Isn’t this a fabulous image? It’s a WPA poster created for the Chicago Library in 1941. I can’t say exactly why I’m inordinately fascinated with WPA art posters, but it’s certainly some combination of appreciation for the graphics of that time period and the WPA program itself providing opportunities for artists. In any case, art and books – two of my favorite things.
2021 has been an exceptionally prolific year of reading for me. Yet, as I suspect all readers appreciate, there are SO MANY books out there, and a great many of them demand reading. It’s a never-ending task of which I will never complain.
In our household, where avid reading is second nature and books are always welcome, in this time between years I always enjoy contemplating what projects it will delight me most to focus on and plan, in broad strokes, what books I’m committing to giving priority to. This year, I’m excited to be working on a multi-faceted perfumery project, and I have a giant pile of scent-related books I can’t wait to tackle. I’ll make these a priority, but leave plenty of space to read “around” them. My tastes are nothing if not eclectic.
Once again, I’ve chosen to participate in a few reading challenges. There are literally hundreds to choose from and part of the delight for me is settling on a few. For 2022 I’ve chosen one with specific prompts and a few more with more loosely defined parameters. Here’s what I’ll be playing in:
- 2022 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge. While this one is new to me, you know my penchant for abecedariums and my inability to resist almost any A-to-Z challenge. You can read more about the details here.
- The 52 Book Club’s 2022 Challenge. This is the one with a list of 52 prompts, and I’m looking forward to finding books to fit them. Read more and see the prompt list here.
- Mount TBR. I’ve played in this one for a few years, and the point is to commit to clear (or at least put a dent in) one’s to-be-read book pile. You commit to a certain number of books and have at it. It amuses me that no matter how much I read, my pile somehow magically never diminishes. You can find out about the challenge here.
- Virtual Mount TBR. This is a variant on the above challenge, with the books you commit to reading being ones that you borrow not own. Chicago has a great library system and while I haven’t borrow any books in person since the pandemic, I do a great deal of borrowing online. Specifics about the challenge can be found here.
- Bout of Books Read-a-thons. These aren’t challenges in the same sense as the above are, but instead are three week-long periods during the year in which one dedicates time to reading. The first one is January 3 through the 9th, and that seems a perfect way to kick off the new year reading season to me. While you don’t have to participate, there are scheduled times daily where you can read along with other participants. Find out more here if you’re interested.
Despite all the reading I did in 2021, I certainly didn’t blog much about my favorites. Although I hardly feel qualified to post as a reviewer, I do like to give shout outs to works that have impacted me. I’ll try to do better in 2022.
What about you? Was this a good reading year for you? Planning on playing in any challenges in 2022? Love the idea of a sled full of books to take home and find a cozy spot to snuggle in and read? Have some good things on your to-be-read list? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Like you, I am a massive fan of the WPA program, in general, and WPA posters. That is a great one. I didn’t read nearly as much as I normally do in 2021 since I was distracted by various issues but I do plan and hope to get back on track in 2022.
Wishing you lots of good reading Candace! Maybe you can fit in a detective story or two just for nostalgia’s sake as well. 🙂
We chose some excellent Book Club reads this year and the discussion enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the books. For my pleasure reading, it was a decent year for me; I thought that I would do much more considering how much time I had on my hands!
I’m always delighted to hear appreciative reports about book club’s choices and discussions. Hope you have more good reading this year!
Oh, I may have to try the Alphabet soup one! I usually go with the Popsugar Challenge, but I also got a scratch off poster of 100 essential books to read so if it doesn’t meet a challenge prompt, I try to make it one of those. And, I try to use the books I already have to clear off my shelves — to make room for more books of course! Happy reading and a very happy New Year to you too, Deborah. Oh, maybe I can use the Alphabet Soup challenge as the basis for my A to Z this year?
What a brilliant idea for your A to Z challenge Janet! Let me put in an early vote for it. It’s a delicious task isn’t it – to clear off the bookshelves in order to make room for more books?! Happy reading always, and best wishes for a wonderful 2022.
What a fantastic poster! I enjoy art deco stylization, especially in wintry images.
I don’t do any reading challenges, but I typically reads 60+ books per year. That number fell quite a bit during 2020, so I set my 2021 goal pretty low as a result. The initial pandemic “blahs” left me by February though, and I met my yearly goal early. I haven’t set a reading goal yet for this year, but I’m thinking it will be 52. One book per week should be easily doable. And I have at least that many in my TBR pile!
Ah I love a kindred reader with a ready stack of TBRs. I almost feel virtuous knowing I’m prepared for any winter storms and snowed-in days. Wishing you a wonderful year of reading!
Hi Deborah – I’m determined this year to read the books I’ve bought and have here waiting to be read … I guess I spend a lot of time looking at the screen – the books tend to get left in piles! I won’t enter any competitions/challenges for them … all the best to you for 2022 – cheers Hilary
I like to think the books waiting for my eyes get a little bit of a thrill knowing they’ll be chosen, just as I get a little bit of a thrill knowing I’ll be cracking them open soon. I’m determined to manage my time more brilliantly this year, including less screen time. I have way more projects whispering their siren songs to me than hours in the year, but I’m going to do my best to attend to as many of them as I can. Wishing you all the best for 2022 Hilary!
I’m still working on the #EU27 challenge, and I’d like to make some progress on that this coming year. Other than that, I’d just like to read more in general!
Happy New Year!
Wishing you lots of wonderful reading Kathleen!