You'll see, if you look at the Challenges that I am participating in, that among others, I am taking part in the 100+ Reading Challenge.That is about 2 books a week.
Some weeks, particularly if I am travelling with long flights, I will read more than that, some weeks only one book or less.
I count in my records all books I "get through" - in the hand, audio, and on my Kindle. Since I have had this blog, begun just over 2 years ago, I have reviewed every book I've read in whatever format, and posted the reviews on my blog in Smik's Reviews.
I also have a journal that I record the title of the book, the author's name, and the date of completion in. I know that, since I began keeping this sort of record back in 1975, I have read 2,864 books. I wonder if I could make it to 3,000 by the end of this year? That would mean I have to read 136 books this year.
Well, I'm off to a flying start - so far I've read 7
Here is how many books I have managed to read in recent years:
2009 - 104
2008- 111
2007 - 124
2006- 114
2005 - 132
So that looks like an average of about 115 a year over the last 5 doesn't it? Perhaps 136 will be a bit of a stretch!
So what are you aiming at this year?
I've created a poll at the top of the side block where you can select a number range.
But I'd love if you'd leave a comment too.
Will you, like me, be restricting yourself to mainly one genre?
Do you read your books in a variety of formats?
Do you think you are a quick or slow reader?
13 comments:
Kerrie - As always, I am so impressed with the amount of reading you are able to do. No wonder you always have such interesting things to share with us all about what you read : ).
I don't think I've ever managed more than 127 which was my total of finished books last year. I always wish I could read faster but I have used speed-reading techniques for work-related reading and it's definitely a different kind of reading so I would never employ it for my leisure reading.
I voted for between 100 and 150 which seems realistic for me (all things considered). I'm reading books number 11 and 12 at the moment (one audio, one print) which is a very good start to the year. I find I ebb and flow a bit - one month last year I only read 6 books in total, whereas in other months I read 14 books. It depends a little on my work schedule, my commitment to walking to work (which is generally when I read my audio books), and even the weather (I read a fair bit during last weekend when it was so damned hot and there was not a single thing worth watching on TV)
I have noticed that books seem to be getting longer and I can manage only 50-60 books a year easily but no more. If I am struggling with a book it might take me two weeks to read, but others I will whiz through in two days.
But apart from your Alphabet meme, Dorte's Global challenge and last year's Agatha Christie festival I don't like to be tied down to a schedule, that is too much like work.
Last year I had no idea, but assumed I could read around 100 books. I read around 120 which I am quite satisfied with.
I have voted for 101-150, but I don´t think I will set any records this year. I certainly don´t plan to as I should be spending more time writing. Well, let´s see what happens.
I've read over 100 books each year for the past few years. Sometimes I think you can see how complicated my life is by the number of books I read. I seem to read more when life is more complicated, which seems odd. I think I hide away in books. Anyway, I selected over 100 in the poll. I read 134 this last year, the most ever. I suspect I will top that this year.
This is the first year I'm keeping count, mainly because I'm doing reading challenges. Since I write mysteries, I read mysteries. But this year I'm stepping out and trying the Vietnam War challenge and the YA Challenge.
I have a degree in English and spent many years as a tech writer, in both cases having to read (and write) mounds of material on deadline. I still work full-time, but not in a job that requires a great deal of work-related reading; but, still, in my spare time I like to read what I want to when I want to. I tend to let the vagueries of my book journal and what's available at the library when I drop by dictate what I read next. I haven't always kept a complete record of what I've read, but I think last year I made notes on about 75 books that I read.
I agree with Uriah--books (especially contemporary mysteries) are getting longer. As I noted on Martin's blog not too long ago, compare the length of P.D. James's Cover Her Face to the length of The Private Patient to see how the size of mysteries has increased in the last four decades.
So far this year, I've finished three books (one of which was Don Choan's Await Your Reply, which I expect to make my favorites list at the end of the year) and had to give up on another. I'm firmly in the "if it ain't doin' it for me by page 100, life's too short" camp.
Sorry, that's Don Chaon. Await Your Reply is such a good book, I should at least get his name right!
I read over 150 books in 2008 and 2009 so plan on reaching that goal for 2010. I read most gernes plus nonfiction and poetry and consider myself a moderately speedy reader.
There are so many books I want to read this year and as usual I will only get through a fraction of them. If I can get through one a wqeek that would be fantastic but it's probably going to be closer to around 40 for the year.
I usually read just under 100 books a year - it all depends on how long the books are and what is going on in my life outside of reading.
I'm not actually aiming to read more books but 100 would be a nice round figure. I like to read a variety of genres and I stick to books as I like to read in bed or curled up in a chair - ebooks are no good for me. Occasionally I listen to audiobooks as well. I think I'm quite a fast reader.
My goal, for a couple of decades now and especially since I retired 6 years ago, is to read 104 books a year: averaging two per week. I rarely get there, and honestly blogging is eroding the reading time something awful.
Great post. Thanks.
You are so right about the time erosion caused by blogging Richard.
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