I'm no longer a fan of New Year's resolutions -- too many failures in my past! -- but as the calendar clicks over from December to January, I always reflect on the previous twelve months and think about what I'd like to do better going forward.
In 2015 I did not read as much, or as consistently, as I like to...in fact, as I need to. There was simply too much happening within my family, too little time left for immersing myself in storyland, too many books started and then left neglected for days, weeks, months.
At the end of year, I really enjoy reading "Best Of" lists from other readers, not only to see if I share some of their selections but to hunt for recommendations as I head into my post-Christmas readathon. Because I spent so much of 2015 switched off from the reading world, I missed new releases from favourite authors...or I one-clicked them and they remain unread* on my Kindle. (*I intend to rectify this during the next few weeks.)
When I attempted to reflect on my favourite reads of 2015, I found it near impossible to remember what I read and enjoyed. Perhaps because my mind and emotions were all over the place and rarely focused in a book, but also I suspect because of my advanced age. These days I need a list to get through each day!
Which brings me to the point of my post: logging books read. I have never done this, despite being the personality type who spreadsheets pretty much everything else. I am seriously considering starting a spreadsheet today -- right after I publish this post -- to record the books I read this year. I like the idea of a resource from which I can select My Favourite Books of 2016. From which I can nominate my favourites for the ARRA awards. So I can reflect on which genres caught my attention, which kept me most intrigued, and which didn't manage to hold my attention.
I'd love to know what others do as far as recording their reading. Do you log the books you read in any shape or form? If so, what do you record about each book? If not, are you able to recall your favourites when it comes to year's end?
PS: I DO have a favourite book from 2015, and it's this little beauty by my uber-talented daughter-in-law.
