Chicks On Lit discussion
How many books do you read in week/month/year?
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SarahSaysRead
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Dec 30, 2010 08:36AM
How much you can or want to read really depends on your current life situation. Last year I read 48 books, because I worked 5 days a week and always had something social to be going out to do. This year I'm able to fit a LOT more reading in because I only work 3-4 days a week, and I can read during my work shifts. So it makes a lot of sense that this year I was able to fit in 126 books (and of course some of those are just fluff). I also don't have any kids to look after, which means my not-working time is really me-time.
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Leslie - I 'heard' your doubt. And Martha - I'm lovin' that comment about the state of your house! I'm still somewhat jealous of people that can read that fast and have that much time. I'm up at 5:30am and read for about 45 min, but I'm at work by 7:30am and there until 4 to 6:30 pm depending on after school rehearsals. Two nights a week I have other ensemble rehearsals from 7 to 9 PM. I have school district obligations on Saturday morings for about half the year. Sundays I play two services at two different churches. Somewhere in there I have to clean house (no help here), grocery shop, do laundry, etc. etc. So all considering, I get through more than most people with my schedule. I am not a speed reader - I think that would put my blood pressure higher than it already is. I sneak onto Goodreads before the students get into my room, and sometimes at lunch or late at night. I love school breaks like now because I have a life for a little while. I live vicariously through all your reading and dream about a day when I can do more.
As an old retired fart, err person, I could spend more time reading than I do, which is 2-4 hours every evening, with an occasional afternoon hour here and there. I've always thought myself to be a slow reader, which I don't mind. I noticed recently that reading non-fiction was quite a bit slower, and, I think, not just because the of the subject. In this case, the line length was longer so that I needed to take in 3 stops on a page rather than just 2. I was about 2/3 of the way through the book when I realized this, during one of my mind wandering moments.
Elizabeth - what is it about being o-l-d-er type person, or that stage in life? I don't mind my slowness in reading, but I do also notice, as you said, non-fiction is more work and the o-l-d mind does wander. I chaulk it up to more life experience which in turn causes or inspires more associations and reflections! I'm jealous of you too!! I would be an old retired fart if we hadn't moved too many times and not accrued enough years in one state for me to actually do it.
Nancy, I'm not sure it's the same for everyone, but in general, the older we get the slower we get. Is that because the brain doesn't work as quickly or because we don't feel the pressure to hurry through things? I don't know. But, as I said, it doesn't bother me, largely because I've come to realize that getting irritated with myself over things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of things isn't going to help.
Amen! It really doesn't matter does it? My grand scheme has certainly changed from when I was in my twenties. And my priorities along with it. I have eaten my own words many times over.
Nancy wrote: "I have eaten my own words many times over."A whole week's worth of meals here, at least!
Another thing that has helped me to increase my reading is ebooks on my iPhone. Yes, I still love a real book, but the convenience of instant downloads & the availability of the books are wonderful. I'm a Special Olympics coach and am busy with practices or competitions almost every weekend. I've started reading while waiting at competitions when the athlete is staged, but not competing yet. Once they start competing I'm up & cheering them on. I couldn't talk for 3 days after one bowling competition. Anyway, I'm just finding more & more times to read. :-) Marialyce, I so agree. I pity those who don't read. Look what they are missing in life!!
Martha - I can relate. I keep a book with me in the orchestra pit.
Sarah wrote: "How much you can or want to read really depends on your current life situation. Last year I read 48 books, because I worked 5 days a week and always had something social to be going out to do. This..."I read a lot of fluff too and the way I've always justified it is that it's better to read it than watch it on TV. I also read a lot because I watch almost no TV, maybe a few hours a month. My "reconsidering" the amount of fluff I read is because I'm getting older and realizing that I have a backlog of books (like War and Peace which I just finished this year) that I've never read that seem more "worthy" of being read than my normal cozy mysteries.
Yeah, we had commented I believe in another thread that taste in books changes with age. Something that you don't always 'get' in your younger years has a whole other meaning later in life. that's the old fart in me talking...
Nancy wrote: "Yeah, we had commented I believe in another thread that taste in books changes with age. Something that you don't always 'get' in your younger years has a whole other meaning later in life. that's ..."Or you relate to it in a different way, sympathize with different characters.
I don't really mind my fluff reading. I read a pretty good amount of classics this year, and while I could have done better on the non-fiction front, I didn't do bad either. I just don't feel guilty indulging in the occasional romance here and there - I've realized that if I'm going to read this many books, sometimes back-to-back, I need a little brain candy! It's taken me a long time though... years ago I was a total book snob and really looked down on fluff stuff. I can now appreciate it better!
I have read 86 books in 2010.
Agreed Sarah. I'm more serious about my choices, but I do need a break occasionally - for pure mindless entertainment.
That's funny Sarah, "Book snob" I used to be the same way. Now I find myself alternating. If I just got out of a serious book I look for something uplifting and funny and vice versa. Also, with 4 teenagers in the house, reading is my escape so it all depends on what's "going on"... sometimes a serious book will send me over the edge.
I read, on average, 2-3 books a month depending on the length of the book. :) I read 39 books in 2010 and I usually am able to get in at least an hour a day reading, sometimes a bit more on the weekends!
Christine wrote: "That's funny Sarah, "Book snob" I used to be the same way. Now I find myself alternating. If I just got out of a serious book I look for something uplifting and funny and vice versa. Also, with 4 t..."Christine, I do the same thing, flip back and forth between serious, intellectual reads and light, fun reads. But I tend to read more of the light books as I can plow right through them and the classics or intellectual books take me a little longer. So it is probably more like 2-3 light books: 1 serious book. Of the course I seem to enjoy and get more out of the serious ones, but sometimes I need the light and fluffy. What can one do...?
Christine - Your comment about teenagers was pretty funny. I can relate!
I have been tracking since about 1980 or so. And it can vary largely depending on what's going on in my life. Last year was 128. My goal this year is 200 - I set that up on GR tracker.
Megan wrote: "Christine wrote: "That's funny Sarah, "Book snob" I used to be the same way. Now I find myself alternating. If I just got out of a serious book I look for something uplifting and funny and vice ver..."Yep. Life dictates what I can and cannot read most days. It's all about balance.. whatever that is.. :)
I never really kept careful track of how much I read in a year until I started using goodreads, except for one notable period in my life where I was unemployed and read a book a day for three months. I've set myself a goal of 100 books in 2011, which I think is attainable for me.Reading two books a week is about my speed. I'm lucky to have a job where I can read at work most days, sometimes for extended periods. Since setting my 2011 goal, I've started allowing myself to read some lighter novels and especially quick mysteries in order to meet my challenge. Ordinarily I trend towards classics and contemporary literary fiction, but it's a lot of fun to trade off "serious" books with Inspector Lynley mysteries and the like.
I know I'm reading too much when I find myself scanning the page and realize I've read several pages without really knowing what happened. Then I'll slow myself down and take a break for a couple days.
I find myself reading on average about 2 good books a month. When I say "goodbooks" I am referring to a book that I can curl up with and am able to asorb it like an adventure outside of my everyday life. I actually read a lot of things during the month but I must say that curling up with a good book right by myself is the best.
Fascinating conversation! I read perhaps an hour a day, plus I get 1-2 hours per day with audio books during my commute. My weekend reading is more - perhaps 4 hours per day.I've tracked all my books on a spreadsheet since 1993, and 2010 was my highest record with 62 - many chunky, but also a mix of some "business books" that are an hour.
My stated goal for 2011 is 52 since I know work and life happen - but I'd love to get to 70.
It amazes me people who do not read at all - It has brought so much pleasure, texture, learning and appreciation of other people, places and things. Our lives would be so much poorer without books!
I know what you mean Becky, how it amazes you people who don't read at all. I can't understand it either. I feel like my life would be so small if I didn't read. I get to 'experience' so many different things through reading, if only vicariously!! Plus learn new things. Yip, I'm with you, makes no sense!
I have a fabulous employee who only reads non-fiction. He admitted he doesn't read non-fiction because he feels it isn't time spent "learning" something. I'm sure there is some distant inner parent voice there.I'm working on him - telling him about the worlds I know about and experiences I've lived (again vicariously) that I could not possibly get from non-fiction.
Granted - I read non-fiction too, and when written well, it feels like a novel - but so many characters that we've been able to see the world through their eyes! It is such a gift.
I'll keep working on him -
Becky wrote: "I have a fabulous employee who only reads non-fiction. He admitted he doesn't read non-fiction because he feels it isn't time spent "learning" something. I'm sure there is some distant inner pare..."And he has seen worlds you haven't. I don't see what difference it makes what you read, as long as you read.
Becky wrote: "I have a fabulous employee who only reads non-fiction. He admitted he doesn't read non-fiction because he feels it isn't time spent "learning" something. I'm sure there is some distant inner pare..."Have you tried to get him interested in historical fiction? It's the closest to a best of both worlds (fiction and non-fiction) if the book is well researched. Like James A. Michener? He could read the historical fiction along with an actual history book- I sometimes do that because the novel motivates me to continue to read the non-fiction book. Although he would probably be the reverse.
