Monday, December 29, 2008

Thanks, S. Claus!


I had a lovely surprise waiting for me when I returned from my holiday trip. A bag of books addressed to G. Reader, from S. Claus. I don't know who my secret Santa was, but I really appreciate the gift! Here's a photo of my new stack of books, thanks to Santa's generosity.

I was planning to do a year-end round up of my favorites from 2008, but...I'm too lazy. Instead I've formed a resolution for 2009. I would like to try to do what Nan at Letters from a Hill Farm is doing (I've been a long-time lurker and fan of her blog), but I'm not as resolute as she is. She is going to try not to buy any new books this year, and get through her piles instead. I won't go that far, but I will say that I'm going to try to get as far into 2009 as I can without buying any new books. That's because, as I've mentioned ad nauseum here, I'm drowning in books. And they're all good books, books that I plan to read. Some day. My problem is that I keep getting distracted by the interesting books that I read about on my dear friends' blogs, or hear about from my sister-in-law, my cousin-in-law, or my book groupers.

So I'm resolving to get some badly-needed focus in my life, and to read my way through my piles and piles of books.

11 comments:

Booklogged said...

Sounds like a worthy goal. I'm going to aim for that, too. Also I'm not going to accept as many ARCs because they are killing my desire to read. I feel compelled to read them and also, it allows less time to pick up something that just feels 'right' for the moment.

Yay for Secret Santas and surprise books! Hope you have a Happy New Year.

Gentle Reader said...

booklogged--I hear you on the ARCs--they really cramp my style, too! Happy New Year to you!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with buying fewer books in '09! I don't think I can manage it, although I know I should if I'm ever to clear out the TBR shelf.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Santa was really nice to you! In counting up my books this year I was surprised to find that most of what I read came from books I own. I won't say though how many of those books were new and how many were from the piles.

litlove said...

What a lovely pile of books! I'm kind of torn about buying this year, as I ought to read what I've got, but at the same time I've a bee in my bonnet about the state of the book industry, and am planning to buy one book a week, every week, from a bookstore. My husband did comment that that would probably lower my book buying totals across the year! ;) But I'm always impressed by abstention, so good luck with that. And a very,very happy New Year to you!

Rebecca H. said...

I'd like to buy fewer books too, although I like Litlove's point about the state of the industry. I'll plan to buy fewer books, but when I buy them, I'll be careful about where I do. It's not good that my TBR list is weighing on me somewhat ...

Anonymous said...

I'm working on my year round-up but I have a hard time limiting to 5 favorite reads. So I might split into two categories: the books released in 08 and the backlist books. Enjoy your lovely pile of books. Happy reading! :)

Iliana said...

You were a good bookworm :)

Enjoy your treasures from Santa and have a happy new year!

Lisa said...

That is a nice stack of books! I've toyed with the idea of 'trying' not to buy new books, but I always fail miserably. I know I shouldn't, but I just can't help myself. Happy 2009!

Gentle Reader said...

sarah--well, like all New Year's resolutions, the no-book-buying one will probably go by the wayside...

stefanie--that's great that you're getting through the books you own! I'm going to try, also...

litlove--good point about the state of the book industry...I do want to support it. Maybe I'll try to support it by buying more books as gifts! I'll probably break down and buy books for myself as well, let's be honest...

Dorothy--I will be careful about where I buy, too. I think I'll try to buy many books as gifts, and do that from my local bookseller...

matt--looking forward to reading your year-end round-up. Good idea to split it up that way :)

iliana--and a happy and bookish New Year to you, too!

Lisa--I've made this resolution before, and failed, too. We'll see how far I get...

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I noticed a few Elinor Lipman books in your pile. She is great! My favorite by her is The Inn at Lake Devine, and My Latest Grievance. BTW..I like your blog.