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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 251-300 of 479 (479 new)
Dana wrote: "Some good tips in here. However, I have one minor (pedantic) peeve:Listening to audiobooks is not reading. You get a completely different experience reading something than you do from listening t..."
I agree! If you enjoy audio books, indulge yourself. But its not the same as READING.
I'm not a super reader. I might get close to 100 this year, but I might not! My goal this year was 45 - so no stressing myself - and I've read 39 so far, hence probably close to 100. I think reading slumps must be different for each reader and I consider myself really lucky because the only one I've had was after a brain haemorrhage and that was less a slump and more a problem with understanding the words! My advice would be, don't stress it, you love reading and before long you'll be reading again. In the meantime don't be hard on yourself and look forward to the joy coming back after your break. Also, maybe try rereading a book that you love. I think one of the reasons for my lack of real slumps is a good re-read when all the new reads out there just don't seem right. Great article, btw. Thank you!
Ms C Bruen wrote: "I'm not a super reader. "Mate, you're a reader. That, in itself, makes you super. :)
Katsuro wrote: "Michelle Dodson wrote: Wasn't that kind of a Hitler/Nazi thing? I don't remember that working out so well. ."Oooh, you might not wanna do this.
Might wanna give this comment a miss.
I'm not saying..."
That was awesome, well done! I just couldn't think of a more sinister "anti-book" experience in recent history.
Although, if you read "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks you may get an even more profound and thought provoking look at how books can be destroyed. Fascinating read.
Yaaresse wrote: I don't. Why lie to myself? What point would it serve? ... I have "sampled" and "DNF" shelves for books I start and don't want to finish"Thanks for your comment Yaaresse. I have "paused" and "abandoned" shelves for books I don't finish. That said, there are a few books in this year's reading challenge that I did not read to the end but felt got as much as I wanted from them (for example Working in the Shadows, I used it for research and got everything I needed at the 65% mark).
I highly recommend the book, but the descriptions of animal cruelty got to be unbearable.
I just have to ask, for those people claiming to read 100, 200, 300 books a year.... what counts as having 'read' the book? You read the first chapter? The first page? The synopsis on the dust cover?
what about graphic novels? there are a heck of a lot of stories out there that not only are they great stories but great art too! I think we should be able to somehow add that to our challenges. I take breaks from reading books to read my favorite comics online and wow are some of the stories great! don't they count as reading too? if not they sure should. The election got me so depressed that I have been reading them more often because not only do I get to read good words but I get to see beautiful art at the same time. I still read books but sometimes I do need a break and then I read magazine articles ( I get Smithsonian and Archeology magazines) and I read some online papers plus comics..I'm not talking comics like gag a day that are in the newspapers, I'm talking long many years to tell a story comics. We should be able to somehow ad in, not to the challenge per say but to our reading lists somehow.
Brett wrote: "I just have to ask, for those people claiming to read 100, 200, 300 books a year.... what counts as having 'read' the book? You read the first chapter? The first page? The synopsis on the dust cover?"Give me a break. They're finished books, read the whole way through. No one is reading the first chapter of a book and calling it 'read.'
I read a book and an audiobook at the same time. Tho am fond of mysteries, I make sure they are different enough to not get them confused. The car and before bed is for audio; the other time is for the paper or ebook. I, too, don’t feel compelled to finish a book if my interest wanes... there are always others!
Rebecca wrote: "what about graphic novels? there are a heck of a lot of stories out there that not only are they great stories but great art too! I think we should be able to somehow add that to our challenges. I ..."Most graphic novels are in the GR database. And if they aren't, you can add them yourself! If they're a web serial, yeah those aren't but you can also still add them to the GR database, just like novellas or short stories that are only available online, those are in the GR database. Laurie, Stephen King's newest short story, for instance. Even Wattpad stories are getting onto GR!
Brett wrote: "I just have to ask, for those people claiming to read 100, 200, 300 books a year.... what counts as having 'read' the book? You read the first chapter? The first page? The synopsis on the dust cover?"I start at page 1, and keep going until there are no pages left for me to read. I read pretty quickly without having to try, and have a lot of downtime at work that I can spend reading. Also, I read a classic play every week. Those take a few hours to perform, so reading them naturally doesn't take too much time either.
Seriously. Some people just spend a lot of time reading, and read quickly. No need to accuse us of being dishonest just because you read slower than we do.
This isn't for me. I advocate slow reading, the way I advocate slow travel. Sure, I could visit 10 cities in 2 weeks and say "I've been there," but the experiences don't hold the same value for me as when I linger with locals, consider my surroundings, go beyond the "basic plot" of the tourist attractions. And, sure, it counts if one is checking off a list (or competing with others on a soc-med site), but it's not how I roll. My job as an editor has taught me to pay attention to a story's nuances, and this usually means slowing down the train. I just don't enjoy speed-reading the way I enjoy curling up with a book and living with its characters for a bit before jaunting off to the next one. Writers spend a lot of time creating this world I'm reading about, I think the least I can do as a reader (and a writer) is spend a bit more time with the words and worlds of the artist. I do agree that if one isn't enjoying the book, there's no shame in moving on. I've returned to abandoned books and enjoyed them later. And there are some that will never work for me, but that's all part of the joy of discovery.
Rebecca wrote: "what about graphic novels? there are a heck of a lot of stories out there that not only are they great stories but great art too! I think we should be able to somehow add that to our challenges.Good news are, you can! Goodreads has lots and lots of graphic novels in its database.
I usually don't count them, but if they're super long, like the Walking Dead compendiums, then I do. Since Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea counts as a book, I'll also count a The Walking Dead collection that takes longer to read, has more pages, and contains more words than The Old Man and the Sea does.
How American. Take something that is fun and relaxing, and make it into a contest! Well I read at least a million books last year, and don't remember a single one.
It's always interesting to read others' reading choices. We all have special interests. Mine is a variety -- fiction & non-fiction. Of non-fiction I gravitate toward books dealing with the political , mainly Canada & the USA. Fiction is quite varied for me -- everything from prize-winning authors to the lighter fare over the last few years I've been reading authors such as Steve Berry, James Rollins, P.D. James (the Inspector Banks series), Dan Brown, & others, and lighter fare -- Elizabeth Peters (I've always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt) and the Murder She Wrote Series (an aside -- my grandmother was an immigrant from Ukraine - 1930 - and though she could read some English , she espeically like 'Jessica' -- it caught on with me). I have a collection of Russian classics which my father bought for me years ago, and now with my grandchildren, the classics I have such as The Three Muskateers, Peter Pan, Little Women, etc - all which had been given to me in the 1950s & are in pristine condition - these are read by them. My routine is to intersperse my reading with books like the Murder She Wrote series -- not because they're easier, but just for a diversion. Let's face it -- some books can be quite intense in content, so a bit easier read is always a good thing. Anyway -- happy reading everyone!
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?"Sure do. Although I primarily read physical books, audio books are great when you are reading something unfamiliar names and places, for memoirs (read by the person whose story it is) and humorous books.
Katsuro wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "what about graphic novels? there are a heck of a lot of stories out there that not only are they great stories but great art too! I think we should be able to somehow add that to ou..."Oh, I didn't know that! I'll try to find out how to figure that out! thank you for telling me. I read 2 to 4 hours a night, not including the articles I read during the day like during my morning coffee and lunch. Wish I could read all day lol.. but I do have to work, but I'm lucky I love what I do ( I'm a sculptor) so I'll figure out how to add some in there. Thanks!
to Wonderer -- first of all I'm Canadian, and read all types of books -- hard copy please. And I read the variety by choice -- my father was a teacher (high school English & History), and he & my mother encouraged me to read -- first for education, then for pleasure. I read books in English, Ukrainian & Russian, & some French. No, I'm not a literature snob -- reading is a wonderful past=time and we learn about our world through books. An example is War & Peace -- I read this Tolstoy classic in English while in my senior year; my grandfather had a copy of it in Ukrainian--I'm glad he encouraged me to read it, while not in the original Russian, I was able to appreciate the depth of the Ukrainian language.As for how many books I read? I don't believe in contests either -- read what one can, what one likes, what satisfies the literature palate. Being able to read is a wonderful gift--gaining enjoyment & learning from reading only adds to the treasure we access.
The number of comments on here that seem to suggest that you're doing it wrong if you don't read what they read, the way they read, at the pace they read, for the reasons they read and the format they read are really weird.
Take audio books. GR allows you to choose an audio version of a book and mark it as read. So obviously they are using a more open definition of the word "read" then many commenting. If you don't think that listening to an audio book is reading, great! But guess what, that only counts for you.
Disclaimer: I don't listen to audio books so I actually have no dog in that fight. The comments about it are just really weird.
Take audio books. GR allows you to choose an audio version of a book and mark it as read. So obviously they are using a more open definition of the word "read" then many commenting. If you don't think that listening to an audio book is reading, great! But guess what, that only counts for you.
Disclaimer: I don't listen to audio books so I actually have no dog in that fight. The comments about it are just really weird.
Thank you so much, the past month I've been in a reading slum (which I had never experienced before) and honestly, I was freaking out, no book I would usually die for didn't pique my interest anymore. So, thank you, this couldn't have come at a better time. Well maybe a week or 2 earlier but still.
Fottex wrote: "Thank you so much, the past month I've been in a reading slum (which I had never experienced before) and honestly, I was freaking out, no book I would usually die for didn't pique my interest anymo..."
Best comment in the whole thread
Best comment in the whole thread
Katsuro wrote: "Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "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 be..."If I listened to an audio book I would count it, I don't listen to them because of my hearing. They should count.
So memo to Goodreads -- it's not the number of books that count -- the knowledge gained (if that's the choice), the enjoyment, the adventure, the satisfaction...As in my earlier comment -- what we read is a choice -- it's the gift of the ability to read & understand is the treasure. Good reading to all!
Nullifidian wrote: "The problem with the idea of reading as many books as you can is that you lose the chance to read long, in-depth books. I was once a member of a Goodreads group that did a biannual reading challeng..."Nullifidian wrote: "The problem with the idea of reading as many books as you can is that you lose the chance to read long, in-depth books. I was once a member of a Goodreads group that did a biannual reading challeng..."
I'd have to disagree with you that reading many books hurts your chances to reading long, in-depth books. I've read at least a book a day for the past four years and I'll do so again this year. From 2014-2017 I read 160 books longer than 450 pages. My longest read in each of those years was 694, 1326, 856, and 896 pages.
Jason wrote: "Do they count the books they don't finish? What are other people's thoughts on that?"I don't count books I don't finish reading. Additionally, I don't pay any attention to "reviews" here by people who admit they didn't finish reading the book and then rate it. I get it. You didn't like it. Record as "DNF" and move on. I'll pay attention to ratings by others here who actually finished reading the book.
I'm surprised by comments here by some who doubt people can read 100 or more books a year. Really? Goodreads is a social website of people who read books. Those 1-in-4 Americans who did not read a single book last year are not likely to be members here. I would hazard a guess that most here read far more in a year than the 12 books that the average American adult reads. On January 1, 2000, to welcome in the new millennium, I set a goal to read 1000 books in ten years. I accomplished that by mid-August 2008 and then set a new goal to read one million pages of printed text. I accomplished that last year. I've read at least 183 books (one every other day) for the past 12 years. After reading Nina Sankovitch's Tolstoy and the Purple Chair, her account of reading a book a day for an entire year I too read a book a day in 2014, then again in 2015, and in 2016, and in 2017. While the average American adult is reading 12 books a year I've averaged reading 222 books a year for the past 18. I'm the statistical outlier who loves to read. I'm sure there are many other statistical outliers here.Some here question reading 100 books in a year? I read 100 books in October 2014. While they were not long books (154 page/avg) that's still reading 497 pages a day. Not a day goes by that I don't have a book to read. I presently have eight books checked out from my local libraries, four books are on "Hold" for pick-up, and four books are on order. I have five books in my iPad checked out from Openlibrary. I've read and maxed out my ten book monthly allowance limit on Hoopla, a digital media service app.
Be proud and happy with whatever amount of reading you can accomplish but never underestimate the reading capabilities of a fellow book lover and Goodreads member.
Ted wrote: "I'm surprised by comments here by some who doubt people can read 100 or more books a year. Really? Goodreads is a social website of people who read books. Those 1-in-4 Americans who did not read a ..."I'm not one of the doubters, nor do I believe that an unfinished reading should count. I still believe that however many books a person reads, that's good. Take into account that person's responsibilities, how their home/career dynamics may figure in the time that can be spent reading for other than work, or education, or family life, though I found it rewarding to read to my children, or they to me. I do have to say mea culpa for audio books -- while there are large print books available, for those with challenges of sight, audio books are a boon, I don't know about the US, but in Canada, our libraries provide audio books in their collections. These libraries also provide many noted authors in a number of languages, including for the indigenous peoples of Canada. My feeling is still the same -- the gift of reading, of books is priceless, To all you members of goodreads--enjoy!
How do you record a book as dnf and not count it in your read book number? It needs to be in one of the three primary categories: tbr, currently reading or read and then you can add additional shelves such as unfinished. So either it stays eternally in tbr or reading shelves or it is counted among your read books.
Mike wrote: "I thought this to be a discussion on helping people with ideas to interact with more books. It seems participants want to discuss quantity versus quality or worry about genres of books read. Who ca..."Touche!
I set myself a goal of 60 books this year. I'm already at 37.That's partly been helped by re-reading things, reading 'lighter' things (like some YA fiction and historical romance), going on holiday (I read a LOT when I go on holiday due to lots of downtime) and reading two books at once. I'm currently re-reading Harry Potter, but because most of mine are hardbacks they're too huge to carry around with me. So those are my 'bedtime'/'home' books that live on my bedside table, and then I use my Kindle for my 'daytime'/'on the go' reading.
I also agree with the tip to use any spare time you have to read. I swapped watching TV/Netflix on my commute to and from work for reading, and the amount of books I read shot up. I also carry my Kindle with me for reading in queues or if I'm waiting for appointments etc. For me it's about finding where reading can slot into your day and then giving yourself the opportunity to read wherever you are if you can.
I am new here at the Reading Challenge and have to get used to the "counting of books". I buy a lot of books, mostly at Goodwill, sometimes I bought 30 to 50 books a week for a few years, but nowadays it will be around 15 books a month. The Netherlands is a Walhalla for booklovers, a secondhand book costs euro 1,50 (US$ 2,=)!! And one bookshop even sells 5 books for euro 4,00 (US$6,=). I once counted the books in my private library and stopped after reaching the 800 mark, no wonder I have a lot of reading to catch up on. But at the private Library of the late Count August (German: Herzog August Bibliothek — "HAB"), in Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony), there are at least 18.000 books!I love the suggestions given by the Top Readers. But on the other hand I do not read with the intention of reading as many books a year as possible. I read while I enjoy reading books. Estimating the amount of books I read in the past year, it will be around 25 books. But the count does not include newspaper, the internet/www or course materials. Nearly all books I read for pleasureare non-fiction, scientific, literary or biographic books, and the average page-count will be 400 to 1000 pages for each book. Yes, I do carry a (paper- not digital) book everywhere I go and have books ready-for-reading in my coat, backpack, bike panniers, etcetera. I read everywhere, when having to wait, going to sleep, even while walking but still do not get so much reading (100+ books) done. I take the Top Reader's suggestions to hearth, and for now....where can I sign up for next years challenge?
Krista wrote: "Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"I'm with you. I would rather read fewer books that I remember and truly enjoy than focus on how many I am reading per year."
That's a false dichotomy, though. As a guy with a huge reading goal, my target isn't to ignore quality and just read tons of books. It's to read MANY books that I remember and truly enjoy instead of just a few books that I remember and truly enjoy.
Michelle wrote: "Ted wrote: "I'm surprised by comments here by some who doubt people can read 100 or more books a year. Really? Goodreads is a social website of people who read books. Those 1-in-4 Americans who did..."As I've grown older in my retirement I've come to appreciate large print books. I've never listened to an audio book but from reading comments here I understand their popularity and agree that it is acceptable to record one as a book read. For some crazy notion I put off reading ebooks for years but fervently do so now. My only stipulation in doing so is I do not routinely record reading of any ebooks that are not available to the public in writing. Just a silly personal egalitarian notion.
I read more than 365 books every year. I do not watch a lot of TV, just a couple of hours at night, and when I do I have a book for the ad breaks. Fifteen minutes' read on the train is worth doing.
Do not try to read two crime books at the same time. Ideally read one fiction and one nonfiction if you need to read two (for carrying purposes a smaller book is handy) or if you are studying.
If you find it hard to get into a thick book, pick up a novella on your Kindle.
And read the kids' books. They are much better than (most of) the kids' books you had when you were small.
Catka wrote: "How do you record a book as dnf and not count it in your read book number? It needs to be in one of the three primary categories: tbr, currently reading or read and then you can add additional shel..."You can create more "exclusive" shelves, which is what those three primary categories are considered, meaning books cannot be on more than one of those shelves at a time. I created a dnf shelf and made it exclusive so I can remember the books I've decided not to finish, but they're also not counted as completed for my challenge or in my read or tbr. Hope this helps!
Katie wrote: "You can create more "exclusive" shelves."thanks! this helped very much. I didn't know I could do that.
Katie wrote: "Catka wrote: "How do you record a book as dnf and not count it in your read book number? It needs to be in one of the three primary categories: tbr, currently reading or read and then you can add a..."How do you make a shelf "exclusive"? I have a dnf shelf but it is contained within my tbr shelf - so books that I don't finish, still are counted as tbr. From the answer I've just read, it would appear that this doesn't have to be the case - could someone explain how to make a shelf exclusive to dnf please?
Isn't it wonderful how we all love to read!?! I think I realized while reading the comments that just like we each most likely interpret WHAT we read differently, it seems we interpret HOW we read differently. Some people are fast readers and they enjoy that. Some are slow readers and they enjoy reading that way. Some like reading huge books and some like graphic novels. Some need to listen to audiobooks or enjoy them better. And there are so many genres to enjoy! The best thing is we are all reading how and what we enjoy! And since we are all winners of our individual Reading Challenges it is wonderful that we all have the choice of how and what we read. So congratulations to everyone who has made the commitment to read whether it is one book or 1001 books! We all win!!!!
Sara wrote: "could someone explain how to make a shelf exclusive to dnf please? "I can and I will, mate!
Here's how you do it--at the front page, click on "my books."
Now, you'll see the text "My books" in the upper left-hand corner, and right beneath it, the words "Bookshelves (edit)." Click on the "edit" button and you'll be taken to a meny where you can decide these things.
Hnous927 wrote: "Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"365/240 = 1.5
So the reader finished a book in less than 2 days."
What's your point? I've read entire books in one sitting when they're particularly riveting. Are you saying that can't happen, or you can't wrap your head around the concept, or what?
Catka wrote: "How do you record a book as dnf and not count it in your read book number? It needs to be in one of the three primary categories: tbr, currently reading or read and then you can add additional shel..."You create an exclusive shelf so the book does not appear on Read, Currently Reading, or Want to Read. Go to your books, click Edit Bookshelves, add Did Not Finish shelf, and then click Exclusive. It will still count towards your GR Challenge goal so you have to NOT put an end date and then it will not counts towards the Challenge or books read.
Sara wrote: "How do you make a shelf "exclusive"? I have a dnf shelf but it is contained within my tbr shelf - so books that I don't finish, still are counted as tbr. From the answer I've just read, it would appear that this doesn't have to be the case - could someone explain how to make a shelf exclusive to dnf please?..."You create an exclusive shelf so the book does not appear on Read, Currently Reading, or Want to Read. Go to your books, click Edit Bookshelves, add Did Not Finish shelf, and then click Exclusive. It will still count towards your GR Challenge goal so you have to NOT put an end date and then it will not counts towards the Challenge or books read.
wondering if anyone can shed some light on where this "compare books" button is, thought it was a great idea, just cant locate it. thanks for the help!!
Wendy wrote: "wondering if anyone can shed some light on where this "compare books" button is, thought it was a great idea, just cant locate it. thanks for the help!!"Go to someone's profile page:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Right next to their name is a link that says More. Click on that and Compare books is an option.
Wendy wrote: "wondering if anyone can shed some light on where this "compare books" button is, thought it was a great idea, just cant locate it. thanks for the help!!"when you click on someone's profile, just under their name you see options Follow, Add friend and next to it is More- click on more, there you will see the option Compare books
Kathy wrote: "Wendy wrote: "wondering if anyone can shed some light on where this "compare books" button is, thought it was a great idea, just cant locate it. thanks for the help!!"Go to someone's profile page..."
thanks!!
Oooh, you might not wanna do this.
Might wanna give this comment a miss.
I'm not saying you mean serious harm,
but even said with grace and charm,
this kind of Hitler parallel
will not make a debate flow well.