Hard relate to your point about library books. I feel a certain kind of anguish too when all my holds are available at once. My library doesn't have late fees either... good and bad, as the monetary pressure to read and return books on time certainly has its benefits!
This has made it very obvious to me why you are one of my trusted readers! I too must always finish a book - I feel some sort of moral compulsion to finish them, because like you and Cusk, I have completely switched feelings in the last pages. Book math is certainly real (actually though - saving me from buying books AND on having to ren an enormous house for all the books I'd buy!). And the library holds all landing at once. The pressure! The joy! The excitement! I haven't managed to chime with audiobooks yet though and remain persistently weighed down by a book and a spare just in case, and cannot cope with reading more than one book at a time. I am singularly devoted to a book once I get going - the horror once when my partner somehow lost my book at the supermarket and I had to source a new copy. The agony of disruption! I've waffled enough, but just want to say thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts with us.
What a great piece. I try to read about 60 books a year but I’m a bit off my target this year. That doesn’t include any work reading unless I read the whole book. I NEVER finish books I don’t like. If I don’t like it I end up skimming it anyway so it’s pointless. I’ve read a lot of genre stuff this year and neglected the “literary” stuff so I’d like to catch up a bit next year. What would be your must reads of the recent “serious” books ?
My only complaint about StoryGraph is the "moods" that are built in. I wish I could change them/have more control over the selections. You can get around this by utilizing tags to categorize your books (if that's what you want to do), but I don't like being told how a book made me feel.
I never counted how much I’ve read until joining Goodreads, and I only did that because I found that the more I read, the more quickly I was forgetting what I d read. It’s a useful reading record for me.
Like you, I never read the end - just the thought of doing that seems wicked somehow. 🤣
But unlike you, I now have no compunction in throwing a dud read aside. I began doing this at around the age of 55, when my mortality began to really stare at me and I realised that I was running out of reading time. The thought of dying wasn’t a worry, but the thought of not being able to read any more is utterly frightening!
I always finish books too! Just cannot leave a book half read. It’s both my best and worst reading trait 😂
I use both Goodreads and StoryGraph.
I love the stats I get on StoryGraph, but the feed on Goodreads keeps me there too - I find it just isn’t as good or prominent on StoryGraph...
I tried this year to “read less” and have ended up reading more than I did last year (currently 76) - I too have fallen victim to a few of those hype books instead on prioritising those books I’m desperate to devour, patiently waiting on my bedside table. I think that’ll be my priority in 2024. To read what I truly want to read and try of shut out all the other noise and temptations that get shoved in my face, most often on instagram.
What I really want to know, have you got your hands on an arc for the new Lombardo yet??!
Loved this insight into your reading life Jaclyn! And also very keen for a recommendation for someone who is in a reading rut if you have one! Recently I’ve started (but not finished) Aphrodite’s Breath, You made a Fool of Death with your Beauty and Good Material - not because I specifically don’t want to finish them, I just can’t seem get and traction with any of them.
Four books I read this year that I really enjoyed are: The Weekend, Romantic Comedy (not I book I would pick up myself but was recommended it). I joined WellRead this year and two books they sent out this year that I absolutely loved were: They’re Going to Love You and Sunbathing
I loved this piece and it really made me consider my own reading. I’m also desperate to know...what book had the perfect first 60 pages?!
I wanna know this too!
And me!
Hard relate to your point about library books. I feel a certain kind of anguish too when all my holds are available at once. My library doesn't have late fees either... good and bad, as the monetary pressure to read and return books on time certainly has its benefits!
This has made it very obvious to me why you are one of my trusted readers! I too must always finish a book - I feel some sort of moral compulsion to finish them, because like you and Cusk, I have completely switched feelings in the last pages. Book math is certainly real (actually though - saving me from buying books AND on having to ren an enormous house for all the books I'd buy!). And the library holds all landing at once. The pressure! The joy! The excitement! I haven't managed to chime with audiobooks yet though and remain persistently weighed down by a book and a spare just in case, and cannot cope with reading more than one book at a time. I am singularly devoted to a book once I get going - the horror once when my partner somehow lost my book at the supermarket and I had to source a new copy. The agony of disruption! I've waffled enough, but just want to say thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts with us.
What a great piece. I try to read about 60 books a year but I’m a bit off my target this year. That doesn’t include any work reading unless I read the whole book. I NEVER finish books I don’t like. If I don’t like it I end up skimming it anyway so it’s pointless. I’ve read a lot of genre stuff this year and neglected the “literary” stuff so I’d like to catch up a bit next year. What would be your must reads of the recent “serious” books ?
Hannah, I am obsessed with the new Paul Auster and the new Anne Michaels. Both books are heavy hitting and now lodged deep within me.
My only complaint about StoryGraph is the "moods" that are built in. I wish I could change them/have more control over the selections. You can get around this by utilizing tags to categorize your books (if that's what you want to do), but I don't like being told how a book made me feel.
Thanks to Storygraph I know that I apparently lean towards books that are 'emotional, reflective, and light-hearted'. Join us!
I never counted how much I’ve read until joining Goodreads, and I only did that because I found that the more I read, the more quickly I was forgetting what I d read. It’s a useful reading record for me.
Like you, I never read the end - just the thought of doing that seems wicked somehow. 🤣
But unlike you, I now have no compunction in throwing a dud read aside. I began doing this at around the age of 55, when my mortality began to really stare at me and I realised that I was running out of reading time. The thought of dying wasn’t a worry, but the thought of not being able to read any more is utterly frightening!
I always finish books too! Just cannot leave a book half read. It’s both my best and worst reading trait 😂
I use both Goodreads and StoryGraph.
I love the stats I get on StoryGraph, but the feed on Goodreads keeps me there too - I find it just isn’t as good or prominent on StoryGraph...
I tried this year to “read less” and have ended up reading more than I did last year (currently 76) - I too have fallen victim to a few of those hype books instead on prioritising those books I’m desperate to devour, patiently waiting on my bedside table. I think that’ll be my priority in 2024. To read what I truly want to read and try of shut out all the other noise and temptations that get shoved in my face, most often on instagram.
What I really want to know, have you got your hands on an arc for the new Lombardo yet??!
THERE IS A NEW LOMBARDO?!?!? This is the first I am hearing of it. Nothing on Titlepage yet. Will research.
I saw it on her website a month or so ago? Then I saw it up for preorder at Waterstones. Did have a January release but unsure if that’s changed...
Called, ‘Same As It Ever Was’
Loved this insight into your reading life Jaclyn! And also very keen for a recommendation for someone who is in a reading rut if you have one! Recently I’ve started (but not finished) Aphrodite’s Breath, You made a Fool of Death with your Beauty and Good Material - not because I specifically don’t want to finish them, I just can’t seem get and traction with any of them.
My favourite 'get a reader out of a rut' recommendation is American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.
Thanks Jaclyn! I'm heading to the library today to pick it up
Four books I read this year that I really enjoyed are: The Weekend, Romantic Comedy (not I book I would pick up myself but was recommended it). I joined WellRead this year and two books they sent out this year that I absolutely loved were: They’re Going to Love You and Sunbathing
Thanks Jo! I also enjoyed Romantic Comedy earlier this year so will check out the other titles you recommended