). I got to have more confidence about my project now after all the encouragements. Hope it goes well! :)

      Reply
  • Nymeth says:
    18 January 2010 at 6:56 am

    I would definitely be interested in a feature like that – so yes, sounds like a great plan. Also, good luck with your goals! I want to try David Mitchell this year as well.
    .-= [Nymeth´s last blog: Again] =-.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      18 January 2010 at 8:03 pm

      I can’t believe you have not tried David Mitchell. And here I thought you had read everything! (or at least one of his books :)

      Reply
  • lena says:
    18 January 2010 at 7:31 am

    Sounds like a plan to me.

    (also, love love love the button)
    .-= [lena´s last blog: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf] =-.

    Reply
  • Suko says:
    18 January 2010 at 10:40 am

    Mee, you’ve designed a great button. One of my goals for 2010 is to learn how to do that. The other one is quite simple: to read more. Of everything!

    Reply
    • mee says:
      18 January 2010 at 8:05 pm

      Thanks Suko. I spent very little time on it, but I can always touch it up again later. It’s really not hard to learn. I think the hardest part is just to find the right picture.

      I like simple reading plan. I tried to make mine as simple as possible too :)

      Reply
  • Mark David says:
    18 January 2010 at 7:11 pm

    I, too, intend to focus on American writers, especially the classical ones since I’d really like to learn more from them. The usual American flavor of stories, particularly short stories, is one that I find easy like :)
    .-= [Mark David´s last blog: The New Yorker Fiction Podcast] =-.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      18 January 2010 at 8:09 pm

      Since I found Truman Capote this year, I’d agree happily that American short stories are a good way to go! I also plan to read more Pulitzer, so that’s more American for you. Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte were English though.

      Reply
  • anothercookiecrumbles says:
    19 January 2010 at 7:25 am

    I’ve read David Mitchell and Sarah Waters (two books a piece), but, like you, I’ve not read any Austen or Bronte. Hopefully, I’ll be changing that this year. David Mitchell’s number9dream is fantastic, and Waters’ Fingersmith is highly recommended. The plot twists will keep you begging for more.

    That sounds like a fantastic plan, and I can’t wait to see what other bloggers’ favourites are, and what makes the books their favourites.

    Oh, and love the button. Absolutely love it. And, it sounds like one hell of a quest. Best of luck on that one… :)
    .-= [anothercookiecrumbles´s last blog: Haruki Murakami – A Wild Sheep Chase] =-.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      19 January 2010 at 8:23 pm

      Thanks anothercookie! A few people have mentioned number9dream over Cloud Atlas. I’m not sure which Mitchell’s to choose for my first!

      Reply
  • Steph says:
    19 January 2010 at 8:05 am

    I do hope you make time to read Jane Austen this year! She’s one of my favorite authors, and P&P is a great place to start!

    Also, your idea of soliciting bloggers about their all-time favorite books is a really interesting one. I don’t know how I’d ever choose…

    Reply
    • mee says:
      19 January 2010 at 8:25 pm

      I have actually set a time for P&P, which is February. (what with the Valentine and all :) So yes I will tackle Austen soon!

      I can imagine how hard it is to choose favorites if you have read hundreds or thousands of books…

      Reply
  • Sakura says:
    19 January 2010 at 9:52 am

    Sounds like a great plan. I also plan to read more short stories and non-fiction this year too. Both David Mitchell and Sarah Waters are great. Plus I would also add my all time favourite, Donna Tartt (I’m hoping to reread The Secret History this year after almost 15 years.) I’ve been reading alot of British authors and feel I need to shift my focus across the Pond and get into some good American books, so I’ll be checking out your lists for inspiration.
    .-= [Sakura´s last blog: Hello Japan – January: Music to My Ears] =-.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      19 January 2010 at 8:37 pm

      I’ve heard so much about Donna Tartt and The Secret History (her name always reminds me of cake). I think I should pick her book up some time just on impulse! I don’t specifically target for more American, but I do plan to read more Pulitzer.

      Reply
  • Kathrin says:
    20 January 2010 at 12:11 am

    Mee, I think this is a great plan for 2010! I wish you lots of fun with it :-)
    .-= [Kathrin´s last blog: The Book List (Jan 19) & Tuesday Teasers (Jan 19)] =-.

    Reply
  • JoV says:
    21 January 2010 at 8:00 am

    Sounds like a great plan. For the past 2 years I have been reading about 100 books a year and about 30% are non-fiction. I recommend “The Quiet American” by Graham Greene. I have been reading lots of classics, check out my book blog let me know which one pique your interest?

    p/s: my first language is without tenses too! I feel it made my life so much easier. :)

    Reply
    • mee says:
      21 January 2010 at 8:34 pm

      100 books is a great accomplishment JoV! Especially when 30% is non-fiction! I’ve never read Graham Greene before, but I will sure try him in the future. Out of curiosity, what is your first language? I don’t know many languages that don’t have tenses :) (Chinese is one of them, as with Indonesian, my first language)

      Reply
      • JoV says:
        22 January 2010 at 12:24 am

        My first language is Mandarin Chinese. The other two languages I knew at fluent level are English and Malay. The other two Chinese dialects I speak is Cantonese and Hokkien.

        as you may already know, I’m a Malaysian. :)

        Won’t be reading that many this year, due to some other serious commitments. :(

        Reply
        • mee says:
          22 January 2010 at 9:11 pm

          I thought it was Chinese :). It’s great to meet another Malaysian blogger! From what little time I spent to browse your blog, looks like we might have similar taste. I had the same feeling when I came upon sushu’s blog!

          Reply
  • Bellezza says:
    21 January 2010 at 11:46 am

    I’d like to read much more of Jane Austen. I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice, but I’d love to go through all her works this year. Hers, and Murakami’s, and Dickens…but, not any nonfiction. ;)

    Reply
    • mee says:
      21 January 2010 at 8:37 pm

      I didn’t know you don’t like nonfiction Bellezza! I guess I just assumed since you’re a teacher you would have to like nonfiction :)

      ps: I’m not sure about Dickens for me…

      Reply
  • Rebecca Reid says:
    25 January 2010 at 11:53 pm

    I wish you luck in finding the best books ever! That’s my lifelong goal too :)
    .-= [Rebecca Reid´s last blog: Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman + Giveaway (Used Book)] =-.

    Reply
  • Callista says:
    29 January 2010 at 2:28 pm

    I think it’s a very good idea. You’d have to pick bloggers who review the kinds of books you normally read of course. Like if you asked me, my top 10 list would be mostly nonfiction or children’s books.
    .-= [Callista´s last blog: Second Chance by Sandra J. Gerencher] =-.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      29 January 2010 at 9:41 pm

      Yea my priority would be bloggers who I think have the same reading taste as mine. For example, no point for me asking someone who loves vampire books. I would love to know your nonfiction and children’s books selection though!

      Reply

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