Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Thoughts on the new year



Happy new year to you, dear reader! I hope you had a wonderful 2012 and are looking forward to more book-ish things in 2013. I, for one, had a blast last year.

As I write this first post for 2013, I find myself thinking of some things. One, reading challenges. I haven't participated in any yet, and I don't think I'll be joining a particular one this year. I just don't think that these reading challenges are for me. Far too much work and commitment these challenges require.

Another thought goes to read-alongs. While the act of reading may be a solitary endeavor, the full reading experience can be shared. Somehow, going through those "difficult" books becomes easier when you read with a friend. You take reading to a higher, more meaningful level when you talk about your thoughts on a book with a fellow bibliophile, no?

And my last thought goes to the classics. I started reading them when I was in my early teens, and I recall I seldom get disappointed with them. If these books give me great satisfaction, then why on earth haven't I been reading more of them? So perhaps 2013 would be a "backward-looking" year for me reading-wise, as I consciously make the effort to read the several classic titles in my shelf.

So there it is, my initial thoughts for the new year. I wonder where these ruminations of mine will take me. Will they just remain as they are, simply, thoughts forever inscribed in thin air? Or will they take me some place exciting? Well, there's only one way to find out! Bring it on, 2013!

12 comments:

Archieviner VersionX said...

Happy New Year!

Peter S. said...

Thanks, Archieviner! Happy new year to you too!

Jack Tyler said...

An exceeding prosperous and enjoyable New Year to you and yours, my friend! And you are right about the sharing. Personally, life is too short for me to squander any of it on "difficult" books, but when I've read something that blows me away, I become as annoying as a 2-year old. "You gotta read this, your life won't be complete," etc. Then when my victim finally does, it's like I'm third grade again: "Great, right? I told you! Can I pick 'em, or what? What was your favorite part?" I think R. A. Salvatore has cost me more friends than there are characters in the Drizzt novels! Perhaps I need another hobby...

Peter S. said...

Happy new year to you and your family, Jack! I hope you have a wonderful celebration to ring in 2013!

Hopefully, 2013 will be the year I get to read R. A. Salvatore!

Jondmur said...

Happy Happy New Year ^_^ sana daming blessings na matanggap...

LON said...

VERY WELL SAID. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
MORE POWER TO http://www.kyusireader.blogspot.com!

Peter S. said...

Hi, JonDmur and Demigod Winzton! Happy new year to you too!

Teacher Pogi said...

ser peter, naenjoy ko magbasa ng blog mo. pasilip silip lang at minsan hindi talaga nagkocomment. keep blogging! :)))) happy new year!

Becca said...

I like challenges because it helps me focus my reading attentions and challenges me to try something I might not otherwise choose sometimes, too. I have participated in one readalong so far, but there wasn't much discussion during it so I felt like I was reading by myself anyway. I am also going to read more classics this year. They fell by the wayside in 2012. I know I will definitely be picking up Machiavelli's The Prince as well as Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.

Happy New Year to you!

Peter S. said...

Hi, Overthinker Palaboy! Happy 2013 din sa yo!

Hello, Becca! I loved A Farewell to Arms! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Anonymous said...

What I like about read-alongs is that I have a tendency to read the book at a deeper level because I know I will be discussing this with a friend (if it were just me reading alone, I would just reduce my thoughts to ... thoughts, hehe). In addition, it also helps both readers see things what they might have missed. Happy New Year, Peter. :)

Peter S. said...

Happy new year, Angus!