Still going strong . . . but introducing a new goal!

I've been thinking about the feasibility of finishing this project in 2012. While on the one hand I've had no trouble keeping up so far (I'm ahead by two books at this point), on the other hand, some major changes are on the horizon for me. I'm moving out of my apartment at the end of April, spending two weeks in May out of the country, and spending the summer at an intensive language learning program. Then in August or September, I'm moving to a new city. Whew!

As much as I want to complete my 104-book goal, this just doesn't seem like the year. For seven weeks this summer, I won't be allowed to speak, read or write in English--not that I'll have to time to read two books during that time, anyway. And when I've just moved to this (big, stressful, intimidating, exciting, distracting) new city, I won't want to waste my time reading. I'll have more important ways to spend my time, such as, umm, looking for a job and finding and apartment and tutoring to pay the bills and, you know, exploring my new city. I'll probably regret it some day if I spend my first few months in this city tucked away by myself reading novels.

So. I give you: le nouveau reading challenge. Still most definitely a challenge; just a bit less challenging.

~ Through the end of June, I will continue to read two books a week, resulting in a total of 52 books completed by June 30.

~ For the seven weeks I'm immersed in a foreign language, I will read no books in English or French, meaning my literary ambitions will be limited to about a first grade reading level in Spanish. Bueno. Not planning to finish any books during this time.

~ For the remainder of the year, I will read one book per week, resulting in an additional 19 books.

The grand total for 2012: 71 books

Compared to last year's goal of 48 books, 71 is still an impressive amount. Plus, I'm still going to prove to myself that I can read two books a week for a significant amount of time, and I will reap the benefits thereof. Sadly, this just isn't the year for 12 months of such intense reading. Six months will have to do.