A Blog A Day 7/31

The One About My Reading Challenge

For the past four years I have been challenging myself to the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I believe for the first three years I challenge myself to read 150 books. The official Goodreads Challenge is 100 books. The first two years of the challenge I did not make my 150 book goal. In fact the second year of the challenge I was a maddeningly 2 books shy of that 150, and I remember reading to the wee hours of the morning on many of the nights leading up to New Years Eve. 

Last year however, I met the goal. Not only did I meet that goal but I think I ultimately read like 168 books. 

<<Pause For A Sec>>

I am trying to go and see if I can find how many I read... hmmm... wasn't easy to find on my phone. But I am pretty sure of that final number. 

This year I am on book 92 of 160. That's right, I decided since last year was so easy- maniacal laugh because it wasn't that easy- that I was going to up my traditional 150 goal. At my normal rate of reading I need to read a book every other day. At this point. I have 148 days left in the year, and 69 books to go. If my math is right, and honestly it might not be- because maths. I think I have this in the bag. I need to finish a book every 2 days to get to 160. 

Actually having put some time into thinking  about this, I might make it. I was working  up till this point thinking it wasn't going to happen. I think I read an article somewhere that mentioned that the average adult reads 4 books a year. So I realize if I had anyone reading this that I probably lost people awhile ago, as this is a little crazy- 160 books a year... but ya...

How do you read so much?

1. I read unlimited books- free with my Amazon prime membership- on my kindle. 
2. I take my kindle everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Just like most people take their phone everywhere- I mean I do that too, but I take my kindle as well. Especially from room to room in the house. I also have the kindle app added to my phone and my iPad. So if I am bored or don't know what to do. I can literally read anywhere at any time because I am always bound to have my phone on me. 
3. Most of the time I would rather read than do anything else. Literally anything else. I have always been this way for as long as I can remember. I am an only child- and while I remember loving going outside and playing with my friends. If it was rainy outside, as it often is in Oregon I was just as content curled up somewhere reading. As an introvert-being by myself, and often with a book in my hand, it's how I recharge.
4. I read for pure enjoyment. If I don't like a book, I put it down and find a different book. (see #5 they are connected) I have a friend that says he tries to have "broccoli" books mixed in with his "chocolate" or pure enjoyment books. I never think of this, I just read what I want to read. 
5. I also know what my weaknesses are. I actually do like to read lots of different kinds of books, but the drier books- the books that are more cerebral- I use audible. Because I know that if I attempt to read Drive by Daniel Pink on my kindle or in a real book form- it will take me forever because I will get bored with it and walk away. But if I am in traffic and not wanting to sing along to my favorite music I will listen to a book. I also will do this while I am doing my makeup or while I am curling/straightening my hair. There are a ton of hours in the day people, some of them could be spent reading.
6. Setting a goal for myself almost ensures I will read to meet that goal. I am a list maker and a check box ticker. I set goals small, or big, so that I can accomplish them. 
7. I read every night till I am falling asleep. It is not uncommon for my kindle to hit me in the face (in fact I am surprised I haven't gotten a bruise or something from it), my husband will often come and take the kindle from my hands and put it on the side table. 
8. Winter, Spring, and Summer Break are my favorite times to read. I would put Thanksgiving on here, but it turns out family members think it is rude when you give them the stink eye when you are trying to read and they keep trying to converse with you. 
9. If there is a movie that is getting a lot of buzz, but it was a book first. I will often try and read the book before I go and see the movie. I just have to, I can't see the movie first. It just doesn't happen. 
10. I am a serial re-reader. I know what I like, and sometimes my favorite books are like visiting with old friends. Another reason I love my kindle. I can pull a book down from the proverbial shelf no matter where I am- and even if it has been years since I last read it. I also used to think that Goodreads wasn't tracking when I read a book more than once. I have since made sure to add it correctly to my "currently reading" bookshelf and I know they are getting recounted. (This doesn't happen often though- usually there is a year or two in between my re-reads).

Favorite genre: it's a tie really between realistic fiction, and science fiction. 

Wow! That was a long post, clearly get me talking about reading and I will just go on and on...