Chicks On Lit discussion
How many books do you read in week/month/year?
I didn't keep track until this year. I did the same thing by adding a shelf for 2010, so I would know. I am going to add a 2011 shelf too.If I finish what I am reading this week, I have read 54 this year. If not, I've actually completed 52 as of today. It surprised me to see how much I actually read. I always keep a book handy, and read often. It is neat to know the actual amount though.
In 2009, I read over 700. In 2010, I started reading more "real" literature and at least 2 chunky books a month, so I'm down to about 550. Next year, I hope to read even more "good" books, so probably I'll read even less in 2011.
So far (and hey it is not over yet!), I have read 107 books this year. There were quite a number of chunky books in that mix. I think it works out to be about 2 books or so a week. My goal for next year is to double that amount. :)
Does anyone else have to read more during specific times of the year? My big reading times are during the summer and during the winter break. I work at a school, and I am going to college, so those are the main times that I have the time to read for enjoyment. I've read 2.5 books so far over the holiday break that I'm on right now.
I read less in December because I'm too busy over the holidays. I read more when the kids are in school because I have more peace and quiet and I'm not as busy cleaning up after them all day, over and over and over. (Or cooking 5-7 different meals because nobody eats the same thing at the same time.)
Shay wrote: "I read less in December because I'm too busy over the holidays. I read more when the kids are in school because I have more peace and quiet and I'm not as busy cleaning up after them all day, over ..."I can relate to the meals. We have many different tastes too. It is interesting how the variations in time can influence when we can read. I like to read my enjoyable reading every night before I go to bed for at least an hour, regardless of what else I'm doing. I'll be glad when I have my degree, so I can devote more time to my non-school reading again. I ♥ to read.
I think beside our children and our husbands and family reading is our next love.I, too, read less in December. There is just too much to do!
I kept a track for 2010 and found that I read 101 books fully, 14 partially and am now reading 3, which am hoping to complete by the year end. I read constantly throughout the year, perhaps a little less if I am otherwise preoccupied with my son (exams, school work, so on)
I have read 78 this year. I have 2 more going that I may (or may not) finish before Saturday. I feel this is more than I've read in prior years, but since I didn't keep track, who knows?Edit Had to edit this, I think I double-counted a month because I used 2 different list. I'm pretty sure that 78 is the correct number.
Last year I read 69 books. This month, I read 5 books. On average I read about 3 to 4 books a month.
How in the world do you read so much? I am amazed by all of you.I think of myself as someone who reads a lot (and my friends think this too), but I only read 20-30 books a year. This completely pales in comparison to all of you.
According to my 2008 and 2009 tracking, I average 51 books a year. But this year, mostly because of my pregnancy and new hobby (quilting), I have only finished 33 so far... definitely 34 by the end of the year.
You actually don't have to track this yourself. Goodreads has the stats all ready for you. Go to your "my books" page and scroll all the way down. Under the list of your bookshelves on the left hand side, you'll see:tools
widgets
import/export
find duplicates
stats
api
Click on "Stats" and voila, a readout of what you've read each year since joining Goodreads.
Adrienne wrote: "You actually don't have to track this yourself. Goodreads has the stats all ready for you. Go to your "my books" page and scroll all the way down. Under the list of your bookshelves on the left han..."Unless they have fixed this in the last 2 weeks, it's not accurate. I put mine on a "shelf" for each year to track, and the "stats" numbers don't line up with the shelf numbers.
My stats & book count have been lining up. I have also made shelves for 2008, 2009 & 2010. I've read 56 this year (am sure getting involved in groups & challenges have increased my reading). I hope to finish one that I'm reading now (the others are too big:-) & my goal for 2011 will be to read 5 more. However, if I retire this year (hubby is nagging constantly about this!) I will change that goal b/c I intend to do much more reading (and cleaning LOL). I would like to retire, but my job is not stressful & believe it or not, I get paid to read!!
Brittany wrote: "Adrienne wrote: "You actually don't have to track this yourself. Goodreads has the stats all ready for you. Go to your "my books" page and scroll all the way down. Under the list of your bookshelve..."Also, many of the books have inaccurate page counts. Even when I add a book by ISBN, the page numbers are usually higher on GR than the actual book I'm holding in my hand. I think, too, you have to add them to the currently reading shelf and when you're done click the "I'm finished" button or it won't give it a finish date at all.
I think I'm at 125 or 126 this year. Before I discovered Goodreads, I used to write them all down in a little notebook throughout the year, but making a shelf here on Goodreads is much easier! LOL. I'm hoping to finish 130 by New Year's. Not sure if I'll manage it, but even if I don't, it was a pretty satisfying year.
I started keeping track this year for the first time and I'm at 99. I have a book that I've more than half way finished, so I hope to get to an even 100 by the time the ball drops!
Martha wrote: "My stats & book count have been lining up. I have also made shelves for 2008, 2009 & 2010. I've read 56 this year (am sure getting involved in groups & challenges have increased my reading). I hope..."Well, I for one love the "R" word. ...and I have to say that I get so much cleaning done now! :) (yeah right!)
I'm at 126 so far and expect to read about 4 or 5 more by new years eve. I think about 15 or so were kid books i read with the short person who lives here.
I've kept track of all the books I've read in a book journal for a number of years. Last year I read 90 (GR stats says 86, which is obviously wrong since I've counted the titles in my jounal a number of times) and so far this year I've only read 70 (GR Stats is actually correct this time). I've had a lot of distractions this year (both good and bad)and it shows in the amount of reading I've gotten done :-(
You all make me so jealous. Is the green coming through? I am lucky to hit 35-40 a year. Work is beyond consuming, months of 12-14 hours days in certain seasons. Plus I have some serious hobbies of quilting, scrapping and such. AND am pretty much the sole household cleaner/organizer/pitcher. On the other hand, I don't know if my reading would change if I had more time. While I am not a slow reader, I need time to digest what I am taking in. Don't read as much fluff as I used to. I'll just have to be satisfied with what I get done. I need a life beyond my books.
My normal goal each year is 52, a book each week, and I keep a spreadsheet for every year of all the books read, and I am also tracking them on goodreads. My husband thought I was a bookie monster. LOL. However, I have let him know that others read far and away more than I do. Kudos to all you big readers! I always wish for more reading time. So many books to read, too little time. :-)
Nancy wrote: "You all make me so jealous. Is the green coming through? I am lucky to hit 35-40 a year. Work is beyond consuming, months of 12-14 hours days in certain seasons. Plus I have some serious hobbies o..."I am jealous as well, because I can't imagine reading 100 books in a year, unless they are very short ones...I thought I read fast, but apparently I'm about average. I also read about 1 a week on average.
Leslie wrote: "I'm at 126 so far and expect to read about 4 or 5 more by new years eve. I think about 15 or so were kid books i read with the short person who lives here."No telling where I'd be if I counted all the kids books. I babysit my grandsons once or twice a month. In November I took all the Thanksgiving themed books to read. I thought we would stretch them out over the day. Nope! Had to read them all at once. There were 7 or 8 of them. Now my 3 yr old granddaughter will pick a book up & "read" it. Tells stories about the pictures. Oh, I so hope all of them will be readers. I'm doing what I can to foster that love of books.
Martha wrote: "Oh, I so hope all of them will be readers. I'm doing what I can to foster that love of books."Thank you! And I'm with you, I hope they become readers. But even if they don't, you've laid the groundwork for them to become good students.
I think the amount of reading I've done this year is just about the maximum I'd want to read. I think if I read more than 75-80 books, I'd feel like I was losing out on something. And I don't mean that I'd be spending too much time reading, but that rushing through the books would make me miss something in the reading. I doubt I'll hit that number in 2011.
Yeah how is it honestly possible to read some of these ridiculous quantities you see some folks claim? Somethings not right. Either they did read that many which is weird and means they dont sleep or bathe or eat or they didn't read that many but think others will, what ,like them for making outrageous claims?
Shay, in this thread, is one who reads an enormous amount. Obviously she is a speed reader. It seems to satisfy her needs, it's just not for me.
I was an avid reader as a child, but moved to regular reader in adulthood when life and responsibilities got bigger. By regular reader I mean that I probably read about a book a month maybe? This past year as an empty nester and with my life pretty much on hold right now, is my first year returning to being an avid reader again, where I've read about a book a week. That feels about right to me, and that will be my annual goal - to read about 50 books a year. I have a lot of catching up to do on the great books of the last 20 years, so my reading list is pretty full.
So far this year I've read a little more than 1 book a week.
I absolutely need to read for at least an hour a day in order to relax - that is why I get through "so many books" (it is all relative). On the other hand I don't have other hobbies - I keep promising myself to learn how to crochet afghans like my grandmother did, but I never get to it. Perhaps when I retire....14 years from now (???)
Maureen wrote: "I was an avid reader as a child, but moved to regular reader in adulthood when life and responsibilities got bigger. By regular reader I mean that I probably read about a book a month maybe? This..."Maureen we have had a very similar experience. Since I retired early (partly cos of my own health problem, partly cos of my son's) I have found time to read again. I find that reading is, as always, a cureall for me. A cure for boredom, loneliness, curiosity and pure pleasure. I love that I know have so much time to read. C.S. Lewis said he liked to have a mild illness so that he could lie and read for hours and hours. I remember that lovely movie "Sabrina" when she tells her father she loves how he became a chaffeur so he would have so much time to read! All of us would rank "time for reading" at the top of any wish list I guess.
Since I started tracking books here on GoodReads I have read:2008 - 94
2009 - 124
2010 - 42
In 2009, I read all the time. I was also not feeling well most of the year so didn't feel like doing anything else; anything physical, etc.
This year, due to circumstances in life, I have found it very hard to concentrate on reading (or anything else very well). I have only read 42 books and feel like I haven't read very much at all.
If I could have one year of reading a massive amount of books, like some on here, I could get caught up on reading or at least get through all of these books on my bookcases in my bedroom!! That would be great!
Some people read faster than others and I would say to read that many books, they probably also listen to audio books. I know in 2009 I was listening to audio books every day during my commute. This year I haven't been, so that makes a big difference.
Cindy, I am sorry to hear that you were not feeling well. I hope the new year brings lots of health and happiness your way.It does bother me to see that some are casting aspersions unto those who read a lot. Many times it can be because of ailments that you described and of course would prefer not to, that causes you to read a hugh amount. Whatever the reason however, one should be proud of that marvelous ability to read copiously. It has always been a way to make one become better, relax, and feel a part of every world possible.
In 2010 I was at home due to an injured Achilles tendon that required surgery. In the time I was home and since then, I've read 80 books. Some were pretty fluffy and some were not. Reading helped pass the time and helped keep my mind off the frustration of being disabled. I am happy to be reading again and plan to set a goal of at least 50 books in 2011 in hopes that I will read more. I love to read and it helps keep me balanced. I hope all of you have a wonderful year of reading in 2011!
AW Cindy - I wouldn't feel guilty about not reading as much. It may be less than you are used to, but your low year is still alot for some folks. We all go through cycles and seasons, ups and downs of how much we have time for, how much we can absorb, and life has a habit of getting in the way. Just like how much time people spend on this website. Only they know what's right for them and for what reasons. Health certainly is one of those! I've been through enough surgeries etc. to know. And most of us are addicts enough - we would rather be reading vs. watching TV while we recuprate... or live with our challenges and disabilities. Oh Rosemary! I can relate - had my Achilles detached, heel worked on and reattached with pins. 6-8 weeks on one foot was MISERY!! Thank heavens for books! And thank heavens for knee walkers!
Nancy wrote: "AW Cindy - I wouldn't feel guilty about not reading as much. It may be less than you are used to, but your low year is still alot for some folks. We all go through cycles and seasons, ups and downs..."Thanks for the kind words, Nancy. The foot still is pretty sore and tight but at least I can walk again. I'm starting to walk a bit further than before and so far so good. I discovered that Easy Spirit shoes are a life/foot/heel saver!
I once read in article somewhere that the "average person" only reads 10 books/year so all of us should be proud of how much we read, lol!
Mod
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...
and in this article from 3 years ago, it says that 1 in 4 read no books last year! And that the typical person claimed to have read four books in the last year _ half read more and half read fewer. Excluding those who hadn't read any, the usual number read was seven.
So I think every one of us here did really well, compared to the "average". :o)
Sheila wrote: "Here is an article from the Washington Post in 2007.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...
and in this article from 3 years ago, it says that 1 ..."
Time to turn off the TV and the electronics I think! What a shame!!!
Mod
As to my stats, I keep a journal where I write down books I read, and also the total number of pages (encourages me to read those chunky books too, and not just read for total book count, plus then I can give myself a number of pages read credit for books I don't want to finish). :o)
Since joining Goodreads, I have seen a steady climb in both books read and pages read.
In 2006 I read 27 books, 10,552 pages.
In 2007 I read 27 books, 9,404 pages.
Then I joined Goodreads in 2008.
In 2008 I read 48 books, 15,833 pages.
In 2009 I read 76 books, 25,091 pages.
And for 2010 I am currently at 82 books, 25,890 pages.
So joining Goodreads has definately encouraged me to read more. :o)
I haven't done the pages, but my reading has definitely increased since joining GR in August, 2008.2008- 16 (this may just be from August - December)
2009- 37
2010- 56 (will probably finish one more)
This and the tv certainly explains the state of my house! :-)
(yes, I love tv & watch shows I've saved on the dvr)
Marialyce wrote: "Cindy, I am sorry to hear that you were not feeling well. I hope the new year brings lots of health and happiness your way.It does bother me to see that some are casting aspersions unto those who..."
Gosh I sure hope no one thinks of me as casting aspersions! I don't mean to be nasty at all. I can't help but wonder how it is possible to read hundreds of books in one year! After all, there's only 356 days in a year. How can it be possible other than to read 2 or 3 books per day? Sometimes I think conversations typed without personal interface can lead to misunderstandings. I hope to never be so unpleasant as to run amuk casting aspersions! I'd rather cast on some knitting. All my humblest apologies...
I wish I could be able to read more since it is one of my favorite things to do, and I hope once I'm done with my college degree that I can have more time to read. The article that said that some people read no books at all is quite sad, because those people who don't read sure are missing a great thing.
Leslie wrote: Hi Leslie,
Yes, it seems so. Without facial expressions and gestures it is quite difficult to convey our feelings, especially via the net. Moreover, we are all 'faceless' to each other, though we have all bonded quite a lot via games and chats.
To be frank, even I thought what you had written came across as a bit caustic. Now that I know you were just expressing your genuine doubt, I will try to clarify a bit taking myself as an example. I am an avid reader, started reading at the age of 6 (or so my Dad claims) and have steadily read books ever since. My minimum hours of reading in a normal working day are 3, and maximum has ranged to somewhere around 8-10. I remember reading 'Gone with the wind' by sacrificing a whole night's sleep a couple of decades back when I was a mere teenager. I am a Dermatologist by profession and my job keeps me occupied from 8 am to 5 pm, except on sundays. My typical day starts with reading at morning breakfast, again one hour reading at afternoon break, I manage an hour in the evenings, while supervising my son's projects and homework, and atleast 2-3 hours in the night. I go to bed at 12 am. I have sacrificed TV and other hobbies to my obsession of reading.Moreover I am blessed by the fact that I have 2 household helps who do most of the household work for me. I had never tallied my books till this year. I joined Goodreads in 2009 sept or so, and I was curious to see how much I read in 2010. I was pleasantly surprised at the figure of 102 (minus kids books read along with my son - of which I dont have a count, but atleast 1 or 2 a day, most of them repetitions) Agreed, many must have been easy-to-read a couple of hundred pages books. Another thing is that as you read, your speed increases tremendously. My speed is around 2 hours for a 200 page book. Of course, if I love any idea put across by the author, I take more time to reread and ruminate.
I hope that explains some bit about how people manage to read as many books as they claim to do.
Wow, Smitha!! I wish I could read that much each day. That's amazing. I know also that some are speed readers (I think someone else mentioned that earlier). I can read very fast, but then I find that if I'm really enjoying the book my speed slows down tremendously. I try picking it back up, but it happens again so I give up the speed reading and just enjoy! LOL But yes, I think we can train ourselves to read faster. One of my son's struggled with spelling. I recommended reading more. I never had a problem with spelling and I think it was because (at least partly) I read all the time. If you see the words in print frequently, it's just a natural outcome that you will be able to spell correctly. IMHO :-)
You are quite right, MarthaSpeed reading has its pitfalls too. The book is over by the time you start enjoying it, and the spellings just elude you. To me the visual structure of the word sticks in mind, rather than the individual letters which compose the word.
I think that speed reading is over 1000 words per minute. At my fastest, I can read over 1100 WPM, with 92% comprehension. I think my leisurely reading pace is about 500 words a minute for "fluff" books, so about two pages a minute. So, for a 300 page book, that's 150 minutes or about 2 1/2 hours. I usually wake up every day around 3-4 am, so if I'm not on GR a lot, I used to be able to finish up a book before anyone else got up for the day. Now, I take my morning undisturbed time to read non-fiction and books like "War and Peace". I definitely am not reading W & P at 500 WPM. Unlike Smitha, I don't work every day, so I have more time to read. I agree with her that the more you read the faster you get; it's practice if you will. I've never taken a speed reading course, but I can still read that fast because I read all of the time. Quite useful for blowing through a 200 page prospectus or corporate report or the newest batch of legislative updates.
No matter how fast or slow you read, it is all a matter of enjoyment and fulfillment. We read because we love it, can't live without it, and become better because of it. I, myself can blow through a book in a day, so I certainly can understand how easy it is for some to read copious amounts of books. The point always is that reading is the one thing that no one can take from us. I pity the people who never open a book and never are able to escape within the pages of an adventure of the mind.
How about you?