Something I've noticed since January, when I really started working with this blog is that my reading habits have changed, and I'm wondering if this has happened to other who blog about the books they read.
I used to re-read books all the time. Now, as much as I'd like to do that, I don't feel like I should any more. I feel like I have too many books I should be reading instead of something I've read before, especially if I've read it in the previous year (such as the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs or the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward).
I probably didn't help things by putting together my unread books list. Actually, I gave myself a bit of a shock when I created that list. I'd known I'm rather addicted to buying books and not reading them, but I hadn't realized the problem was that big!
Challenges don't actually help, either. I'm finding that (other than a challenge looking only for a specific quantity of books read, like the 100 Books Challenge at LibraryThing) they just add another layer of obligation.
Now, I'm starting to wonder if any of this is the reason I'm having trouble finishing the books I start right now (I will note that my spinning wheel is getting a lot of use these days, and I've started knitting a bit more lately). Or, it could just be the weather and seasons having an effect.
Aside from grumbling about not wanting to read anything at the moment (which I've also heard from other bloggers recently), have you found that your reading habits changed when you started blogging about books?
7 comments:
I haven't noticed a significant change in my reading habits, but I admit that I haven't been doing a lot of things that might change it. The most I can say is that I've probably read more non-fantasy books this year than in the past several combined. (Excluding course reading.) But that amount doesn't say a whole lot, truth be told.
I used to reread books a fair amount too, but then my TBR pile went over 200 and... Well, mostly if I've been rereading at all, it's been childhood favourites I can barely remember beyond that fact there.
I've seen several bloggers feel more pressure than enjoyment from the challenges they join, though. If you think dropping some would return/increase your interest in the books you're reading then I say "Go for it!" Always worth a try to see if they're the reason for your troubles with reading or not, I'd say.
I hope the funk passes soon!
Thanks, Shanra.
I'll be more careful about challenges next year, but as one of them is my own Pre-Printing Press Challenge, I can't exactly drop it now :)
Here's hoping it goes quickly too (given that TBR pile, I can't help but wonder if it's partly a case of "too many books to read").
My reading habits have changed significantly but I think that had a lot more to do with having a baby than it did with starting my blog! I do feel bad that I can't keep up with my blog as much as I would like because I just don't have as much time to read anymore. Reading is only possible during nap times and that is when I need to get other things done too.
I am having trouble getting motivated to read the books I feel obligated to read because I accepted them from a publisher or publicist. Those just aren't the ones I WANT to read right now but I feel like I need to get the reviews posted. I have so many other books on our bookshelves that I haven't read yet. I'm definitely going to be more selective in the books that I accept for review next year in the hopes that the review books won't become a chore.
The challenges are stressing me out a little bit too simply because I don't know that I am going to be able to complete either one of the two I signed up for. I didn't think 12 books in two categories (which sometimes overlap) would be an issue but of course those haven't been the books I've felt like reading much of this year either! I don't think I'll be doing challenges next year as I just can't keep up with them.
Maybe you just need to be more discriminating about the books you accept. If you're offered a book and you think it'll end up in the "Ugh, I have to read that" pile then perhaps you should decline the book. I've gotten many such (politely phrased) responses from bloggers. Then you can shift back to fun reading and maybe even re-reading.
Also, speaking as a writer, I'd rather you pick up my book with a "This looks interesting" attitude than a "Ugh, here we go" attitude. ;-)
I don't reread...I do sometimes "re-visit" and write a book review about one I read a long time ago.
BTW, I gave you an award! http://bibliofreakblog.com/memes/time-awards/
I don't reread...I do sometimes "re-visit" and write a book review about one I read a long time ago.
BTW, I gave you an award! http://bibliofreakblog.com/memes/time-awards/
Thanks for the comments everyone, and thanks, JT for the award. That, I'm going to get posted right away.
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