Gearing Up

Catherine and I have been talking about what we're planning to do in January to get a good start on each of our lists. We're hoping to take a dance class, and I'm already planning more time with my friends and family. I'm also making a list of books I want to read in 2011. Every day I take the train to and from work. It's very convenient and gives me a good bit of time to myself, which I usually use to catch up on my reading. Like most people, I've got a stack of books I've been "meaning to get around to" on my shelf. One of my 25 goals is to read ten books of my own choosing that aren't among my book club selections. Here's a rough list of what I've got on my shelf:

The Stand by Stephen King
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo
Close-up on Sunset Boulevard: Billy Wilder, Norma Desmond, and the Dark Hollywood Dream by Sam Staggs
Amore: the Story of Italian American Song by Mark Rotello
Me: Stories of My Life by Katharine Hepburn

Mohawk by Richard Russo

There will probably be other titles mixed in here, but I'm excited to dive in! Do you have any recommendations for other books that I should read? I can't say I'll get to them all, but I'd love to hear some ideas. Also, you should check out our friend Rachel's blog, Trac Changes, where she'll be chronicling her 2011 challenge to read five books from each of her ten categories. That's 50 books in one year. We wish her all the best!

It's almost a new year, which means it'll be time to officially launch this blog! Here's to 2011 - may it be a year filled with new adventures, old friends and a lot of happiness. Cheers!