Hello my bookish friends! It’s that time of year again! That time of year when everybody does . . . nothing. Everyone I know has left for the beach, a theme park, or some exotic locale halfway around the world.

(Great time for a book launch? Er. . . . We’ll see. But let’s talk about that in one week, when the main festivities begin!)

What I’m trying to get at, somewhat unsuccessfully so far, is that we’re halfway through the calendar year. It’s time to check in on those New Year’s resolutions you might have made way back in January. (Remember January? No? Me neither. . . .)

Midyear Check-In

Here’s how I’m doing with some of my goals for 2024:

Liza’s goal: Read 50 books if you’re really on fire, or at least 40 books otherwise.

I’ve read 23 books this year, so I’m on schedule.

Liza’s goal: No alcohol this year.

So far so good, though there have been days when I came very close to giving in.

Liza’s goal: Work up to a 10-mile run and a 28-minute 5K.

I ran 7 miles one day a couple months ago; 10 miles is within the realm of possibility for 2024. However, memo to my January 2024 self: a 28-minute 5K within a year is completely unreasonable for your level of fitness. I’m going to change that part of my goal and see if I can break 30 minutes. I would be very happy with that.

Liza’s goal: Use social media sparingly.

Hahahahaha! Memo to my January 2024 self: What were you thinking?!! I have ramped up my social media use considerably. You wouldn’t try to launch a rocket without fuel, would you? Same for social media and a book launch. Or so they say; and I have come around to “their” side. New resolution for the second half of 2024: Prevent the overuse of social media by using an app blocker on my phone; restrict social media use to certain times of day.

How are you doing with your resolutions and goals? Have you revised any of them? Tell me in the comments!

*NEW* Liza’s Book Club

Let’s all read a book at the same time! Liza’s Book Club (LBC) will aim to expand our minds as we tackle an intellectually or artistically great book together.

This is a new a perk for Liza’s Newsletter subscribers only. To find out which book I’ve chosen for the first pick of LBC, and when you should read it by, scroll down ↓ (if you are reading this in your Liza’s Newsletter email).

On the designated read-by date, I will post my preview of the designated book. We can all discuss what we thought of the book in the comments. You can also ask me any questions you have about the book in the comments.

Before the designated read-by date, we can all discuss general LBC topics in the comments. For example, we can share how we got the book, how far we’ve read, and whether we are enjoying it.

How to Participate in Liza’s Book Club

1. Subscribe to Liza’s Newsletter if you’re not already subscribed (it’s free). To learn which book we are reading and when to read it by, scroll down ↓ in any Liza’s Newsletter email.
2. If you’re in, leave a comment on this blog post saying LBC – I’m in!
3. Get the book and start reading.
4. On any blog post, leave comments about the book—WITHOUT SPOILERS and also without saying which book we are reading because LBC is for subscribers only.
5. On the read-by date, I will publish a blog post previewing the book. I won’t include spoilers in this blog post, but SPOILERS ARE ALLOWED AND WELCOME in comments for this blog post only. Leave comments and questions about the book, and we will discuss it online together.
6. Also on that date, look in your Liza’s Newsletter email for an announcement about the next LBC pick and read-by date.
7. Suggest an intellectually or artistically great book for a future LBC pick by leaving a comment on any blog post.

Are you in?

If so, leave a comment saying LBC – I’m in!