Goal accomplished! The year in review.

The kids are in bed and we're two hours away from 2013 so I have a few minutes to reflect on my past year of reading.

Well, I did it!

I guess I've proven that you can make a goal on January 1st and stick with it for a whole year. It feels great to accomplish it! There were times when it was really easy (on vacation in Florida, or the ocassional night away from the kids) and there were times when it was really, really hard (stomach viruses and being up 5+ times a night with the kids). When I got very behind on my books then something was clearly out of balance. It was the perfect reflection of my emotional well-being and the choas of working full-time and raising two young energetic boys.

What I really learned from this experience is that you can 'fit it in'.

Recently Glen and I were talking about how he could find more time for his writing. I told him how I squeezed in my reading (although granted, writing isn't as easy to "squeeze in"). If I arrived at work 5 minutes early I would sit in my car for 10 minutes and read. I took my books everywhere. The best time to read was when I could take Jack to his activities - swimming bought me an hour each week, lego class another hour, and karate another one. I've signed Jack up for gymnastics classes in the new year (more reading time!). And of course, there were countless times I read between 11pm and 1am. I wonder if 2013 might bring more sleep?

My reading has even rubbed off on my six year old, Jack.

On Saturday, Jack wanted a new lego set which was $20 more expensive than the gift cards he had, so he promised he'd read for 3 hours before we gave him his lego set (it was either reading or chores around the house -- he picked reading). He too finished his goal this evening. I'm so proud of him. All day he was asking me my page  'count down' while I asked him his minute count down.

I am happier.

Reading has made me a happier and more complete person this year. There have been times when my books have supported me through some rough emotional patches. I've also noticed I've become more intentional and purposeful with my words - both in conversations and in my writing. I've met new people who also love books and managed to convince the librarians at our local library that I don't just use them as our DVD rental place.

Will I do this again next year?

Probably not. I don't want to worry about picking up a 1,000 page book and getting behind in my reading schedule. It has been great for my mental health, but I need to find the same balance with my physical health as well. Maybe audio books while I workout will do the trick?

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and shared your favourite books with me. As a present to you here are my top picks for the year. I hope you have a chance to read one of them in 2013!


My top 5 picks (in no particular order)...

The Language of Flowers
The Paris Wife
The Midwife of Venice
Requiem
Divergent/Insurgent/(third in the series to come in the Fall of 2013)


And 5 more books I can't stop thinking about...these were either disturbing or changed my view of the world. They were great reads, I'm just not sure that everyone would enjoy them.

Through the Glass
Chai Tea Sunday
The Gargoyle
The Best Laid Plans
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Book 52 of 52: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

I'm a mathematician at heart. I cannot give a book that includes the equations for solving a quadratic, or the derivation of pythagorean theorem a bad review. The main character is Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy with Aspergers, who sets out to discover who murdered a neighbourhood dog and write a murder mystery book about it. It was flawless narration of this boys 'voice' in his head. It goes beyond the dead dog and has a wonderful plot. I really enjoyed it, although a couple of friends mentioned to me they just couldn't get through it. I loved all the logic problems, patterns, and math. I think there's a little "Christopher Boone" in me...I still pass time in the grocery store line ups by doubling numbers and seeing how large they can get.

Book 51 of 52: The Imposter Bride

I think I'm a little worn down by all the books I've read in the past couple of years that involve the Holocaust. This year alone this list has included: The Postmistress (which I finished only a few days ago), the Book Thief, In the Garden of Beasts, and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Because of that, I can't say this book was as good as if I had faced it with a fresh perspective on the topic. It's terrifically written and was quite enjoyable. I loved the characters and the setting (Montreal). But it lacked a punch to it. Something to put it into the top notch category. The lack of "a punch" may just have been my own attitude about reading another novel about the Holocaust. I really can't put my finger on it.

One week to go

True confession time. I sent Charlie to daycare this morning. Just so I could read. There were only 5 kids there out of 75. I felt a little mommy guilt, since we really should be having some family time on Christmas Eve day. I'm so close to getting to my goal I knew a few hours would make all the difference. 50 books down and 2 to go. Stay tuned!

Book 50 of 52: If I knew, don't you think I'd tell you?

A couple of friends at work have been monitoring my progress on my blog and realized that it's almost the end of December and I still had 4 books to read. They've getting worried (and so have I). One of them brought in this book for me. 199 pages - very manageable to fit in. She had no clue I've been a huge fan of Jann Arden for many many years. I have all her CDs, going back to when CDs were first introduced (yes, I'm that old...but so is Jann too!). I've seen her in concert and in the vagina monologues (remember that from the late-90s?). So it would be hard for me to give this book an unbiased review. 
The book is a compilations of her journal and blog entries from 2000 to 2002. There's no real theme or story here, just her thoughts on her life, human nature, and lots of observations about her cats and the weather. Through some of the fluff and humour there was some heavy stuff that was very honest and moving. Definitely worth the read for a long time fan. Thank you for sharing Jann! I'm off to find some more recent journal entries on her blog.

 

p.s. Enjoy the video. This is song that came on the radio on my way to the hospital in labour with Jack.

 

Book 49 of 52: The Postmistress

Sometimes I manage to read, but not to blog. Stay tuned!