Top 5 Tuesday: Bookish Resolutions for 2023

Top 5 Tuesday was created by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm, and now being hosted by Meeghan reads.

Hello!

Welcome to my first Top 5 Tuesday of 2023. The Top 5 Tuesday is exploring my bookish resolutions for 2023.

  • Read more Ancient Greek and Roman texts.
    • I find that I am really missing my Masters and all the reading of Ancient texts that I did, so this year I am hoping to try and read one Ancient text a month. Most Ancient texts are divided into Books (what we would call chapters) so if I plan to read a book a day I should get at least one full ancient text read a month. Here are some of the texts I plan to read:
  • Read at least one non-fiction book a month.
    • I love history and classics so this year I have decided to read more about the subjects that I love. I bought quite a few non-fiction books last year so I am hoping to read them this year.
  • Read my height in books.
    • I tried to read my height in books in 2021 and sadly I failed because I was a few inches short. The tower was made up of 74 books and to be honest some of these books were quite thin so didn’t give much height to the tower. This year I am determined to succeed and I plan on reading some big books, like the ones below, to make the tower higher.
  • Read 80 books
    • This year I am planning on reading more books than I have ever read before. I have never managed to read more than 74 books in a year before so reading an extra 6 might be a push but I am determined to give it ago.
  • Read at least 10 books off my Classics Club list.
    • I really want to make a dent in my Classics Club list this year because I didn’t do very well last year and I really don’t want to fall behind on my target of reading 50 books in 5 years.

So there are my 5 Bookish Resolutions.

Please drop me a comment if you have taken part in Top 5 Tuesday this week and I will head over for look.

Happy Reading

Etsy

Goodreads Monday: 9/01/2023

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club.  All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

Welcome to my first Goodreads Monday of 2023! I have been back at school today and teaching at home in the evening and I will be honest it has been a bit of a shock to the system. I can’t read and drink endless tea all day. Although I did have to text my husband for an emergency mug of tea between lessons this evening so I have managed a reasonable amount of tea.

I am still featuring books that are on my Classics Club list on my Goodreads Monday’s because all the books are also on my Goodreads TBR.

My chosen book for today is…

Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. While the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation and encouragement, Marcus Aurelius also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and readers throughout the centuries.

I did Philosophy for A Level many years ago and a couple of years ago I did a Masters in Classics so this book really interests me. Also this year I am determined to read more from Ancient Greek and Roman times so this book ticks a lot of boxes. Fingers crossed I manage to read it soon as I have a beautiful cloth bound edition that I am just itching to read.

Have you read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius? What were your thoughts?

Please drop me a comment if you have taken part in Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

Etsy

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I have had a wonderful week with reading and blogging but I am back to work tomorrow so that could all change but hopefully not.

Posts this Week

Currently Reading

I’m over half way through with Aeneid and really enjoying it. I have also just started Amours De Voyage, I am finding it rather strange but quite amusing.

Happy Reading

Etsy

A Little Reading Challenge

Hello!

I have always wanted to read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and it is one of the books on my Classics Club challenge. However, it is rather a substantial book so I have decided to tackle the book in mini chunks rather than trying to plough through it.

There are 117 chapters in the book so I have decided to read a chapter a day. So in theory the book will take 117 days to read. I had started this challenge but as I am reading Aeneid by Virgil I have decided to finish this first then restart The Count of Monte Cristo. I have found that really long classics can sometimes make me go into a reading slump so I have decided that small chunks are best.

I am really excited to read The Count of Monte Cristo because Alexandre Dumas is one of my favourite authors and I really want to read more of his books this year which will also tick off more of my Classics Club list.

I will be honest though. If I start to really get into the book and have a good reading day I will most likely read more than just the one chapter. I just won’t have the self control to stop myself.

Do you have any methods for tackling really long books?

Happy Reading

Etsy

Friday Poetry: Sara Coleridge

Happy Friday!

I hope you all have some fab plans for the weekend. I am rather gloomy now the Christmas decorations have come down as I always find the house so bare and dull once the pretty decorations are taken down.

My chosen poem today is from a new poet for me. Sara Coleridge (1802-1852) was a translator, novelist and poet. Coleridge hailed from a very literary family, her father was the early Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Her uncle was the Poet Laureate Robert Southey and her neighbour was William Wordsworth. Coleridge was surrounded by talented poets. 

The Garden Year

January brings the snow,
Makes our feet and fingers glow. 

February brings the rain,
Thaws the frozen lake again.

March brings breezes, loud and shrill,
To stir the dancing daffodil.

April brings the primrose sweet,
Scatters daises at our feet.

May brings flocks of pretty lambs
Skipping by their fleecy dams.

June brings tulips, lilies, roses,
Fills the children's hands with posies.

Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots, and gillyflowers.

August brings the sheaves of corn,
Then the harvest home is borne.

Warm September brings the fruit;
Sportsmen then begin to shoot. 

Fresh October brings the pheasant;
Then to gather nuts is pleasant.

Dull November brings the blast;
Then the leaves are whirling fast.

Chill December brings the sleet,
Blazing fire, and Christmas treat.

Sara Coleridge

Happy Reading

Etsy

The Box of Delights by John Masefield (Review #1)

The Box of Delights by John Masefield

Blurb

When Kay Harker meets a mysterious Punch and Judy man on his way home for Christmas, he little realizes that he is about to be plunged into adventure. The old man entrusts Kay with a strange puzzle box – the Box of Delights – before suddenly disappearing. Kay soon discovers two things: the box can transport him through time and space, and there is a plot to steal it. He must battle heroically against terrifying forces of evil in order to win the day… 

Review

When I met my husband I was introduced to the BBC adaptation of The Box of Delights because it is their Christmas tradition to watch the series every Christmas. Since then I have really wanted to read the book and this Christmas I bought a copy and got reading. 

I will be honest I have read more children’s books as an adult than as a child and this has got to be one of my favourites. I loved this book so much and even though I read it after Christmas it kept me in the Christmas spirit. 

The slang in this book is absolutely adorable and I know it is appropriate for the time it was written but phrases like ‘scrobbled’ and ‘the purple pim’ just made me smile. The characters in this book are also fantastic and even Maria who I can’t stand in the TV adaptation is bearable in the book. 

This book is so beautifully written and every scene and character is so well described that I could easily visualise everything. Abner Brown is a particular favourite of mine, he was such a fantastic baddie. Herne the Hunter and the Lady of the Oak Tree were also wonderful characters and of course Cole Hawlings. 

The one thing I did find concerning was the lack of interest the police had in reports of kidnapping and missing people. Also certain characters went missing and their nearest and dearest did not seem that concerned.

This book is full of magic and wonder and it really had me enthralled and it had so many wonderful scenes in it that aren’t in the TV adaptation. My particular favourite is lunch with the field mouse in the tree. I loved Masefield’s writing and I have ordered the prequel to The Box of Delights, The Midnight Folk to read next because I am not quite ready to see the end of Kay just yet. I loved this book and it was a great first read of 2023. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons. 

🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Purchase Links

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(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

John Masefield (1878-1967) was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until 1967. 

Etsy

WWW Wednesday: 4/01/2023

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

Welcome to my first WWW Wednesday of 2023. I have had a lovely day today doing lots of crafting and it has been so relaxing. All my crafting projects (well the ones that work) are going on to my Etsy site.

What I am Currently Reading

I started reading a chapter a day of these two books from New Year’s Day and I have really been enjoying both books. I will probably start to read more of The Count of Monte Cristo once I have finished Aeneid.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I absolutely loved The Box of Delights and I have ordered The Midnight Folk to read next.

What I Think I will Read Next

I have so many books that I want to read at the moment I am finding it difficult to choose as I just want to read them all at the same time. I might have to start a TBR jar and pick a book at random.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

Etsy

December 2022 Wrap Up

Hello!

I have just realised that I never did my wrap up for December 2022! I did my yearly review but not my last month. December is usually my best month reading wise but sadly this December did not go so well but I am still pleased with the reading that I did get done considering how much I was working and fighting off illness.

Statistics

Books

Pages: 32

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Pages: 99

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲

Review

Pages: 400

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲

Review

Pages: 192

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

Pages: 432

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review

Pages: 39

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲

Review

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Pages: 208

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

63/60 Goodreads Challenge

I am still trying to catch up on my book reviews but hopefully I will manage to catch up in January.

Happy Reading

Etsy

Bookish Goals for 2023

Hello!

Last year I was quite relaxed with my bookish goals and to be honest because of this I ignored them. This year I have decided to get back to my usual challenges.

In 2021 I attempted to read my height in books and sadly I failed. For 2023 I have decided to try the challenge again and I really hope this time I will complete it.

I had no idea what to set for this years Goodreads Challenge so I let my fellow Bookstagrammers decide for me and they chose 80 books. 80 books! I have never read anymore than 74 books in a year but I am hopeful I will manage this challenge. It might mean I read some smaller books this year.

I also want to read more classics this year as I miss my Ancient Greek and Rome literature. I am thinking I might read a lot of Greek plays but I will see what I come up with.

I have three ongoing challenges that I will be continuing with. My Classics Club Challenge, Maigret Challenge and Agatha Christie Challenge. These challenges won’t get completed this year (unless I go crazy) but I hope to make progress with them.

Reading nonfiction is something I also plan on doing more this year and I am hoping to try and read one nonfiction book a month for this year.

So here is the round up of my bookish goals:

  • Read my height in books
  • Read 80 books
  • Read more Ancient Greek and Roman literature
  • Classics Club, Maigret and Agatha Christie Challenges
  • Read one nonfiction book a month

Hopefully I manage to accomplish all these goals during in 2023.

Have you got any bookish goals for 2023?

Happy Reading

Etsy