All year I've been reading other bloggers who made a goal to read 100 books in one year. Seemed absolutely awesome yet crazy at the same time. That's 2 books a week! Where in the world do you guys find the time to read that much?????
I thought of trying something like that myself.....but I have kids. One is in school...so the first hour and a half of our day is quite hectic with breakfast, getting dressed, making lunch, etc... Once she leaves I am doing laundry, playing with my little one, etc... 11:30 is lunch time...then nap time for him. Then it's my time...3-1/2 glorious hours of whatever I want to do. Usually the first hour is email, blogging, Facebook, etc... Then I spend the rest writing or editing. 4 comes and it's time to start making dinner...then eat dinner, then clean up from dinner. Then we have some family time. Kids get in bed, I get in the shower and then sometimes get back on the computer. Add in nights where I go to writers group meetings and also my weekly dance class and my daughter's dance class. Weekends...forget about it...always something going on. So not a ton of free time for reading. I get, at the most, an hour before bed.
I just went on to Goodreads to see how many books I actually did read this year..assuming I logged in every one. There were many I started and never finished too (I'm so much more critical now that I am a writer...and if something does not grab my full attention it gets put down), so those weren't added in. The count...a depressing 16.
I guess it's not awful...more than 1 a month. I think with my schedule...it would be unrealistic to try to read more than say 30 in an entire year...that's a little more than 1 book every 2 weeks.
So I will try to read 30 books in 2010. That is my goal! Now that I have my Sony Reader, I am determined to fit in more reading time (and get full use out of such an expensive gadget!). I have 9 books loaded on it ready to go. But I started reading the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. I'm on book 1 and if I love it...I will need to read the next 3 immediately. The library has them- they're kinda old, so no waiting. I can't see buying them.
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Let me know what you think about The Uglies series. I read the first one and was indifferent. I wasn't crazy about it, but didn't dislike it. I guess it just didn't stay with me.
ReplyDelete30 books is a great goal! I only read about a book a month and I don't even have kids, so you're doing great.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot. Probably an unfair amount if yo consider I have four kids and a needy household. I do have a bad habit of ripping through books. Must slow down.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I'm always impressed by people who are able to read a bunch of books too, so thanks for saying what you did! I can't even boast 16 books for 2009. Probably closer to 10. I tend to reread the same passages over and over again in an attempt to learn them. Then, I'm reading peers' WIPs and short story submissions. I really admire the mega-readers!
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad, Stephanie! 16 books is perfectly respectable! The only reason I read so much is that I have a half-hour commute to and from work everyday. I love it! I get so annoyed if one of my friends wants to ride the subway with me because it cuts into my reading time.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really enjoyed the Uglies books. I'm always in awe of Westerfeld's use of language. But even so, the series did have some low points for me. I'll be curious to hear what you think! Happy reading!
Thanks everyone for letting me know I am not the only writer who doesn't get to read much!!
ReplyDeleteDavin, one of the reasons I have not gotten into another critique group is the added time to read and do the critique. I have my IRL writers group...but we limit our pieces to what we can read aloud at a meeting rather than constantly emailing long pieces.
Megan and Lizzie...so far I have really enjoyed Uglies. I am so not a sci-fi fan (is this considered sci fi because it's in the future?? I don't even know! LOL!) The first third was a bit slow going, the second I blew through, the last third...so far it's been a bit slow but I'm really interested to see how it ends. I guess the ending will determine my over-all thoughts.
I really wanted to do the 100 books challenge, but like you I think I'm too busy. Between school and writing there's little time already for family and friends, who are essential. I think I'll copy you, if your don't mind, and try for thirty. That's doable.
ReplyDeleteCopy away Bethany!!! If I manage the 30, I will feel very accomplished!!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how a day can flash by....I swear...if there was some way to be able to function on 2 hours of sleep...I'd do it in a heartbeat!
I'm one of the ones doing the 100 reading challenge. I read 85 this year, so I'm like obsessive reader girl. But I think my ability to read all those is because one, I'm a really fast reader and two, my husband puts my son to bed at night, which usually gives me half hour to an hour before bed to read. And admittedly, a lot of housecleaning and laundry goes by the wayside when I get hooked into a book (or writing). So reading that much can be a bad thing, lol.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your challenge!
LOL! My house is rarely super tidy...cause it gets set aside so I can write in the afternoons. I guess I'm a medium paced reader...I often reread pages to make sure I got it all and yes, I admit...when it comes to romance...I totally reread sex scenes so i get the full picture in my head! LOL!! Huge kudos to you for being able to do it...I am in awe!!
ReplyDeleteHey Steph. I've got a feeling you'll be reading more now on the Reader -- it's super easy to slip inside your purse, then when you're standing in line at the bank or arrive early for an appointment, etc, you can whip it out. I love to have mine along when hubby "ducks inside" a tool store -- God knows it'll be an hour til he returns. Instead of shlepping along, I stay in the car and read!
ReplyDeleteI know where you're coming from! I'm one of the crazies planning to read 100 books in 2010. I'm trying to make reading more of a priority, because between work and school, reading for pleasure really slipped for me. I have no idea how many books I read in 2009, but I doubt it was more than two dozen. Thanks, day job and master's degree! I just need to make reading more of a priority.
ReplyDelete30 books is a good goal too (I figure if I do fall short of 100, at least the battle will have been fun ;)). I think all that really matters, as writers, is to try and fit the time for reading in too.