I know, I know. This year is all about finishing things I've already started. Like the pile of books on my bedside table. Remember from my original post when I started this blog, I had no fewer than ten books on my bedside table that I had started and not finished. (Read that post by clicking here.)
So I swore off buying books until I had made a dent in all of those unfinished books I already had. So I chose 12 books to finish this year. Below, I'll list them. But for the moment, let me tell you about the book I bought.
This one is worth breaking the rules.
This book has captured my imagination. The idea of cutting back to eating seven foods, wearing seven articles of clothing, purging seven items from my home every day... Wow. And each challenge only lasts a month.
But it also scares the fire out of me, because this book is a practically crack for someone who starts things and doesn't finish them. Not that I won't finish the book, mind you. I'm on target for finishing it in a week or so. (To see the negative ripple effect, scroll down to see how I'm doing on my March book...)
I could get a bee in my bonnet to start purging my closet and never finish.
Or I could pull out tons of unused stuff and have it sit in my closet, never to see the light of day outside my home.
Or it might make it to the car, but never to Goodwill.
There are so many landmines here I can't even name them all.
But it's certainly got me to thinking. And isn't that what books are supposed to do anyway? I'm positive I will be blogging about this more in the future.
In the meantime, here's the list of books I'm supposed to finish this year with a little commentary on each. Looking back, I think there are some good choices on this list, and some that deserve a do-over.
12 BOOKS I WILL FINISH THIS YEAR
(In theory...)
January: Quitter by Jon Acuff — FINISHED! Really got me to thinking about my job and my life. Much to my husband's chagrin.
February: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins — FINISHED! I kinda cheated here. I didn't buy it. My mother-in-law bought it for the Kindle account that we share. So technically it's a book I already "owned." Yes, I'm rationalizing.
March: Do The Right Thing by James F. Parker — Well... I was doing great on this until I stopped going to the gym. I was plowing through it while on the elliptical. But now, with two days to go, I fear I'm going to miss the deadline on this one. But it's still a great book about how Southwest Airlines is successful by valuing its employee and customers.
April: A Praying Life by Paul Miller — This one will get done. I'm about 2/3 of the way through already, and it's a regular part of my quiet time. Favorite quote: "We can't pray effectively until we get in touch with our inner brat."
May: Drive by Daniel Pink — Another business book.
Note: This one may or may not make the final cut as there are oh, so many other books vying for a spot on this list. I reserve the right to change the list as I see fit. My list, my rules. Live with it.
June: The Suzuki Violinist by William Starr — Because I have two wonderful boys who are just astounding me with their musicality. Because their ability to grow has been severely hampered by my half-assed job of being a Good Suzuki Mom. Because I promised my mother-in-law I would. And because I owe her one for buying all three Hunger Games books for the Kindle.
July: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber — Another business book. See note above.
August: Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen — I started this book about two years ago. I took a whole freakin' class on Austen and Bronte in college. I. SHOULD. BE. ABLE. TO. DO. THIS. But the book is so boring it makes me want to cry. But I will finish it out of sheer will. It will not defeat me.
September: The Myth of the Garage by Chip and Dan Heath — Another biz book. See note above.
Another note: Can you get a sense of the frame of mind I was in when I made this list? And maybe the frame of mind I'm currently in — or not in?
October: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand — OK, so the book is 1200 pages long. I'm currently about 1/3 of the way through. As it's on my Kindle, if I can get back to the gym, this will probably be OK. If I don't, then this deadline could get missed.
November: Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin — Yet another biz book. Geez! I really do need to edit this list.
December: April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik —I started this book a couple of years ago. It's really good. And really long. I probably could have lived the month in less time it is taking to read it.
What are you reading? Or what have you started and not finished? I need encouragement, y'all.
Finish well.
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