OK, so it’s been ten days since New Year’s Eve, and I have yet to make any official resolutions. Actually, I have never been much for making them. I’ve found over the years that these declarations for becoming a better person just do not happen (anyone else resolving to lose those 10 lbs. of belly fat?), or I find that I am reluctant to share my resolutions since they inevitably do not happen (again, we speak of those pesky pounds).
I’ve asked around, and it seems most people are in my camp. One friend, Nancy, said, “You know, I used to make these big resolutions, and they just didn’t happen. Now, I just try everyday to be the best person I can be”, which is so perfect, and does not seem to involve eating less and exercising more (although I suppose it could). Another friend, Lisa, told me that last year she resolved to call up a different person each week, someone with whom she had lost touch over the years. I felt exhausted just hearing about it. I am not much of a phone talker, and the thought of calling and reconnecting with someone every week is just too much. But she did it! For three months. She must have run out of long-lost relatives, or just gotten too tired. In any case, 12 weeks of calling and connecting was such a lofty act, and I admire her for it. And I bet her life is better because of it.
So, my resolutions remain the same, involving more of some things, and less of others, but I will not share them here.
Last week, my Facebook feed inspired me (something that does not often happen) to expand my resolutions. Someone posted “The 10 Best Books of 2019”, chosen by the editors of The New York Times Book Review. I thought, if these editors could read all the thousands of books put out there last year, and choose the very best of the best (in their opinion), I’d better sit up and pay attention.
So, my publicly stated resolution: read all ten books on the New York Times list. I am so pleased and satisfied with this resolution. First, it will support my somewhat vague notion of “read more” (sorry, Netflix). And it will get me to read some genres I would never approach. I love good fiction, but am not a fan of nonfiction, except for memoir and true crime, which I actually love. The Yellow House will be a delight for me (memoir), as will Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (true crime). On the other hand, Midnight in Chernobyl will be much more of a challenge for me (all 560 pages of it), as will The Club: Johnson, Boswell, and the Friends Who Shaped an Age.
I’ve already started reading one book on the list, and have the rest of the books on hold at the library. I’d love it if you would join me on this quest. I’ll keep you posted on my progress, and would love to hear your reactions to the books too.
Here’s the list:
New York Times "10 Best Books of 2019"
Happy New Year! May all your resolutions come true.