MobileRead Book Challenges discussion

When do you read? How often? Where do you usually read?

How many books did you read last year? (Did you keep track, or is it a 'best guess'?) Was last year a typical year for you, or do you think you read a lot more or fewer books than usual?

Do you read more fiction, more nonfiction, or about evenly between them?

If you read fewer than 100 books last year, are you making changes to your reading habits to meet the challenge goal this year?

Do you read just ebooks or a combination of ebooks and pbooks?

Do you know what you're going to read next while you're still reading what you're reading now, or do you wait till you're finished to figure it out?

Do you read more than one book at a time? If you don't normally read more than one book at a time, if a new book by your favorite author comes out, will you put down what you're currently reading to read that instead?

I read every night in bed for a couple of hours, sometimes more. Only occasionally do I read during the day since all my night reading has "trained" my brain to fall asleep reading.

My books are about 75% fiction of mixed genres, 24% true crime, 1% other non-fiction.

I read at least 100 books last year but many of them were repeats since I didn't own an ereader until October. I won't change anything for the 2011 challenge.

I still read a few pbooks. One I bought due to being much cheaper ($2 compared to $18.99) than the ebook version. Other than that I only read pbooks that are given to me. Pbooks will likely make up 1% or less of my future reading.

I have a huge TBR backlog due to freebies and being an ereader newbie so don't have to think too hard about what to read next. I usually have an idea of ones that interest me most unless better freebies come along in the meantime.

I read as many as a dozen books at a time. I switch back and forth depending on my mood. I will absolutely quit reading one for awhile to read something I like better if it come available.

Curious to see what everyone elses answers look like.

I usually read in bed at night, though lately I've been reading in the afternoon on the couch when I finish up work early enough. I read at least a little each night.

I probably only read about 10 books last year, but I did read a lot of short fiction on the internet.

Probably about 70/30 in favor of fiction.

It's not so much changing my habits to meet the challenge, it's more about getting back to reading as much as I used to.

I've only had my Kindle since December, but I plan to read almost exclusively ebooks this year.

I rarely know exactly which book I will read next, but I just created a tbr-shortlist shelf here on GR to make choosing a little easier. My to-read shelf was getting too intimidating.

I generally do not read more than one book at a time. On the rare occasions that I do, it's one fiction and one non-fiction book. I can't read multiple works of fiction at the same time. If I can't get through something but would like to pick it up later, I usually wait a long time then start over, unless it's a collection or anthology of short works. I've never felt compelled to read a book "right now" so I won't stop reading a book just so I can start something else.

When do you read? How often? Where do you usually read?
I read every day, whenever I have a moment. During the work day it’s only in 5-10 min intervals. After work I usually get about 2-3 hours.

How many books did you read last year? (Did you keep track, or is it a 'best guess'?) Was last year a typical year for you, or do you think you read a lot more or fewer books than usual?

I have no clue, lol. I didn’t keep count, but I read a lot more books than usual. I think last year was not a typical year for me because I read a lot of short stories and books less than 200 pages. I usually lean towards books that are multi-part series and have about 300+ pages each.

Do you read more fiction, more nonfiction, or about evenly between them?
Not counting news and events, I usually read more fiction.


If you read fewer than 100 books last year, are you making changes to your reading habits to meet the challenge goal this year?
I’m certain I read more than 100 books last year, this year I just want to count and see what happens.

Do you read just ebooks or a combination of ebooks and pbooks?
I read a combination of both ebooks and pbooks. I also have a lot of hardbacks.

Do you know what you're going to read next while you're still reading what you're reading now, or do you wait till you're finished to figure it out?
Since I read in spurts during the day, I usually have about 2-3 books in rotation at all times. I just grab whatever catches my attention first when one is finished.

Do you read more than one book at a time? If you don't normally read more than one book at a time, if a new book by your favorite author comes out, will you put down what you're currently reading to read that instead?
I always read more than one book at a time. I have no problem stopping in the middle of one book to start reading one I'm more excited about.

As most people here I always read before I go to sleep in bed. It doesn't matter how late it is or how tired I am I have to read, even if it's just one page. When I'm not working I read in the daytime too, mostly on the couch. I also read during commercial breaks on tv. When it isn't busy in the store and I haven't got anything else to do I also read between customers (mostly in summer).

I kept track for about half a year last year, but I also added some books I read before that. I think I've read somewhere around 80 to 90 books. It was a typical year for me so I should be able to read 100 this year.

I mostly read fiction. I read about 5 non-fiction books last year.

I promissed myself I wouldn't change my reading habits but at the moment I'm really motivated so I'm reading more than I would normally in such a busy time of the year. I expect it the motivation won't last all year.

I still read pbooks, but only if I can get it a lot cheaper or if it isn't available in ebooks (either because of geo restricts or if it isn't available at all). I notice that I buy less and less pbooks, when a book I want is expensive I wait and when it isn't available I move on to something else. I have such a big TBR pile there is always something to read.

I usually have an idea what to read next. Either a title or a genre.

Most of the time I actively read one book. I have three go-to books I read when I don't know what to read or if I need a break from the book I'm currently reading (LOTR, It and The Stand). I also reading Sherlock Holmes between books, but that is always a complete story. When something comes out I really want to read I won't put down the book I'm currently reading, I can wait the extra few days.

I usually read in the mornings before work, on work breaks, and in the evenings, either while I'm cooking dinner or before or after TV with the husband. On the weekends, I sometimes read for hours at a time...or I putz around with other things and only get snatches of reading in here and there.

Last year I read just over 100 books (I tracked them on Goodreads and Shelfari until I decided which system I preferred), which was unusual for me. I've been more likely to read 1-4 books a month than 8+. The difference, I think, was switching to an eReader (and, in particular, one that was suited for me--when I got my Kindle 2 in 2009, my reading didn't really increase. I struggled with the contrast of the Kindle 2's screen, unfortunately. When I got the iPad in 2010, my reading shot up, and it stayed up after I switched to the Sony PRS-350).

I read mostly fiction, but I'm trying to get in one or two nonfiction books a month, too.

I don't buy pbooks anymore. If there's a book I really, really, really extra super want, and it's not available in ebook format, I'll stick it on my Amazon wish list and hope that someone gets it for me for my birthday or Christmas. After my latest trip to sell books at the used book store, I'm now down to where I can fit all of my remaining books--mostly reference, plus a few to-read books that I can't get in e-format--into one bookcase. I think that's about the best I'm going to be able to do, because I don't really want to re-purchase all those reference books in e-format. They're fine as they are.

Toward the end of each month, I figure out what I'd like to read the following month, load those books onto my reader, and update my to-read shelf at Goodreads. (I like to cross each book off the list and delete it from my reader as I finish it. It's a good, productive feeling.) I usually pick ten books, unless there's a super-long one in the bunch. Ten leaves room to add another one or two in during the month, if I run across anything that I want to read right now. (Like this morning when I grabbed French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure from Kobo.) If I start any of the books on my list and find I'm not getting into it, I'll open up Calibre and find a replacement for it--which always feels like a little treat. :)

I generally read just one book a time. Like Christa, if I do read two, it will be one fiction and one nonfiction. I will, though, occasionally completely set a book aside to read something else...and not come back to it for aaaages. (I have "Pygmy," "Midnight's Children," and "Skippy Dies" sitting half-read on my reader right now. Who knows when I'll get back to them. They're books I liked well enough to plan on finishing someday, but that I wasn't into enough to keep going while I had them open.)

(Thanks everyone for answering the questions - it's neat to find out what other people do.)

When do you read? How often? Where do you usually read?
I mostly read at night in bed about 5 days a week, unless I'm really hooked on a book I can't put down, then I read at every possible moment.

How many books did you read last year? (Did you keep track, or is it a 'best guess'?) Was last year a typical year for you, or do you think you read a lot more or fewer books than usual?
best guess about 30 but I was finishing up my BS so I was lucky to read that many and recently I'd say that's typical

Do you read more fiction, more nonfiction, or about evenly between them?
I read more fiction but I can get hooked on nonfiction and stick with it for a few months

If you read fewer than 100 books last year, are you making changes to your reading habits to meet the challenge goal this year?
yeah I'm changing my habits, this is the first year where I'm predominantly reading ebooks so I'm try to read about 25% percent of a book each night, so I can try to finish up a book in 4 days.

Do you read just ebooks or a combination of ebooks and pbooks?
before this year it was strictly pbooks this year its going to be the opposite with mostly pbooks unless I can't find the ebook it will be a pbook

Do you know what you're going to read next while you're still reading what you're reading now, or do you wait till you're finished to figure it out?
I try to plan at least 5 books ahead but sometimes I'll just wing it and it will depend on what my reading mood is at the time.

Do you read more than one book at a time? If you don't normally read more than one book at a time, if a new book by your favorite author comes out, will you put down what you're currently reading to read that instead?
I think of books like movies, I can't watch 30 minutes of a movie and then go watch an hour of another then return to the original movie, its all or nothing, the only exception is if I have to read a huge technical book then I'll have a regular book as a backup so I can retain my sanity.

When do you read? How often? Where do you usually read?
I usually read for an hour or two every night. I'll listen to audiobooks in the car and when working on my PC.

How many books did you read last year? (Did you keep track, or is it a 'best guess'?) Was last year a typical year for you, or do you thin..."
I read about 100 last year. I read more in the winter time than in the summer. I would normally read about 100 books in a year, but have no tracking data.

Do you read more fiction, more nonfiction, or about evenly between them?
Almost all the reading I do is fiction. I have some reference books, but they are work related.

If you read fewer than 100 books last year, are you making changes to your reading habits to meet the challenge goal this year?
Since I read about 100 books every year, the only change I am doing is more tracking of what I read.

Do you read just ebooks or a combination of ebooks and pbooks?
I read ebooks or listen to audiobooks almost exclusively. I will only read a pbook if I do not have the ebook.

Do you know what you're going to read next while you're still reading what you're reading now, or do you wait till you're finished to figure it out?
If I am reading a series, I will know the books I will read until finished that series, then I will pick something that I want to read next, depending on what I want to read next.

Do you read more than one book at a time? If you don't normally read more than one book at a time, if a new book by your favorite author comes out, will you put down what you're currently reading to read that instead?
I will have one ebook/pbook and one audiobook going at the same time. Very rarely I will have 2 audiobooks going at the same time.

Ken

When do you read? How often? Where do you usually read?
I'm retired, but take care of grandchildren, so I read during their naptime in the day, and I don't watch much TV so I read 3 or 4 hours at night.

How many books did you read last year? (Did you keep track, or is it a 'best guess'?) Was last year a typical year for you, or do you think you read a lot more or fewer books than usual?
I didn't keep track, but I estimate between 100-120 last year.

Do you read more fiction, more nonfiction, or about evenly between them?
I read almost 100% fiction. The only non-fiction I read is True Crime.

If you read fewer than 100 books last year, are you making changes to your reading habits to meet the challenge goal this year?
N/A

Do you read just ebooks or a combination of ebooks and pbooks?
I got my first Kindle in January 2010 and since then I only read ebooks. Have no interest in reading paper books any more.

Do you know what you're going to read next while you're still reading what you're reading now, or do you wait till you're finished to figure it out?
Usually I know what I'm going to read next. I even have a Collection on my Kindle titled: Read Next!

Do you read more than one book at a time? If you don't normally read more than one book at a time, if a new book by your favorite author comes out, will you put down what you're currently reading to read that instead?
Before I got my Kindle I only ever read 1 book at a time. Since my Kindle, I read 2 or 3 at the same time.

I love this thread. :)

I hope you don't mind me using these questions in one of my other groups.

When do you read? How often? Where do you usually read?
I will read anytime I get a few mins. Mostly at night, but sometimes while out waiting for an appointment or any time I am waiting.

How many books did you read last year? (Did you keep track, or is it a 'best guess'?) Was last year a typical year for you, or do you think you read a lot more or fewer books than usual?
I read somewhere around 145-150 (I am too lazy to look). I read around the same in 2009, but before that I read a lot of the same books over and over. Now I try to read mostly new to me books.

Do you read more fiction, more nonfiction, or about evenly between them?
I only read non fiction if it is a book on herbs/remedies or parenting book. For the rest it is mostly fantasy and young adult. Any kind of fantasy, epic, urban, or YA and I love dystopian. For YA I love mostly fantasy and contemporary romance.

Do you read just ebooks or a combination of ebooks and pbooks?
I read ebooks, physical, and audiobooks. I mostly read ebooks now, but I usually have an audio going for when I am driving or doing housework.

Do you know what you're going to read next while you're still reading what you're reading now, or do you wait till you're finished to figure it out?
Sometimes I know and sometimes it just depends on my mood.

Do you read more than one book at a time? If you don't normally read more than one book at a time, if a new book by your favorite author comes out, will you put down what you're currently reading to read that instead?
I usually read 2-4 books at one time. I always have at least an ebook and audiobook and sometimes I have more because I am reading along with a friend and I can't go as fast as I want. And yes, if a new book comes out by my favourite author, I will read it and put the others aside until I am finished. Mostly that is for series books though, not stand alones.