"Ideally a book would have no order to it, and the reader would have to discover his own."
~ Mark Twain
Making a list and checking it twice: Discovering the benefits of list making
Many of us are list makers. We make lists for grocery shopping, home improvement, To Dos, etc. At work, I like to make a daily focus list.
Book lover's make reading lists: Lists of books we have read, books we plan to read, books that sounded interesting, books that would make good gifts, and so on.
Studies indicate that creating a list helps us to organize our thoughts and increase our productivity because the act of checking off a particular item encourages us to complete another task, and ultimately reach our goal. Research also suggests that writing out projects and responsibilities can help reduce stress. By compiling your duties or errands into a list, you are able to conceptualize all of the items you need to tackle and better determine which tasks need to be prioritized.
This year, I decided to make a list of books that I want to complete in the year ahead. These are books that I have previously purchased, shelved, and never had or made the time to begin. Committing to certain titles was actually a bit overwhelming. There are so many wonderful books out there still waiting to be discovered.
With new releases promoted weekly if not daily, the excitement of the latest "it" book can change up your entire reading schedule. Additional books will be thrown into my mix as my book club announces its selection each month and I read about books fellow readers have enjoyed. I also have several e-reader books ordered, including Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn which I can't wait to read. For 2013, books I hope to get off the shelf include:
The Plague of Doves by Louise Endrich
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Sanctuary by William Faulkner
Two new books I received over the holiday which I am excited to read:
A Train in Winter by Caroine Moorehead
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis (This is the new Oprah 2.0 selection)
In the new year, I don't want to set a goal of reading as many books as possible. Instead, I want to savor the ones I do read and spend more time digesting these stories.
What is on your 2013 reading list?
Here is to a new year filled with reading!
Rebecca
