New Year's Resolutions, Part II

OK, I know it's February, but I'm still thinking about New Year's Resolutions.

I recently stumbled on a blog that asked about people's reading resolutions for 2009. I was surprised to see so many people – for some reason, nearly all female – making the same resolutions I did this year. So far I'm failing miserably. I'm still buying far too many books, still not checking them out of the library, and my reading still lacks variety.

This last lapse is the most disturbing to me. My goal specifically addresses reading more non-fiction books.I like non-fiction books, once I actually start reading them. I rarely pick up a recommended autobiography or history that I end up disliking (in fact, I can't remember that happening in years). And, to be fair, I do read some non-fiction books over the course of an average year (generally because my book club insists). They're just a smaller percentage than I'd like.

Somehow, though, I have difficulty actually picking one up.  Heaven knows, to support my resolution I've purchased all SORTS of non-fiction books. Currently loitering on my shelf are such stellar titles as The Irregulars, Young Stalin, Twenty Chickens for a Saddle, andThe World Without Us - all highly recommended, all books that sound fascinating, all books I want to read ... just not NOW.

I'm not sure what aspect of my personality insists that I should read more non-fiction. After all, in an age where the average American reads four books a year, I should be proud of the fact that I read as much as I do, regardless of the subject matter.  Is it really a failing if I stick solely to fiction? Both my heart and my head say there's nothing wrong with that at all. And yet, I really should start reading some of those non-fiction books on my shelf. Maybe after my next novel...