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Footnotes 2017-2018
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Most books read in one year
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If I do the kind of intensive review for a majority of my reads, which I like to do to "digest" a book, I can get up to 120 books a year, or less than 2.5 per week. (Audiobooks on my long commute help with that). Thinking in terms of pages and the average book about 300 pages, I read about 100 pages a day. This year I failed to keep up with reviewing even half my reads (shame!) but instead just greedily rush ahead reading more and more. After a month of fading it becomes a pain to do a decent review. (If a book falls through your forest and you didn't share that experience, did the read really happen?)
Hahaha Michael - I hear you! I am hopelessly behind on my reviews and it gets to the point that there is no hope of catching up. C’est la vie réelle. But the reviews you do manage to complete are so great - and your star ratings are informative too, even if there’s not a more detailed explanation for them.
Michael wrote: "If I do the kind of intensive review for a majority of my reads, which I like to do to "digest" a book, I can get up to 120 books a year, or less than 2.5 per week. (Audiobooks on my long commute h..."I understand about review fatigue. I often feel that and I don't attempt the in depth analysis that I enjoy so much in your reviews, Michael. I've made it a personal challenge to record some kind of response after I read a book. Even if I don't write much, it helps to jog my memory when I think about it later, like a photograph from a vacation. However, I think it might be slowing my reading down. I don't like to have a long line of completed books waiting for comments.
AJ wrote: "Do any of you have tips for getting more books in? (Besides adding audiobooks)"AJ wrote: "Do any of you have tips for getting more books in? (Besides adding audiobooks)"
Just as Susie suggested, I find that taking a technology break is extremely helpful, but to expand upon that tip, utilize your inner lazy slob.
Unplug TV/Gaming systems, or take the batteries out of any remotes and put them in another room. That way you have to plug it back in or go collect your remotes/batteries and make a conscious decision, instead of settling in and zoning out.
Turn off your computer after each use, instead of putting it to sleep.
Plug your phone in across the room, or in another room entirely.
Don't keep it in your pocket.
Even when you start reading, a phone in your pocket can derail that. A question suddenly occurs to you while reading and before you know it, you've thoughtlessly gone from reading to losing 45 minutes to Wikipedia and then well, you got a new email notification and oooohhhh that favorite store for one of your hobbies is having a sale and maybe you should just spend an hour looking at all those things you've been drooling over in case there is a really good deal. While you're at it, you end up signing into social media to share some of the things you're drooling over with friends and before you know it, you've been looking at your cousin's vacation photos
You don't have to go cold turkey on technology. It's all about creating minor inconveniences that make reading the slightly more convenient option. If it takes just 30 more seconds to use your tech, it's now a conscious decision to use it, instead of the default setting in your brain.
Edit: Oh and if you read on your phone, as I often do, you can always put it into airplane mode to ensure you're not distracted.
Michael wrote: "If I do the kind of intensive review for a majority of my reads, which I like to do to "digest" a book, I can get up to 120 books a year, or less than 2.5 per week. (Audiobooks on my long commute h..."Ah the review process! Well, I don't write a review of any kind for some portion of the books I read, just giving a star rating, because they are truly fluff as in the next installment by a writer of a genre series. I save the review writing for books I am feeling compelled to talk about, share, or just keep alive a bit longer.
Theresa wrote: "Michael wrote: "If I do the kind of intensive review for a majority of my reads, which I like to do to "digest" a book, I can get up to 120 books a year, or less than 2.5 per week. (Audiobooks on m..."That's how I feel too. I read a lot of escapist fluff and I will just give them some stars and forget about them. I only write reviews for books I'm reading for a particular challenge or something truly exceptional.
LiteraryMania wrote: "AJ wrote: "Do any of you have tips for getting more books in? (Besides adding audiobooks)"AJ wrote: "Do any of you have tips for getting more books in? (Besides adding audiobooks)"
Just as Susie..."
Yep! I intended to read a good section of War and Peace today. 15 minutes in I think 'I'll just google this character (a real historical figure) so that I can remember him better if he turns up again'. 40 minutes later I'm somehow reading about political scandals in modern Georgia. Wikipedia is a wormhole!
Jess wrote: "Yep! I intended to read a good section of War and Peace today. 15 minutes in I think 'I'll just google this character (a real historical figure) ..."This is me all the time! I google one little thing and then suddenly it is an hour later and I have veered wildly off course. lol
There is a wikipedia game you can play, too, called Wikiracing, or The Wiki Game. It involves trying to find the shortest path from one entry to another just by clicking. For example, from the entry for Richard the Third to the entry for Outer Space Treaty, how many clicks does it take? No typing allowed, just hopping from link to link within the body of the entry.
Critterbee❇ wrote: "There is a wikipedia game you can play, too, called Wikiracing, or The Wiki Game. It involves trying to find the shortest path from one entry to another just by clicking. For example, from the entr..."OMG! I have to try this.
Critterbee❇ wrote: "There is a wikipedia game you can play, too, called Wikiracing, or The Wiki Game. It involves trying to find the shortest path from one entry to another just by clicking. For example, from the entr..."Why did you tell me this?!?! If there is anything I like more than random wikiresearch, it is competition.
I did it in 6Richard the Third
list of English Monarchs
Kingdom of Great Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United States
Space Race
Outer Space Treaty
I've played that game before and it's usually a good tactic to use counties.
Not to derail this thread but I'll give you one more. I generated these by pressing 'random article'
Wubin, West Australia to American Journal of Science
Uh, oh, I think I posted a huge time sink - the opposite of what this thread really wanted!! Sorry!!
Critterbee❇ wrote: "There is a wikipedia game you can play, too, called Wikiracing, or The Wiki Game. It involves trying to find the shortest path from one entry to another just by clicking. For example, from the entr..."Less than passive, passive-aggressive sneer: Well thanks Critterbee. There goes my entire month.
/buries head under a pile of leaves
I am pleased with the direction of this thread >:-)
My iPhone already does a weekly screen time report to me which is truly scary. Must see if I can label the resulting uplift ‘All Critterbee’s fault’!!! 😂😛
That’s it. I’m calling in sick. You’ll all find me on Wikipedia. 😂
Nicole R wrote: "Jess wrote: "Yep! I intended to read a good section of War and Peace today. 15 minutes in I think 'I'll just google this character (a real historical figure) ..."This is me all the time! I google..."
This was me back as a child when I would look something up in the encyclopedia and three hours later I'd have worked my way through five or six different volumes ... long having forgotten what I was supposed to be looking up to begin with.
I've been known to disappear into a dictionary...
Jgrace wrote: "Michael wrote: "If I do the kind of intensive review for a majority of my reads, which I like to do to "digest" a book, I can get up to 120 books a year, or less than 2.5 per week. (Audiobooks on m..."I'm like this now. I used to review more for others to read, but now I'm reviewing more for myself so I can jog my memory about the book, and why I liked it (or didn't). I feel like my reviews aren't terribly helpful for other readers, but some people know my taste, and I assume if they generally agree with it, the review may help them decide whether or not to pick up a particular title.
Meli wrote: "Tracy wrote: "I used to force myself to finish a book no matter what, but now I’ve decided that if I’m not enjoying it, it’s time to move on. I’ve discovered that I free up a lot more time."Still..."
Same. Though I managed to fool myself a couple of times by saying "I am just putting this aside temporarily" ... never to be picked up again. Ahem, Cold Mountain, Suitable Boy, Overstory . . . .yeah, it doesn't work much. And I will probably actually pick Overstory up again, so it's possible it has only worked twice. In 25 years.
I say the if you're not enjoying yourself leave it behind. Life is too short to be wasted on a crap book. If it's amazing you can fly through it without even knowing it. My problem is my brain. I could read so much more before my seizures kicked it up a notch. But limit technology and the reading should fly ;)
I find your reviews helpful Anita. As you said, I know that you and I have very similar taste (minus the memoirs, although Lab Girl and The Glass Castle were recommendations from you and I enjoyed them both) so I always take note of your thoughts.
Critterbee❇ wrote: "There is a wikipedia game you can play, too, called Wikiracing, or The Wiki Game. It involves trying to find the shortest path from one entry to another just by clicking. For example, from the entr..."I wish I had never heard of this! I already get bogged in simple internet searches to find out tidbits about books and also I am guilty of the imdb wormhole if I find a new TV show I like or some sort of movie I really like.
As of today I am up to 126.... But I know when I was still working in the Library I read quite a few more...and I actually read physical copies w/ only two kindle (because that was the only way to get them)
And I (slowly) cut out more and more tv.
ETA: I also take public transit to/from work, so that's more reading time. And (on those days I buy lunch - and therefore, walk away from my desk and computer! - I always have a book with me, so I'm reading while I eat.