My 2011 Reading and Blogging Resolutions

It's almost the end of 2010! I've been blogging for five fantastic months now and whilst I've got the ropes now, there are many things that I need to improve on so here are my 2011 goals to help me along :

Blogging and reading resolutions

 

• To post my Coverlicious feature more regularly

I haven't done one of these for a while and I really enjoy featuring covers so it is something I want to do more often next year

• To try and comment on as many posts I read as possible and generally be more outgoing in the blogging world

Recently I have been a bit of a lurker as I read a lot of posts in the short time I have left before leaving for school in the mornings so I haven't been commenting much. I know I smile when I recieve comments so I want to spread the commenting love! I always try my best to reply to comments on my blog on the commenter's blog but when I don't have a lot of time, I will always try to reply in the comment section.

• To start up another feature/hold an event

I want to start another feature unique to my blog. At the moment, I have one or two ideas I'm thinking of and will be investigating more early next year. I can tell you that it is has something to do with authors so it depends if they would like to participate for one post.

• To write some interactive discussion posts

As I mentioned earlier in my Friday Hop question answer, one of my favourite type of blog posts are discussions because they get people talking and make me think. I'd like to try and post some myself. What do you think about this?

• To read more in my spare time

I've noticed a lot over the past weeks that I am spending more and more time blogging and reading posts but not as much time reading. I hope to read 50 books in 2011 and although this might not sound like a lot as I know that many of you read 100+ but for me it's a challenge. This year I don't know exactly how many books I've read since I didn't keep track of them until I started blogging in the summer but I am guessing about 40 at the most. I'm also aiming to make sure I post one review a week.

• Read unread books that have been sitting on my shelf for a long time

Since starting my blog, my TBR list has grown incredibly as I know has happened with so many other bloggers too but I have come to realise that since I can't buy new books all the time as they are released, that I should try to concentrate on reading the books I already have on my shelf and the ones at my school library that have caught my eye. Of course, I will still be reading newer books but not all the time.

These are the books I need to read:

 

The Keeper's Daughter by Gill Arbuthnott-( library)

Witch Child by Celia Rees- (library)

Sovay by Celia Rees

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Mermaid's Singing by Dilly Court

Deep Secret by Berlie Doherty

The Red Queen's Daughter by Jaqueline Kosolov

 I also want to read at least 5 books from The Chalet School series by Elinor M Brent Dyer as I have about 40 of them on my shelves and have been neglecting them because I can't review them as what I think of them is nearly the same for each book.

• Have FUN!

I stress about a lot of stuff so I want to relax more! This applies to life in general and blogging. I'm going to try not to worry if I don't get a review posted one week or something like that- blogging is supposed to be fun (which it is!)

What are your New Year Resolutions?
Do you share any of mine? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Happy New Year-goodybe 2010!

In My Mailbox and reading updates

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and explores the content of our mailboxes on a weekly basis.

This week I got:

 Frederica by Georgette Heyer, which I won in Carolyn from Book Chick City's Book Blogger Appreciation week Friday giveaway. I haven't read any Heyer's for a while so I'm looking forward to diving back into her regency world again.

The Wrong Chalet School by Elinor M Brent Dyer- My school librarian mother kindly passed this out of print book onto me. I love The Chalet School series but I haven't got very far in it yet as I have so many other books that need to be read too

Reading updates:

Last Tuesday I finished The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (review coming soon)

Yesterday I finished Nicola and The Viscount by Meg Cabot (review coming soon)

I have now started Enna Burning by Shannon Hale, the sequel to The Goose Girl

I thought I'd also tell you that I have started reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee at the moment too through studying at school as I know it is a favourite of many bloggers.

Books I own/am borrowing that I plan to read soon:

• Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace 
• Angel by Zizou Corder
• Witch Child by Celia Rees
• I Coriander by Sally Gardner
• Forest Born by Shannon Hale
• River Secrets by Shannon Hale

Summer and Beyond Reading List

Check out my reading list under the page heading 'Reading List' - you might find a book that take your fancy!

Thanks!