Comfort Reads discussion

So how many books has everyone one read so far this year? I'm almost up to 20 which is really good. It's only may. I could probably get past my average number of 30 per year.

Ashley, I can't really do counts like this because I read so many children's picture books. I'd have to count out how many picture books from the total. 20 is good; that's slightly more than 1 a week.

I keep track of my books, but not the YA that I read along with my kids. I just finished #42.

I keep track on a text file, and I'm up to 18 now. This year I do a lot of reading where I only read a part of a book, because I'm researching for a historical novel and only need to read some articles/chapters instead of the whole book, which means that a lot of my reading time ends up not going to finished books. On the other hand, some of the count up to now are very short books, brief non-fiction books or children's books, so maybe it balances out a bit.

I read a lot as well, but I never actually try to count the number of books I read, that would be too number-oriented for me. Also, I have books which I keep reading, keep looking things up in, like I have a dictionary on the languages of Europe, but I've been reading and rereading this book for years, looking up languages as the need and desire arises.

Amelia wrote: "I just started a shelf called 2010 that I add each book to. I got asked how many I read last year and could not figure it out so I decided to see this year."

That's a good idea. I don't know how many books I have read this year. I don't count my manga volumes in my book count, either.

I have yearly shelves as well and it's interesting to look back over the last two year and see the pattern of my reading in terms of genre etc. I don't include picture books in the yearly shelves though because like Lisa, that would inflate the number in a crazy way.

I should finish Tears of the Giraffe today so that will put me up to 18 so far for 2010. That's average, I think.

I read an article last year that considered "well read" (based on average reading habits) a person who reads 5 or 6 books a year (not a month!). I manage about 6 a month and I'm one of the slower readers here at Goodreads (of my friends, I mean).

Hayes wrote: "I read an article last year that considered "well read" (based on average reading habits) a person who reads 5 or 6 books a year (not a month!). I manage about 6 a month and I'm one of the slower r..."

So I guess that puts me well above average per the country's statistics. It is sad that in order to be considered "well-read" is just 5 or 6 books.

Hayes wrote: "I read an article last year that considered "well read" (based on average reading habits) a person who reads 5 or 6 books a year (not a month!)."

That is sad, indeed.

I mean, I know people are busy and tired and all sorts of things, but 1 book every two months is not well read. It might be above average, but it's certainly not well read. It's true that here on GR we tend to the maniacal (bibliomaniac is the term someone used!), but really!

34 so far. I do count picture books, as I tend to read hefty and/or dense volumes as well, e.g. I read Les Miserables last year; I read Julian Comstock this year; I intend to read Middlemarch this year, etc. I figure it averages out over a year into 350-400 page books.

I am at 30 (which is more than I thought I would have). I did not count 6 books that I started and abandoned due to disliking them or losing interest.

I don't consider 5-6 books a year to be anywhere near well-read.

I second the "5-6 books/yr does not constitute a well-read individual" idea. Especially if it does not address genre, so potentially someone could read 5-6 Harlequin romance and be well read? I don't agree in the slightest.

I say a 20-book minimum. That's roughly a book every other week, and not just 20 books of poor literary quality, either.

Forgot my number - I've read about 55-60 this year so far, but will freely admit about 10 of those were not high literary quality ;)

I'm a very slow reader, and keeping count doesn't feel "comforting" to me, but not counting all my picture books, I must read at least 40 to 55 books a year. If it ever doesn't feel like too much pressure I'll count. Of course, I wouldn't see my rereads, but even without annual shelves, it's easy to go to my books and sort by date read, and count that way.

I like to see what I read each year for fun but I don't make a numerical goal for myself. I don't like the pressure.

Hi Paula! *waving*

*waves back* Howdy! :)

Paula wrote: "*waves back* Howdy! :)"

Hi Paula! How's France?

Paula, are you in France right now??? Cool!

Yes, Chandra you do also read many picture books.

I like seeing all my shelves on my home page. Already one is invisible but the 2 smallest shelves have 0 books on them anyway.

If I didn't care about that, you guys have given me an idea: 2 shelves per year: 2010-full-length and 2010-picture-books, etc. all previous years and future years. I like it!

Chandra wrote: "I started doing the yearly shelves not so much to keep count, but so that at the end of each year I could kind of review and reflect over what I've read the past year. .."

That's why I do the yearly shelves too. It's just easier to find things that I have read recently. And I have the books numbered and in order so I can see trends. Maybe I didn't like a book becasue I read it next to another one, for example, so might have to try again.

I usually wait for a week or so before I write a review, and I will go back about a month later to re-read the review and to see if I still feel the same way. A book may have really struck me at the time and received 3 or 4 stars, but on reflection it might not hold together. I reduce the stars very frequently.

So my yearly shelves are interesting for the book count too, but that's not their real purpose.

Hayes, That's very interesting how you do things. I like that you're able to wait to write a review and that you go back to your review and see if you still feel the same way. I do the opposite; I usually write a review as soon as I've finished a book, then simply go on to other books. But, I see great value in how you do it!

Thanks Lisa. I may get tired of this system and change it in a while, but I spent too many years reading the same 20 books over and over. So I am wallowing in new reading experiences. I'll read just about anything I can get my hands on, but I may not remember why I decided to read something in a few years time or what I really thought about it. (How about in a few weeks time. Can't remember diddly any more!)

I don't make a goal for myself either - though I tend to average 40-70 books a year depending on what kind of books I've been reading and how much time I had for reading. I just like to keep track of which books I've read when, so the numerical count just happens alongside, since I might as well number my list as not. :-) I totally agree with you all that 5-6 books a year is not very well read, especially since those could be 5-6 totally inane and poorly written books. Not that I necessarily have the right to judge anyone's reading tastes, but to be considered "well-read" the books really should open up new ideas and views into the world, be well-written or some such thing. I don't think the "well" in "well-read" should only mean the number of books but also their quality and how varied books you read etc. Someone who only reads 50 fantasy books a year is probably insanely well-read in that genre but not so much outside it.

I have read 28 books so far this year. I think it is pretty lame that 5-6 a year is considered "well-read". Why don't they call it what it really is- just "better-read-than-most".

Rebecca wrote: "I have read 28 books so far this year. I think it is pretty lame that 5-6 a year is considered "well-read". Why don't they call it what it really is- just "better-read-than-most"."

I like that description, Rebecca. That's really what it is.

I too will adjust a review, but only after a re-read. I don't typically write long reviews, but I like to be able to remember why I liked or disliked a book.

Thanks everyone for the idea of sorting books by year read. I added a 2010 shelf for this purpose.

Jeannette wrote: "Paula wrote: "*waves back* Howdy! :)"

Hi Paula! How's France?"

Beautiful, sophisticated, skinny, busy, historic, delicious, happy,... but you can't beat the feeling of coming home!

Lee wrote: "Paula, are you in France right now??? Cool!"

Actually, just got back. Was there for a month so a bit MIA on several groups. Went for work, stayed in downtown Paris (5 minute walk from Shakespeare & Co.). It's an amazing city!

Paula wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "Paula wrote: "*waves back* Howdy! :)"

Hi Paula! How's France?"

Beautiful, sophisticated, skinny, busy, historic, delicious, happy,... but you can't beat the feeling of coming home..."

Welcome back! :)

Thanks :)

We missed you and are glad you're back!

I'm really on the low end on this thread..*blush* I've only read 9 so far. This is the first time I set a goal for myself, and it's 18 for the entire year, 9 of which have to be what I have already owned at home.

Paula, your trip sounds beautiful! How lovely to spend a month in Paris! Welcome home, I agree no matter how wonderful some place is, it's always nice to "come home".

Paula, How often did you get to the bookstore? I've always wanted to go there.

Diane D. wrote: "I'm really on the low end on this thread..*blush* I've only read 9 so far. This is the first time I set a goal for myself, and it's 18 for the entire year, 9 of which have to be what I have already..."

You're doing great, Diane! Being in book discussions here on Goodreads really pushed my count up this year, but I'm still a newbie compared to some of the members here. :)

Diane D. wrote: "I'm really on the low end on this thread..*blush* I've only read 9 so far. This is the first time I set a goal for myself, and it's 18 for the entire year, 9 of which have to be what I have already..."

Don't beat yourself up Diane! We all have different things we need to be doing. I'm unemployed and have a lot of free time on my hands... reading keeps me out of trouble! If 18 books in a year is do-able, then that's the important thing. I hope all your books are 5-star reads too!

Chandra wrote: "I'd say 9 books in 4 months is more than respectable ;-)

I do have a hard time finding time to read (I say as I sit here goofing off on goodreads!) The majority of my personal reading takes p..."

That's me you are describing, Chandra! I stayed up until 1am reading last night and I hope to carve out a chunk of time to finish my book tonight. I have to write a document today, so I better get off goodreads! :)

I've had the yearly shelves since I joined goodreads. I like to see how many books I read a year and I do have goals about it - but if I don't reach it, it's no big deal.
So far this year, I've only read 13 books *sighs*, well, almost 14. I guess work and a 1,5 year old takes the most of my time ...
And of course, as everybody else has stated, to say someone is well-read based on a number of books is a weird way of judging it - and if you want to judge it that way, 5-6 books a year is way too little!

Hey everyone. I'm glad you all don't think I'm a whimpy reader!

Chandra, I try to read at night when I go to bed but sometimes fall right asleep! My favorite time to read is in the morning when I wake up with a cup of coffee, but can only manage that on weekends.

I think that everyone reads for different reasons, and also, there are people who read for work, or for whom reading is their job (like, if you are an editor etc.). Which is why, having a books-read count is difficult, and can also be misleading.

I have read 28 books so far this year, behind from my 31 at this time last year. I guess I should read a bunch of little short ones to catch up! LOL!

Diane D. wrote: "Hey everyone. I'm glad you all don't think I'm a whimpy reader!
"

Haha! You're so cute, Diane. Honestly, this is the most that I've ever read (my pace so far this year I mean), and it is truly because I am stressed. I read to cope with stress, it keeps me sane (don't say it, Jeannette!).

:x

Christine wrote: "Diane D. wrote: "Hey everyone. I'm glad you all don't think I'm a whimpy reader!
"

Haha! You're so cute, Diane. Honestly, this is the most that I've ever read (my pace so far this year I me..."

**waving**to Christine. Why are you stressed out? That makes me sad. PM me if you want to. xxoo

I'm up to 29 so far, which stuns me a bit. I did manage to eat my way through quite a few back in January (summer holidays down here), and I think the audiobooks playing on the car CD player (or on the mp3 player while gardening or walking) help increase my total. A few years ago I'd got right out of the habit of regular reading, so although I don't have a specific goal, the general one is "more than I used to!"

That's a great goal, Darkpool! :)

I've surprised myself by reading 40 year-to-date.

I had originally set a 50 books in 2010 goal for myself, but have since upped it to 75 instead.

This comes as a real surprise for me, as I am a slow and plodding reader. I've been all over the genre spectrum: YA, mystery/gothic, fantasy, travel, nature, non-fiction history, romance, memoir.