Thoughts on the Comment Challenge

Yesterday was the first check in for the comment challenge. The goal is to leave five comments a day on blogs; I've averaged that. Some days I leave fewer, some days a few more. I'm impressed with the people that are leaving many more than that!

I've found some great new blogs to read, and I've loved getting comments on my blog! My additional challenge is trying to keep up with them and respond, but that's a good problem to have.

I read quite a few blogs before I started this challenge, and even before I started blogging. And while I knew there were tons of book blogs out there, this challenge has been a reminder of all the people that love reading and talking about books. Even though I spend my days in a library, it's sometimes easy to forget this...some days I have lots of people asking for books, and telling me about what they are reading, and other days it seems like all people want are dvds and help on the computer. (For the record - I totally don't have a problem with libraries circulating popular dvds, and I think - no, I know - there are so many people needing computers to use for homework and job searches and the library is their only option, and I'm glad that's a service we can provide. Just saying my job isn't always about books and reading.)

So whether you're blogging about picture books or young adult titles, or writing books, whether you're blogging about your personal reading or about getting books in the hands of kids, it's both wonderful and refreshing to see so many people passionate about reading and sharing that passion with others. It's been an additional benefit of this challenge to see and be reminded of all that enthusiasm for reading.

2012 Comment Challenge & A Few Goals

Lee Wind and MotherReader are hosting the 2012 Comment Challenge, and I'm excited to be participating. I read a lot of blogs, but am not very good at commenting. Hopefully, by the end of these three weeks, I'll have a new habit! I know I'll have new blogs to read - I've already found some great ones.

I've been blogging for about a year now, although sometimes sporadically. I have a bare bones blog. I'm thinking it might be nice to finally add an About Me page...maybe a blogroll of bookish places I go...we'll see what happens.

I've never really set reading goals before (with the exception of the summer in elementary school when I read 100 books and got a James Avery dangle ring), but I have three very different books I'm determined to get read this year.

1. If you've been reading my blog, you may remember this post, when I re-read the first six Harry Potter books in about three weeks, and got pottered out. The whole reason I re-read them was so I'd be ready for the last one, which I still haven't read. I am going to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this year. Soon.
2. I've always liked biographies, and I was a journalism major in college. I've been wanting to read Personal History by Katharine Graham, so much so that the not-small book has moved five times with me. I've finally decided this is the year.
3. I've never read The Outsiders. Haven't seen the movie, either. Every year, when students come in looking for it, I decide I'm finally going to read it, but never do. And really, what finally made me decide to commit to reading it, was listening to Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends. (I'm not sure I would have stuck with the book, or maybe I'd just have skimmed, but I very much enjoyed listening to it on car trip. It is like Lowe is just right there, telling you these amazing stories.) Anyway, he talked a lot about the movie. This year, I'm going to read the book.

What about you? Do you set reading goals, or have any specific books you want to tackle this year?