Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

Here it is February and I’ve been sitting on this post all month.  About time I publish it.   Last year, I wrote up a post with some reading goals for the year, and while I didn’t look at them the entire year, I enjoyed looking back at the end of the  year.

I want to keep it simple, so I don’t have that many reading goals.

• Continue to read with my children. My kids will always be my top priority.  Stop, turn off the computer and unplug myself.

• Book Clubs – Continue to participate in my neighborhood book club, the children’s literature book club, and my online Skype book club.

• I have loved the interaction I’ve had with authors this past year through interviews, guest posts, forums, blogs, etc.  Continue this interaction by participating in interviews, guest posts, author events and signings.

• Life-long Reading Goals – Continue to read all the Newberys and support my local authors.  You can see my current progress on my life long reading goals on my challenge blog.

• Slow it down. I’ve drastically reduced the number of review copies I’ve accepted the past couple of months and it’s liberating.  I have learned how to say no.  Take it easy when it comes to blogging and reviewing.  Remember that this is a hobby (a fun hobby!) and don’t stress if I don’t post 7 days a week but yet be more timely in following through with commitments.  Don’t compare my reading to anybody else.

• 2009 Reading Challenges Umm . . . why in the world is 2010 the year of the most reading challenges?! The reason I sign up is because I like to make lists as I read and categorize my reading.  It makes year end evaluation easier to calculate.  I don’t stress over them so I find them fun even though I rarely succeed.  I have a challenge blog to track all my lists.
  • 2010 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren:  Read twelve debut authors for YA and MG novels.
  • A-Z Title and Author Challenge hosted by Becky at Becky’s Book Reviews. The same list as last year! Middle grade fiction book that I already own.
  • Art History Reading Challenge hosted by nomadreader.  Signed up for this one to get me back and reading my art books.
  • Awesome Author Challenge hosted by Alyce at At Home with Books. Read works by authors who have been recommended to you time and again, but you haven’t gotten around to reading them yet.
  • Beth Kephart Challenge hosted by Amy at My Friend Amy.  With only one Kephart book under my belt, I’d love to read more.
  • Cybils Challenge hosted by Michelle at Galleysmith.  Reading the shortlisted finalists.
  • Finish that Series Challenge hosted by The Royal Reviews.  I have a couple series that I’d like to finish this  year.
  • Graphic Novels Challenge hosted by Nymeth and Chris.  I’m already down two for the year!
  • Memorable Memoir Challenge hosted by Betty and Boo Chronicles. I LOVE memoirs, so it will be fun to list these.
  • New Author  Challenge hosted by Jackie at Literary Escapism.  I loved seeing how many new to me authors I read last year, so looking forward to doing this again.
  • Reading for a Cure hosted by Wendy at Caribousmom.   I’ll likely be doing this during the read-a-thon.
  • Social Justice Challenge hosted by Amy, Hannah, and myself. 12 monthly themes and action steps.
  • South Asian Authors hosted by Swapna at S. Krishna’s Books.  5 books by authors of South Asian descent.
  • Support Your Local Library by J. Kaye’s Book Blog.  I liked listing my library reads last year, so I’m up for this one again.
  • THIB – Twenty Minute Book Club hosted by Ncole at Linus’s Blanket.  Books that correspond with the That’s How I Blog show.
  • Vietnam War – War Through the Generations hosted by Anna and Serena. Love this one!
  • I really need to stop there. It’s getting out of control.

Phew. Now that is out of the way, I’ll come back at the end of the year and see how I did.

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