How’s Your Reading Year?

2022 is almost half over, so I thought it was time for a reading update.

This is my tenth year to participate in the Goodreads Reading Challenge (2013 was my first year). Tracking my reading in Goodreads has not only helped me read more books, but I am better about reviewing them, too. As a bonus, reviewing helps me remember what I liked or disliked about a book.

Last Saturday, I finished reading my 60th book of this year. Out of all of my Goodreads challenges, my best year to date has been 2020 when I read 77 books. Unless something totally unexpected happens, I should easily surpass 100 books this year. I don’t think I’ve ever done that in my life. I know there are readers of this post who will think 100 books is nothing (some of you read more than one book a day!!), but with my limited pleasure reading time, it is a big deal to me.

A big change in my reading habits in recent years is that I read fewer books in paper or ebook. By far my reading preference is audiobooks, and they have helped me read more because I can listen when I walk or drive or do dishes, etc. This year, I discovered Hoopla via my local library which gave me access to even more audiobooks. Sadly I learned that my library is going to pull back from this service due to cost. I am very sad about that as it has allowed me to affordably read more and to try new authors.

Another change has been how few 5-star reads I’ve had this year. That has more to do with the rating system I “designed” in March rather than the quality of the books themselves. I have a firmer grasp of what I mean when I give something a 3 or 4 or 5.

Here’s my Robin’s Ratings:

5 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4 = Excellent read. Couldn’t put it down. Will recommend to others.
3 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.

Thus far in 2022, I’ve read 10 five-star books, 32 four-star books, 17 three-star books, and 1 two-star book. That’s a lot of great reading. To be honest, I’m rarely disappointed because I pay attention to readers and reviewers I trust as well as continue to read books by authors I love.

The first book I completed in 2022 was Heart Happy: Staying Centered in God’s Love Through Chaotic Circumstances by Tricia Goyer, and the most recent book I finished was Dust by Kara Swanson (oddly enough, it was recommended by Tricia Goyer!). Of the 60 books I’ve read this year, 9 are non-fiction and 51 are fiction.

Well, that’s my reading update.

How’s your reading year going? Do you have a favorite book that you’ve read this year? Several favorites? Please share. I’d love to know your recommendations.

~robin

PS  Speaking of books and reading, I’ve started a new giveaway for US subscribers of my newsletter. Every month I will give away paperback editions of one of my books and a book by one of my author friends. You don’t have to do anything other than subscribe to my newsletter. You’ll remain entered in each month’s giveaway for as long as you stay subscribed. For the month of July (mailed in August), I’m giving away Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher and Shadows of Stanford Abbey by Julie Klassen.