New Year Reading Resolutions

[Teresa]

I am re-reading Ulysses (this time carefully and with great joy) in a a brand-new book (not in my Nook this time), with the goal of finishing slowly, just in time for Bloomsday. It will be a huge challenge for me, since I'm accustomed to racing through books as I go through yellow lights.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Leslie wrote: "I have a long list of reading resolutions - the one most appropriate for here is to finish my "read the USA" challenge which I started in Aug or Sep."

ROFL...you seriously do not want to know how long I've been working on that challenge. I tried to finish it in 2012--and did tick several states off my list--but still have thirteen to go. I have books for most of them, just didn't get to them. :-\

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

Heather, join the club LOL... I began the challenge the first time... and I've not finished it yet :'-(

[Melodie]

I've been working on the 50 state challenge since 2011!

[Leslie]

Teresa wrote: "I am re-reading Ulysses (this time carefully and with great joy) in a a brand-new book (not in my Nook this time), with the goal of finishing slowly, just in time for Bloomsday. It will be a huge ..."

Good luck! I read Ulysses for the first time this past fall and it was not for me!

[Barb]

My primary reading goal this year is to focus more on the series I've been reading. I made the mistake of making a list of the next book in each of the series that I read, and wow, am I behind! I'd like to make progress in as many of these series as I can -- and maybe even catch up with some of them.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Marisa: That's when I started it, too. Now I don't feel so bad! *GRIN*

[alicia]

Barb wrote: "My primary reading goal this year is to focus more on the series I've been reading. I made the mistake of making a list of the next book in each of the series that I read, and wow, am I behind! I'd..."

I did the same thing. I really feel overwhelmed.

[Barb]

Overwhelmed is a very good word for it, Alicia :)

[Nell]

My mystery reading goal for this year is to catch-up on series reads. I started catching up on Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series last year then read one of her Sigrid Harald mysteries and now have two series to finish instead of just one :\ Maron's most recent mysteries feature characters from both series. Her mysteries are consistently well-written. I'm enjoying catching up on them. It reminds me why she's a favorite author.

[Teresa]

My goal this year is to catch up on the series that I have read. I have skipped around so much that i have missed several books in each of the 8 series I am reading. But, this is an easier goal to reach than my weight loss goal. LOL

[Brenda]

Teresa wrote: "My goal this year is to catch up on the series that I have read. I have skipped around so much that i have missed several books in each of the 8 series I am reading. But, this is an easier goal t..."

ANY goal is easier than a weight loss goal;)

[Leslie]

Brenda wrote: "ANY goal is easier than a weight loss goal;)..."

I agree! But I keep making the resolution nontheless :)

[Brenda]

Haha!! I have stopped that now...doomed to fail;)

[Marilyn]

I set a goal of 100 books for 2013. I like the cosy mysteries better than any other genre, but am trying to also read some of the books on the best seller lists. I'm also trying to follow new releases for over 30 authors. Fortunately I'm married to someone who would read all day long! IF I'd let him get away with it! :)

[Emilia]

goal: 100 books. ANY type. doing good so far - already read 10 :D

[Katrina]

I'm setting 5 books per month which work up to 60 books per year.

[Shelby]

I'm setting 50 books a yearl

[Karen]

I went up to 100 from 80 this year. I did 92 last year so thought I would get it done. I Just went over to check on it since I have not looked at it on the widget for awhile. I am at 40 already. I do listen to audios all the time which helps since I can multitask with them.

[Karen]

Marilyn wrote: "I set a goal of 100 books for 2013. I like the cosy mysteries better than any other genre, but am trying to also read some of the books on the best seller lists. I'm also trying to follow new rel..."
Now I could wish for this with my husband. He will hardly read. Too funny.

[Elaine]

Teresa wrote: "I am re-reading Ulysses (this time carefully and with great joy) in a a brand-new book (not in my Nook this time), with the goal of finishing slowly, just in time for Bloomsday. It will be a huge ..."

I sincerely tried reading Ulysses when I was younger. Started it 3 times. Maybe I should give it another shot; I finally got through Foucault's Pendulum which was rather a challenge, too. Not that these two books have anything in common.
My husband pretty much gave up on reading when he got bifocals, so I justtell him about every book I'm readling*LOL*.

[Elaine]

Leslie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "ANY goal is easier than a weight loss goal;)..."

I agree! But I keep making the resolution nontheless :)"

Yes, reading is a more satisfying goal during the process.

[[deleted user]]

Elaine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "ANY goal is easier than a weight loss goal;)..."

I agree! But I keep making the resolution nontheless :)"

Yes, reading is a more satisfying goal during the process."

Teresa wrote: "I am re-reading Ulysses (this time carefully and with great joy) in a a brand-new book (not in my Nook this time), with the goal of finishing slowly, just in time for Bloomsday. It will be a huge ..."

[Rhonda]

I always keep up on my latest author series. However, now I will start reading mysteries by local Minnesota authors, now that I've met them. The only one I've read in past years, is Mary Janice Davidson, who is a good start. I'll also go to more book signings and launches.

[Jessica]

I hope to read at least 2 books a week for the next year.

[Rhonda]

I have kept this goal. I like the idea of reading a book a week. Two, my eyes would be crossed.

[Jeanette]

I would love to read every unread book on my book shelf (so I can buy more).

[Leslie]

Jeanette wrote: "I would love to read every unread book on my book shelf (so I can buy more)."

:) There isn't enough time in a single year for me to do that if I include books on my Kindle!

[Jeanette]

Oh god no me either but I'd love to make a small dent into it, lol

[Evelyn]

I read a book a week, sometimes more depending on length. I also work full time, married with two teens. I make the time but I will never get through my book shelves, there is too many of them plus all the books at the library....

[Pogue]

Debbie wrote: "I agree with more stitching, but I tend to combine both TV and stitching at the same time . I'd go nuts if I couldn't watch my favorite hockey team play.

As for reading resolutions, I'd like to e..."

There are some really good nonfiction that would classify as "cozy". I loved The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York

[Evelyn]

oh my had to get that book on hold at the library as I definetly want to read it, thanks for the reccomendation! but curious though as it doesn't really seem like a "cozy"

I combine TV watching and reading quite well, love hockey too lol. I don't do crafts. i have a combination of OCD and hyperness so not conducive to crafts.

[❂ Murder by Death]

My next years resolution is to review the books on my shelves that I don't currently have a review for - books I read before I joined online book communities. Maybe one a week...

[Melodie]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "My next years resolution is to review the books on my shelves that I don't currently have a review for - books I read before I joined online book communities. Maybe one a week..."

You're far more ambitious than I!! I have no idea how long that would take me!! LOL

[❂ Murder by Death]

:D I have no doubt it will take me FOREVER - but I figure if I aim for one re-read a week, or maybe one a fortnight, I might be able to get through them in another decade or so. Plus I like the idea of building up my Booklikes profile.

[Evelyn]

what is this Booklikes I hear about?

[❂ Murder by Death]

Evelyn wrote: "what is this Booklikes I hear about?"

It's another book site. (www.booklikes.com) It's been around for awhile but not really on anybody's radar until GR started censoring reviews and shelf names while at the same time started marketing itself to media outlets as a place for authors to market their books. These two things really turned off a lot of people, so there was a mini-mass-exodus of sorts and we all trundled off with our books and our reviews in a huff and went to BookLikes. :)

It's a very different layout from GR. You still shelve your books any way you'd like, rate them (they use a 5 star system and allow 1/2 stars) and review them. But the reviews are set up sort of like a blog. I am not a fan of blogging, but it turns out this style is pretty nice. You follow whomever you'd like to follow and their reviews appear on your dashboard (a bit like the update feed here on GR, but much more nicely fleshed out).

BookLikes adds new features to the site based on user requests every Thursday. They added book discussion groups a couple of weeks ago and they've said they'll keep adding to that discussion group functionality, so the social aspect has started to build. They respond to emails almost always within 24 hours too.

They still have a ways to go yet before they offer the same experiences you can find on GR. I'm not reviewing here any more, and I'm not going to contribute anything of value to this site any longer, but I won't give up my groups - I think the people here in the Cozy Mystery group are great and I'd miss them and their book recommendations a great deal! :D

[Evelyn]

Jennifer thanks for sharing with me what it is. Can you export the books you have read from Goodreads to booklikes? I don't do alot of reviewing and I don't mind author promotions (mostly skim over them). I use Goodreads mostly to track my reading.

[Rhonda]

Well, 50 books a year may put a dent in for all of our collections.I write them down in a journal.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Evelyn wrote: "Jennifer thanks for sharing with me what it is. Can you export the books you have read from Goodreads to booklikes? I don't do alot of reviewing and I don't mind author promotions (mostly skim ov..."

You can, but it's funny you ask that at the moment. :) GR has an export function but they just turned it off yesterday. They said so many people were exporting their books it was slowing down the site, so they're working on the export function to make it more efficient. They don't say how long it will be down for, but hopefully not too long. A lot of people use it just to create a back up of their books and reviews after there were reports of reviews and books missing from some users' shelves.

But once it's back up and running, then yes. You can export a .csv file from GR and import that file directly into BookLikes. But if you'd like to explore the reviews over there, you can do so without exporting/importing books. Just sign up for a free account and start reading. Or, if you just want to see what it looks like, you're welcome to take a peek at my blog: jenn.booklikes.com. It's just the bog standard, I haven't customised it or anything, but you can get a little bit of an idea.

[Evelyn]

thanks Jennifer! I used to use a site called social bookshelfsomething or another (can't remember the exact title) it was either closing down or was slowing down. it took me hours to manually transfer my books over to GR. To be honest I am not sure i need another book site because R meets most of the needs I have.

[❂ Murder by Death]

No worries. I think it's healthy to have options and I feel safer having my books on more than one site - just in case. :D

Also - for anyone reading this who exports for backup: The export function is back up.

[Sheila]

I would love to complete some series this year.

[Wendy]

Anyone close to meeting their goals for 2013? I saw on the Livejournal "Book Fails" page a cool idea: someone was reading a book that began with each letter of their name. I was in grad school when this year began (taking leave of absence til next June) so I was a bit preoccupied then, but thought that I'd follow that idea for my leisure time reading. I got married and hyphenated my name with my wife's, and ended up adding another 9 letters to my name. I'm not sure I'm going to make it through them all!

[Wendy]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Evelyn wrote: "what is this Booklikes I hear about?"

It's another book site. (www.booklikes.com) It's been around for awhile but not really on anybody's radar until GR started censoring reviews ..."

Hmmm, I hate censorship. Thanks for informing me about this. I may just mosey on over there in the new year! And quit Goodreads, because I don't like having accounts in so many sites. Why the hell would they censor reviews!?

[❂ Murder by Death]

Wendy wrote: "Hmmm, I hate censorship. Thanks for informing me about this. I may just mosey on over there in the new year! And quit Goodreads, because I don't like having accounts in so many sites. Why the hell would they censor reviews!?..."

It's a massive drama - to put it concisely as possible: readers posted reviews, (some) authors commented on the reviews in a vitriolic way, readers started creating shelves with names indicating they'd not read books by those authors because of their bad behaviour and started calling those authors out on their bad behaviour in reviews. Authors lost their minds over this and started demanding GR do something. So, about 9 months ago, they started hiding reviews that weren't *strictly* about the book itself. Authors didn't think this was enough, so in September GR started deleting both the shelves and reviews.

GR has refused to post a site wide announcement letting people know that shelves/reviews may be deleted and laying out the rules for "acceptable reviews".

Here's the whole thing in all it's glorious drama: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... Warning: it's a HUGE thread.

[Wendy]

Oh dear. How pathetic. If you're an author and published, it doesn't mean you're a good writer. OR a bad writer. There are many reasons I may dislike a book, and not all of them actually have to do with writing. God. I don't think most of us ever left kindergarten! Thanks for filling me in on the details.

[Wendy]

Thanks for posting this. I'm curious which authors have complained... ;)

[❂ Murder by Death]

Wendy wrote: "Thanks for posting this. I'm curious which authors have complained... ;)"

No worries. I'm happy to do so, although I try to do it in as objective a way as possible (I don't always succeed...).

I can say that to my knowledge none of the badly behaving authors have been cozy authors. :)

[Susan]

I'm determined to read more of the books I already own. Either I'll have to read more or just avoid requesting books from the library.