The Sunday Salon and Reader Resolutions..

Happy New Year! And welcome to The Sunday Salon! Winter has finally come to Connecticut and the excitement of a new year is in the air. As we put away our cut-offs and tank tops (yes, it was that warm last week) and we move indoors for the next few months, it's time to turn our attention back to reading and book shelves and other inside activities. Of course reading is always on our mind, isn't it. I almost always have a book with me just in case I get stuck somewhere. But what other bookish things do we do during the year or mean to do during the year? And do you have any reader resolutions?!

Reader Resolution #1… This is probably "Read More Books" for most people, or read more nonfiction or horror or "you fill in the blank" kind of books. Or read a specific amount of books… I signed up for the reading challenge of reading 50 books for the year (a lofty goal). But I have resolved to read more poetry in the past, and to read more science fiction too. But does it always have to be about reading? NO!

What About… Organization or decoration? How about  resolving to organizing your books in one place or by author or even by color?! How about resolving to get a book shelf or build one! Or how about rotating the books on your shelves? Do you like to have your favorites there, the currents there or a combination? I always have favorites on the shelves, but when I run out of room for some of the new books I want to shelve, it's time to rotate… and decide to store or donate (see resolution below)!

A Resolution to "Clean out the Shelves"…  Yes, for some of us it's hard to get rid of books. I NEVER throw out books, but every year I do clean out my shelves and donate books that I have read, but don't need to keep. My local library has a sale and my book donation helps raise money for things not in their budget.

Visit Your Local Library… Why not resolve this year to visit your local library?! Libraries are a great local resource for a lot of things and even just walking through those doors and checking out a book once in a while shows that people still use the library! I have a fantastic local library, but I can remember times when funding was leaner and budget cuts took away some of the things I enjoyed (like eBooks). If libraries aren't used they will disappear! In some places they already have.

Read What You Have!… This could be a sub category of "Read More" resolutions, but I think that it deserves it's own category! How many TBR books do you have on your shelf?(or nightstand or table…) TBR, aka To Be Read, can multiply like rabbits in some readers homes! I know this from experience. There are many reasons for buying a book and not reading it right away, but sometimes those books can get lost in the shelves for YEARS! Am I right?! So, why not resolve to read what you already have? Not easy with all these wonderful books coming out every month, but maybe resolving to read at least one for every new book you buy?

My Reader Resolutions are simple…

1.  I resolve to read books that I think I will enjoy and if I'm not enjoying a book, I am going to put it down without guilt (that's hard sometimes). 
2.  I resolve to sign up for reading challenges for FUN! I have signed up for a few reading challenges (read 50 books, read 12 Graphic Novels, read 6 library books), but I am NOT going to let the challenges rule my reading life! Theses challenges are for pleasure and fun, NOT Stress! And that includes my own Chick with Books "Book Bingo" Challenge, which I'm hosting as a FUN way to read books. 
3. I resolve to use my library more. Not just because of the library challenge I signed up for, but because I don't need to buy every book I want to read and this will save some money!
4. I resolve to Blog more! The past year or so life just got in the way a bit, but I miss chatting with everyone here and in the book blogging community! So expect more this year, including the fun stuff like giveaways! 

I'm hosting a FUN reading challenge! Book Bingo is a fun way to see if you can fill in the spaces of a bingo card with the books that you're reading! It's also a way to nudge you to read something you may not normally read, so you can get that space filled for a Bingo! Follow this link: Chick with Books "Book Bingo" to read all about it and join in on the fun! If you would like a printable Bingo card, just email me at quzy@mac.com and I'll get one to you!

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I think that about does it for MY reader resolutions! What about YOU?! Do you have any Reader Resolutions for this year? Hope I shared some ideas for you! Let me know! And share any ideas you have with me here! I'd love to hear all about them!

Happy Reading… Suzanne

New Years Resolutions for Readers... The Graphic Novels Challenge 2010

New Years Resolutions for The Reader

Graphic Novels Challenge 2010

Like New Years Resolutions, Readers also make resolutions! These resolutions are all about the challenges! Type of books, length of books and even how many books! It's all so much fun, you aren't punished if you don't finish your challenge, and you're joining your reading community and reading!

The first challenge I'm going to join this year is going to be the Graphic Novels Challenge 2010! I've really enjoyed the Graphic Memoirs I've been reading and decided it would be fun to read more Graphic Novels and not just graphic memoirs.... So, Nymeth at things mean alot and Chris at Stuff As Dreams Are Made On are hosting this challenge at a special blog appropriated called, Graphic Novels Challenge Blog.

Here are the rules and guidelines...

*The challenge starts on January 1st 2010 and ends on December 31st (but we don't mind you starting early.)

*You don't have to make a list beforehand (but you can, of course! Lists are great because they give ideas to people who aren't sure what to read. And if you do make one, don't feel forced to stick to it!)

*The levels of participation:

Beginner (3 Comics or Graphic Novels)

Intermediate (3-10)

Expert (10+) You're more than free to adjust your level of participation after the challenge has begun.

*There will be mini-challenges!

*Overlaps with other challenges are totally fine.

You don't have to have a blog to participate- all you have to do is read! You can share what your reading right here if you'd like! I'll be posting the links to my reviews here as I'm going along. Do you read graphic novels? And suggestions of some of your favorites?! Let me know what

you've read in the past or are reading right now! And click on the Graphic Novels Challenge link above to read all about and join the challenge!

Books I Read for The Challenge:

Stitches by David Small... This graphic novel is David Small's memoir of growing up in his dysfunctional family, and having a little operation that was suppose to be harmless, but left him virtually mute.

Read my full Review of Stitches.

American Widow by Alissa Torres... This graphic novel tells the story of 9/11 through the eyes of Alissa Torres who lost her husband, Eddie Torres, in the North Tower. American Widow depicts the horror, frustration, and utter chaos that Alissa had to deal with as she dealt with the realization that her husband would not be coming home. This is a powerful book that seamlessly weaves together the backstory of Eddie & Alissa, Eddie & Alissa before they met, how they met, fell in love and came to become part of the story of 9/11.

Read my full Review of American Widow.

Tyranny by Lesley Fairfield... This graphic novel gives us a glimpse into the mind of a girl who begins to suffer from an eating disorder. The internal conflicts

and external pressures that cause Anna to battle with herse

lf about her self worth. Tyranny is Anna's alter ego, drawn as an angry squiggly line, who is constantly pushing her buttons and holding her back from living the life she was meant to. There is an important message in this slim graphic novel about eating disorders, and ultimately the novel shows that there is hope for young girls who suffer from this devastating disease. Read my full Review of Tyranny.