I’ve noticed other book bloggers are participating in challenges. The Winter Challenge, the Chunkster Challenge and the Let’s-Whittle-Down-Our-To-Be-Read-Pile Challenge. Part of me wants to join in, yet I’m hesitant. It’s kind of like going on a diet on January 1. The minute you set your mind to eat right and exercise, all the cakes, cookies and chocolate within a five mile radius call to you. Or at least that’s been my experience.
So no New Year’s book diet for me.
All of those challenges got me thinking – what do I need to read more? I’m heavy on the novels and memoirs. How can I be a more well-rounded reader and perhaps learn something? I need to be more purposeful in my reading, so when I look back come this December, I can feel like not only did I read great books, but I learned something worth my time and effort.
That’s when the idea for a year of reading C. S. Lewis came into focus. I love Lewis. And it’s been way too long since I’ve read Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters and The Joyful Christian. It’s been so long, I can’t remember much of what I read. Sadly, I never thought to keep a reading journal when reading them the first time.
This time around, after I’ve read the book, I’ll record my thoughts here. I’ll be re-reading some of Lewis’ books I’ve already read and add some new titles as well.
I plan to read a Lewis book a month. That gives me plenty of time to really chew on it, and I can still have time to read other books, like my novels and memoirs. I’ve already started Mere Christianity.
I kind of feel the same way you do about book challenges. I took part in the R.I.P. challenge, where readers had to read five horror novels in a two- or three-month period, but I found myself losing interest after a few weeks. Then reading those books became a chore, and there’s nothing worse than feeling obligated to read something. Also, I think a lot of those challenges are too general for my taste; if I was going to do a challenge, it’d have to be specific, like reading a particular book. But I’m also an ADD reader; I can’t be purposeful in my habits, since I read just about anything and everything I can get my hands on. I do set little reading goals. For instance, it’s been about eleven or twelve years since I’ve read “The Chronicles of Narnia” (I’m twenty-five now), and I think it’s about time I read them again. So I’ll likely do that sometime this year.
Hello,
I like your idea. Maybe I’ll also read the same book that month and we can trade impressions. Let me know if interested.
Ryan
Brandon, yes, when reading the books becomes a have-to instead of a joy, that’s when you know the challenges have overstayed their welcome. Never noticed the horror challenge.
Ryan, you’re more than welcome to come back and share what you think of the book(s). That’s the beauty of blogs – the give and take of conversation.
I love C.S. Lewis. I read his books non-stop when I first became a Christian, resulting in me having a pretty good collection of his books. Be sure to read Till We Have Faces. It may seem a little uneventful through the first half of the book, but when it all comes together it is great.
Have you read _The Dark Tower_? It’s a collection of short stories and some unfinished pieces (like the title story.) I can remember liking it a lot, tho’ that was 20 years ago in college.
Yup, got Till We Have Faces. Not sure if I’m re-reading it yet. I do remember liking it.
Thanks, Marianne. That’s one I’ve never read, I’ll have to check it out.
I read The Dark Tower a long time ago. I remember the stories being very good, but being extremely frustrated about not ever being able to hear the end of the unfinished stories… maybe we can ask Lewis in Heaven. (o:
Well, I’m not ready to join you in the Lewis marathon, but he is one of my favorite authors! I’ve never read The Joyful Christian, but Surprised by Joy and A Grief Observed are also good ones (in addition to the two others you mentioned). A Grief Observed, especially so. For light(er) reading, most people haven’t read his space trilogy. It’s really different and absolutely intriguing — once you get into it.
I love the idea of theme-reading. I’ve been more random lately, and I wanted to say how much your random sidebar list struck me. Many are books I’d find on my own shelves. Even the More with Less cookbook. Perhaps great minds read alike?
Love More with Less. Should blog that sometime…
I like random and I see the benefits of themes too. Whatever the mood calls for, I say.