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Super Readers Share Their Best Tips to Read More Books
As we head into New Year's resolutions season, we'd like to make the case for our favorite and most fun resolution: Making more time for reading. To help you out, we thought we'd reach out to some Goodreads members who manage to read an impressive number of books each year and ask them for their best advice. You can also see their up-to-date reading for 2019 under their names!
We want to hear your tips and tricks as well! Let us know how you carve out time to read!
See Miranda's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
My reading goal for this year was 240 books.
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
Audiobooks! More specifically—free audiobooks. As someone who loves to read, it can be hard to find the time—especially once I enrolled in graduate school. The first few months were so jarring—I loved the academic challenge and the rigorous coursework, but all of my free time was suddenly gone. And as someone who used to average a book every two days, I really missed reading.
My local librarian came up with the solution. She told me to try downloading audiobooks (or ebooks) from my state's digital library. My state had thousands of books available in their digital format, ready to be downloaded right to my phone! I was hooked—speeding my way through The Raven Boys, Harry Potter, Michelle Obama's Becoming, and so many more.
Now, whenever I'm in the car, doing chores about the house, walking from place to place, etc., I always have a book playing. I've laughed and cried my way though (no exaggeration) hundreds of audiobooks within the last few years and will likely go through hundreds more in the future.
Roughly 60 percent of the books I read are audiobooks and the best part is I never have to shift my schedule or try to squeeze in more reading time when the book is really good. I just continue working on my instrument, taking data or editing my figures—all while finding out if Mia will survive the Nevernight Chronicles (don't tell me—I have six hours of the audiobook remaining!).
Melanie Parker/Meltotheany
See Melanie Parker/Meltotheany's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
100
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
I know it’s cliché, but my greatest advice for reading more is just to make time for reading. I don’t go anywhere without a book, whether that is a physical book, my iPad, or an audiobook on my iPhone. Reading before bed is also just a part of my nightly routine now, and I really cherish that downtime and look forward to it each day!
Also, never forget your love for reading. I think sometimes we get so caught up with numbers (and reviews) that it’s easy to forget how amazing it is to escape into stories and then be able to share that experience with friends here on Goodreads!
Jennifer Tar Heel Reader
See Jennifer Tar Heel Reader's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
I expect to read 250 books this year
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
I take a book, my Kindle, and the Kindle app on my phone with me everywhere, and I read any chance I get. I’ve also recently gotten back into audiobooks and have the libro.fm app on my phone to sneak in audiobooks on my commute or during household chores.
Lastly, I watch very little TV. The less TV I watch, the more I read, and the more I read, the more relaxed I am!
Jessica
See Jessica's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
I am on track for hitting 365 books read for my second year in a row. While there are many contributing factors in my personal life that allow me to read as much as I do (which may not be applicable to other readers), it really can be summed up in one statement—I read what I enjoy.
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
This may seem like common sense, but I cannot stress how important it is to read books that interest you. I can get through 400 pages of fantasy in a day, but 75 pages on socioeconomic growth would take me weeks to read.
Additionally, if you aren’t enjoying a book, don’t force yourself to finish it. It’s not quitting or a failure to set a book aside if you hate it. Duds happen. So rather than struggling, wouldn’t you rather be spending that time reading something you do enjoy? Once I personally accepted that it’s okay to not finish a book, my reading experience improved significantly.
In short, read what you love and love what you read. Do this and, if you’re anything like me, you will be reading more books than you can probably manage.
Kai
See Kai's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
Since I've already reached my goal of 75 books this year, I might try and aim for the big 100. It's ambitious, but I might just make it.
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
Here are a few things that totally count as reading:
1. Audiobooks
2. Graphic Novels
3. Fanfiction
4. And yes, even picture books. 100 percent valid.
Still, there are a few things that help me read more. I try not to read more than two books at a time. Granted, I usually fail at doing that. One book for pleasure and one for pain—often something I have to read for class. And then there's a third option: a buddy read, a poetry collection that I will pick up occasionally, or a graphic novel that simply reads much quicker.
And while we're at it: comics and graphic novels do read themselves much faster than novels. And YA reads itself faster than adult fiction. And 300 pages take much less time than any George R.R. Martin book ever. If on the last day of the year you're one book away from making the finish line, Rupi Kaur is your woman. Or Dean Atta. Even the Rainbow Fish.
Something else that helps me is to go all Marie Kondo on books that don't bring me joy. It's boring? Bye. Can't connect? Sashay away. It's problematic? Well...I'll probably finish it just so I can write a scathing review. But feel free to throw it out with the trash.
A few last words: Don't forget that reading should be fun. Fast readers usually a) have a lot of free time b) work in publishing c) study literature or d) have a devilish talent to devour books in mere hours.
Don't put yourself under pressure just to lose the joy of reading. Breathe, pick up that book you've been dying to read, and forget the world around you. That's all that matters.
Sam Shove
See Sam Shove's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
I'm probably going to manage 250 books this year but normally average between 175 and 200, depending on what I read.
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
For me, I find reading more than one book at a time helps me read more. I make sure the books I'm reading are from different genres so I always have something to read that suits my mood and alternatives for when I hit a slow spot in one book. For example, at the moment I'm reading a fantasy novel and a crime thriller and will probably be starting a non-fiction that I picked up on the weekend this evening. It seems counterintuitive but seems to work for me.
Chaima
See Chaima's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
I'm hoping to read 200 books this year I've read 173 so far, and quite reassuringly, Goodreads tells me that I'm 7 books ahead of schedule!
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
Keep a book on you all the time. Sometimes, right before you leave the house, you’ll halt on the threshold and hear a voice saying, “Maybe you don’t need to take a book with you to the grocery store...” That’s the devil talking. Always have a book on deck. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way, but you don’t have to!
It’s okay to DNF a book. It’s okay to be picky about how you spend your reading time. I used to feel so bad about not finishing books, but I learned that once you find yourself crawling across every sentence with the peak of each hard-won page unveiling yet another page beyond, the words floating under your gaze, incomprehensible, and the boredom of it all almost bleeding your brain front to back—it’s time to stop. Give it to a friend or move onto the next title—but don’t read books you don’t enjoy.
Also, don’t shy away from reading books concurrently. I love to mix up multiple books from different genres across multiple mediums (happily switching between physical copies, e-books and audiobooks), or juggle both required reading and pleasure reading. This really helped me—someone with ADHD who has the attention span of a commercial break—plow through my TBR pile faster.
Join the Goodreads’ Reading Challenge! I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by a community dedicated to books, filled with those who feel just as giddy with enthusiasm as I do about setting reading goals, who will encourage you and remind you that “you got this!” and also help stir your motivation when you see how much they’re reading. It’s a really fun challenge, but it also helps you hold yourself accountable because Goodreads lets you know if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track to meet the reading goal you set.
Last but not least, you can’t just find time for reading, you have to determinedly carve out time in your schedule to read. Setting a dedicated reading time will help make reading a habit, and ensure that you’re reading at least an hour every day. I like to read in the mornings, so I wake up a little bit earlier and set aside 20-30 minutes to read my book—it’s a great way to start your day!—or sometimes at night, when I can’t marshal my tired eyes to the task of squinting at the pages after a particularly wearying day, nothing gladdens my heart more than listening to an audiobook while cocooned in a warm blanket.
I also claw hungrily at any spare moment to read—you’d be amazed at the number of intervals throughout the day in which you can pursue the joy of reading!
Lola
See Lola's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
I am hoping to read 200 books even if I set my Goodreads goal to 220.
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
If you want to read more, try to read between tasks or events happening in your daily life. Like if you need to take a 15-minute bus ride to get to your workplace and back, read then! If after washing the dishes for 30 minutes you need to sit down and relax for 5 minutes, read then! If you're attending a salsa class and you're feeling awkward while waiting for the class to start, read then! You might fall off your chair discovering how many opportunities to read you actually have…and then read while getting back on your feet.
Emily Fox
See Emily Fox's Year in Books
How many books did you expect to read in 2019?
Hoping to make it to 100 (but 90 would be nice!)
What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?
Audiobooks! They're a lifesaver for whenever life gets crazy. I can listen to one in the shower, on the bus, while cleaning, cooking, walking, getting ready... Even when I don't have time to sit down and read, I end up finishing a couple books a month that way.
We want to hear your tips and tricks as well! Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent articles:
Goodreads Staffers' Top Three Books of the Year
Very Short, 4-Star Books for Your Reading Challenge
The Most Popular Books About Books for Avid Readers
Check out more recent articles:
Goodreads Staffers' Top Three Books of the Year
Very Short, 4-Star Books for Your Reading Challenge
The Most Popular Books About Books for Avid Readers
Comments Showing 201-241 of 241 (241 new)
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Jaime
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Jan 05, 2020 10:50AM
Audio books are like listening to radio dramas - 'the theater of the mind.' I am a fan of classic radio and own close to 2,000 broadcasts. I have listened to radio versions of classic films but I do not say I have ever seen a certain movie if I have only listened to the radio dramatized version. Different experiences altogether. Listening to a reading of a book is not reading. I am also an oral storyteller so I speak from a different perspective than most here. I have read (and acted out) classic books but I still encourage the reading of it. I often will read the book or play on which I film I have watched is based to experience it myself. Reading is an experience to itself and nothing compares or comes close to it.
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You are spot on. I have worked as a literacy specialist and taught adults to read. Listening to audio books are not reading.
I live an active life and work FT so I usually read 30-35 books a year. Numbers in the 200s and higher befuddle me because that means a book is read every 1.5 days. I do not see that as possible unless one is speed-reading or reading shorter books. Also, one can hardly have a social or external life if reading so many books.a balance between living and reading is healthy but to each his/her own.
Audio books inflate 'books read' stats but are not the same as reading a book.
Jaime wrote: "I live an active life and work in retirement so I usually read 30-35 books a year. Numbers in the 200s and higher befuddle me because that means a book is read every 1.5 days. I do not see that as ..."I can read multiple books in a day. I am highly visual and able to process visual data very quickly, and have been reading since I was four. Just because you personally can't do something doesn't make it impossible for others.
And for the record, Braille isn't an option for all of those who are visually impaired, so saying that audiobooks are redundant really shows your ignorance and privilege.
Jaime wrote: "I chuckle at your attempt to twist my statement. I train dogs for the blind and work with the blind. Braille reading is totally a different because the blind are unable to read print and Braille re..."Why do you assume that only people who *can* read books but *choose* not to are the ones listening to audio books? If you work with blind or visually impaired people, you should also know that Braille books are much more expensive and bulky than regular print books, they are often not available in libraries, and can be difficult to find period. Meanwhile, many hundreds of thousands of books are readily available in audio form, for free from libraries, or cheaply through online stores, and take up no physical space. And in the rare case that an audiobook isn't available, there is usually an ebook available, and screenreading software can take the place of an audiobook.
Other reasons someone may require or prefer audio books:
Poor eyesight: not blind, but unable to see well enough to read, or unable to read for long periods without eye strain. Large print books are again bulkier, not readily available in libraries, and less available in general than audiobooks. Ereaders may not have appropriate contrast, and may not be resizeable to the right size for them. Computer or tablet screens often make eye strain worse, even with blue light filters.
Motor disability: lack the strength or dexterity to hold a book, or work an ereader. May be missing or unable to move one or both hands. Audiobooks are easier to manage physically, because they only have to hit a couple of buttons to start them and then can leave them alone, or can use voice control to start and stop them, or someone else can start and stop the book for them.
Reading disability: those with dyslexia or other reading disabilities can see just fine, but have great difficulty reading, and may find their enjoyment of books is very much diminished as a result. Ebooks have helped significantly with the ability to change the font to something that is dyslexia-friendly, but that is not a solution for everyone.
Or maybe, they just find that listening is a better experience for them than reading. Maybe they don't have time to read all the books they want to read, and listening means they get to experience more books than they would otherwise (which is the most important thing, is it not?)
There is more than one type of disability in the world, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Not everyone can read or learn to read Braille. Not everyone can afford to purchase or store Braille books. Not everyone has easy access to Braille books. Not everyone has time to sit down and read all the books they want to read.
But now, I ask you, what, exactly, is the issue with people counting audiobooks as reading on goodreads? I still don't understand, after reading all the arguments against it. I agree that in the technical sense it is not reading, but for the purposes of this website and this reading challenge? They've experienced the exact same words you have, it does not take any less time to listen to an audiobook than to its physical counterpart. If I listened to an audiobook, I would not say I had "read" the book in casual conversation, no (I would say I had listened to the audiobook), but I would mark it as "read" on Goodreads because they don't have a way to mark it as "listened to", and I'm not about to go off to some other website to track audiobooks separately from physical books (hypothetically speaking - I have difficulty concentrating on audiobooks and have not yet managed to finish one).
Why does it matter to *you* whether other people count those books or not? It doesn't affect you in any way, unless you decide to make it a competition and let yourself feel inferior because they have read more than you.
Celebrate that people are experiencing books, learning from books, growing from books, in whatever way they choose. Celebrate that books are not going away or being forgotten! Let people enjoy things in the way that works for them, rather than bringing people down on a technicality. Would you be as adamant about not counting audiobooks if the language was "Consume more books" or "Finish more books" or something to that extent instead of "Read more books"?
Ellen wrote: "Jaime wrote: "I chuckle at your attempt to twist my statement. I train dogs for the blind and work with the blind. Braille reading is totally a different because the blind are unable to read print ..."Ellen, you are my hero. 👏👏👏
I've always taken a book with me wherever I went to. It really helps with waiting time. When I was younger (pre/early internet time) I read around 100 books per year. Five or six years ago I noticed, thanks to the GR challenge, that that number had dwindled to a mere 30 or so. That's when I realised that instead of reading a book on my daily commute, I was checking my phone for most of the time on the train. Caused by trying to change music on the phone and "just checking this or that site". That's when I bought an mp3 player without internet connection, as a result stopped checking my phone and I am now back to 65 books (in 2019). I have a couple of other time consuming hobbies that I didn't have when I was younger, so 65 is a very realistic and good number for me.
I am not very competetive, I don't care what number of books I've read as opposed to others but the challenge helps me making time to read as I am ambitious enough to reach my very own goals.
I did not devalue listening to audio books. I simply said they cannot be counted as read books. The rest of your argument is moot. I am legally blind, so your insensitivity and harsh and unfounded criticism make me wonder why you think you can bully and make generalizations about me. I suggest you step back and gather some facts before you go off on a tangent that reveals too much about your character.
I never said I cannot, I simply choose not to do so. You keep making assumptions.
Jaime wrote: "I did not devalue listening to audio books. I simply said they cannot be counted as read books. The rest of your argument is moot. I am legally blind, so your insensitivity and harsh and unfounded criticism make me wonder why you think you can bully and make generalizations about me. I suggest you step back and gather some facts before you go off on a tangent that reveals too much about your character."Ok this is beyond ridiculous now. Goodreads considers audiobooks as read books, whether you do or not, and since this is a personal challenge hosted by Goodreads, that's who gets the final say.
I’m not convinced that an audiobook gives you an equivalent experience to traditional reading. It doesn’t help improve your spelling and use of language, gives you no time to appreciate the literature. . it just tells you a story. TV without the pictures.
Christine wrote: "I’m not convinced that an audiobook gives you an equivalent experience to traditional reading. It doesn’t help improve your spelling and use of language, gives you no time to appreciate the literature. . it just tells you a story. TV without the pictures."
Not all books are "literature". The same things can be said about print books. I've read some that were PAINFUL to get through - atrocious spelling, grammar, structure, punctuation, etc. They'd have only been improved by someone telling me the story and not making me dig it out of their horrible attempts at writing.
But regardless, the merits of audio are irrelevant. Audio is treated the same as any other format by Goodreads.
Valentina wrote: "250 books? 365 books? Honestly, these numbers are hard to believe..."I read 263 books in 2019. What's so hard to believe about it?
Michael wrote: "If listening to a story is "reading", then is watching a movie of the book also reading? Where do you draw the line? And who gets to draw that line? All I know is that if one of my students claimed..."Obviously watching a movie is different from reading a book because it's a different story. An audiobook is literally just someone reading the book out loud. Why wouldn't someone get credit for that? I cannot understand the difference in any way.
I wrote a little How-To Guide to Read More in 2020 by using book challenges. I prefer Book Riot's Read Harder and the Reading Women Podcast Challenge, but you can do it with any book challenge. https://toasterdreams.ghost.io/2019/1...
I don't really understand the push to read a higher number of books, unless you are struggling to read any at all and have to push yourself to it. Although maybe that's because I've never had trouble reading a lot (I sometimes feel like I read too much, and I'm generally only hitting 80-100/year, not the larger numbers seen here!). I only set a goal on Goodreads because it keeps asking me to, and even then I set it lower than I usually read so I don't feel pressured.
Jessica wrote: "I don't really understand the push to read a higher number of books, unless you are struggling to read any at all and have to push yourself to it. Although maybe that's because I've never had troub..."Well, I think it comes back to the whole "so many books, so little time" thing. It's one area where the more I read, the more I find that I want to ALSO read. So reading more is a great goal for me. But I actually lowered my goal for this year (down from my usual 100 to 52) so that I can fit in longer books that otherwise would be bypassed to hit the number.
There are people who have to listen to books because they are visually impaired and don't know braille. I don't understand this exclusionist attitude that is so prevalent in these comments. If you're listening to a book, you're listening to the same words that another person is reading. If you're watching a movie based on a book, you're not reading the same words at all in 99% of cases. And if you're reading an eBook, you're reading a book damn it. eBooks are great because you can customize font size, change the contrast, etc. Again, great if your eyesight is not perfect.
A little less judgmental, readers. Thank you.
My tip for non-fiction is to learn to skim. Not exactly speedreading, but quickly recognizing parts of the book you can gloss over more generally, like, for example, the beginning parts of the For Dummies series (which always gives an overview which you don't really need to read word for word.)
I like the year in review, but don’t set a challenge. I feel that would be too much pressure and take away from the book experience. Also, I review for myself, so I can look back and see if I actually liked the book and refresh my memory on substance. I just stop reading a book, if it becomes a chore.
"That's the devil talking." I am CRYING at this hahaha.I don't have the ability to focus as well as I used to - other obligations, etc. - and so I really appreciate the message of keeping reading fun that some of these folks are echoing. The prestige of a big "completed" number obviously feels good but I feel the number one job of reading, aside from conveying information/storytelling, is to cultivate pleasure. Getting caught up in comparing my count with anyone else's is a sure way, for me at least, to diminish my own reading pleasure.
I read 179 books this year and I read 231 in 2018. 2917 was only 131 because I joined Goodreads in the early Fall and only noted what I immediately remembered. I bought a house in 2019 and was preoccupied with moving so I wasn’t reading as much as I did in 2018.I simply read, if I possess free time, I picked up a book to read. Joy is why I read: mysteries, nonfiction, poetry and literary, YA and fantasy.
I purposefully set my goal low around 60 books so there is no pressure to read. And this year, I am not setting a goal because I feel it is not needed.
I read because I want to and I always want that to be my goal, the joy and excitement I feel as soon as I open that book, the knowledge that another world is available, that other voices and perspectives are so easily apprehended.
The only advice I can give is to remember why you began reading, not to impress and not to feel must read to be a worthy individual, but to do so because you want to.
Good luck
Susan wrote: "If Goodreads plans on writing a similar piece next year, I would like to see more diversity in the reader examples (i.e. types of readers). Most of the readers showcased in this article tend to rea..."I agree that having a wider variety of readers would be interesting and beneficial, but I don't think the readers listed in this article read the genres they do because, as you said, "their primary goal is numbers." I doubt very many people, if any at all, take the Goodreads Challenge seriously enough to plan all of their reading around getting the highest numbers. They happen to like genres that tend to read more quickly, so their numbers are higher. I primarily read YA, thrillers, and romance (at least at the moment), so my numbers were bonkers in 2019, but I didn't choose those genres because I wanted a high number on my Goodreads Challenge. I just like those kinds of stories. Even if I wasn't on Goodreads at all, that's what I would be reading, and I would guess that is true of the people featured in this article as well.
TL;DR: it ain't that deep, folks. People read what they like and track that data here because that is literally the point of this website.
In the end, you and I can disagree. Simply because a group of peopel here think one way and they are moderators does not make their decision a universal guide. I will remain with my opinion and you with yours. Fair enough.
Every time this type of article is published we get similar comments on audiobooks not being real reading, people just need to make more time if they want to read more, some people not believing the numbers, etc.I look at the basics of this.
1. Being happy reading 20 books a year versus 100 or more does not make you less of a reader or that you don't like reading as much - it just means you either read slower by choice or by the genre you read (classics and non-fiction take longer for the most part versus romance, as an example), that you have a lot of other hobbies or obligations that take away the reading time, or you just don't want to read more than you do (which is fine!, it's a hobby)
2. No guilting into turning off the TV, computer, or other hobbies. I love reading and have read over 300 books a year for the past few years, but I also love going through my TV show binges, computer time hobbies, and some video games. I would hate to only have reading as a hobby and nothing else.
Advising people to cut out other hobbies they enjoy to get up their book count is counterproductive to their ultimate happiness in most cases.
3. Audiobooks suit some more than other forms of reading - there's nothing wrong with them, and it can definitely boost your book count. If you don't enjoy them, don't worry about adding them.
4. Reading challenges are supposed to encourage you on personal goals and tracking - it's not a competition with others as some here have stated.
I wish I could do audiobooks but alas I can't retain the story that way. I zone out and don't comprehend the story.
Guys... let’s remind ourselves that the point of reading isn’t maximizing the number of letters your brain has to process. If your job requires reading fast, great, but otherwise there’s no reason to cram words in just to fulfill the demands of an arbitrary number.
Paul wrote: "I really don't the pressure these articles put on readers. Honestly, just read what you want to read at a pace that suits you. Not everyone has the time. My 64 books I've read this year looks poult..."Yes!!! Numbers are ridiculous for the joy of reading. Who needs more pressure in an area of pleasure?
Elizabeth wrote: "Yes!!! Numbers are ridiculous for the joy of reading. Who needs more pressure in an area of pleasure?."
Some people find it creates pressure, but I find more reading more enjoyable and enhanced since joining reading challenges. I like these personal goals and to read by themes, it helps me grow and I've found I've started reading more due to this.
It's not a competition or about pressure, it's supposed to be adding fun to something already enjoyable - but if it doesn't do that for you, then it's best not to join the challenge since it would only end up being counterproductive.
Jaime wrote: "I live an active life and work FT so I usually read 30-35 books a year. Numbers in the 200s and higher befuddle me because that means a book is read every 1.5 days. I do not see that as possible un..."My Goodreads Challenge for 2019 was 175. I read 185 books...no audio...all print books, and none less than 300 pages. I am a fast reader, but not a traditional speed reader. I mainly read at night in bed and usually read a 350 - 400 page book in one to two days, depending on how engrossing it is to me. Personally, I do not care for audio books or e-books for that matter. I like to hold the book, turn the pages and smell the scent of the printed page. I am retired now, but have always read a lot since I was a young child. My challenge for 2020 is 180.
Having said all that, audio books are books too, as far as I'm concerned. You may have a different opinion, but that doesn't mean your opinion is a fact as you seem to think it is. You seem to feel superior somehow to those who prefer audio books and I don't understand this. As long as someone is enjoying a good book, regardless of it's format, that is all that should matter.
Somehow I have trouble counting an audiobook as reading.
Hope wrote: "Somehow I have trouble counting an audiobook as reading."Then don't.
Michael wrote: "If listening to a story is "reading", then is watching a movie of the book also reading? Where do you draw the line? And who gets to draw that line? All I know is that if one of my students claimed..."Why? I'm also a teacher and whether one of my students reads a book or listens to the audiobook, they are activating the same parts of the brain and getting the same content. I teach students with disabilities and it is next to impossible to find books that match both their reading level and their interest level. Since their listening comprehension is higher than their decoding or reading comprehension skills, audiobooks help make books at their interest level more accessible to them.
Without the barest intent of sounding like an elitist... just for the sake of putting it into perspective, I wonder how many books for those with a count of 200+ were short fiction, middle grade, graphic novels, and such.I really don't mean to come off as judgemental, I fully admit that 20 of the 100 books I read last year were graphic novels in the 120-200 page range, but I don't know if that much more would even be conceivable for me, with the way my life is structured- with work, my commute, household chores, etc. I could probably do 200+ if I focused on short fiction, YA, things like that which are easier to read, or if I listened to audiobooks at 1.5 speed most of the time, but... I can't do that at work so that's 10 hours a day down the drain, plus I don't know if that would make me feel like a "super reader". I already don't feel that accomplished getting to a hundred, simply because that much information was just... a lot, and at the end, it really started to feel like I was doing to for quantity over quality.
My "reading resoluton" this year is to read fewer books, but read longer books, and books I already own. I want to get my average length up from 280 to at least over 300. :)
Anna wrote: "Without the barest intent of sounding like an elitist... just for the sake of putting it into perspective, I wonder how many books for those with a count of 200+ were short fiction, middle grade, g..."I consider these tips as easy ways to read more without having a number in mind. Though I bet most of the people who read this post are those who don't need it ;)
What helped me most to read more was using Voice Over, so I can continue to listen to books while doing household chores etc. That way I almost enjoy cleaning and even take some extra time for it ;)
Though I do set a goal for the GR challenge each year, I like to check the number of pages read, though that still isn't a very accurate way of measuring. I prefer novellas or short novels, so I may have a problem rasing the average length. Without checking I'd say my ratio of 'short books' is about 20%, too.
Oh, and another interesting number is my average rating, which gladly has risen over the years, as I (try to) select more carefully the books I want to read.
Listening to an audiobook is definitely a form of reading. God forbid someone's eyesight is compromised; I'm sure the tune would change. Folks can read with their ears, hands and eyes. It's all the exact same information and retained with the same clarity; no matter the format.
I’m newer to the reading challenge. My goal is much smaller-20 books this year. Two questions: Why do audio books count as “reading”? You’re listening. Second, do you count the books that you didn’t finish? Just curious. Thx.
A.J. wrote: "Kim wrote: "Maybe I'm a purist or something, but listening to an audiobook is not the same as reading a book." Totally agree. Yes, you are 'experiencing' the story but not reading. LISTENING is not..."Listening is reading for those who have macular degeneration and no longer see well enough to read a physical book. My mother always loved reading, but with the onset of macular degeneration she became legally blind. She can still get the enjoyment of reading by listening to books. It is important to her to be able to still "read" by listening. On the other hand I am deaf/hard of hearing and can't understand audio books. So I don't listen to books. I read while I still have my vision.
