The Book Vipers discussion

Well, I am finishing the year thinking of my goals, and I have concluded my life is currently in a place where, when it comes to reading, I am going to have to lower my targets. I am not able to read in anything like the volumes I managed a couple of years ago. Both children are still small and often want me to play with them, rather than play for long periods independently, and work is a big load of crazy, leaving me exhausted much of the time. I rarely have more than an hour or so to myself on an evening at present.

So... I am aiming for just 12 perfectly formed and wonderful reads this year - books that I'll really love and that will really inspire me. I will try and fit these into the challenges and we'll see how that goes! I'll also be joining in with some of the group reads, of course, starting with Dorian Gray in January, which happens to be a Dusty Shelf for me anyway.

Any suggestions for unmissable reads would be welcomed, plus also reassurance from parents of older kids that eventually you do get time to read again!

Feel a bit of a fraud when so many of you are planning Full Decks and more but hey ho... it's still a goal I guess!

January reads:
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Strange Library

Good luck with your goals Lisa. I can totally relate to what you're saying as my reading dropped off when the kids were younger. But you won't regret spending the time with them, and when they're older you get a new phase come round. Now mine are both at uni, I have rediscovered the joy of uninterrupted reading and am appreciating it all the more. It's all about balance, and you seem to have got that with your goals here.

Sounds just perfect Lisa, and like any goals and planning it is getting the balance right.

And it does improve.

I play hide and seek with mine, and read whilst they hide for hours and hours.

Best of luck with your goals Lisa. I think reading a smaller number of really good books sounds like an excellent idea. It does get easier - as they get older they still need you, but not in quite that all-consuming way as when they are tiny. And as they get bigger you will probably find yourself spending a lot of time taking them to activities, and then waiting around - which is great reading time. I have read a lot of books while waiting for music lessons etc!

How not to be a perfect mother by Libby Purves was lent to me by a friend when we both had small children. It was a laugh out loud book at times and easy to read. Not perfectly formed maybe but written by a real Mother who worked. Just an idea.

How not to be a perfect mother by Libby Purves was lent to me by a friend when we both had small children. It was a laugh out loud book at times and easy to read. Not perfectly formed maybe but written by a real Mother who worked. Just an idea.

Derek wrote: "I don't have kids of my own, but I remember my mom reading us kids a chapter of a book every night before bed. Ones like Robinson Crusoe, The Cry of the Curlew, etc. That might have helped to turn ..."

Currently reading famous five book 3 to my youngest, and for Christmas she has got the complete set of wizard of Oz books so will be starting them soon.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions :) You are not the first person to suggest that book to me, Pat, so I will try and get it from the library at some point!