New year's resolutions are tough, which is why I normally avoid making them. Not that there aren't things I would like to change for the better, but because I know myself, and I know that unless I have a goal that's specific, rewarding, measurable, and reasonably attainable, I have no reason or motivation to follow through.
That said, I am embarking on a new year's resolution for the year 2015, and that resolution is to read more. Not just read more, though. Like I said, I need a specific measurable goal, so I'm going to aim for one book a month. To people who are rabid readers, this probably doesn't seem like a lot, and it really isn't. But honestly, since I'm not in college anymore, it kind of is a lot for me, because I normally spend most of my time writing. I write for a living, and I write in my free time because it's actually even more enjoyable for me than reading is. If I have free time during which I'm not writing, I'm probably wasting (okay, not wasting) using that time doing something like binge watching The Walking Dead or Downton Abbey, playing dumb games on my iPad or faffing around doing any number of other things.
So, I decided I want to make an effort to read one book a month, and I'm outlining a plan now, so that way I don't succumb to laziness or let myself fall victim to "I don't know what to reeeeeead" whining later.
What do I want to read? Well, that's a good question. I always have a really hard time finding fiction books that I'm interested in, or that are interesting enough to keep me picking up the book when there are things I'd rather do, like work on my novel or watch another episode of Downton Abbey. I'm a sucker for rereading novels I've already read, particularly classics that I read for the first time in college, but that's not very productive either. However, I do really like reading nonfiction, and I like it for a couple of reasons.
1. There are tons and tons of topics about which I currently know very little, and therefore and endless supply of interesting subjects.
2. I enjoy knowing more than other people, which is primarily why I decided to undertake this project in the first place.
Lately, I've been finding myself reading lengthy articles on Wikipedia about ancient Egypt and Winston Churchill and other stuff I want to learn about. In the past, I've pretty much devoured nonfiction books about the Tudor dynasty and then about Bobby Kennedy or James Dean, so I think my 2015 reading journey is going to be primarily nonfiction based. I just like learning more about stuff that most other people would never go near unless they were currently enrolled in high school history. My dad is a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge on nearly every subject, and if I ever have kids, hopefully I will be too. Doesn't matter if you're discussing American history, old movies, aeronautics--whatever-- my dad always knows more than anyone. Probably because of reading. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that people who don't go out of their way to learn things are just dull and I have no interest in being one of them. (Shots fired!)
So, if you want to participate in this 12 month, 12 books reading challenge, I'd love to have you with me! Feel free to read whatever books you want. If fiction is your thing, that's cool too. If you want to do some nonfiction like me, then feel free to follow this outline. Just one book a month! That's all! Pick a topic, head to the library, and check out one book that you think looks interesting.
Here's what I'm thinking my year is gonna look like. As you can see, I'm incorporating subjects I'm interested in, as well as some "challenge" subjects that are going to force me to read about people and events that aren't necessarily my favorite, but still worth knowing.
January: nonfiction book on Ancient Egypt, more specifically the 18th or 19th dynasty, because everyone knows those were the most interesting.
February: a biography about Catherine the Great.
March: something involving business or finance, which I know absolutely nothing about.
April: a book about Greek mythology. A nonfiction book, that is. Not like that horrible smut book I once read about a nurse who falls in love with the Grim Reaper. Yes, that's a thing. It's called Dark Kiss Of The Reaper, and I only bought it because it was like $1.99 on the Kindle store and I couldn't believe it had been written, so I had to see for myself.
May: a book about the history of the papacy and Rome because that shit is freaking fascinating and I would probably die if I ever got to go there.
June: another biography about my idol, the unflappable Winston Churchill.
July: something about the Borgia family.
August: a biography about someone I don't like, like Genghis Khan, Hitler, or Edward VIII
September: nonfiction book about the Plantagenets, the one British royal family about which I know very little.
October: a book about something I don't find particularly fascinating, like Asian history, politics, or anything science-y.
November: something French. Not something written in French, but something about French history, particularly the revolution.
December: Art history. Enough said.
So, are you interested in taking the 12 month, 12 book reading challenge? I would be a happy human if someone wanted to come along on this journey with me, whether you're following my outline or making up one of your own. Otherwise, good luck with your own resolutions!
Let's get this shit started. I've got episodes of The Walking Dead to watch. Y'all know that I identify strongly with the the term "geek." If you're not sure why, I'll refer you to this quote by Simon Pegg.
I never make any attempt to hide my enthusiasm for the stuff I like. Even if others think I should be more subdued, even if it seems like 25 is way too old for someone to be cursing up a storm and screaming at the TV during an episode of American Horror Story, that doesn't stop me. That's just who I am. That's who I've always been. My excitement for shit knows no bounds, and while some may think that's dorky or weird, all I can feel is sorry for people who don't feel like they're allowed to live their life with as much joy as they possibly can.
That said, I know it's been a big week for Star Wars fans. New teaser trailer and all that. I got a sincere kick out of watching Youtube videos of avid Star Wars fans reacting to the trailer as they watched it in real time. Among my favorite moments are the looks of awe on everyone's face when that lightsaber ignites, and the ridiculous whoops of glee and cheers that accompany the Millennium Falcon bursting onto the screen accompanied by John Williams' score. There's nothing like those moments, dude. No. Thing. And as the member of any number of different fandoms from Starbucks to Harry Potter, to the Jonas Brothers, to black and white cookies, all I can say is, I know that feel, bro.
I like Star Wars and everything, but it's never been one of my things, if that makes sense. Harry Potter was my thing. I grew up with it, I adore(d) it, lined up at midnight for the release of new books, and I cried lots of times during the movies but never as much as I did at that last shot of Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing at the train station. Other than the Spice Girls, it was probably the first thing I was ever a huge, enduring fan of.
I just ended a sentence with a preposition and that's going to bug me, but I'm not going to go back and change it now. Yolo.
Anyway, I realize for a whole generation of now almost middle aged geeks, Star Wars was their Harry Potter, which is why I want to take this opportunity to extend the heartiest of fist bumps and knowing smiles as they enjoy their moment in geeky heaven -- the first of many that I'm sure will follow in the coming months. I know that feel, bro. Enjoy it, now that you get the chance to do so again. Enjoy every geeky moment.
