Ah the end of the year. In the world of reading, the month of December sets off a frenzy of "best of" lists for every conceivable genre and style of book. If you like to compare these to your own reading list, one good website is the Largehearted Boy blog. If there's a "best of" list online, it's sure to be there! In particular, I'll point out the favorite books of 2009 - from Printers Row (Chicago Tribune).

The other thing that usually happens at the end of the December is queries as to "Reading Resolutions" for the following year. I recall my most successful resolution was the year I determined to read 2 nonfiction for every fiction title. It was a long, slow year of reading, but I must say it was more enjoyable than I anticipated (reading poetry isn't "cheating" is it?) and I found a new appreciation for nonfiction writing. Of course I've had other resolutions that I haven't kept up, like the year I decided to "read through the alphabet" (i.e. read a book by an author whose last name begins with "A", then "B" and so forth). I know I didn't make it to Z. And then just a few years ago I tried to limit myself to just checking out one book at a time, but I quickly found the lack of variety in my reading choices to be stifling so that didn't last more than a few weeks.

I don't really have a resolution for 2010 - do you? If nothing else, I hope you resolve to spend more time here with us at the Library!

mcs