Last year, in the first week of January I did a Top Ten Bookish resolutions post where I laid out my plans for the year for my blog.

This is what I hoped to achieve:

1. To read at least 60 books

This, I managed. And then some. I read 74 books this year, although not all were off the 746.

2. To read 20 books by BAME authors

I didn’t manage this one at all. I read a mere 3 out of my planned 20. Must do better here, although I did read mostly women writers this year with 36 of the 47 books read from the TBR being by women.

3. To continue my book buying ban

The ban remains and gets easier the longer I go on. Although, anyone who saw my Christmas haul post will know that I’m not exactly suffering!

4. To redesign my blog

This didn’t happen due to a change in circumstances and a lack of time. Hell, at this point I’m just glad the blog is still going, so I think Lauren will be around for another while…

5.  To take part in the Woolfalong

Ali’s Woolfalong was one of the favourite book challenges I have taken part in since I started blogging and it meant that I finally read the incredible Mrs Dalloway.

6. To lose the guilt

Nope, didn’t happen. In fact, the guilt probably got worse and at times I thought of giving this whole blogging business up because I wasn’t giving it the time it needed. I’ll have to work on this one going into 2017!

7. To continue to explore Irish Literature and promote Reading Ireland Month

This is still one of my main priorities after the reduction of the TBR and if anything, my love of Irish literature has grown given how my new job means I am immersed in it!

8. To try and complete 20 Books of Summer

Done! Finally after 3 years I managed to read all 20 books.

9. To connect more through Instagram

I had a lot more fun on Instagram this year and would love to meet more of you there, so do follow me @cathy746books

10. To have fun!

I still had fun here at 746 books – I always do and that is mainly down to the lovely friends I have made through the blogging community.

So, what do I plan for 2017? My goals are similar, with just a few tweaks.

I’m going to try to read 70 books this year and as many of those I hope to be from the 746. I’m going to step away from Net Galley – which I don’t use too much and only for new Irish releases, but I really want to focus on getting closer to the 400s now I’ve seen how much I can read when I put my mind to it.

I also plan to read more. I know that sounds a bit strange coming from a book blogger, but often in the evenings, I stick on the telly regardless of what is on and waste a few hours that way. My husband and I have decided that we are going to spend more time reading and listening to music instead of watching Gogglebox and complaining that we never have any time to do the things we love.

I’m also going to continue to try and read a more diverse range of books, despite my abject failure to do so last year. I have a lot of books in the 746 to choose from so it’s just a matter of making the effort.

With regard to challenges – Reading Ireland Month will be back, as will 20 Books of Summer, both of which I love and would miss if I were to stop. I’ll keep an eye out for other reading challenges that I can find a book or two for, last year I really enjoyed the Jean Rhys and Beryl Bainbridge Reading Weeks, so if anyone is planning anything exciting, let me know!

I think a redesign is out of the question, this year I plan to just keep reading, keep reviewing and keep having fun.

 

What about you? Any bookish resolutions you want to share?

 

 

 

 

 

The 746