“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
Mason Cooley
On a cold January day early this year, the Goodreads app prompted me to participate in a Reading Challenge. I like books and read a lot so it seemed a good idea.
However, I have no idea how many books I actually read in a year. That tally has fluctuated through my lifetime but I have never actually tracked it..
For example, I always had my nose in a book as a kid but my days as an English major robbed me of the time needed to read for fun. Reading became my job and there was rarely time or energy left for recreational books when I had Jane Austen and William Faulkner to keep me company.
Then my career and life began to keep me busy and I have found myself in literal reading deserts. This has changed in the last couple of years and I have prioritized learning as my horizons have expanded to include some different authors and topics.
Long story short, I signed up with a random number to strive toward.
A hundred books in twelve months.
For what my goal lacked in strategy it made up with loads of catchiness. A hundred books sounds pretty cool.
In those early bad weather months when the pandemic was picking up steam and the weather wasn’t great, I read constantly. Reading was an amazing source of adventure, calm, joy and learning.
Then my number decreased as the temperature rose. Warm weather inspired more hiking while blue skies sent me out chasing barns, bridges and other scenery with my camera in hand.
I checked in last week to discover that I was five books behind schedule.
Five.
At first I was resigned to surrendering my goal but some friends encouraged me to buckle up and plow through as much as I can.
Here we are on December 8 and I’m proud to say that I’m back on track, actually a book ahead of schedule.
All year I have read what pleased me – books big and small and pulling from a vast selection topics. Sadly, my brain is beginning to feel a little mushy and with good reason. The pandemic and election have dominated the conversation and my social media feeds are padded with fake news stories and memes that are distressing at best.
So I’m allowing myself to take a break from some of the harder books and enjoy holiday stories like “A Christmas Carol” or the Civil War Christmas tale “No Tears For Christmas.” I’m even rereading some of my favorites from the Mitch Albom collection.
While shorter and easier to consume, these stories are comforting yet sometimes thought provoking.
After all, isn’t that what reading should be about? Entertainment alone is great and reading for learning is wonderful but how amazing is it to just read for fun and for a slice of enlightenment too!
As an aside, I’m going to be inconsolable if December 31 finds me a book or two shy of my goal! Wish me luck!
I can tell you exactly how many books I read in a year, 1… if that lol!!
I admire your love of reading and I support you. Go break my record lol!
Haha. Reading isn’t for everyone but it does make me happy. 📖
Great idea to set a reading goal. If you want to take an “imaginary trip”, check out the book, National Parks of the USA, by Kate Siber and illustrated by Chris Turnham. I think you will love it, and I don’t even know you. (available at Wheatberry….in the children’s section!)
Ooh! I will look for it! Thanks!!
Kate lives here in my town and she is a wonderful writer (and person).
Interesting! I do not own the book YET, but am hoping Santa will take care of that!
If you haven’t seen the book, check it out.
I added it to my wish list!
That is such a laudable goal and I’m impressed you’ve stuck with it the entire year. Can’t blame you for taking some “gimmees” at the end to make the total.
I don’t think I could ever read that many books a year, because I’m reading all the time – articles, magazines, research material, blogs, on and on. But I get a fair number under the belt, too. Here’s a short read: Oliver Sacks – Gratitude.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll add it to my list. I read a lot of articles and a few blogs but prefer a good book.
It was interesting having a goal and seeing how much harder I had to push to reach it as opposed to just reading when I felt like it. I developed more of a routine, carving out time to read at hours ordinarily spent scrolling Facebook.
Sounds like it was good for a little self-discipline.
It truly has been. I’m debating on whether or not to do it again in 2021 – I fear that I’ll slip back into old habits if I don’t.
Dang girl! That’s an average of 8 books a month! Well done! I set my goal for 50 and am currently sitting at 40. .
Thank you! I had to push myself to get here and am still not done – three to go! That said, 40 is a lot too! After all, you are taking care of your mom. 😉
41 now! Only three to go! You can do it!
That is fantastic! 41 books when you’re doing all you do is great! I’m down to just one now.
42! Oh my gosh you’re going to make it!!!!
Jinjer! I did it!!!! 100 books and a few days ahead of schedule!!
OMGGGGGG!!!! Woo hoo! So proud of you! Do I follow you on goodreads? What’s your handle I’ll look for you.
I’m so happy right now!! The last few were easy books but I don’t care. It was a solid reading year and I’m not done yet. Looking for my next one now. I think my handle is just my name… Brandi Betts. What’s your handle? I’ll follow you too!!
There’s two of you! I followed the Ohio one. Not Kansas City.
Haha! That’s me! I think I’m wearing a hat in my picture. 🙂
And now I am back to 41 because I noticed one book got marked “read” instead of “want to read”! 😡
Haha. That’s ok. You will finish strong with that 42nd book.