I usually wait until mid to late January before posting my reading plans or goals. Mainly because I'm very optimistic about my superhuman capabilities during the start of a new year but much of that enthusiasm fades over the next couple of weeks. I tend to believe I can read more than ever but reality is usually closer to how much I averaged in previous years. So, to allow myself the opportunity to dream big and then plan well, I take the ambitious goals for a road test during the first couple of weeks of the year. If they still look achievable, great! If not, I will part ways with those that are a stretch. The numbers I have an arbitrary number set in Goodreads for this year but it's not a number I will quote as I tend to change it often and it is intended to factor in the many picture books I read with my kids. But that said, there are three numbers I would like to improve this year (last year's stats in parentheses) - total number of pages read (approx. 11k), average n
You know a pregnant woman is nesting when she signs up for too many reading projects/reviews, especially when she is very close to her due date. Yep, that's just what I did.
Back when I was just newly pregnant and delivery/baby was a distant idea, I decided that I wouldn't make any commitments in reading or blogging, starting from May to some unknown month. The way I saw it then, I was likely going to have a ton of things to do and it didn't make sense to add more to my plate. Now that May is here, and I was right - there is a ton of things to do - I am more desperate than ever for life and work to be more normal than it is. I don't want to pause the things that have been a constant in my life. Instead, signing up for readathons, readalongs, and book reviews seem to be just what I want to distract myself from the ongoing chaos that is preparing for a baby. If I didn't have reading as a hobby, I'd probably be fretting about trying to get things done, even though, let's be honest, what is the point of all this prep work? It's not like we are moving house.
Anyways, the point of all that rambling is to say this - I'm doing two readalongs this month (and super excited about them). I also have four books to review this month (gulp!). Oh, and Armchair BEA is also towards the end of this month, and although right now I'm undecided about whether to participate, I know very well that I WILL end up participating, so might as well get that planned out.
I haven't done a readalong in forever, so I am excited about the two I'm doing this month.
Flowers for Algernon readalong
A Visit from the Goon Squad readalong
So, if you are interested in any or both of these books, jump right in and let one of us know. Both are going to be low-pressure - we aren't doing any discussion posts, which always makes the actual reading suffer for me, because then I am trying to just meet that deadline. You can post often about the book if you wish, or none at all.
In other matters, the husband and I are heading for the early morning show of Avengers: Age of Ultron. I loved the first movie and have been waiting for this second one for a while, so I'm quite excited. Have you seen this movie yet? Or planning to?
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We'll have to compare notes later. :)
Also, I watched 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' a week ago. I liked it. Let us know what you thought of it too.
Hey, you can join my read along for Atlas Shrugged in July. You know, with all the spare time you'll have. I jest. When is your due date? My worker is due at the end of the month and already left for leave.
I saw Avengers today! It was not as explosion-heavy as I feared it would be! There was more Jeremy Renner than I'd maybe have liked (he's never been my fave), but there were also plenty of jokes and good quiet dialogue bits between all the characters.
I actually loved all that Hawkeye background. He wasn't one of my favorites either but I always felt he was kind of an underdog surrounded by the biggie players so it felt nice to learn more about him. At the same time, with all that extra focus on him, I worried they were writing him off from the show so I loved how Joss Whedon made it look like he was going to die but then completely changed the tune.