Friday, January 1, 2021

Happy 2021!

 I have to say, I'm really glad 2020 is finally over with. Too bad changing the calendar doesn't change the fact that we're still in the middle of a pandemic. But at least now, with the vaccines, there's hope that the pandemic will come to an end this year. Maybe even by the summer. Wouldn't that be nice? I'd love to go on a road trip without worrying about contracting Covid. 

At the moment though I still feel like I'm living in a strange limbo of waiting. It makes it hard to set any goals, or make any plans. Usually at this time of year I have a short list of things I hope to accomplish over the next 12 months as well as a list of new things I want to try, and life feels full of possibility. But not this year. So far I haven't made any resolutions, or set any goals, and I'm not sure what I want to shoot for this year. Like I said, I think I'm mostly waiting to see how things go.

Even my reading plans feel undefined and amorphous. I have a huge TBR list of books that I want to read, but I haven't joined any reading challenges, or set any specific reading goals for 2021. I have some vague ideas about reading more nonfiction books this year, and reading (or rereading) more books from my own shelves, but nothing concrete. And I think I'm okay with that. Whatever I'm in the mood for is what I'll read next.

What about you? Got any big plans for 2021? Set any reading goals?

Whatever your hopes and dreams may be this year, 
I hope they all come true!
And I hope your year is full of good books, too.




46 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Lark! I don't have any goals for this year. I suppose I'll plan as things move along. Most importantly, all of us to be happy and healthy!

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    1. Healthy and happy in 2021...that's what I want, too. And I have some possible titles for our next buddy read. I'll email them to you. :D

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  2. Happy New Year! Hopefully 2021 will be better for most people.

    Though I sometimes have reading plans, right now they are vague at best.

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    1. Yeah, that's me. Vague plans. It's the best I can do right now. I hope 2021 is better for all of us! :D

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  3. I never set yearly reading goals, but I broke that rule for 2021. I am focusing on Nonfiction Reader Challenge and Back to the Classics Challenge.

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    1. I do enjoy the Back to the Classics Challenge. And I should check out the Nonfiction Reader Challenge because I do want to read more nonfiction books this year. :D Happy reading in 2021!

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  4. Happy New Year! I too hope that all the troubles from the pandemic will be over soon. I haven't set any reading goals yet but hope to soon! I am very new to reading challenges so please let me know if you have any that have been fun for you in the past.

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    1. Reading challenges can be a lot of fun. I like the Back to the Classics Challenge over at
      https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogspot.com/2020/06/back-to-classics-2021.html
      It's fun if you like to read classics. And Susan is hosting a fun middle grade historical fiction challenge this year over at
      http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/p/the-childrens-historical-fiction.html
      She also has a website that lists lots of other reading challenges you can go look at here: https://readyforareadingchallenge.blogspot.com/
      Happy reading this year! :)

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  5. Tricky times at the moment, they said the pandemic would be bad in Dec. Jan and Feb and it looks like they were right. I think I might be hibernating for a couple of months so thank goodness for books! Happy New Year, Lark! Can't wait to see what you read this year, expecting to find myself buying one or two of them. LOL

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    1. Hibernating sounds really good to me! I wish I didn't have to start back to work next week, but oh well. Here's hoping 2021 starts to look brighter and more positive soon. And at least we have lots of good books to read. :D

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  6. Happy New Year! I don't really have any plans at this point, I guess I'll just see what happens and play along. One thing that I have been considering, though, is try to establish a new (or old and forgotten) habit every month. If it works out and I stick to it - fine. If not - well, so be it. We'll see how that will go. I look forward to sharing 2021 with you :-)

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    1. Seeing how things go...sounds like that's where we're all at. At least we're in it together! :D

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  7. Same here, Lark- no reading challenges or goals, not even a new year's resolution really. Just aim to read more off my own shelves which is far easier than usual as I'm not going to the library. Well, happy new year!

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one not making resolutions this year. And reading off your own shelves is always a good goal. I'm lucky that my library is open...though I've been putting on way too many holds. Hope 2021 treats you well!

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  8. Those are my thoughts too - we're all in a kind of limbo - waiting for something, I suppose.

    As for reading goals, I think just being able to read is like a goal because at times, I find it hard to get into a book.

    Happy New Year!

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    1. I'll be glad when this feeling of being in limbo finally ends. And I know what you mean about finding it hard at times to get into a book this past year. Hopefully things will improve soon. :)

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  9. And happy new year to you! The first couple of months are going to be limbo, aren't they? We can see the end, but it's not here yet.

    I'll probably sign up for one or two challenges, though I haven't yet, but I'm determined to do fewer challenges & just read books.

    Happy reading to you!

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    1. Just reading books always sounds good to me! But reading challenges are fun, too. Can't wait to see what you end up reading this year! :)

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  10. Happy New Year, too, Lark! It does feel like everything is up in the air still.

    I haven't had a chance to set my goals yet, but I don't join many anyhow. Just the Goodreads one for the number of books I'll read and probably the Audio Book Challenge again.

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    1. Makes it hard for me to settle on anything. But I have hope things will improve this year, slowly but surely. I also hope we find lots of good books to read. ;D

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  11. No goals for me, just to work at a peaceful existence right now. Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year! We'll get back to our regular programming when things settle down more, but a few more months won't be forever. Hoping you can find lots of good reads in upcoming days, Lark. Take care!

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    1. Thanks, Kay! I appreciate the New Year's wishes. :D

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  12. I understand about feeling like you are in a holding pattern, waiting. That's what so much of last year felt like and most likely this year as well. I am hoping that giving myself some reading goals will help provide me with some structure that will help in other areas of my life as well. Here's hoping for a better 2021!

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    1. Fingers crossed! I sometimes wish we could hit the fast forward button on the year until we reach the point where all the covid numbers are way down, vaccines have been distributed, and life feels normal again.

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  13. I never set reading goals, and I'm doing a simple reading challenge this year (only 10 prompts).

    Happy Reading this year, Lark! 😀

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  14. Happy New Year, Lark! I don't have any goals for this year yet. I'm just hoping for things to get back to normal soon and for everybody to be safe, healthy, and happy. :)

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    1. Healthy, happy and normal! I hope for those things, too.

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  15. I get it. I'd love to be able to plan a road trip for late spring or early summer, but deep down inside I know that won't be happening. I don't think there are too many optimists out there anymore. The numbers here are getting worse day by day, and by the time the impact of Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings are known, I suspect that the news will be horrifying. This county is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island, so you can imagine how it impacts the rest of Texas...and too many people still don't seem worried enough about it to quit partying.

    Oh...Happy New Year! LOL

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    1. Our covid numbers keep rising here in Utah, too. And we have this outspoken contingency that still don't want to wear masks. I don't get it myself. But there you go. I think the next few months might be a bit hard, too. But hopefully we all get through it!

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  16. I am going to do the Back to the Classics Challenge - it is my blogging raison d'etre. I am also active on Litsy and am taking part in a year'round set of 24 reading prompts. For both, I will try to pick books I already own.

    I hope that 2021 sees a return to some sort of normal too for everyone's sake.

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    1. Normal would be nice! And I'm thinking about doing the Back to the Classics Challenge this year. I haven't signed up yet, but I've been looking at the books I want to read this year and several of them fit the categories. So maybe. :)

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  17. Happy New Year! Here's a a fabulous (hopefully) 2021!!!

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  18. Happy New Year Lark! I know, it's so hard to really plan not knowing what's ahead. I am hopeful but also don't want to get my expectations to high about travels this year. I'm just not sure that is going to happen. When it comes to reading I'm going to focus on my books again but I am going to be joining quite a few challenges. I figure at least I can plan something! haha... Hope you have a great year ahead!

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    1. Thanks, Iliana! I hope you get to travel somewhere fun this year. And if not in person, at least in some really good books. :)

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  19. Hi Lark, Happy New Year! I'd like to try reading more nonfiction this year & I've signed up again to the Book'd out challenge hosted by Shellyrae. I'm just a lot slower with this with fiction so i'm not going to be too ambitious. Hope your year goes well.

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    1. Nonfiction reads a bit slower for me, too. But I do really enjoy it! Good luck with your reading challenge. :D

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  20. Happy late New Year. I totally know how you feel. Hope you find all kinds of joy and happiness in 2021 and hopefully it becomes safer for all of us.

    Mr. Barb got the first part of his vaccine at work right before Christmas so at least some of my worries, though not enough, are subsiding a bit.

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    1. Thanks, Barb! I appreciate your kind thoughts and best wishes. And I'm so glad your husband has had his first shot of the vaccine! That's good news. :)

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  21. Hi Lark, Happy New Year and you say it well I too am in a limbo of uncertainty as the year begins. The pandemic is still here and though there are vaccines which is great who knows when they'll be available to everyone and so we have to be careful and I find myself staying indoors more than I should. I have to get out more and walk around. That's my New Year's resolution.

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    1. Ooh...that's a good resolution. I always feel better when I manage to get outside and walk for awhile. Even when it's cold! :)

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  22. Happy New Year to You! I've set my reading goals... But still feel like I'm living in limbo land with Covid-19 still raging. But it'll give me time to work on accomplishing other things. I've signed up for an online writing class and am dealing with a health flare up, so these things are what I am working on for the time being.

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    1. Good luck! I hope you feel better soon. And the online writing class sounds like a lot of fun. :)

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  23. I can't see me ever going back to normal, even after the vaccine rollout. It'll be late summer before I even get the second dose of it because I'm not priority, and I think I'll be paranoid about pandemics forever! No real goals for the year except get stuff done!

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    1. I think I'm going to be paranoid about pandemics, too. Makes me want to spend more time and money on prepping, you know?

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