January 2010 Reading Goals

As I've mentioned before, my focus for 2010 is reading books from the awards I most enjoy. More specifically, I want to read all the shortlist books from the Booker Prize and Orange Prize, as well as the finalists for the National Book Award and Pulitzer before the 2010 awards are announced. Here's the numerical breakdown and my plan to read four nominees each month:

• Newbery Awards
• I read the 2009 winner, The Graveyard Book, but I will read the winner and honor books this year.
• The Medal and Honor books are announced in January, and number of honor books varies.
• Pulitzer Prize (Fiction)
• One winner and two finalists
• The finalists and winner are announced in April; I'll read one book a month and finish the 2009 list in March.
• Orange Prize for Fiction
• One winner and five on the shortlist
• The shortlist is announced in April; I'll read two books each month and finish the 2009 shortlist in March.
• Booker Prize
• One winner and five on the shortlist
• The shortlist is announced in September; I'll read one book in January, February, and March; two in April and finish the 2009 shortlist in May.
• National Book Award (Fiction)
• One winner and four other finalists
• The finalists are announced in October; I'll read two in April and three in May to finish the 2009 finalists.

Naturally, the librarian in me made a spreadsheet of months before the award announcements and devised a reading schedule. I may not stick to it, but each month, on the first, I'll post my goal books for the month. Perhaps other bloggers will join in and read with me, but at least I hope this public declaration helps me stay accountable.


My January goal books are:

• Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (won the Pulitzer)
• Home by Marilynne Robinson (won the Orange Prize, whose shortlist is announced in April)
• I hope to read Gilead first.
• Scottsboro by Ellen Feldman (shortlisted for the Orange Prize)
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (winner of the Booker Prize, whose shortlist is announced in September)

Eventually, I'd love to read the long lists too, and I'd love to read the finalists before the winners are announced. Of course, it's nearly impossible to do with the Booker and Orange Prizes from the United States, but I like to aim high. I would also love to read all the winners and finalists for these awards, but that is a massive goal, and I want to start with a small, attainable one. 


Cheers to deliberate reading!