New Year New You Meh

On By Mick CanningIn books, New Year, reading, resolutions

Anyone still following their New Year’s resolutions? Good on you. As a rule I don’t make them, but this year I have drawn up a bit of a list. Partly, this is a coincidence. I’m on Goodreads, and they encourage you to set a reading target for the year, which I usually do as I think it provides that little extra spur to get on with it when I don’t feel much like reading.

When I’m feeling a bit meh, for example.

But the timing of the Goodreads prompt, being at the start of the year, not unnaturally suggested I might compile a little list of targets in other areas, which I did, but which I’m not going to be foolish enough to share here. Anyway, those few of you who follow me on Goodreads might notice that the couple of books I’ve been reading so far this year are books I’ve read before. And that’s because one of the resolutions I’ve made is that I shall re-read lots of books this year that I have read and enjoyed in the past. Favourites of mine. Books that give me real pleasure to read. In fact, the TBR pile beside my bed is currently eight books, not including the one I’m reading, six of which I’ve read before.

Re-reading a book is always a good idea anyway, as one inevitably notices things one didn’t notice the first time around. But my motive is pleasure, pure and simple. I shall still read some new books this year, but I shall focus strongly on those I’ve read before that I love. We’re often told, in one way or another, that we ‘should’ read this or that book, or that it is an ‘essential’ read (I know I’ve been guilty of it myself in the past, and will no doubt do it again). Well, this year, those folk can shove off. And take their ‘essential’ reads with them.

New Year’s Resolution lists seem to be routinely full of ways to ‘improve’ the maker of the list – make them fitter, get a better job, etc etc – rather than simply to bring pleasure. And although that’s perfectly laudable, it’s important not to forget pleasure for its own sake. It’ll help us get through the year.

42 thoughts on “New Year New You Meh”

      1. New year resolutions are generally made to be broken but ‘pleasure for it’s own sake’, seems eminently doable.Reading or re – reading books is definitely a great way to get there. Thanks for suggestion. Nothing to beat the pleasure of reading a good book!

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

  2. If I see “must read” or “must see” or some version of this I immediately do the opposite. 😀

    I reread books too. The World According to Garp I’ve read numerous times in 30 years, all the Spenser, Jesse Stone and Sonny Randall series by Robert B. Parker I’ve reread at least twice, and now I’m rereading Lescroart’s mysteries with Dismas Hardy, Abe Glitzky etc for the second time. First time was two decades ago. That’s on the fiction side.

    On the non-fiction I tend to reread parts of books, not reread all of them.

    But I’m not good at keeping track. 🤷‍♀️

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Yes, I’m with you, there. I’ve never liked being told what to do and invariably feel inclined to do the opposite.

      There are certainly books I’ve re-read many times, one or two of them probably at least a dozen times, although that is definitely exceptional.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. I’m a great re-reader of favorites, both authors and books. Way back when, Heraclitus explained why that’s such a reasonable thing to do when he said “No man steps in the same river twice; it’s not the same river, and he’s not the same man.” Every time I re-read a book, I see things I missed in the past, or interpret them differently. It’s great fun.

    I generally ignore books lists like those put out by the New York Times, and I have one inviolable rule: if a book is boring me to death, I put it down. Shoulds and oughts have their place when it comes to reading, but pleasure (even the pleasure of learning) should be near the top of our experience.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Exactly. Even if I re-read a book for the sixth time (admittedly very rare) I still see things I hadn’t really noticed before – or perhaps it’s more correct to say I take notice of them and see their relevance this time around.

      I never read those book lists. the only recommendations I take notice of other than by people I know are those discussed on certain sites I follow specifically to read their reviews.

      And I do tend to ignore all shoulds and oughts, regardless of where or who they come from.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. One of the advantages of age is that I finally figured out “should” and “ought” generally translates as “I want you to do things the way I do things, because then I’ll feel better about my choices.”

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

  8. I kind of have a resolution this year, but I actually started it in late November so I’m not sure I can call it a New Year’s resolution. (Hint, I’m revisiting ground school.)

    As for re-reading, I just recently re-read a book by Terry Pratchett, sort of by accident. I hadn’t checked it off on my check list, but once I started reading it I realized I’d read it before. The thing is, once you start reading a Pratchett book, there’s no stopping…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Mick, hope you are having a good start to the New Year! I like your bookshelf of favourite books to re-read and recognise a few. Lots of wonderful nature ones! Last year for the first time in ages I started to re-read books – something I did all the time as young and since stopped! At first, I was concerned I would feel differently about a book but rather the opposite and found I appreciated it on a deeper level. Happy Reading in 2024! 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  10. My NYr resolution was to try not to complain so much. Not easy as it is part of how I make conversation! I do try to laugh about any troubles I relate. Truth is I’ve already broken it with my husband, but hey I had a frustrating week with insurance and tech problems… 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  11. I enjoy the Goodreads challenges, Mick, primarily because I like the summary of covers at the year’s end. They’re fun to browse and remember the great reads. I made a resolutions list this year, but all fun stuff (no losing weight or keeping ahead of the invasive blackberry vines). Wishing you a fabulous new year of reading and adventure.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Well, this year, those folk can shove off. And take their ‘essential’ reads with them.
    Hallelujah Mick!! Thank you for this validation!! I listen more than read, and have repeated my favorites at least six times each. The benefits are myriad and deep, and I’m so grateful. Happy New Year! 🎉 Best wishes to you!! 👊🏼💪🏼👍🏼🖖🏼

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature. I found 2 of his books in our local library. “The quarter” and “Respected Sir”. I like the second book more.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  15. Michael Graeme's avatar Michael Graeme

    Thanks for the follow, Mick. I’ve had a nosey at your bookshelf. The only author I know there is Macfarlane – read a few of his a d enjoyed them immensely. Someone else mentioned Jim Crumley to me recently – the universe is obviously trying to tell me something there, so I’d better look him up. New Year’s resolution? Nah, just trying to stay positive and doom-scroll a little less.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.