Old Year, New Year

At some point this year, I made a semi-conscious resolution to read more books than last year. Quantity of books is kind of a ridiculous thing to consider. There were, at the time, no real limits on the kind of book or the length or the quality (although I like to believe that I always seek out quality literature). As the year progressed, a few guidelines crept in:

• I tried to hit a few of those titles that always show up on best-ever lists, including At Swim-Two-Birds, Things Fall Apart, Neuromancer, and Bless Me, Ultima.
• I was still (am still) rereading Shakespeare. I've been following the chronological order laid out in my B&N Complete Works and I've got about five plays to go. This particular project was abandoned temporarily due to the next two quests.
• The 40 Book Challenge, which all of my sixth graders are doing. I decided to fill one in, then I decided to get it done by Christmas break, which necessitated finding more poetry and nonfiction to read than I would read on my own (this is good).
• Last but not least, a push to read potential Newbery books. Since there are plenty of titles that have been placed on speculative lists, this has been a pretty considerable undertaking. And since a huge number of those titles arrived in our library on December 22, I've been reading furiously since break began. 
• (Also, I suppose, the Maud Hart Lovelace thing.)

Anyway, 133 books total. I'd like to do a breakdown, but that's going to take some work. Maybe tomorrow?

To close out the year, I'll look to Anne-with-an-E (specifically, Anne's House of Dreams):

They spent the old year's last hour quietly around the fire. A few minutes before twelve Captain Jim rose and opened the door.

"We must let the New Year in," he said.

 ...

"Welcome, New Year," said Captain Jim, bowing low as the last stroke died away. "I wish you all the best year of your lives, mates. I reckon that whatever the New Year brings us will be the best the Great Captain has for us - and somehow or other we'll all make port in a good harbour."