For five years now Sheila at Book Journey has asked her readers to submit a photo of themselves with their first read of the New Year. She creates collages using all the photos to celebrate the joy of books, reading, and new beginnings. This was my first year joining in on the festivities.
It’s fun to see what everyone is reading and in what format — hardcover, paperback, e-reader, laptop. It also jogs my memory about a few books that I want to read. Check out the collages here: https://bookjourney.net/2018/01/01/first-book-of-the-year-2018/. Thanks, Sheila!
My first read of the year is My Antonia by Willa Cather. It is a re-read in preparation for the first Willa Cather Book Group discussion at the Book Club Bookstore & More in South Windsor, CT later this month. I can’t remember how many times I’ve read this novel, but its been six years since the last time (which was when I hosted the Willa Cather Novel Reading Challenge), so I’m looking forward to it. My Antonia is one of those novels that’s a joy to revisit. It’s like it meets the reader where they are, revealing new things along the way and/or resonating in ways different from past readings.
Our book group is meeting on 1/18/18 at 2pm and all are welcome to join us.
May I recommend a New Year’s Resolution? Read more Willa Cather! Join us at @BookClubCT on 1/18 to discuss My Antonia. #NewYearsResolutions #CatherChat #WildForWilla pic.twitter.com/a46DPzQczt
— Chris Wolak (@chriswolak) December 31, 2017
What’s your first read of 2018? Do you spend a lot of time agonizing over what your first read of a New Year will be?
I don’t agonize at all. You and Em were talking about being careful with what you were going to end and begin the year with. I just read. 🙂 I’m always just happy if I find a book I look forward to going back to.
Happy reading in the new year!
Okay! Inspired by you, I will make My Antonia my first book of the year, too. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read it — and my name is Antonia!
YES!!! I hope you enjoy it. I just watched Casablanca for the first time last night, so that’s one less thing I’m embarrassed about. 😉
Chris! I just finished and I LOVED IT. I can see why anyone would reread it. I’m sure I will. Am interested in reading the rest of the trilogy. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration. I realize that I need to read more classics. They’re called classics for a good reason. 🙂
I have never read this and feel that I need to 🙂 Thanks for participating.
For years I thought I’d read this one but after carefully reading the blurb I realized not that long ago that I hadn’t. It’s been on my TBR and after your glowing recommendation I think it needs to move higher up the list. I love books I can reread and pick up something new. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
An excellent choice but then you know that already having read it before. Kudos to you for rereading by the way. I wish I did more of thet but there are so many books occupying my shelves thst I haven’t even read for the first time. My first read of this year is a crime fiction novel thst I agreed to review and now wish I hadnt. Not that it’s bad but I have a lot more interesting books in the queue.
That’s a bummer about your first read…I know that feeling! LOL. I love to re-read, but all books certainly don’t hold up to it.
when I saw the picture, I thought to myself: I wonder how many times she’s read it!! Happy New Year of reading! And nice new wordpress theme. you self host, right?
Happy New Year! Yes, I do self host and am still getting the hang of WordPress. I just transitioned from Blogger last year and haven’t had the time to dig in and figure things out (beyond the basics).
I started out the year with chapter one of Les Miserables for the Chapter-a-day readalong. It will be my daily companion for some time!
I would love to reread/read some Cather this year. I bought the Library of America three-volume edition of her works so i would have them all handy.
Oooh, how is Les Miserables? I haven’t read it but am pretty sure it’s on my Classics Club list. I like the chapter a day approach!
I am loving it so far!!
I was going to say that I bet you already had read that one since you’re such a big Willa Cather fan. Yep, I was right. 🙂 My first read of the New Year was continuing from my last year of last year: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. I didn’t spend time agonizing over it as it was what I was reading at the time. I will be continuing on with a reread of the rest of The Lord of the Rings, but I might read something here in between as I just finished The Fellowship this morning.
Someone created the hashtag #WildForWilla and that about sums up my relationship with her. 🙂 I’ve only read the first in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I’ve been waiting to see the movies until I read all the books. Is that a good approach knowing the trilogy & movies as you do?
Yes. I think so. The books are much better, not that the movies are bad. Just different.