In 2013, I participated in my first Goodreads Reading Challenge. I set a goal of 30 books and I read 36. That was my first time to actually track the books I read in a single year. Off and on through the years, I’d tried keeping a notebook by my bed and writing down the books I read and maybe rating them. The habit never took. I kept forgetting the notebook was there.
But Goodreads has made it so easy for me to track, rate, and review, using both my phone and my computer. It has become a habit.
I haven’t set super high or unrealistic goals. Thirty-six to forty-eight books in a year (three to four books a month) feels reasonable to me for someone with a busy writing schedule and other focuses as well.
The most number of books I’ve read in a previous year (since I began tracking) was 77 books. That was in 2020 when the world shut down for a time.
In 2022, my tenth Goodreads Reading Challenge, I once again set a goal of 36 books. But audiobooks and audiobook services (particularly Hoopla and Scribd) in addition to Audible changed things up in a big way for me. I’m able to listen to books in the car, while I dress in the morning, when I break to stretch or get another cup of coffee, etc. I listen in tiny snatches and in bigger blocks of time.
Yesterday, I finished reading my 100th book of 2022. Ninety (90%) of those books were audiobooks. The majority have been good to excellent reads. Seven of them earned a five-star rating from me. Two got only two stars. The rest got three to four stars.
It has been much easier for me to rate the books I read since I developed my own system. It firmed up in my mind what I mean by the number of stars I give. And I do use .25, .50, and .75 as well because, for instance, sometimes a book is more than a 3 but less than a 4. Here’s my rating system:
There are some readers out there who read a book a day, so my 100 reads may not seem like a lot to them, but I’m enjoying hitting the 100-book milestone this year.
It’s hard for me to believe that there was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when I didn’t think I would ever listen to audiobooks unless I was on a long trip. Boy, have reading habits changed for me. Audiobooks have allowed me to listen (read) far more books and authors than I thought possible.
How’s your reading year going?
~robin
Thanks for your insight. I have adopted your rating system for my book list which I started a few years ago when another author mentioned she kept one. I remember how excited I was the first time I read 100 books in a year! Sadly, I cannot get into audio books. I love seeing the words too much! But I’ll try again sometime.
It took me a long time to get into audiobooks. I don’t know what made the difference. I guess a switch just went on in my brain. And I still buy lots of regular books. Often, I own both audio and Kindle versions and I listen and read with my eyes at the same time.
I am a senior and caregiver for my disabled husband, so I get a lot of reading time. So far, I have read 177 books. So glad to hear you discovered audio books although they don’t work for me as I get distracted by other things and don’t retain the story line. I really like your rating system, and it is similar to mine.
Loraine, I’m glad you have lots of reading time, but I’m sorry for the reason. I know caregiving can be both a blessing and a hardship. I hope it is more blessing for you than anything else.
Hi Robin – I found it interesting you’re keeping track of how many books you’ve read so far this year. One of my sons, my husband and I have a “reading race” each year. So far I’ve read 65, my son a few behind me but my husband always leaps out ahead. One year I did read over 100. Right now I’m rereading one of your books, The Shepherd’s Voice and enjoying it again. My favorite of all books is Christian Historical Romance, so please keep those coming! Maranatha!
Myra, I’m delighted you are rereading The Shepherd’s Voice. That book is dear to me. And I’m going to be writing more Christian Historical Romance for a while. All She Ever Dreamed comes out in December, and next year my new series will debut. It’s planned to have a novella and three novels.
Since I started using Goodreads, 77 is the most books ever than a year. I set my goal at 70 for this year and ever had 62 thus far, so I am ahead of schedule.
Many years ago I would rent books on cd at cracker barrel when I was going on a road trip. But I just recently ‘read’ my first book via Audible recently! Until you mentioned that you read most of your books that way I realized I hadn’t added it to my read books in Goodreads.
Oh my goodness. Of course audiobooks count. Get those listed on Goodreads!!! LOL! I never rented CDs from Cracker Barrel, but I do remember books that were ten or more CDs long. Storying them took up a lot of space. I’ve been a member of Audible for many years. Bought my first book from them in 2000, so I have a ton of books, both read and still to read.
So far this year I’ve read and reviewed 55+ books. I review every book I read since 2013. I keep up with it on Goodreads but I also pin the covers on a Pinterest board for that year. It’s fun to scan through those covers and remember.
I’ve tried listening to audio books but my mind tends to wander. I am a visual reader. I prefer holding a book in my hands. I do occasionally read an ebook but they make it harder for me to review. Old age I guess LOL
Hey, Gail. My mind used to wander when listening to audiobooks. I’m not sure what helped me get over that. Maybe just continuing to try. I also thought I would never like ebooks, but I have a Kindle Oasis. It weighs 8 oz and I can turn a page with the thumb of the hand holding the reader. I have issues with my wrists so can’t hold heavy books. Oh, and I love that I can make the fonts bigger. Like you said, old age!!
Since I started keeping track of books read on Goodreads, the most has been 142 in a year. This year I set my goal to read 100 and I’m on track having read 79. I struggle with audiobooks because my mind wanders and I lose the story line. It seems like I’m not the only one after reading the comments. I really enjoy holding a book in my hands but read on my Kindle when i walk on the treadmill and love that too.
Yea on that goal and being on track. Hope they include a lot of great books. Yes, wandering minds seems to be the biggest reason for people not liking audiobooks.
I have not read as much as usual. I’ve been having some vision problems but I also think some books have lighter print making them more difficult to read thus slowing me down! I’ve listened to a few audio books but have difficulty concentrating on the book if I’m doing a task that requires my attention.
Small print and light print do make it hard. I wear glasses or I could see nothing. Again, that is the beauty of an ebook. I can change the font type (so it will be darker/easier to see) and I can make the fonts bigger.
I’m at 94% with only 7 more books to read. A total of 125. Read a lot of wonderful books!
Only 7 books to go. You will reach your goal easily as there are three full months left in the year. Way to go!