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2021 Personal Threads
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Nan's Reading Goals 2021
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Mod
This past year I actually freed up one bookshelf- which is now being used by my husband.
But I went crazy getting complete works of classic authors as ebooks.
Good luck on finishing your needlepoint project. I made myself finish an embroidery picture that I started in the 90s. Of course, since then I have completed numerous needlepoint(wool) pictures so have no place to put it-but it's finished!
Rosemarie, I am impressed. Not only freeing up a bookshelf, but reading classic authors' works. I have quite a few that I have downloaded through Open Media/Early Bird Media, but I haven't tackled them all. I've read a few here and there, but I am not that dedicated.My husband made me a whole new set of bookshelves to put all my books on (10 shelves), and all of them fit on the shelves to begin with. Over time, I read from them, but then friends send me a small box full (4-8 books) and I am back to square one. Actually, now they are overflowing with a few books lying on top. I will continue to whittle them down, but it is hard when I have generous friends. Thanks Edwina, Josie, and others.
Congrats on completing the embroidery project; I know the work you have put in. I have completed a few needlepoint projects over the years, but this one remains my Everest. It was easier when I was younger and had more time and less responsibility. Regardless, I am going to try harder on my needlepoint canvas in 2021. Where I will put it when finished, I have no idea. Our walls are filled with watercolors and photos already. Still, it is the fun of seeing the work completed.
Oh well, books and needlepoint; it is what we enjoy!
Mod
I have been unable to attend used book sales this year, which is why my shelves are not overflowing!
Rosemary, up until the pandemic closed our library down except for rare times, I was in charge of running my local Friends group's library book sales. I understand how difficult it is to refrain from purchasing books.Still, my books shelves are overflowing because I have generous bookcrossing friends who pass along books to me. I also have an older sister who shares books with me and vice versa.
I am going to focus on reading the ones on my shelves rather than the library, but that is difficult because my local library is a block away from my home.
Mod
In January, I read ten books, one of which was composed of five novellas by five different authors. And there was no work on my needlepoint canvas.Statistics:
10/125 books
4/30 library books *
4/30 e-books *
5/30 owned *
1/6 ARCs
1 borrowed from friend (thanks, Judy)
10 new-to-me authors (5 from the book of novellas)
* Some e-books are from the library; some e-books are owned and thus show up in multiple categories.
In February, I read seven books and one short story; however, my needlepoint canvas received no attention at all. On the other hand, I submitted and had accepted quite a few haiku into some upcoming journals, but I also was rejected a few times as well.Statistics:
17/125 books
5/30 library books *
9/30 e-books *
12/30 owned *
2/6 ARCs
13 new-to-me authors
*Some e-books are from the library while some e-books are owned. Because of this, they show up in multiple categories.
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In March, I read twelve books, but there was absolutely nothing was done on my needlepoint canvas. On the other hand, I had several haiku accepted into online journals along with the some rejections. The proudest moment was having a haiku accepted for the Golden Triangle Haiku contest. In April, it can be seen on a placard somewhere in the Golden Triangle area in Washington DC.Statistics:
29/125 books
5/30 library books *
12/30 e-books *
24/30 owned *
5/6 ARCs
20 new-to-me authors
* Some e-books are from the library while some e-books are owned. Because of this, they show up in multiple categories.
In April, I read nine books, but again, nothing done on my needlepoint canvas. On the other hand, I had several haiku accepted into journals although there were a couple rejections as well.Statistics:
38/125 books
6/30 library books *
18/30 e-books *
32/30 owned *
6/6 ARCs
24 new-to-me authors
*Some e-books are from the library while other e-books are owned. Because of this, they show up in multiple categories.
Mod
Thank you Rosemarie. Publication has been gratifying.
In May, while I didn't get much done on my needlepoint canvas, I did take some photos of which I am proud and also had some haiku published. Yes, and some rejections as well. I also read only five books falling way behind in my goal according to the Goodreads ticker.Statistics:
43/125 books
7/30 library books *
20/30 e-books *
36/30 owned *
6/6 ARCs
27 new-to-me authors
In June, I read twelve books (one book had two novels), and I am still behind in my reading goal according to Goodreads ticker.Statistics:
55/125 books
9/30 library books *
25/30 e-books *
46/30 owned *
6/6 ARCs
34 new-to-me authors
* Some e-books are from the library and some are from my books so show up in multiple categories.
In July, I read eight books, and I still behind in my reading goal according to the Goodreads ticker.Statistics:
63/125 books
13/30 library books *
29/30 e-books *
50/30 owned *
7/6 ARCs
40 new-to-me authors
* Some e-books are from the library and some are from my books so show up in multiple categories.
In August, I read nine books, and I am way behind in my reading goal according to the Goodreads ticker. Alas...Statistics:
72/125 books
16/30 library books *
32/30 e-books *
56/30 owned *
8/6 ARCs
46 new-to-me authors
* Some e-books are from the library and some are from my books so show up in multiple categories.
In September, I read six books, and I am sorely lagging in my reading goal according to the Goodreads ticker. Alas...Statistics:
78/125 books
17/30 library books *
33/30 e-books *
61/30 owned *
9/6 ARCs
50 new-to-me authors
* Some e-books are from the library, and some are from my books (e-reader) so show up in multiple categories.
Mod
Rosemarie wrote: "I've been reading less this year as well, Nan."Glad to know that I am not alone in this, Rosemarie. Yet my husband thinks that is all I do.
Mod
Rosemarie wrote: "He's not a reader, I take it?"Actually, he is an author (McGowan's Call is just one of his novels.) among other things. He doesn't read much, but only because he suffers from double vision, which makes it difficult to read for any length of time. Sometimes I read aloud to him, and we had read quite a few books this way.
In October, I read ten books, and I am unlikely to achieve my goal of 125 books this year.Statistics:
88/125 books
18/30 library books *
38/30 e-books *
69/30 owned *
10/6 ARCs *
56 new-to-me authors
* Some e-books are from the library, and some e-books are owned so that they show up in multiple categories.
Mod
Rosemarie wrote: "That must be hard on your husband, Nan."It is and it isn't. He's used to it, and he can read if he has to, but it is difficult for him. The biggest hardship is inability to get glasses that work for him for more than a couple weeks. His brain overrides any correction, which the eye doctor prescribes for him. Every year he gets an eye exam and then a new prescription, but they never work for him very long. It is a spot in the vision center of his brain, that causes him all his problems.
In November, I read seven books, two of which had multiple stories in them. One had three different authors and three different stories, and the other had two different stories, but the same author.Statistics:
95/125 books
22/30 library books *
40/30 e-books *
72/30 owned *
10/6 ARCs
62 new-to-me authors
* Some of the books are e-books; some are from the library, and some are owned, and thus appear in duplicate categories.
If I count the number of stories, then my overall count is 10 for the month.
In December, I read eight books, bringing my yearly total to 103 books. That is well short of the 125 I chose as a goal. On the other hand, I did decrease the number of books on my shelves, which was a goal. I didn't, however, get more than a few stitches done on my needlepoint canvas. Statistics:
102/125 books
24/30 library books *
44/30 e-books *
78/30 owned *
11/6 ARCs
67 new-to-me authors
* Some of the books are e-books: some are from the library, and some are owned, and thus appear in duplicate categories.
I also want to get all the ARCs and giveaways I have received read and reviewed. I have reduced them this year and only have 6 remaining. I wanted to read at least 12 of them this year, and I have. I am hoping to complete 3 more before the year ends, which would reduce the number remaining to 3.
I completed several challenges here, and I hope to do that again.
Although this is not a book goal, I made a resolution to complete a needlepoint canvas I have owned since 1980/81 this year, but I have failed. I worked on it, but I didn't complete it. I probably completed another quarter of it, but there is still more to do, about 1/3 to 1/2 of it to do. Can I complete it in 2021? It will be a New Year's resolution along with reading more books.
Taking my original goal from 2020: "I hope to read 125 books during 2020. I hope to winnow down the number of books on my shelves. My goals include reading twenty-five books and twenty-five e-books owned as of December 31, 2019. I also have plans to read twelve ARC/giveaways as well, and thirty books from the library." Long story short, I will use them again in 2021.