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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 301-350 of 479 (479 new)
Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"While this is of course a great point, I think the purpose of this is to get out there and read more, put down technology, get lost in a book. Additionally, quality, especially when it comes to someone's works like a book, is subjective. A book with a goodreads 4 star rating may not feel quality to me. Again, no argument there that if you even read one book a year, that is still great!
The challenge is not a competition and so the only rules depend on personal preference. I don't care for audio books; I only count physical books read...and by "read," I mean finished. If I were to count every book I cracked open, I could easily count 100+ books a year instead of the 30 or so I actually get through. For that matter, I could count every "sneak peek" or first chapter except I read online, too. That may be fine for some - and more power to them - but I prefer to narrow the focus.I think it would be interesting for Goodreads to offer the option of recording pages read vs. books read, just because I think that might be a more comparable number over time. I could read 10 books one year and 50 books the next, but did I actually read more if the overall page count is about the same?...Anyway, the way I use the challenge, I think such an option would be a nice alternative.
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 keep seeing this comment. We have full-time jobs! We have spouses! We have lives! We don't just read comic books! We do finish books! We even still remember what we read! Just because we prioritize differently than you doesn't mean we don't have anything else to do. If you stop watching TV, you'll find plenty of time to read. If you get less sleep, more reading time. If you listen to audiobooks, more reading time. If you spend your weekends reading, more reading time! It's just how you prioritize. Reading is my passion. And that is how I've read 129 books so far this year.
Katsuro wrote: "Thing is, none of us who read almost literal tons of books do that. We don't say "This Peter F. Hamilton novel sounds super good, but it's 900 pages. I'll skip it, and read these twenty mediocre Goosebumps books instead to meet my Goodreads goal."Instead, we say "This Peter F. Hamilton novel sounds super good, but it's 900 pages. I'd better clear up some time to read it, so I can fit it in with all the other books I'm reading."
Thank you!
heidi wrote: "reading is NOT "reading" if you're LISTENING to a book. "to read" and "to listen" are completely different. you either *listen* to a book or you *read* a book…you're only kidding yourself if you th..."THANK YOU
The argument against audio books in this context is the logical fallacy known as a distinction without a difference.
Regardless if you read the pages of a book or listen to the words, you are assimilating the information.
This issue that people are expressing against audio books is a cognitive bias.
Regardless if you read the pages of a book or listen to the words, you are assimilating the information.
This issue that people are expressing against audio books is a cognitive bias.
A lot of interesting comments to this article! The most useful takeaway for me was learning about the "compare books" feature. I've been using GR for years and had no idea this existed! What a cool feature! My reading tastes with Dan are uncannily similar.
Katsuro wrote: "Cindle... wrote: "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 o..."Katsuro,
My goodness, the ego on you is astounding! I totally now get why you are reading upwards of 135 books a year - a point which you have number dropped and reminded us about several times since this blog post went live - its because you've got nothing else going for you. The purported 135 books a year is all you've got that makes you feel important. So tell me, who really is the one looking for validation from internet strangers? I believe it's you, buddy.
This reply is the last time I will acknowledge you because I find it difficult to have conversations with boys who fling their small, fake prowess as if they were important. You are far from being important and I'm surprised that in all the books you claim to have read, you have not learned anything pertinent from them. I previously replied to you because, well gosh darn, this is a forum. Somehow you twisted me replying back to mean that I actually care about the words you wrote. Seriously? Get a life!
Instead of a reading challenge, I recommend that you challenge yourself to some humility and humble pie. It will endear you to a wide range of people. The high horse you're currently on and the chip on your shoulder is not doing you any favors. For your 2019 reading challenge, I implore you to insert some titles that are about humility, and how to get rid of machismo and ego. You need a thorough lesson in both!
Lastly, how many books a person reads in a year is not really what makes the world go round. Continuous boasting about it just shows how little else you have to talk about. For future blog posts, try mentioning something else.
Wonderer wrote: "Heidi wrote: "reading is NOT "reading" if you're LISTENING to a book. "to read" and "to listen" are completely different. you either *listen* to a book or you *read* a book…you're only kidding your..."It doesn't matter that Goodreads "accepts" audiobooks, Goodreads isn't a determiner. The simple fact is, and I don't know what's so hard to understand about this, READING is different than LISTENING. They are different processes.
As far as the dictionary definition, "utter aloud" and "render in speech" is talking. Reading TO someone, is not reading it yourself.
I'm not saying audiobooks aren't good, but they definitely are not the same. It's print word versus spoken word.
Allison wrote: Reading TO someone, is not reading it yourself."With all due respect, don't you mean to say "having it read TO you by somebody is not reading it yourself"? After all, somebody reading a book aloud to somebody else must read the book for themselves in order to speak the words aloud for the listeners.
Katsuro wrote: "Allison wrote: Reading TO someone, is not reading it yourself."With all due respect, don't you mean to say "having it read TO you by somebody is not reading it yourself"? After all, somebody readi..."
Oh yes, that is what I meant! Thanks for catching that.
Cindle... wrote: "Katsuro wrote: "Cindle... wrote: "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..."You mentioned how many books you read a year more times than I mentioned how many books I read a year. If mentioning your book-count constitutes bragging, you're the biggest braggart here. You're free to explain why it's only bragging when I do it, or to apologize for showcasing behavior that you yourself condemn.
"Somehow you twisted me replying back to mean that I actually care about the words you wrote." All I know is, you sure cared enough to want to reply. If you really hadn't cared a bit, you just would have shrugged your shoulders and moved on. That's very basic logic.
(Yes, this does mean, logically, that I do care about what you said at least a little bit. I have self-distance enough to admit that.)
"Lastly, how many books a person reads in a year is not really what makes the world go round."
And as you know perfectly well, I never said so either. As I clearly explained, I mentioned it for context, to show that my statements on how much fast readers retain was based on experience, and not on conjecture like your statements were.
Fin wrote: "This issue that people are expressing against audio books is a cognitive bias. "With all due respect--several of the people who defend audiobooks are mistaken about what's being said. When people say that list audiobooks isn't reading, they're usually not saying "audiobooks aren't REALLY reading, so they SUCK!"
They're just saying that on the most literal level, hearing somebody recite the text in a book is not literally the same thing as reading. Saying this does not in itself constitute criticism of audiobooks.
To claim that apples aren't literally oranges is not necessarily a criticism of apples.
It's thanks to articles like these that I reformed my reading habits. I was one to finish a book once I started it and it had to be really incomprehensible for me to drop it. That lead to me being stuck on one book for days before finishing. Now I drop books as soon as my interest wanes or two or three days pass without much progress. Also, I was a one-at-a-time reader but now I have a Kindle with its multiple apps. So I might read a book on the app and have another on the Kindle or even start a physical book at the same time.None of this has boosted my numbers, though. I've always been an avid reader. I switch genres all the time so when I fall into a slump it's just to move on to another series or re-read an old favourite. When I get tired of reading and need to rest my eyes, then I turn to anime for a while.
Maarten wrote: "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 nowad..."I applaud you -- you understand what the joy of reading is. Thank you.
Saidah wrote: "It's thanks to articles like these that I reformed my reading habits. I was one to finish a book once I started it and it had to be really incomprehensible for me to drop it. That lead to me being ..."Good for you -- we can't always read when we'd like to. It also depends on how we feel physically -- that is -- if we're tired. Trying to read when the eyes won't focus isn't any fun whether reading for pleasure or for study. When one is just reading words and not comprehending...
I was really in a slump this year. Having read all my favorite authors and rather bored with my preferred genre; I opted to revisit books of my past. Rereading books I read as a child or teen and seeing the story from an adult perspective has been eye opening. Some I liked just as much as I did back then. Some I realized, are not meant for adult readers for a reason. A few surprised me by having a completely different meaning with my newfound adult perspective! My new motto - My time in this life is limited and priceless. I will not waste it on trash or boring books.
I appreciate Wonderer's comment about the English language. As one whose mother tongue is not English, learning English wasn't easy -- too many words which sound the same but are spelled differently, or have different meanings depending on the context. I remember when we had spelling bees at school -- thank goodness my father (who was a teacher) & my mother who helped me, & kudos to those teachers in the elementary grades who were patient. In fact, I believe it was in the mid-fifties that I won a gold medal in a provincial spelling bee. Yes, language evolves but English even in its ongoing evolution presents some problems for those leaning the language, and even for those whose mother tongue is English. Advertisers seem to be the worst offenders so can we blame children when they spell cat as 'kat' (isn't there a chocolate bar with 'kat'?!). Fiction books (in English) should be 'letter perfect' (?), unless dialogue is meant to be in the current vernacular. Yet again, just enjoy reading -- regardless of genre (with exceptions of course).
Katsuro wrote: "Fin wrote: "This issue that people are expressing against audio books is a cognitive bias. "
With all due respect--several of the people who defend audiobooks are mistaken about what's being said. ..."
No worries.
I'm not suggesting that people who don't think audio books count as reading think audio books suck.
Allison wrote that GR isn't the determiner of what constitutes reading and she's right. What she leaves out is that neither is Allison, you, me or anyone else.
We could look to the dictionary definition of reading but I am absolutely free to expand on that definition at my whim.
That's what I mean by cognitive bias. People with that particular cognitive bias will never see listening as reading. To them, there will always be a distinct and obvious difference. For those without that specific cognitive bias, reading the pages or listening are the same thing and they will never see that clear distinction so apparent to others.
Because to them, it's a distinction without a difference.
With all due respect--several of the people who defend audiobooks are mistaken about what's being said. ..."
No worries.
I'm not suggesting that people who don't think audio books count as reading think audio books suck.
Allison wrote that GR isn't the determiner of what constitutes reading and she's right. What she leaves out is that neither is Allison, you, me or anyone else.
We could look to the dictionary definition of reading but I am absolutely free to expand on that definition at my whim.
That's what I mean by cognitive bias. People with that particular cognitive bias will never see listening as reading. To them, there will always be a distinct and obvious difference. For those without that specific cognitive bias, reading the pages or listening are the same thing and they will never see that clear distinction so apparent to others.
Because to them, it's a distinction without a difference.
Nah. If you're gonna start a book in a new genre, you owe it to yourself to finish it, unless you've just completely bitten off more than you can chew, size- or difficulty-wise.Arguably just one book is too soon to call it. If you give up 50 pages into a new genre, you didn't give the genre a fair shake.
Allison wrote: "I don't understand how it is humanly possible to read that many books in a year."I can't answer for others, but I can read 100+ books a year because I am retired.
Don wrote: "A lot of interesting comments to this article! The most useful takeaway for me was learning about the "compare books" feature. I've been using GR for years and had no idea this existed! What a cool..."It really is a great feature!
Am I the only one who finds keeping reading easier if I have a relatively high personal goal? If not, I find that I keep putting books in a to-read pile and not actually reading them.
Michelle wrote: "I just want to apologize to everyone if I sound like a high school English teacher -- English was my major at university... Unfortunately I never did finisih my degree but the teacher spirit in me ..."No worries . Your comnent was interesting anyway .
How about finishing your degree online ?
Vanessa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I just want to apologize to everyone if I sound like a high school English teacher -- English was my major at university... Unfortunately I never did finisih my degree but the teac..."Thought about it -- I'm 70 now & many seniors finish school/university -- me? My husband has some health issues & while I do read quite a bit my focus is on my sweetheart of 52 years (we've known each other for nearly 60)! And oops -- I did a typo -- finish... There. Now I feel better.
I didn't think of myself as a pro. I kind of thought I was obsessively demented.
Re favorite books of the year, this is a bit like asking if one prefers ice cream or burgers, strawberries or rye bread. There are so many possible categories, definitions are begged: So, a few. Probably the leader for favorite book of the year, certainly for science non-fiction would be Stephen Brusatte's The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World, a totally fascinating pulling together, in a very accessible, entertaining form, of what we know about dinosaurs, how they began, dominated, and were, ultimately wiped out. Brain candy of the highest order. Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road, by Kate Harris, about her biking across the Silk Road with a good friend and considering notions of boundaries, is also a delightful, informative read. On the fiction side, the Aussie historical novel Only Killers and Thieves, by Paul Howarth, is both a beautiful and devastating look at a dark episode in Western history. And every Michael Ondaatje book is wonderful, not least his latest, Warlight, in which, as is common for Ondaatje, an adult contemplates his past and the forces that formed the adult he has become. There are more that could fit into this list, but I will succumb to the urge to keep it (relatively) short.
Nyssa wrote: "Wouter wrote: "Whatever happened to quality over quantity?"That's why they suggest that you put down the books you are no longer enjoying and that you don't read something just because you think y..."
I think if you don't finish reading a book, that should not be counted as being read in your total.
I agree, go finish your degree! You can study part time. This may allow you to take one module at a time so it won't be too dear. Or there may be a grant for adult learners.
Saying that audiobooks do not count, is removing visually impaired people from the category of readers. Do not try to impose such views as you do not know the circumstances of the other person.If someone reads through Braille, does that count? They are touching the book, not viewing it. If they have a computer read out the text, does that count?
If they are unable to see but enjoy an audio version of a book, what is the difference?
And if the only time a person gets to read, through family and work responsibilities, is while driving, say, audiobooks are better than no books.
In my opinion, a book is a book, no matter how it is read.
I too enjoy reading multiple books. One fairly serious at breakfast and a lighter one at bedtime so when my eyes get weary I don’t take heavy thought to sleep.
I personally think, how can you even take the book in if you read so many in a short time? Would you even remember things about the book if you were asked a year or two later? Fine if you have plenty time on your hands but i'd rather savour a book, be entertained and educated, than rush through it/them just to read more books than anyone else. I don't care how many books I read just aslong as I read ones I enjoy.
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 to it..."
I have to agree with you, at least for my personal experience. More often than not, I end up tuning it out just like the radio. It becomes noise. I always wonder if others don't end up tuning out sections of an audiobook. At the point that I notice I missed parts of the story I can't even feel like I got the experience of reading the book. I also feel that its' a bit like claiming I read the book because I saw the movie. I know that a lot of people have to rely on audiobooks once their eyesight starts failing them or for other medical reasons perhaps, but for me personally, audiobooks are not the same as physically reading a book.
ELIZABETH-ANNE wrote: "How does listening to a book count as actually taking the time to read it ?Sounds like cheating to me !"
To me, it takes longer to listen to a book than to read it. It's not "cheating," it's just a different way of experiencing the book. Reading and listening to a book are different thing, but that doesn't in and of itself make one more correct than the other one.
Clare wrote: "Saying that audiobooks do not count, is removing visually impaired people from the category of readers. Do not try to impose such views as you do not know the circumstances of the other person.If..."
You are so right -- however we are able to 'read' -- Louis Braiile gave a marvelous gift; audio books are gifts for those who otherwise could not enjoy a book of any genre. Thank you for reminding us.
Sandi wrote: "I think if you don't finish reading a book, that should not be counted as being read in your total."I think it should! I often spend longer on a book I don't finish than a book I love. I don't count books on GR where I only get a couple of pages in. Sometimes I'm not in the right mood for that title.
I read around 85 books a year & get through that many because I don't watch much TV. When I do watch TV I usually have my book beside me for the ad breaks.
Scarlet wrote: "I personally think, how can you even take the book in if you read so many in a short time? Would you even remember things about the book if you were asked a year or two later? Fine if you have ple..."
I agree with you Scarlet -- whether the book is for pleasure or for study -- reading is to be done at a pace that allows the reader to absorb what is on the page. An example -- while in high school I read an unabridged British translation of War & Peace -- to read it quickly would be to miss nuances of the Russia of the early 19th century. Or any of Hemingway's novels, or Agatha Christie's works--the list goes on Quality time with a good book (a personal choice) is time well spent.
Michelle wrote: "...reading is to be done at a pace that allows the reader to absorb what is on the page."Yeah, but to some of us, that pace is quicker than it is for others. What some people call "speed-reading," I call "reading at my natural pace."
I've done this recently. I was too upset to listen to the news while driving so I started to listen to Agatha Christie mysteries in my car. I'm sure I could have read each one in less than a day, but who doesn't like to be read to? And it's not cheating IMHO. You are still comprehending a story written by another person, even if the voice you hear is Hugh Fraser's and not your own. 😉
Katsuro wrote: "Michelle wrote: "...reading is to be done at a pace that allows the reader to absorb what is on the page."Yeah, but to some of us, that pace is quicker than it is for others. What some people call..."
Point taken.
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 read a lot - AND I'm a widow with no kids and a very flexible work schedule (also I suffer from insomnia that I keep thinking reading will cure - it doesn't.) I actually feel a fair amount of shame at the number of books I do read. I feel like I should be doing something more productive, serving my community more, volunteering to wait on line at the DMV - anything! The other thing is that I end up with similar "great" reads every year, no matter how many books I read.
There are a lot of mediocre books in the world. I don't want to die saying "I read all the 3-star books."
Ella wrote: I don't want to die saying "I read all the 3-star books."That's why I read so much though! I'm looking for the 5 stars amidst all the 3s! The only way to find them is to read :)
I very rarely have not finished a book. I totally disagree with not finishing a book. Stop, read somthing else and try going back to read again. Unless you truly hate a book don't give up on it. We are not always in the right frame of mind to read a particular book but just give it another chance at a later time. Some years I read over 100 books some years I don't, so what!
Lori wrote: "I actually feel a fair amount of shame at the number of books I do read. I feel like I should be doing something more productive, serving my community more, volunteering to wait on line at the DMV - anything! The other thing is that I end up with similar "great" reads every year, no matter how many books I read. There are a lot of mediocre books in the world. I don't want to die saying "I read all the 3-star books.""
Never feel shame at how much you read whether it's 1 book or 500. Reading is productive. Even the least educational/most mediocre book out there can teach you something new about the world or about yourself.
Clare wrote: "Saying that audiobooks do not count, is removing visually impaired people from the category of readers. Do not try to impose such views as you do not know the circumstances of the other person.If someone reads through Braille, does that count? "
People aren't saying it doesn't count.
What people are saying is "Reading" is not the same as "Listening". By every definition of the word. Why are people ashamed to say "I listened to the audiobook"?
Who are these three people and why were they picked?
Kimball wrote: "Who are these three people and why were they picked?"I'm guessing they were asked and said yes. We have no idea how many people may have been asked if they were willing to supply the tips and book titles.
Claudia wrote: "Kimball wrote: "Who are these three people and why were they picked?"I'm guessing they were asked and said yes. We have no idea how many people may have been asked if they were willing to supply ..."
Darn I wanted to be picked. Next time.
That's how I do it! Reading is my form of entertainment. TV is only for a few shows.