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Hot Reading Challenge Tips from Pros Who Read More Than 100 Books a Year
More than 2.8 million readers have pledged to finish more books in the 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge. For those stuck in a midyear slump, we asked avid readers Dan Schwent, Julie Ehlers, Bill Kerwin, and Kathy Habel for advice. These pros have read more than 100 books a year, so of course we asked them for their recommendations as well. Make sure to add their picks to your Want to Read shelf!
Goodreads: How many books did you read last year?
Dan Schwent: In 2017, despite getting married, vacationing in Maine, and remodeling three rooms in my house, I managed to read 137 books.
Goodreads: What tips do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
DS: One thing I learned the hard way is that there’s no shame in not finishing a book that you’re not enjoying. If there’s one thing you’re definitely in control of, it’s the books you’ll spend time reading! The book-finishing police probably don’t know where you live anyway...
Sometimes, change is good. If your genre of choice isn’t doing it for you anymore, try something else! Switching it up every once in a while is healthy and fun. Or it will be disastrous and you’ll go running back into the comforting arms of your genre of choice. It’s win-win!
Lastly, time is your biggest enemy in your Reading Challenge. If you’re behind on your count, maybe it’s time to look at what else you’re doing and make some changes. Scouring social media* for info on the newest Marvel movie might be fun, but reading about what some curmudgeon in Kansas hates about Avengers: Infinity War isn’t getting you any closer to your reading goals.
*This does not apply to Goodreads, of course.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
DS: Nothing will bust you out of a reading slump like a fantastic book. Here are a few I enjoyed quite a bit over the last few years:
Goodreads: How many books did you read last year?
Julie Ehlers: In 2017, I read 141 books (my Reading Challenge goal was 101).
Goodreads: What advice do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
JE: Follow your bliss! I think sometimes we read particular books because we feel like we should, or we dutifully plow through books we’re not enjoying because we feel bad about setting them aside without finishing them. Don’t do any of this! Read what calls out to you from the shelf. If something’s not working, quit it and don’t feel guilty.
Also, when you have a spare minute, pick up your book instead of scrolling through your phone. Not only will you get more reading done, but you’ll be improving your focus and concentration…and then you can get even more reading done! In my experience, it’s also much more rewarding.
Finally, make sure your goals are realistic! I’ve exceeded my challenge goal every year, but I’m not interested in setting a higher number—I don’t need that kind of pressure. The Reading Challenge should be fun and motivating, not make you want to change your name, move somewhere where nobody knows you, and start your life over again.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
Goodreads: How many books did you read last year?
Bill Kerwin: 240 books.
Goodreads: What advice do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
BK: Diversify. Read books of different types and genres, lengths, and levels of difficulty. Just make sure they are all from genres you like. Every month I read 18 separate works. The variety is what keeps my interest alive.
Read more than one book at a time. If I’m not in the mood for one book, I quickly shift to another. With four or five books at hand at any time, I can satisfy my reader’s mood, whatever it may be.
Always take a book with you when you leave the house. If the book is small, the inconvenience is, too. Even better: Take your Kindle along. Waiting is always easier when you have a book.
Read books you want to read, not books you think you should. Just because a book is on somebody’s “great list” doesn’t mean it’s the book for you. And if a book doesn’t please you after 50 pages, cut your losses and move on.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
Goodreads: How many books did you read last year?
Kathy Habel: In 2017, I completed my fourth Goodreads Reading Challenge, completing a total of 161 books. I'm hoping to double that number this year!
Goodreads: What tips do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
KH: Reading slumps are a real thing, especially for an avid reader. Life happens to all of us, and sometimes things get too stressful. I think it's healthy to take a break when it's needed, but if your slump goes on too long, here are a few suggestions to get back to reading:
No required reading. I used to force myself to finish every book I started. However, it's been years since I was in school, so there is no longer any "required reading" in my life. So give yourself permission to only read books you love.
Audiobooks. Try listening to audiobooks. While I love professional narrations and often listen to them through Audible or Overdrive, not every book I want to read has been professionally narrated. I often take advantage of my Kindle Fire's text-to-voice feature. Listening to audio versions of books while driving, exercising, and cleaning helps boost my book count.
Reread. Go back to an old favorite. What's the best book you've ever read? Which book elicited strong emotion when you read it? What is an unforgettable scene that is burned into your memory? Maybe it's time for a reread of an old favorite or maybe try another book written by a favorite author.
Compare books. If you have not yet found trusted friends with similar reading tastes, then choose your favorite book and find someone who has posted a five-star review similar to yours. Go to their profile and use Goodreads' "compare books" feature to see how compatible your reading tastes are.
This feature has led me to find a couple Goodreads friends who I am nearly 100 percent compatible with. Our ratings and reviews on books are so similar, I know that if they give a book five stars, I'm going to love it, too. When I'm in a slump and looking for something to pull me out of it, a great way is to choose a book one of these trusted top friends has raved about.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
KH: Anything by Amy Harmon (Making Faces, The Law of Moses, and From Sand and Ash are my favorites) and anything narrated by Jim Dale (The Night Circus, Harry Potter, Peter and the Starcatchers). Also, I'm with You by Taylor Dean and The Sidelined Wife by Jennifer Peel.
Dan Schwent: In 2017, despite getting married, vacationing in Maine, and remodeling three rooms in my house, I managed to read 137 books.
Goodreads: What tips do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
DS: One thing I learned the hard way is that there’s no shame in not finishing a book that you’re not enjoying. If there’s one thing you’re definitely in control of, it’s the books you’ll spend time reading! The book-finishing police probably don’t know where you live anyway...
Sometimes, change is good. If your genre of choice isn’t doing it for you anymore, try something else! Switching it up every once in a while is healthy and fun. Or it will be disastrous and you’ll go running back into the comforting arms of your genre of choice. It’s win-win!
Lastly, time is your biggest enemy in your Reading Challenge. If you’re behind on your count, maybe it’s time to look at what else you’re doing and make some changes. Scouring social media* for info on the newest Marvel movie might be fun, but reading about what some curmudgeon in Kansas hates about Avengers: Infinity War isn’t getting you any closer to your reading goals.
*This does not apply to Goodreads, of course.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
DS: Nothing will bust you out of a reading slump like a fantastic book. Here are a few I enjoyed quite a bit over the last few years:
Julie Ehlers: In 2017, I read 141 books (my Reading Challenge goal was 101).
Goodreads: What advice do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
JE: Follow your bliss! I think sometimes we read particular books because we feel like we should, or we dutifully plow through books we’re not enjoying because we feel bad about setting them aside without finishing them. Don’t do any of this! Read what calls out to you from the shelf. If something’s not working, quit it and don’t feel guilty.
Also, when you have a spare minute, pick up your book instead of scrolling through your phone. Not only will you get more reading done, but you’ll be improving your focus and concentration…and then you can get even more reading done! In my experience, it’s also much more rewarding.
Finally, make sure your goals are realistic! I’ve exceeded my challenge goal every year, but I’m not interested in setting a higher number—I don’t need that kind of pressure. The Reading Challenge should be fun and motivating, not make you want to change your name, move somewhere where nobody knows you, and start your life over again.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
JE: This is tough because obviously everybody’s taste is different, but when I think of Reading Challenge busters, I think "funny" and "lively," and nothing embodies those qualities more than David Sedaris’ essay collections. I’ve been enjoying his new one, Calypso, but all of them are great.
JE: I also think reading something completely different from what you’re used to can get you out of a slump. Lately I’ve been reading novels-in-poems, like Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming, for a change of pace.
JE: A lot of the best graphic novels are kind of dark and disturbing, but a good lighthearted one is Over Easy by Mimi Pond. As a bonus, this and Brown Girl Dreaming can be read pretty quickly, so you can feel an immediate sense of accomplishment.
JE: Another book that got me out of a recent reading slump is Christopher R. Beha’s novel Arts & Entertainments. I thought it was fun and so interesting, and really unpredictable. Unpredictability is good for keeping the pages turning.
Goodreads: How many books did you read last year?
Bill Kerwin: 240 books.
Goodreads: What advice do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
BK: Diversify. Read books of different types and genres, lengths, and levels of difficulty. Just make sure they are all from genres you like. Every month I read 18 separate works. The variety is what keeps my interest alive.
Read more than one book at a time. If I’m not in the mood for one book, I quickly shift to another. With four or five books at hand at any time, I can satisfy my reader’s mood, whatever it may be.
Always take a book with you when you leave the house. If the book is small, the inconvenience is, too. Even better: Take your Kindle along. Waiting is always easier when you have a book.
Read books you want to read, not books you think you should. Just because a book is on somebody’s “great list” doesn’t mean it’s the book for you. And if a book doesn’t please you after 50 pages, cut your losses and move on.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
BK: A horror/adventure novel featuring a black family in 1950’s Chicago who discover they have an occult family connection to a society of evil wizards on the East Coast.
BK: A Catholic family from London journeys north to visit a shrine and encounters evil in the countryside.
BK: This second entry in the series featuring Roxane Weary—Columbus, Ohio’s bisexual, hard-drinking private eye—is just as good as the first book, The Last Place You Look.
BK: The first and best collection by the master of the English ghost story—a classic not to be missed.
Goodreads: How many books did you read last year?
Kathy Habel: In 2017, I completed my fourth Goodreads Reading Challenge, completing a total of 161 books. I'm hoping to double that number this year!
Goodreads: What tips do you have for someone stuck in a Reading Challenge slump?
KH: Reading slumps are a real thing, especially for an avid reader. Life happens to all of us, and sometimes things get too stressful. I think it's healthy to take a break when it's needed, but if your slump goes on too long, here are a few suggestions to get back to reading:
No required reading. I used to force myself to finish every book I started. However, it's been years since I was in school, so there is no longer any "required reading" in my life. So give yourself permission to only read books you love.
Audiobooks. Try listening to audiobooks. While I love professional narrations and often listen to them through Audible or Overdrive, not every book I want to read has been professionally narrated. I often take advantage of my Kindle Fire's text-to-voice feature. Listening to audio versions of books while driving, exercising, and cleaning helps boost my book count.
Reread. Go back to an old favorite. What's the best book you've ever read? Which book elicited strong emotion when you read it? What is an unforgettable scene that is burned into your memory? Maybe it's time for a reread of an old favorite or maybe try another book written by a favorite author.
Compare books. If you have not yet found trusted friends with similar reading tastes, then choose your favorite book and find someone who has posted a five-star review similar to yours. Go to their profile and use Goodreads' "compare books" feature to see how compatible your reading tastes are.
This feature has led me to find a couple Goodreads friends who I am nearly 100 percent compatible with. Our ratings and reviews on books are so similar, I know that if they give a book five stars, I'm going to love it, too. When I'm in a slump and looking for something to pull me out of it, a great way is to choose a book one of these trusted top friends has raved about.
Goodreads: What Reading Challenge busters do you recommend?
KH: Anything by Amy Harmon (Making Faces, The Law of Moses, and From Sand and Ash are my favorites) and anything narrated by Jim Dale (The Night Circus, Harry Potter, Peter and the Starcatchers). Also, I'm with You by Taylor Dean and The Sidelined Wife by Jennifer Peel.
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What tips will you be trying for your Reading Challenge? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Books of the Year (So Far)
The Unputdownable Domestic Suspense Thrillers of 2018
Catch Up Now: These Big Series All Have Books Coming Out in July
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Books of the Year (So Far)
The Unputdownable Domestic Suspense Thrillers of 2018
Catch Up Now: These Big Series All Have Books Coming Out in July
Comments Showing 101-150 of 479 (479 new)
message 101:
by
Jennifer
(new)
Jun 20, 2018 07:48PM
I don't count audio books toward my READING challenge. I believe they are entertaining and valuable, but they are not reading in my opinion. I listen to audio books in the car, on my drive to/from work, but I think of audio books as interchangeable with podcasts, not with reading books.
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Blind people "Read audio books". And I am having a great time in retirement catching up on reading. Let's be kind to each other. I have found many great books this year.
Wonderer wrote: "Alison wrote: "Wonderer wrote: "Maureen wrote: "Forgive me while I ROTFLMAO- Humble brag, much? Best laugh I've had in ages- thanks! Happy 'reading'!."You rolled on the floor laughing your ass of..."
I didn't say she was complimenting you. I said she just laughed off a brag of yours. And you told her she has no life. I'd say YOU are the one who overreacted forcefully.
Jessica wrote: "So do you count audio books as "reading" a book? I never had but if I did, it would for boost my numbers. What is the general consensus?"Audiobooks are books. You're taking in the same information, and there is no reason not to count them.
Love all these tips! I read multiple books most of the time, Though I'm not in the very rare situation of only reading one book (Ready Player One). It's so good I don't need to start another at the moment.
I don't know... I love a good space opera or a quest with elves, but just because a book challenges me to stick with it doesn't mean it's not worth the extra time it takes to finish it. Also, there's no shame in being a slow reader.
Jessica wrote: "So do you count audio books as "reading" a book? I never had but if I did, it would for boost my numbers. What is the general consensus?"Audio books are now being included as "reading", yes, because they have been proven to have similar effects to reading a book.
I've only finished my first year of studying to become a librarian but they've been jamming all sorts of research about this in our throats all year. I think the book "Reading Matters" sums it up pretty well.
I read over 230 books this year so far and over 400 last year despite doing grad school, what do I win?
What a great post! Thank you, Goodreads Top Readers!I especially love the bit about not finishing the books that you're not enjoying. I've had only a couple of instances where I powered through a book that I hated at first and then ended up loving, but most of the time if I really don't like it within the first 50 pages, it's not going to improve.
Still, I force myself to finish books, but if even the Top Readers quit books then maybe I can too?...
Marts wrote: "Jessica wrote: "So do you count audio books as "reading" a book? I never had but if I did, it would for boost my numbers. What is the general consensus?"Audiobooks must be included. I don't have ..."
Exactly. In addition to saving space, you can get through books when you can't physically read. I discovered them in college when I had a 2-hour ride home, and then back, and couldn't read in the car (I get carsick). They're a lifesaver when I visit family who are 9-11 hours away.
My top tip: don't have kids. 2015 - 117 books, no kids
2016 - 69 books, pregnant
2017 - 33 books, with a baby
The information on the reading challenge says average number of pledged books is 52. So I would say an average reader feels comfortable reading one book per week. I wish this article would not put so much emphasis on the numbers but rather on the ways how to include reading more in your life, if you want to. That is what it was about, ultimately. Interesting discussion though :)
Allison wrote: "I don't understand how it is humanly possible to read that many books in a year."Its funny , your'e comment as I read on average between 450-650 books a year.
Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"I have to wonder how much of the 100+ books these readers recall after reading them. Clearly they are reading at a fast pace; how engrossed are they really when they're reading? When I read at such a clip I'm not absorbing the material nor am I truly appreciating it or thinking it over (pondering the themes, motifs, style, symbolism, etc.)
julie wrote: "Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"I have to wonder how much of the 100+ books these readers recall after reading them. Clearly they are reading at a fast pace; how engrosse..."I have an almost eidetic memory so I actually remember what I have read . That's one of my quirks , I am really good at books and the way my memory works is I cant place some people but if I've helped them and they tell me what Ive given them as recommendations in the past i can remember the exact person and conversation. Anything to do with books .
Jessica wrote: "So do you count audio books as "reading" a book? I never had but if I did, it would for boost my numbers. What is the general consensus?"
Difficult question. In an article I read, the researcher suggested that an audiobook added something to (and also took away from) what the author intended. There is something in an audiobook, in terms of artistic creation or devices, that the author did not necessarily intend to be there.
Big question: if an audiobook can be defined as a "book", why can't listening to someone tell a story, or read a book out loud to me, be considered a "book" experience?
Difficult question. In an article I read, the researcher suggested that an audiobook added something to (and also took away from) what the author intended. There is something in an audiobook, in terms of artistic creation or devices, that the author did not necessarily intend to be there.
Big question: if an audiobook can be defined as a "book", why can't listening to someone tell a story, or read a book out loud to me, be considered a "book" experience?
So much depends on the books you're reading though really. If you're reading easygoing fiction or casual history you can get through more books than dense, long, literary works. You could study 4 philosophy books in a year and a have a full reading life. Some of them represent someone's lifetime of work. Nothing against easygoing or shorter books, at all, just something to consider when looking at numbers. Hours spent reading is probably the real goal when you want to read more. It's not as motivating though.
Wondering why these readers are described as "pros". Is Goodreads paying them to read? I read more than them. How do I get in on that? ;)
Rosemary wrote: "Wondering why these readers are described as "pros". Is Goodreads paying them to read? I read more than them. How do I get in on that? ;)"I was wondering the same Rosemary LOL. My reading per year is anywhere between 450-650 books per year read.
Jessica wrote: "So do you count audio books as "reading" a book? I never had but if I did, it would for boost my numbers. What is the general consensus?"I always count audio books as reading - I have an audio book for my car and usually a library audio book for when I am out and about and can't access my "real" books. To me, listening to an audio book can give a new depth to the book (if it is well-read). My only problem with audio books is if I don't like the narrator's voice but that rarely happens.
Lori wrote: "I have to wonder if people who read over a 100 books a year either (a) don't hold full time jobs or (b) read a lot of graphic novels/chapbooks/poetry. The best reading year I ever had, while holdin..."I have a full-time job, and don't read graphic novels and the like yet I still manage to read over 100 books a year - I read as often as I can and usually have a book with me when I leave the house. I also have more than one book on the go at once - 1 for downstairs, 1 for reading in bed, 1 audio book in the car and 1 for work. :)
Thank you for your insight on how to expand your book numbers for the year. Some great tips and recommendations too. Totally agree about putting the book down if it doesn't peak your interest. After posting this comment my head will be in my book.
Last year I read 600 books. This year I’ve already read 218. Audio books instead of the radio in the car are a great way to spend a drive. Get a Bluetooth speaker for the shower. Read multiple books at a time. When you get bogged down with one you will be more likely to pick up the other one or two than surf. Join a club or challenge for easy Mini goals or inspiration. Find a buddy and make a readingvisit. Drink tea, eat munchies, read your books together.
That's all it takes to make you a "pro"? Not even two hundred books? Wow, who knew I was a pro? If you are reading more than one book a day, I truly wonder how it's done if you have a life beyond reading.There is someone on one of the forums who claims to be reading 3 and 4 books a day (and not children's books either!).
What is this obsession with numbers of book read each year? It's great to read often but one should find his or her own pace according to specificities that each book demands.
I'd like to know if these folks who mention not finishing a book they don't enjoy mark it as read or not. I do not.I've been setting my challenge to at least 100 books a year, and exceeding it, since I started tracking them. I believe that was in 2011 but would have to check my GRs badges to make sure. Several years ago I pushed my aversion to audiobooks until I got over it. For some of us there is a "learning curve" to successfully listening to audio, particularly if we have been lifetime readers. The same year I pushed through it I also started counting non-novel length reads like novellas, short stories, manga, comics, etc., as long as I finished them. That year I read about 247 books.
Audiobooks has made the difference for me because I can "read" when I'm doing things I can't ignore to just sit and read. Washing dishes, cooking meals, doing the laundry, driving, yard work - I listen to audiobooks for all of it. I also keep copies of whatever I'm reading on my phone so I'm never without a couple of books even if I didn't take my kobo/nook/kindle. I keep my calibre server online all the time so I can access my entire library from any network connection.
All that said, I find Kathy Habel's suggestions for ways to increase your reading most helpful.
ETA: I don't watch much tv or listen to the radio, either. I think both of them are vehicles for poor mental and emotional health. I read.
ETA2: I'm not sure why someone would think that listening to an audiobook doesn't count. When I get to the end I still have absorbed the story. Do you think the authors and narrators will mind if I just don't pay for them if they don't count? If I lose my eyesight do I just stop calling myself a reader? Pffft.
Fortunately, nobody makes my definitions for me but me, nor do they set my criteria to make it on my reading list. I don't add books I didn't finish. That's my criteria. For me.
I don't dnf a lot of books but I do it on occasion and I'm glad I am not liberal with that tendency as often a book doesn't get good until towards the end. While I wouldn't recommend a book like that to anyone, I'm glad I stuck with it until the good part if I had to slog through the part I didn't like.
ETA3: You guys do realize that you can change your goal once it's set, right? That setting a goal isn't some artificial conflation of "get those numbers in!" that will deplete your enjoyment if you don't hit that number? I use the challenge as a way to track my books. That's it. I had to change my challenge one year because I got within 8 books and knew I wasn't going to hit it, so I lowered the challenge figure to enable me to get the badge - which I use very often to remind myself what I've read and when. I love the badges, they are easy access to a pre-sorted-by-date record that I use often; and that's the only reason I even do the challenges. It's not about the numbers.
Cindle... wrote: "137 books, 141 books, 240 books, etc; plus, they want to double their amount next year. So I’m curious: are they retaining any of the plots and or characters they are reading about? Do they ever ta..."This is the only comment where I agree with every single word that's been said. You've written it very well.
I sometimes alternate large books with small ones - because I like switching up genres and types of books. Makes it more fun for me.
I'm currently on a Nancy Drew spree. But that is not to boost numbers - it is because I want to read Nancy Drew. Simple as that. I don't see why people complicate things like reading with targets on pages read. Read the book! Enjoy the book! Pages read should not even be part of the equation, ideally.
I don't see why turning reading into a competition (with others or ourselves) is a healthy thing in any way. I read because I love to read.
Also agree on the audio book thing. Its AUDIO, which is something you listen to. I do not argue that people would not retain, absorb, or appreciate what they hear - maybe they do - but they are listening to it. They are not reading it. How can one call listening reading? It baffles me.
Jessica wrote: "So do you count audio books as "reading" a book? I never had but if I did, it would for boost my numbers. What is the general consensus?"Yes!
I really like the reading challenge because I like to look back at the end of the year and have the books I read in one place :). I have read over 100 books each year for the past 6-7ish years. It's just natural for me with my reading pace. I'll know that I am very busy in life if the number drops below 100 in a year as odd as that sounds. I definitely agree with dropping books if they don't intrigue you, otherwise you've spent 1 month reading a boring book because you spent half the month not reading it because you knew it would bore you. I also agree with switching between books of different genres and in different mediums. Sometimes you are in the mood for something different and besides sometimes you reach a point in the book where you want to stop but you feel like reading something still.
Audiobooks actually slow my reading because I don't have a regular commute each day to always be listening to them, but I love audiobooks because there are a lot of books that I could not physically finish but somehow audiobook narrators can bring magic to a story I thought to be lifeless. I count audiobooks as reading in that I can have a conversation with someone who has read the book even if I consumed it in a different medium. Besides before written text, oral storytelling was huge and oral storytelling is a strong part of a lot of cultures today. Additionally, as a child you would be read to by a parent or a guardian, so it is a valid way of consuming a story. Sometimes you might even consume a story better via audio or vice versa. I think we all get caught up in the technicalities and specifics of things. If someone told me they read an audiobook I automatically know they listened to it. I feel weird to correct them, it just feels a bit nit-picky. Besides by listening to an audiobook, aren't you being read to anyway?
Catka wrote: "Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"this is exactly my first thought. I don't really understand the point of the challenges of the type read-as-many-books/pages-as-possible...."
I think that's why the challenge is personal - it can be five books, or less, if that is that person's comfort zone. I read a lot and work as a librarian, but I have never read a hundred books in a year. I don't think anyone in this article insinuated I should; we all should choose goals that our in line with our free time/lifestyle and that challenge us individually.
Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"Exactly, it seems that everyone is obsessed with reading as much possible in a short time.
I have set my reading challenge this year to 40 books read, fairly sure I'll reach 50 at least at the current pace (started a new reading plan this year: two books at at time, a non-fiction and a fiction). On the other hand I also have a 9to5 job, watch TVshows, play videogames. Plus, an amazing wife (that reads at even a higher pace than I do :))).Also, I never quit on a book, if it;s that bad, I;m to blame because the blurb fooled me (thank god, that I have a good eye for the "deceiving blurbs" and only have 1-2 books per year where I wish I could just strangle the author "lol"). To the topic at hand, I;m also curious, people reading 150-200 books per year (that is great by the way), are more interested in quantity over quality? Is the GR reading challenge smth to brag about ? (who am I fooling, of course it is :))) Is reading 10 books at a time a valid plan? (my head would feel like mush if I were doing that, mainly because I am 110% invested in a book, and I think about it throughout the day when not reading it). So, reading 10 different books, especially if they;re different, trying to follow every narrative line...hmmm...hard? Of course, keeping in mind that some books are harder to read than other, some are more descriptive than other, some are longer/shorter/ than others. So in the end, there are lots of things to keep in mind here, I'd say. But nevertheless, I love to read, and hope to read more and more books every year, for me, not necessarily for the reading challenge (which is only a number in the end) :D
Conclusion: Is there such a thing as a quantifiable ratio between quality and quantity in regards to the reading challenge?
thoughts from fellow readers? :)
Lucija wrote: "Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"Exactly, it seems that everyone is obsessed with reading as much possible in a short time."
Come on, do you really think I'm going to start reading novellas by authors I don't care for just so I can meet my challenge?
Trying to meet my reading goals doesn't mean I intentionally read bad books, or even slightly less good books than I would have otherwise. It means I devote more of my free time to reading than I would have otherwise. Reading fewer books doesn't get you higher quality. It just gets you less books.
Jessica wrote: "So do you count audio books as "reading" a book? I never had but if I did, it would for boost my numbers. What is the general consensus?"I definitely include audio books!
I always have two or three books on deck. It makes me tackle the book I'm reading, so I can get to the next one. I usually read an entire series. Right now I'm on number 8 of the Joe Pickett series. (Wyoming game warden) Author: CJ Box.
For most books, for most purposes, listening and reading are more or less the same thing. There's plenty of science backing that up. The naysayers in this thread are either being ignorant of the facts or arguing pointless semantics. If you think an audiobook is an equally valid way to "experience" a book but it still doesn't count as "reading," to you, then what point are you trying to make by voicing your very particular and arbitrary semantic definition to the world, exactly? That it shouldn't be counted in challenges like this. There's literally no other reason to be saying that. Just say so, lol. ANYWAY, I agree with a lot of what was said. Have multiple books going at once so you can switch if one gets boring. I read ebooks on my phone so I always have all my books with me no matter where I go. I usually have 1 audiobook going. It's not my preferred format as I can read much faster than I can listen to even a sped up audiobook, but it's crucial for getting reading in while I'm doing the dishes or have eye strain or allergies and just want to lay down with my eyes closed.
Also, to the people saying those with high numbers of books read either don't have a job, or are blazing through with no memory or comprehension of what they read, etc. Some people just read fast, just like some people have faster metabolisms than others. Human beings are variable like that. I probably only spend 5-8 hours a week reading and just barely crack 100 per year. If I wasn't a lazy bastard and actually dedicated myself and cut out all TV/video games, etc, a lot of people's high numbers seem perfectly reasonable to me. Your baseless judgements just sound like jealousy.
Cindle... wrote: "137 books, 141 books, 240 books, etc; plus, they want to double their amount next year. So I’m curious: are they retaining any of the plots and or characters they are reading about? Do they ever ta..."I'm gonna be frank--your post is both condescending and inaccurate.
I read about 135 books every year--though with all the plays I'm reading this year, it'll probably end up 200 books this year.
And you know what? I do remember what I've read, and I don't speed through books without thinking about them. I don't read faster than I'm comfortable with. I take the time I need to absorb what happens. I don't try to speed-read, or intentionally slow myself down. Instead, I read at the page that comes naturally. And the writers I read are mostly classics--people like Suetonius, Rabelais, Shakespeare, and so on.
In my teens, I read The Stand by Stephen King, at my usual high speed. Then, I abandoned it for six months. When I went back to it, I went on reading as if nothing had happened, because I recalled it perfectly.
Look, I'm sorry if this comes off as rude, but could you stop taking for granted that I can't remember books, or think about books, just because I read faster than you do?
Instead of taking for granted that you remember books better and think more about the books you read, try actually asking without deciding, on your own, the answer that you like the most.
You yourself say in your post that you're happy to read 20 books a year. You don't feel the need to read more books than that.
I do. Because I like books. And the fact that I read more of them than most people doesn't mean that I remember less, or that I think about the books less, or that I read low-quality fiction.
It just means that other people get fewer books in their lives than I do. And I don't find that enviable.
Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"Nothing
David wrote: "If you think an audiobook is an equally valid way to "experience" a book but it still doesn't count as "reading," to you, then what point are you trying to make by voicing your very particular and arbitrary semantic definition to the world, exactly?"To quote Pippi Longstockings: "A good question. And a good question deserves a good answer."
The reason I point out that listening to a book isn't the same as reading it is that I like audiobooks, and it embarrasses me when people who like audiobooks disparage audiobooks by acting like it's shameful to admit that they listened to a book, and didn't read it.
So I gotta reply with an honest question: Why not just be honest? Why would I claim that I read a book, when I can just tell the truth and say that I listened to it? I'm not claiming that audiobook fans are ashamed of the medium, I just don't get why else people would use the word "read" when "listened to" is more accurate.
So for those who think audio books don't count, what about people with vision problems who physically can't read? They can't ever say they've read a book because they had to listen to it instead? I actually find I absorb more of books I listen to because while someone else is saying the words, I translate those words into images. I don't do that as much with print.
I think people are mistaking "Audiobooks are not reading" for "Audiobooks are horrible". Audiobooks are great and good on you for listening to them. There is nothing wrong with audiobooks. To reiterate what Katuro said, why are people seemingly ashamed to say they listened to an audio book? Where is this stigma coming from?
Katie wrote: "So much of this thread seems to be people criticizing others for how they choose to read. Just chill out, my dudes. It's for fun! If you don't like audiobooks, that's okay, because no one is making..."Yes! Well said.
I used to only read one book at a time and very often I would read a whole series before starting something different. Just lately I've had two or three different books on the go but there are reasons for this. A friend has started lending me books she likes and she keeps her books in pristine condition with no dog-eared pages or broken spines. Obviously I have to return them in the same condition so I can't read these books over dinner, for example, but I don't want to be distracted from it by reading something else so I will also re-read an old favourite on my Kindle at those times. That enables me to move between them easily without losing my place in either one. The third book will be an audio book I listen to on my commute - half an hour, twice a day. For those, so far, I've also chosen books I've already read and loved, partly because I'm slightly afraid a brand new book will distract me so much I might run someone off the road, but also because I only listen in the car so I need to be able to turn it off when I get to work/home without fear of cliffhangers!I strongly believe that a book is a book no matter its format. And you should read anything you like as long as you read something!
Quality is only relative to the reader. I read classics. I read educational stuff. I also read romances and cozy mysteries. Why? because I enjoy them all. Why belittle anyone who chooses to only read what they enjoy? A lot of books that are considered classics now were once new, modern books that were likely shunned by contemporaries who only read classic or serious books. I do the same with TV. Sometimes I watch nothing but documentaries to educate myself on various things. Sometimes I want sitcoms to make laugh.
Katsuro wrote: "David wrote: "If you think an audiobook is an equally valid way to "experience" a book but it still doesn't count as "reading," to you, then what point are you trying to make by voicing your very p..."It's not about dishonesty but rather practicality, and how language works. It's inconvenient and purposeless to try and separate which books you read vs. which you listened to, because the result is the same. If you think someone saying they read a book is "dishonest" because they listened to an audiobook, you clearly don't count them as equal, near identical experiences, which science shows that they are. I often can't even remember, looking back, and saying we "read" a book is just how we're conditioned to say, "I consumed a book in some way." I don't think there's anything dishonest about using the word that way at all.
Adding to the inconvenience, goodreads says "reading challenge," even though the site lists audiobooks in its database and it's clearly in the spirit of the contest to count them, in the eyes of goodreads. Should they rename it to reading&listening challenge and the website to "Goodreads&listens" to appease semantics police? Or do you agree that it would be pointless and awkward to do so? Things like this are why people say "read," when they actually "listened." It's easier, more convenient, less awkward. It's just one of those quirks of language development.
It's also worth pointing out that people who like audiobooks probably feel ashamed BECAUSE people like you insist that they should disclose that they listened to it instead of read it, as if it's different enough to merit mentioning (it's not) and, the usual implication being, that it's inferior (it's not). If they could just say 'read' without people jumping down their throats they probably wouldn't disparage audiobooks at all.
Bottom line, If you feel the need to clarify that you listened to a book instead of read it, that's fine, but other people are not obligated to disclose to you how they consumed a book, because it doesn't matter. More to the point, most of the people in this thread seem to be those who don't listen to audiobooks and are clearly casting judgement on those that do, slyly hinting that audiobooks shouldn't count for your yearly reading challenge and that's, straight up, not okay. That it's even an argument if they should count or not is testament to the issue. The only difference, literally, is semantic. Are semantics a good enough reason to leave out books from your yearly goal, that you spent your free time on and absorbed and enjoyed just as much as the next person? The answer should be plainly obvious.
Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"365/240 = 1.5
So the reader finished a book in less than 2 days.
Kevin wrote: "What is this obsession with numbers of book read each year? It's great to read often but one should find his or her own pace according to specificities that each book demands."I'm inclined to agree.
Again, I think that it varies depending on the book, you could read 5 comic novels in 2 days for example (just saying.) That;s why I think that there should also be a page count "challenge" together with the number of books challenge. You can read 5 books that total 500 pages, or you can read one book that's 1000 pages long (I read in March Dan Simmons;s The Terror, so yeah, longest book I ever read :)))I also think that for a certain majority (myself included), the "reading challenge" is just another way to keep track of the books you read in a certain year (not their number), you can always change the number up or down anyway, depending on the time you reserve for reading.
In my opinion, an audiobook counts as a book, I don;t read audiobooks because I think they'd distract me more than pull me into the story, but I agree that they are just the same as a normal book, the story is just told differently.
Personally, I dislike using "number of books" as a metric. Instead, I prefer total page count because what defines a book? Look at Bill Kerwin's this year. he has read 16540 pages and 104 books, while my own profile has 15162 pages and just 51 books. So really, he just reads shorter books which is why the number is higher. It also goes to show how meaningless the number of books read is since GR considers a 50 page novella the same as 1000 page epic. I wish I could instead select my challenge based on total pages read, which removes length of a book as a factor.
Katsuro wrote: "Cindle... wrote: "137 books, 141 books, 240 books, etc; plus, they want to double their amount next year. So I’m curious: are they retaining any of the plots and or characters they are reading abou..."Katsuro,
1. I personally don't care that you've read 135 books, or that it will likely become 200! This means nothing to me and does not impress me one bit. If that is what you choose to read, that's your choice.
2. You reading 135 books and me choosing to read 20 does not mean you're a faster reader than me. It means I chose to read 20 books and that I prefer qualitative time between each title. What ever the reason that makes you want to read 200 books is your choice.
3. Your opinion of my feedback is not the barometer to which I hold up my esteem so you telling me that my own opinion is condescending and rude is of no consequence to me. You have your own opinion which you are entitled to, as I have mine.
4. The same way you yourself have provided feedback to other people letting them know what you consider reading and not reading, I have the same privilege.
5. If you like what you read, why try and justify it to me, someone who you call condescending and rude? Is it because like the featured readers in this article, some people read loads of books because of the fake prowess it gives them to boast to strangers? Well, you can save your boasting because I'm a stranger who is not impressed by it at all.
6. I repeat, I am not the least bit impressed by anyone who reads "hundreds" of books a year. When I see it in people's profiles, I shrug my shoulders and move right along. I don't use Goodreads to boast to strangers about how many "hundreds" of books I've read. I use Goodreads to curate and organize the titles I read, and to participate in like minded group discussions. How many books participants have read is of no consequence to me.
Lastly, I'd rather have a conversation with someone who has read only three books in one year but is smart and humble, rather than have a conversation with someone who has read hundreds of books in a year but is egotistical and has a chip on their shoulder. I don't know what marathon race individuals such as yourself think you're running in, but it's not a marathon race that impresses me. Read what you want and read as many titles as you choose, I don't care! I'm sure you also don't care about my efforts, which is absolutely fine by me. I don't come to use Goodreads to get validation, I come to Goodreads to curate my books.
