Years ago I used to copy out reading lists required in schools and then put them in a box. It was just an ordinary shoe box, nothing fancy. Then I'd pick a slip of paper and read the book listed on it. It was fun but then life got in the way and the idea disappeared.Years later, well really, decades later I was reading Alex in Leed's blog (here) and she did a lovely post about her book jar. She used coloured squares of paper folded up with many names of books hidden away.
It has been sticking in my mind ever since I read it. It's a lovely way to pick books off the shelf randomly when one no longer wishes to make anymore decisions for the day.
Yesterday I decided to do a big clean up of some back issues of 'book magazines'. They set on shelves for ages waiting for me to read all of the books listed in them. Well we all know that is not going to happen.
I had a bit of a rethink and decided to tear them apart. That's right. In keeping the Book Jar idea alive I sat outside with the dogs while they played in the sun and reread many of the magazines with a pair of scissors. I snipped out book review after book review after book review. Then I snipped apart the Persephone catalogue and the Folio Society catalogue and the local indie book store flyers.
Each one of the snips went into the book jar. Then I threw in another list or two of books I'd written down I want to read. I actually had to get a bigger jar. I had a very large pickle jar that was empty and now it is filled with the titles of many books.
For 2014 I plan on having a very random reading year. But I think it will be lots of fun. Books on my own TBR shelves will be chosen by Random.org from my inventory on My Library Thing. They will be the main focus.
The Book Jar will be extra books I get to choose to reward myself for being so good and reading already owned books. I actually noticed that some of these choices are also on my shelves so already it is looking promising. I also won't need to give up library books or heaven forbid, buying a new one.
I plan to continue to add to the book jar as new book titles become available as I listen to radio interviews, read newspaper Sunday mags and hear about them from friends. I will simply add them to the jar and see what crops up during the year. Travellin Penguin is quite excited as many of the books in the jar have been published by Penguin Books and we have vintage copies of them.
Christmas saw me receiving a very generous gift voucher for books. I do look forward to using it. After all I do want to keep up with modern times and I am in a monthly book club. I think I'll have a good round up of things to really get stuck into this next year.
I am looking forward to seeing what the Pickle Jar tosses up for the new year.
I know Alex has enjoyed her Book Jar but does anyone else choose books randomly?
Pam, are you going to read only books drawn from the jar, or is there room to choose something you feel like reading - from your own shelves, or the library, or wherever, and will you allow for re-reading too? I also have a book box, with the titles of all the books on my TBR stacks. But I've given myself a pass this month, to read (and re-read) whatever I want. It will be interesting to see what you draw over the next year!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, No I am going to read other things. I use Random.org to choose TBR books from my shelves. Extra books will come from the Book Jar and I'll read other things while I track down those Book Jar books I don't have. It can take awhile for things to come in to the library. I have to give myself leeway or else I won't stick with any of it. :-) Nice to hear from you Lisa.
ReplyDeleteI don't do much planning about what I'm going to read, but I wouldn't say I was totally random. I'm just not good at reading things I think I 'should' read! Your 'reward' jar is a brilliant idea though - that's a strategy I need.
ReplyDeleteI am going to try hard to stick with it. I just need to stop adding book titles to the jar.
DeleteBook jars are such a good idea. I keep meaning to make myself one and I hope you read some brilliant books through using it. Apart from the odd book I have to read, I pretty much always just read whatever takes my fancy - I think that's the fun of reading!
ReplyDeleteI'll be doing spontaneous reading as well. It's all part of the fun of reading things I really want to read but am intimidated of as well as reading fun things I can't wait to dive into. Nice to hear from you Ellie.
DeleteIt's a great idea but I don't think I could stick with it for very long! I try not to make too many resolutions as I'm very bad at keeping them. My perennial resolution is to read more from my tbr shelves & buy fewer books which is a goal I can always aspire to! I have to admit that owning a Kindle makes the no book buying resolution harder to achieve but at least I'm not adding to the physical tbe shelves which are bursting at the seams.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean re: Kindle. It'll be interesting to see how I go with the Book Jar and random reading but I"ll be sure to read things off the cuff as well. Need the balance. All the best for the new year Lyn
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