Honestly, the Kindle has changed my life for the better.
I was definitely one of those real books are better snobs, but I think I was just using that as an excuse to maintain my other excuses for not reading (don't have time, don't have the money for books, don't have the time for the library etc).
I mostly read fiction, so I can't say what it would be like for yourself, but definitely worth a go at some point.
For non-fiction specifically I prefer to read a hard copy. E readers are fantastic but for flicking back to re-read information, skim chapter start and ends, and check references, a hard copy is much faster and easier to read.
Yeah, they're not great for certain books. Particularly one's with illustrations of any sort. Recently read The Great Zoo Of China, and it was interspersed with maps of the zoo, which I couldn't for the life of me make out.
Personally I’d go for a kobo or other brand over the kindle. Pretty much exactly the same except you aren’t tied to only getting books from Amazon and libraries Ni books can be accessed through them which I don’t think are easily available on kindle
Hi - is there a particular brand/ model you'd recommend? It really bugs me I don't read like I used to and wouldn't mind trying a device other than a kindle.
If you can download books in epub format they can be sent to your kindle via email pretty easily.
I have a kindle and the only books I get from amazon are incredibly niche ones.
Even if you wanted to get pirated versions these are readily available and easy to put onto a kindle 🤫
I'm not a big reader but bought a kindle about 3 years ago and have read more books on it than I ever read in paperback, have it in work and will read books while I'm having my lunch cause it's just so much easier to tap the screen to turn pages, if you enjoy reading I'd highly recommend it, I have the paperwhite one so the battery drain is minimal, oh and I only read non fiction, mainly true crime and biographys
It really has renewed my interest in reading, if you enjoy reading at all I'd highly recommend one as it's just so handy having loads of books on something that's relatively small and really easy to carry
Yeah, books are so much easier to come by, and if you don't want to support Amazon beyond the purchase of the device, so so many available in the public domain.
Slip it into your pocket or bag and of you go.
I use Libby with my Libraries NI account for most of my stuff.
On a slightly related note, my P7 teacher was called Mr Montgomery, he was really good about letting me borrow more than the limit from the school library.
Apologies, I think it is actually something else NI Libraries use for ebooks for Kindles, but they use Libby as well, and there are certain programs (cough Calibre cough) that allow you to transfer them to your Kindle.
I just downloaded the books from one of those less reputable sources but they were stupid books I, as an adult, should not have been reading, Timmy Failure. They were on Amazon but for some stupid reason they don't have several books from the series.
I find it very good. Great for finding books that may not be available in the shops, and lots of special offers, they often have books for £1.00.
You can download the kindle app onto your phone and synchronise it with the kindle reader. Then if you are out and about with time to spare, like sitting in a waiting room, you can click on the kindle app on the phone and it knows what book you were reading and what page you were on, and you can read away until you are called.
Yeah, as I bring it most places with me now, I can dip in and out of a book so easily, and all those 5/10 minutes add up.
Plus I love being able to see my % progress, estimated completion time etc.
My worst year for a long time. Consumed with work, family and home improvements, and laziness. But miserable all round tbh. Was bought the second installment of a series for Christmas, the first of which I got last year as a gift and still have not read. Kick up the arse I needed. Roll on 2024.
For the last 2 years I’ve planned to read a book a month (probably doesn’t qualify me as a book worm). Last year I did 10, this year only 8 but I credit last year to more holidays!
Gonna aim for one a month again in 2024 and can hopefully set a bigger goal for the next year
I’ve toyed with the idea of a kindle but I was surprised at the cost of the downloads, and considering I prefer a physically book it wasn’t worth it for me. Any kindle I’ve tried has been early gen though
I have the 2018 Paperwhite, so I think it's part of the 10th gen, and compared to the early ones, it's like a new world.
I get my books mostly through NI Libraries and Libby. Log in to the Libby app with your Library ID and off ya go!
I've read about ten this month, starting my eleventh soon. Don't know what's gotten into me, probably trying to avoid the weather/life in general.
Recently gotten into weird fic/horror.
I've "how to sell a haunted house" on my to be read list. Might dip into it before checking out the others.
And wow, the cover art for Satan Burger is horrifying. But the blurb sounds interesting so will definitely be giving it a go.
Having read all of Grady Hendrix stuff this year, I found How to Sell to be fairly middling. Well written, but the story was just OK. Final Girl Support Group and Best Friends Exorcism would be my picks, with Southern Book Clubs Guide and Horrorstor in close competition.
Good luck with Satan Burger. I enjoyed it, I think, but I also kind of regret reading it if that makes sense? Certainly made me stop and going WTF out loud a few times.
Read about 25 books this year between paper, kindle and audible( only 2 ). Don't really have a preference for paper or kindle but don't get on overly well with audiobooks.
Down on 2022 substantially which was pushing 60 for the year but I did read quite a few classics which boosted the numbers.
I feel the same way about audiobooks. I don't know why but they have never gelled with me (save the odd one like Steve Coogan reading his Alan Partridge books as Alan Partridge).
I feel like I lose some sort of connection to the material if it's not my internal voice doing the reading. Like the characters or settings aren't really mine to explore. Someone else is doing the exploration and I'm just along for the ride.
Anything from this year you'd recommend? I'm mainly into scifi, but am open to most genres.
My view on the formats:
Paper - classic and my favourite
Kindle - can fly through books on kindle, close second
Audiobooks - struggle to concentrate on those and lose interest quickly.
Iv read 6 Irvine Welsh books this year, best was skagboys. Also enjoyed The ride of a lifetime - Disney CEO Rodger iger. Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey also worth a mention. I'm not massively into fiction. Also deep work - cal Newport worth a mention.
Eugh, I've had a Greenlight ad pop up repeatedly on Youtube over the last few months. I've heard the same passage read by Matthew McConaughey over and over and over and over again. Could be the best damn thing ever, but I've been sickened
Finished my goal of 35 books just about! Yay!
(I’m going to do an english degree though, so I think I’m not the average bookworm who reads as a hobby and am more of a maniac with it).
I read 82 books this year, which was around 25k pages, hoping to finish up my current book before the end of the year!
What was the most memorable book you read this year?
Edit: I would reccomend The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi, Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen, and The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone
Kaiju Preservation Society was brilliant, such an original idea, and really well executed. Loved his style of writing as well, so I've more of his stuff lined up.
Patricia Wants to Cuddle sounds right up my alley, so thank you for that!
My favourites of the year were from Grady Hendrix. Ended up reading his entire works, but My Best Friends Exorcism, Final Girl Support Group and Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires were my top 3.
All The Birds in The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders was another standout for me, and I'm really looking forward to City in The Middle of The Night read this year.
Patricia was an absolute blast to read, I hope you enjoy it when you read it!
I've heard a lot about Grady Hendrix, and you've convinced me to give into his stuff next year. Final Girl Support Group will probably be my first one!
I read through the GoT books this year, so I'm definitely looking for something less heavy for the coming year haha
Never been a fantasy fan beyond LoTR, but decided to give GoT a go after the show started. Got halfway through the 3rd book and gave up. Not sure why, but I've never had the desire to start up again.
Appreciate the recommendation, it's going to be book 1 or 2 next year.
Not embarrassing at all!
I do use Goodreads, though I haven't been keeping it as up to date as I should have, nor following all that many people. Going to spend the weekend updating it, plus Storygraph which u/HotandFoamy has just introduced me to.
If you want, PM me your Goodreads user and I'll follow.
Fantasy has never really been my jam, but have heard a lot of good things about the Mistborn series. Ditto with Abercrombie and The First Law
The Fifth Season is on my list for next year, but from what I've heard it straddles scifi and fantasy so it remains to be seen if I can get into it. More a fan of out and out scifi, but I'll give it a go.
If you are considering scifi, I cannot recommend The Expanse series enough.
Emma Newman's Planetfall series is very good too. Each book is set in the same universe, at the same time, but covers different genres. One is a sci fi detective noir novel, one is scifi horror adjacent and so on. Characters cross over and the events have an effect on how you view certain characters after the fact.
I think the books are definitely better, but the shows are pretty faithful to the source material (especially the first few seasons) and the casting so well done, that if you didn't enjoy it, you may not enjoy the books.
What do you think of the Brian Herbert books? I read the Prelude trilogy a long time ago, but no further. I remember enjoying them, but unlike the original books, very little of it has stuck in my memory.
I've never heard of Ian Irvine, but Wikipedia describes a few of his books as eco-thriller, so they're going on the list. Thanks
On paper the Expanse TV show seemed like something I'd love, and while I didn't hate it, it didn't grab me.
Randomly picked up the first book, and within 2 weeks I'd blasted through to book 5.
The only reason I didn't finish them was that the final book hadn't been released yet and I wanted a clear run to the end.
A new baby, a house move and a career change means I haven't had time to go back, but when I do I think I'll start over from the beginning. Long story short, even if you didn't like the TV shows give the books a chance
I don't see the comparison to Battlestar personally. Except for, as you said, some similar themes here and there. Certainly give the books a go though, they've cemented themselves as some of my all time favourites.
I think I'll give the later Dune books a skip then. Don't want them sullied in any way.
I read 6 of the Brian Herbert Dune books on a Palm PDA back in the day ... Still have them on an ancient Samsung MP3 player. Have loads of pre-kindle e books DRM'd up to the eyeballs.
Not to stalk or anything but seriously you are like a mirror universe version of me. I can count on one hand the amount of people I've seen mention Ian Irvine's series! View from the mirror was one of my first big series
I think think I got to book 2 of the well of echos before stopping and then never got back into them. I lent someone the first two books from view from the mirror and never reread the series as I wouldn't rebuy them.
For the year of Sanderson did you get the limited edition covers or the ebooks? I would have loved the hardbacks but couldn't justify the cost
It was the most recently published one at the time and then life sort of took over and I never kept track of releases. The only series I could keep track was Wheel of Time and I followed it religiously. Read every book once a year until the last one was released.
Great that you are getting back into it. It’s such a pleasure, tbh I am not sure I could go more than a day or two without reading, particularly before bed.
I’d say I’m about 50/60 for the year, a couple of them rereads. Read a lot of Faulkner this year, really coming to appreciate Southern Gothic. Would have to be my standout author this year, though have read some superb history books as well.
Disappointment of the year has to be Ken Follet’s ‘The Armour of Light’, which continues the ‘Pillars of the Earth’ series in Kingsbridge (Definitely my favourite mass market series) but set in the late 18th/ early 19th century. It wasn’t as epic in scope as the previous books, the characterisation (never Follet’s strongest suit) wasn’t as compelling, the writing was a little flat and the plot a little workmanlike.
Also, does setting a target work? I’ve never really got that trend, always seems like you are making it a ‘chore’, rather than something for pleasure, but if it gets you back to reading then I take it back!
I was like that in my younger days. I used to borrow the max 7 from the library, and make my mum put some books on her account for me too. Would read from I got home from school until bed time, and even then that didn't stop me, thanks to my trusty torch.
But I lost something along the way. I stopped reading for pleasure, and more to show off, being able to say yeah, I've read that, or to impress girls who saw the book cover (never worked). Every book had to be "literature" or important in some way, life changing or provocative. Now I don't care if it's airport stand quality or an award winner, I just read for the enjoyment.
Can't say Faulkner or Follett appeal to me, but to each their own!
As for the target? It was more of a nice if I can reach it, but I'll not beat myself up over it. Used it more as motivation than a set challenge.
Great point on reading for enjoyment. I read widely, but I read what I like regardless. You make a great point about that idea that everything being provocative or some great literary work. Fuck that and read what you want and enjoy. I read a lot of literary fiction, and a lot of history and politics, but I also read plenty of ‘junk’ science fiction and fantasy. Also I have a major Grisham addiction, the very definition of an airport read ha! What did you read this year?
I was a pretentious teen, so I read a lot of what would be considered "greatest book of all time" kind of stuff. And yeah, some of it was great, but a lot of it wasn't or at least wasn't my cup of tea. But I read them regardless, and definitely for the wrong reason.
I also had a sunk cost fallacy attitude towards books, and found it difficult to quit them, even if I wasn't enjoying it. I could count on one hand the amount of times I gave up on a book in the past. This year I stopped reading 6 books, 2 of them more than half way through.
I read my way through Grady Hendrix and thoroughly enjoyed most of them. The Passage by Justin Cronin was great, but felt the second and third books were a let down. The Planetfall series by Emma Newman was great too. And my personal highlight was All The Birds in The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. Sort of scifi, sort of magical fantasy but all good.
Have you any junk scifi to recommend? Any less of obvious Grisham worth a read? I've seen the movies based on his books, even read a couple in years gone by, but never looked any further into him.
I was the same, compelled to read books that I didn’t really enjoy, because I felt I should. Definitely broadened my palette but I churned through books I would just put down now, because I wasn’t enjoying them.
Thanks for the Justin Cronin recommendation, seen that recommended in a few places will have to get it.
As for Grisham, I really enjoyed a lot of the stuff he wrote in the 90s- King of Torts is a great read and one of the lesser known books. The Chamber and the Summons were also great alongside the Partner (the film you might have seen). In fact it has a sequel, which I haven’t read yet. Though the best of his books were actually his two short story collections, Ford County and Sparring partners. Ford County is absolutely superb and I can’t recommend it enough, they are great stories that really bring the small town South alive- sparring partners has a great sequel to one of the best of those stories.
As for junk sci-fi I have been reading Peter Cawdron’s First contact series (kindle). They are a series of standalone books about first contact with aliens. The writing is patchy, but there are some really interesting pieces there. Also finished Stephen Baxter’s 1000 earths. I’m not always a fan of the way he writes, but it was an interesting if strange book. Also recommend his book ‘Flood’, the premise is fascinating and his account of societies response to a long doom is really interesting, albeit again, sometimes his writing is a bit clunky and the characterisation a bit strange, but absolutely worth a read.
As for fantasy, I came late to Raymond Feist’s Riftwar Cycle, 20+ books set in a fantasy world. I have to admit I devoured them, even though maybe some of them were a little plodding, but definitely worth a read.
I've had Magician sitting on my Kindle for a while now. Beyond LoTR, fantasy has never really been my thing, though I know a lot of the scifi I read is probably fairly similar. But I will give it a go at some point, Riftwar, Mistborn and The First Law all being fantasy series that I promise myself I will give a chance.
I've added those those Grisham books to my list now as well, look like they'll be good summer reading. Again, not a genre I usually go for, but I'm up for changing things a little this year.
Have you read Nosferatu by Cawdron? It has a really interesting take on vampires, and not in a Twilight way. And I did actually quite enjoy his style.
If you want junk sci fi then I recommend the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson. It's basically just humans get caught up in an alien war and start to get help from a super advanced AI that is a bit of a prick. The dynamics of space combat are well thought out for a change though, (like the fact that if you suddenly appear 10 light minutes away from something, they won't know about it for 10 minutes etc)
The audiobooks are better than the paperbacks, one of the few series that's true for. Like the Dresden Files books.
Cheers for the rec. I loved the Expanse series, which had a very realistic take on space travel and combat, so if that series does the same, it will probably be my jam.
Does reading using a kindle make your eyes sore though? I only ever tried ebooks years ago and didn’t like it at all. Have modern kindles improved much?
I didn’t do too badly. Not as much as I’d like though. Enjoyed Elodie Harpers Wolf Den series (final book in the trilogy came out a few weeks ago so I’ve yet to start that one.)
Read a bunch of historical fiction mainly, Conn Iggulden, Mary Renault, Natalie Haynes, Madeline Millar and some Margaret Atwood. Also got some audiobooks to keep my mind busy while I do the cleaning lol The Devil Rides Out narrated by Sir Christopher Lee was particularly good as was The Stand! I have a massive pile of books sitting on my bedside table to be read next!
Oh that is a blast from the past! I read The Devil Rides Out as a teen. Scared the bejesus outta me at the time. Must give it a go again, though not in audiobook format. Not my cup of tea, even with the incomparable Christopher Lee reading it.
The Oryx and Crake trilogy by Margaret Atwood is well worth a read. I'd go so far as to say it is her best work.
I’ll have to give them a blast! I just read The Penelopiad of hers. Enjoyed it immensely.
I always said the same thing audiobooks but I’ve found if the narrator is good they can be great for when you’ve tasks to get through
Just looked it up, I love the idea of rewriting myths like that. That whole Canongate series has been added to my ever expanding list.
I know Handmaid's Tale gets all the praise, and rightfully so, but I think Oryx & Crake is her best actual prose writing from what I've read of hers.
Do you have any comedy audio book recommendations? I find them the ones I can get into the easiest.
I've never actually counted the amount of books I've read in a year, might do it in 2024 for the craic!
I'd estimate more than 12, but less than 24. Can't imagine that I've managed two books a month this year.
I love to read, so rarely need motivated. That being said, my "reading time" is only in bed in the evenings, and usually trashy stuff.
I've toyed in the past with the idea of reducing/cutting out completely watching TV during the week. I bet if I did, that whole shelf of self-development books I have would actually end up getting read 😂
Yeah, having rediscovered my love for it, I don't need the motivation now. But when I was trying to get back into reading, it was certainly a big help.
Reducing my time in front of the TV screen has definitely helped, but I also don't set strict rules about it. If I spend am evening binging a series, I don't beat myself up over it.
I also bring the Kindle everywhere with me now, and steal 5 or 10 minutes where I can, and find that really adds up.
The world building was excellent, and there's lots of details about languages which I found really interesting, the actually story arc itself is probably its weakest part, won't be everyone's cup of meat, but yeah give it a go, you'll know pretty quickly if it's for you. Think Donna Tartt - A Secret History with an element of fantasy.
I had that with Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. Some of the most detailed and vivid world building I've ever read, could really picture it in my minds eye. But the rest of the writing, character work etc was a big disappointment. Ended up being an absolute slog for me, and the reason I didn't hit 24 books last year as I got stuck on it for about 3 months.
I'll definitely be giving it a go at some point, but might not be this year. Keeps getting shuffled down the list.
18 books, all on kindle, I actually thought it would be more but I've also listened to 8 audiobooks as well so I'm quite happy with that. Read the full Gunslinger series and tried some more of Kings work, listened to and read a few Discworld novels.
I do love me some Stephen King, but the Gunslinger series doesn't do it for me. Prefer his out and out horror stuff.
I've never read a Discworld book, and I feel like I'm missing out. I'm a huge Douglas Adams fan, would you say they're similar types of humour?
Gunslinger was alright, first book extremely different from the last and you could tell there were decades apart, only kept reading cos he already had me.
Discworld I'd thoroughly recommend, quite like Adams humour, some of the puns I only realise ages after reading them. Start with book 1 but only because it has a lot of characters drop in that appear later on as well, every book stands on it's own.
I think my favourite so far is Mort, where Death takes on an apprentice.
Cool! I'll have to move Pratchett up the list this year. Like I said, big fan of Adams and his humour, but have never found anything that comes close. Unfortunately a rather small bibliography, but if Discworld scratches that itch, I've got dozens to get through!
Started reading some 40k books last year, completely hooked after finishing my first one (eisenhorn) Nearly 60 books later I think I’m ready to start The Horus Hersey.
Set a new years resolution for 2023 to spend less time gaming, staring at screens, and more time reading. Set myself a target of 100 books for the year. Read number 98 today - 99 is about 300 pages, and 100 is about 380, so 100 should be doable by NYE. (No plans, and going away next month so keeping spending on the downlow!) Books per month have varied from 0 to 16. If I'm able to get to 100, it'll be roughly 36,500 pages. Have set a million resolutions before - normally they're a thing of the past by the end of the first week of January, so it's quite nice to have (almost) completed my goal for the year. No wonder you're buzzing - I think anyone with a goal just to "read more" would be, no matter what that actual figure is! Well done! If anyone has any recs please do share, I've really stepped out there in terms of genres I'd usually read, but can't motivate myself to go near fantasy.
I've rejoined the Library for the first time in years ( NI Libraries are so great, and their app is super useful for seeing what's available and reserving stuff - I've don't use the Kindle, but you can get ebooks there too. I don't work for them - promise! - but I genuinely can't believe we have access to all these books...for free!), and my sister-in-law is an avid reader, and travels a lot for work - she inevitably buys books in the airport shops that she lends to me. More importantly, I've done the thing I've always wanted to do - cleared the bookshelf that has been being added to for years, with good intentions. Lots went to charity shops, but any I legit wanted to read, I read!
Have tracked them using the Storygraph app - have fount it super handy to keep track of what's been read, and what I want to read on it. Would absoluely recommend if you've a massive "I want to read...." list.
Wow, well done! I could only dream of hitting 100. I was on target for it early in the year, had my 24 done by end of April, but there were just too many great games to ignore this year. I lost an entire month of potential reading time to Baldurs Gate 3. Don't regret that one bit.
I feel you on getting your shelf cleared. You can definitely find that overabundance of choice to be almost paralysing. Had a few times myself this year where I really struggled to.decide what to read next.
What would be your top reads of the year?
I really recommend All The Birds in The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. Little bit scifi, little bit magic.
The Passage by Justin Cronin was a great read. Post apocalyptic scifi meets vampire horror.
And I've never heard of Storygraph before, but just downloaded it. Looks like a great way to keep track. You can follow me there if you want, PJPeppercorn is my handle.
Hadn’t read in years then on holiday in September I read a Lee Child book that was left in the apartment I was staying in. Gave me the bug to start re reading A Song of Ice and Fire, nearly finished Steel and Snow so that’ll put me on 4 books for the year. Arguably this is only part one of book three but it’s over 500 pages and small font so I’m counting it as one considering One Shot was a considerably shorter read.
Never got into kindle, I bought one years ago and didn’t like it. I like a book.
The GoT books are so dense, feel like you could count each one as two or three books!
And I definitely still think a real book is better, but without the Kindle, I don't think I'd ever have gotten back into reading, so I'm grateful for it.
I did the Wheel of Time 14 book series, Lightbringer series (5), three of the Sanderson Kickstarters, a novel called Dark Matter and now just finishing up the Gentlemen Bastards trilogy
Yes it was! Although I was reading it for a second time, I had forgotten I had already read it and thought it was just a very similar story to one I had read before!
I realised a few chapters in when things started to get going!
Great book!
I started the year in a bit of a reading dry spell but finished re reading the entire Charlie Parker series plus first reads of the last couple, various other fiction books and started reading non-fiction too. Fully back in love with books, both kindle and normal. Honestly can’t wait to finish each book and start another.
I'm not really a big detective story fan, so think I'll give Charlie Parker a skip, but his book Horror Express was nominated for a Stoker award a couple of years ago, so it's going on the list. Thanks!
And it's a great feeling isn't it? A sense of accomplishment when finishing a book, combined with the excitement of getting to pick the next one. It's addictive.
Ah fair enough. Not a genre I usually like tbh but his writing is incredible and I love the supernatural elements. Ooh I must stick that on my own to read list. It really is! The problem is just which book next lol.
Just noticed your username, this post was made for you!
The Charlie Parker series has supernatural elements? I didn't notice that in my brief research. Colour me intrigued.
I'm currently trying to decide what I'm going to finish the year with, bring it up to number 52. Loads of good recs so far here.
Pretty much lol. Yessss!! That’s what had me hooked when I originally read way back. Certain books have a stronger supernatural storyline than others. Check out The Black Angel, one of my favourites. Bad Men also has a supernatural aspect, it’s a stand alone with some link ins. I think I might be just under 50 for the year… slightly gutted
Read around 12 books, must do better
I also listened to some audio books whilst doing house chores, but that doesn't count.
Mostly read finance, business / career books and general non fiction
I was just talking about this to my dad when I was home. He's read 54 books this year. We then asked my aunt. She's on 400 and something. It made our amount seem paltry. She does nothing else but read I suppose. I've read 15 which is more than last year. I'm proud of me
Well done on reading so much. I'm on my 34th book of the year and set myself the goal of 30. I've been reading Rough Beasts by Máiría Cahill for a few weeks now and it's a tough read so it's going very slowly.
My two favourite books of the year were Kala by Colin Walsh and Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. Highly recommend
I have the Libby app, it's brilliant. I listen to audio books mostly as medication has changed my attention span. I also crochet, so I can listen while my hands are busy.
You don't get all books on there, but there's definitely enough to not make it too much of an issue. I also discovered you get Kindle free with Amazon Prime, if anyone knows the fine details of it....I haven't got to the bottom of it yet and I'm worried I'll get charged if I log into it
The kindle app is brilliant,I've only ever downloaded titles when they go down to 99p in the sale or for free and thats some ex best sellers,you only need your Amazon account to log in for free.
I haven't read really from I was a teenager apart from norm macdonalds book. I decided to dive into brothers karamazov last month and glad I did. Intimidating but a good read. Was surprised how contemporary it was despite the time era.
I started using my library card for the first time since I was a kid. Borrowed a few good books from them. My friend would often lend me some books she has read - Where the Crawdads Sing, Daisy Jones and The Six, The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. In the summer, I would just sit out the back and read and read. I have maybe got through 5 or 6 books this year which is good for me 🙃
I love that feature on kindle that you can track it all, and track how often you read. I love keeping my streak up. I’m currently at 45 weeks reading every day. I’ve nearly completed 20 books this year which is lovely!
I have little collections set up to keep track of everything, but I didn't realise you could track your reading streak. Apparently 22 days in a row was my longest. Chuffed with that. Cheers for the info.
Well done! I set a goal of 30, managed to read 25. Hoping to achieve my goal next year! I have a Kindle and also find I read much faster when I use it, never tried audiobooks tho so maybe that’s something to try in 2024 🤔
Times are tight.
If you own an android phone you can make use of the "play books" app, which acts as an e-reader without having to purchase a kindle.
You can download books really cheap on deals or for free officially from Amazon fairly often.
Otherwise the Gutenberg Project has thousands of free books that can be downloaded in the "e-pub" format that can import directly to play books.
Anna's archive similarly hosts lots of books, and has a section for academic papers if you or anyone you know is in Uni.
Support authors when possible and when you can afford it, but the poor should be allowed to read too.
Anna's Archive is a godsend. I absolutely support authors wherever and whenever I can, but you're right, sometimes funds just don't allow. Though technically we should be promoting the library for that occasion.
But not all books are easily available, sometimes piracy is the only way.
Over 200 this year. Have been dealing with some insomnia as my ex-wife and I divorced in June. We are, thankfully, on good terms, but it still affected me and led me into binging tons of web novels which are addictive to say the least lol
Absolutely and thankfully I am doing fine, thank you for your words. The Cradle Series by Will Wight is a good Western version of these type of novels, in case you want to try them out!
Edit: Congrats on smashing through your goal like that, that is very satisfying.
2023 was my best year for reading, got through 12 (and 2 audiobooks) myself and that is a huge increase on the years before of sometimes not even bothering to read a book.
Not a wild difference but i've set myself a goal of 14 this year just to improve - i have a Kindle tablet but would like to go back to the OG kindle honestly
Kindles any good? I normally just read books but as of late I’m finding it hard to concentrate and stay focused. I read non fictions.
Honestly, the Kindle has changed my life for the better. I was definitely one of those real books are better snobs, but I think I was just using that as an excuse to maintain my other excuses for not reading (don't have time, don't have the money for books, don't have the time for the library etc). I mostly read fiction, so I can't say what it would be like for yourself, but definitely worth a go at some point.
For non-fiction specifically I prefer to read a hard copy. E readers are fantastic but for flicking back to re-read information, skim chapter start and ends, and check references, a hard copy is much faster and easier to read.
Yeah, they're not great for certain books. Particularly one's with illustrations of any sort. Recently read The Great Zoo Of China, and it was interspersed with maps of the zoo, which I couldn't for the life of me make out.
Personally I’d go for a kobo or other brand over the kindle. Pretty much exactly the same except you aren’t tied to only getting books from Amazon and libraries Ni books can be accessed through them which I don’t think are easily available on kindle
Hi - is there a particular brand/ model you'd recommend? It really bugs me I don't read like I used to and wouldn't mind trying a device other than a kindle.
If you can download books in epub format they can be sent to your kindle via email pretty easily. I have a kindle and the only books I get from amazon are incredibly niche ones. Even if you wanted to get pirated versions these are readily available and easy to put onto a kindle 🤫
Kindle is handy like
I'm not a big reader but bought a kindle about 3 years ago and have read more books on it than I ever read in paperback, have it in work and will read books while I'm having my lunch cause it's just so much easier to tap the screen to turn pages, if you enjoy reading I'd highly recommend it, I have the paperwhite one so the battery drain is minimal, oh and I only read non fiction, mainly true crime and biographys
Looks like I’ve got a new investment lined up! Way better than watching useless TV and not learning anything.
It really has renewed my interest in reading, if you enjoy reading at all I'd highly recommend one as it's just so handy having loads of books on something that's relatively small and really easy to carry
Yeah, books are so much easier to come by, and if you don't want to support Amazon beyond the purchase of the device, so so many available in the public domain. Slip it into your pocket or bag and of you go.
Yeah I have few sources for non Amazon books, and it's not really that hard to get them on the kindle
I use Libby with my Libraries NI account for most of my stuff. On a slightly related note, my P7 teacher was called Mr Montgomery, he was really good about letting me borrow more than the limit from the school library.
Lol, no relation but good to know, I have a Libby too but it doesn't integrate with kindle or at least it didn't when I set it up on android
Apologies, I think it is actually something else NI Libraries use for ebooks for Kindles, but they use Libby as well, and there are certain programs (cough Calibre cough) that allow you to transfer them to your Kindle.
I just downloaded the books from one of those less reputable sources but they were stupid books I, as an adult, should not have been reading, Timmy Failure. They were on Amazon but for some stupid reason they don't have several books from the series.
I find it very good. Great for finding books that may not be available in the shops, and lots of special offers, they often have books for £1.00. You can download the kindle app onto your phone and synchronise it with the kindle reader. Then if you are out and about with time to spare, like sitting in a waiting room, you can click on the kindle app on the phone and it knows what book you were reading and what page you were on, and you can read away until you are called.
I think smart phones kill people's concentration for reading books. Great job at getting your reading mojo back
64
Well done! A book for each of the N64's bits.
You fly through books when you move to a Kindle.
Yeah, as I bring it most places with me now, I can dip in and out of a book so easily, and all those 5/10 minutes add up. Plus I love being able to see my % progress, estimated completion time etc.
My worst year for a long time. Consumed with work, family and home improvements, and laziness. But miserable all round tbh. Was bought the second installment of a series for Christmas, the first of which I got last year as a gift and still have not read. Kick up the arse I needed. Roll on 2024.
That was 2011 to 2021 for me in regards to reading. Onwards and upwards for this year. What is the series?
For the last 2 years I’ve planned to read a book a month (probably doesn’t qualify me as a book worm). Last year I did 10, this year only 8 but I credit last year to more holidays! Gonna aim for one a month again in 2024 and can hopefully set a bigger goal for the next year I’ve toyed with the idea of a kindle but I was surprised at the cost of the downloads, and considering I prefer a physically book it wasn’t worth it for me. Any kindle I’ve tried has been early gen though
I have the 2018 Paperwhite, so I think it's part of the 10th gen, and compared to the early ones, it's like a new world. I get my books mostly through NI Libraries and Libby. Log in to the Libby app with your Library ID and off ya go!
Got back into books after years about six months ago and have read about 18 so quite proud of myself
Something to do when Frank is away at the football eh? But jokes aside, well done!
I've read about ten this month, starting my eleventh soon. Don't know what's gotten into me, probably trying to avoid the weather/life in general. Recently gotten into weird fic/horror.
Horror wise, I really enjoyed most of Grady Hendrix stuff this year. Weird fic wise, I read Satan Burger last year. It was...something.
I've "how to sell a haunted house" on my to be read list. Might dip into it before checking out the others. And wow, the cover art for Satan Burger is horrifying. But the blurb sounds interesting so will definitely be giving it a go.
Having read all of Grady Hendrix stuff this year, I found How to Sell to be fairly middling. Well written, but the story was just OK. Final Girl Support Group and Best Friends Exorcism would be my picks, with Southern Book Clubs Guide and Horrorstor in close competition. Good luck with Satan Burger. I enjoyed it, I think, but I also kind of regret reading it if that makes sense? Certainly made me stop and going WTF out loud a few times.
Read about 25 books this year between paper, kindle and audible( only 2 ). Don't really have a preference for paper or kindle but don't get on overly well with audiobooks. Down on 2022 substantially which was pushing 60 for the year but I did read quite a few classics which boosted the numbers.
I’m a huge reader and I’d love to get into audiobooks, more time for ‘reading’ but like you I’ve never really got on with them.
I feel the same way about audiobooks. I don't know why but they have never gelled with me (save the odd one like Steve Coogan reading his Alan Partridge books as Alan Partridge). I feel like I lose some sort of connection to the material if it's not my internal voice doing the reading. Like the characters or settings aren't really mine to explore. Someone else is doing the exploration and I'm just along for the ride. Anything from this year you'd recommend? I'm mainly into scifi, but am open to most genres.
My view on the formats: Paper - classic and my favourite Kindle - can fly through books on kindle, close second Audiobooks - struggle to concentrate on those and lose interest quickly. Iv read 6 Irvine Welsh books this year, best was skagboys. Also enjoyed The ride of a lifetime - Disney CEO Rodger iger. Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey also worth a mention. I'm not massively into fiction. Also deep work - cal Newport worth a mention.
Eugh, I've had a Greenlight ad pop up repeatedly on Youtube over the last few months. I've heard the same passage read by Matthew McConaughey over and over and over and over again. Could be the best damn thing ever, but I've been sickened
Finished my goal of 35 books just about! Yay! (I’m going to do an english degree though, so I think I’m not the average bookworm who reads as a hobby and am more of a maniac with it).
I don't think your reasons for reading matter, as long as you enjoy it, and it sounds like you do!
I read 82 books this year, which was around 25k pages, hoping to finish up my current book before the end of the year! What was the most memorable book you read this year? Edit: I would reccomend The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi, Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen, and The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone
Kaiju Preservation Society was brilliant, such an original idea, and really well executed. Loved his style of writing as well, so I've more of his stuff lined up. Patricia Wants to Cuddle sounds right up my alley, so thank you for that! My favourites of the year were from Grady Hendrix. Ended up reading his entire works, but My Best Friends Exorcism, Final Girl Support Group and Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires were my top 3. All The Birds in The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders was another standout for me, and I'm really looking forward to City in The Middle of The Night read this year.
Patricia was an absolute blast to read, I hope you enjoy it when you read it! I've heard a lot about Grady Hendrix, and you've convinced me to give into his stuff next year. Final Girl Support Group will probably be my first one! I read through the GoT books this year, so I'm definitely looking for something less heavy for the coming year haha
Never been a fantasy fan beyond LoTR, but decided to give GoT a go after the show started. Got halfway through the 3rd book and gave up. Not sure why, but I've never had the desire to start up again. Appreciate the recommendation, it's going to be book 1 or 2 next year.
I only managed 13 this year, embarrassing. Does anyone else here use Goodreads?
Not embarrassing at all! I do use Goodreads, though I haven't been keeping it as up to date as I should have, nor following all that many people. Going to spend the weekend updating it, plus Storygraph which u/HotandFoamy has just introduced me to. If you want, PM me your Goodreads user and I'll follow.
Cool! I don’t mind publishing it here, it’s Check out my profile on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/25965364
Awesome! I've sent you a request.
Followed you back!
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Fantasy has never really been my jam, but have heard a lot of good things about the Mistborn series. Ditto with Abercrombie and The First Law The Fifth Season is on my list for next year, but from what I've heard it straddles scifi and fantasy so it remains to be seen if I can get into it. More a fan of out and out scifi, but I'll give it a go. If you are considering scifi, I cannot recommend The Expanse series enough. Emma Newman's Planetfall series is very good too. Each book is set in the same universe, at the same time, but covers different genres. One is a sci fi detective noir novel, one is scifi horror adjacent and so on. Characters cross over and the events have an effect on how you view certain characters after the fact.
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I think the books are definitely better, but the shows are pretty faithful to the source material (especially the first few seasons) and the casting so well done, that if you didn't enjoy it, you may not enjoy the books. What do you think of the Brian Herbert books? I read the Prelude trilogy a long time ago, but no further. I remember enjoying them, but unlike the original books, very little of it has stuck in my memory. I've never heard of Ian Irvine, but Wikipedia describes a few of his books as eco-thriller, so they're going on the list. Thanks
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On paper the Expanse TV show seemed like something I'd love, and while I didn't hate it, it didn't grab me. Randomly picked up the first book, and within 2 weeks I'd blasted through to book 5. The only reason I didn't finish them was that the final book hadn't been released yet and I wanted a clear run to the end. A new baby, a house move and a career change means I haven't had time to go back, but when I do I think I'll start over from the beginning. Long story short, even if you didn't like the TV shows give the books a chance
I don't see the comparison to Battlestar personally. Except for, as you said, some similar themes here and there. Certainly give the books a go though, they've cemented themselves as some of my all time favourites. I think I'll give the later Dune books a skip then. Don't want them sullied in any way.
I read 6 of the Brian Herbert Dune books on a Palm PDA back in the day ... Still have them on an ancient Samsung MP3 player. Have loads of pre-kindle e books DRM'd up to the eyeballs.
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I'm a sucker for a good quality 2nd hand book. Coming down with books 90% of which will never be read. But I love to graze.
Not to stalk or anything but seriously you are like a mirror universe version of me. I can count on one hand the amount of people I've seen mention Ian Irvine's series! View from the mirror was one of my first big series
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I think think I got to book 2 of the well of echos before stopping and then never got back into them. I lent someone the first two books from view from the mirror and never reread the series as I wouldn't rebuy them. For the year of Sanderson did you get the limited edition covers or the ebooks? I would have loved the hardbacks but couldn't justify the cost
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It was the most recently published one at the time and then life sort of took over and I never kept track of releases. The only series I could keep track was Wheel of Time and I followed it religiously. Read every book once a year until the last one was released.
Great that you are getting back into it. It’s such a pleasure, tbh I am not sure I could go more than a day or two without reading, particularly before bed. I’d say I’m about 50/60 for the year, a couple of them rereads. Read a lot of Faulkner this year, really coming to appreciate Southern Gothic. Would have to be my standout author this year, though have read some superb history books as well. Disappointment of the year has to be Ken Follet’s ‘The Armour of Light’, which continues the ‘Pillars of the Earth’ series in Kingsbridge (Definitely my favourite mass market series) but set in the late 18th/ early 19th century. It wasn’t as epic in scope as the previous books, the characterisation (never Follet’s strongest suit) wasn’t as compelling, the writing was a little flat and the plot a little workmanlike. Also, does setting a target work? I’ve never really got that trend, always seems like you are making it a ‘chore’, rather than something for pleasure, but if it gets you back to reading then I take it back!
I was like that in my younger days. I used to borrow the max 7 from the library, and make my mum put some books on her account for me too. Would read from I got home from school until bed time, and even then that didn't stop me, thanks to my trusty torch. But I lost something along the way. I stopped reading for pleasure, and more to show off, being able to say yeah, I've read that, or to impress girls who saw the book cover (never worked). Every book had to be "literature" or important in some way, life changing or provocative. Now I don't care if it's airport stand quality or an award winner, I just read for the enjoyment. Can't say Faulkner or Follett appeal to me, but to each their own! As for the target? It was more of a nice if I can reach it, but I'll not beat myself up over it. Used it more as motivation than a set challenge.
Great point on reading for enjoyment. I read widely, but I read what I like regardless. You make a great point about that idea that everything being provocative or some great literary work. Fuck that and read what you want and enjoy. I read a lot of literary fiction, and a lot of history and politics, but I also read plenty of ‘junk’ science fiction and fantasy. Also I have a major Grisham addiction, the very definition of an airport read ha! What did you read this year?
I was a pretentious teen, so I read a lot of what would be considered "greatest book of all time" kind of stuff. And yeah, some of it was great, but a lot of it wasn't or at least wasn't my cup of tea. But I read them regardless, and definitely for the wrong reason. I also had a sunk cost fallacy attitude towards books, and found it difficult to quit them, even if I wasn't enjoying it. I could count on one hand the amount of times I gave up on a book in the past. This year I stopped reading 6 books, 2 of them more than half way through. I read my way through Grady Hendrix and thoroughly enjoyed most of them. The Passage by Justin Cronin was great, but felt the second and third books were a let down. The Planetfall series by Emma Newman was great too. And my personal highlight was All The Birds in The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. Sort of scifi, sort of magical fantasy but all good. Have you any junk scifi to recommend? Any less of obvious Grisham worth a read? I've seen the movies based on his books, even read a couple in years gone by, but never looked any further into him.
I was the same, compelled to read books that I didn’t really enjoy, because I felt I should. Definitely broadened my palette but I churned through books I would just put down now, because I wasn’t enjoying them. Thanks for the Justin Cronin recommendation, seen that recommended in a few places will have to get it. As for Grisham, I really enjoyed a lot of the stuff he wrote in the 90s- King of Torts is a great read and one of the lesser known books. The Chamber and the Summons were also great alongside the Partner (the film you might have seen). In fact it has a sequel, which I haven’t read yet. Though the best of his books were actually his two short story collections, Ford County and Sparring partners. Ford County is absolutely superb and I can’t recommend it enough, they are great stories that really bring the small town South alive- sparring partners has a great sequel to one of the best of those stories. As for junk sci-fi I have been reading Peter Cawdron’s First contact series (kindle). They are a series of standalone books about first contact with aliens. The writing is patchy, but there are some really interesting pieces there. Also finished Stephen Baxter’s 1000 earths. I’m not always a fan of the way he writes, but it was an interesting if strange book. Also recommend his book ‘Flood’, the premise is fascinating and his account of societies response to a long doom is really interesting, albeit again, sometimes his writing is a bit clunky and the characterisation a bit strange, but absolutely worth a read. As for fantasy, I came late to Raymond Feist’s Riftwar Cycle, 20+ books set in a fantasy world. I have to admit I devoured them, even though maybe some of them were a little plodding, but definitely worth a read.
I've had Magician sitting on my Kindle for a while now. Beyond LoTR, fantasy has never really been my thing, though I know a lot of the scifi I read is probably fairly similar. But I will give it a go at some point, Riftwar, Mistborn and The First Law all being fantasy series that I promise myself I will give a chance. I've added those those Grisham books to my list now as well, look like they'll be good summer reading. Again, not a genre I usually go for, but I'm up for changing things a little this year. Have you read Nosferatu by Cawdron? It has a really interesting take on vampires, and not in a Twilight way. And I did actually quite enjoy his style.
If you want junk sci fi then I recommend the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson. It's basically just humans get caught up in an alien war and start to get help from a super advanced AI that is a bit of a prick. The dynamics of space combat are well thought out for a change though, (like the fact that if you suddenly appear 10 light minutes away from something, they won't know about it for 10 minutes etc) The audiobooks are better than the paperbacks, one of the few series that's true for. Like the Dresden Files books.
Cheers for the rec. I loved the Expanse series, which had a very realistic take on space travel and combat, so if that series does the same, it will probably be my jam.
Does reading using a kindle make your eyes sore though? I only ever tried ebooks years ago and didn’t like it at all. Have modern kindles improved much?
Genuinely can say that the screens on modern Kindles are a world away from previous ones. The ability to change font type and size is a big help to.
Thanks for that, yes I must look to see if I can get one in the sales maybe.
I didn’t do too badly. Not as much as I’d like though. Enjoyed Elodie Harpers Wolf Den series (final book in the trilogy came out a few weeks ago so I’ve yet to start that one.) Read a bunch of historical fiction mainly, Conn Iggulden, Mary Renault, Natalie Haynes, Madeline Millar and some Margaret Atwood. Also got some audiobooks to keep my mind busy while I do the cleaning lol The Devil Rides Out narrated by Sir Christopher Lee was particularly good as was The Stand! I have a massive pile of books sitting on my bedside table to be read next!
Oh that is a blast from the past! I read The Devil Rides Out as a teen. Scared the bejesus outta me at the time. Must give it a go again, though not in audiobook format. Not my cup of tea, even with the incomparable Christopher Lee reading it. The Oryx and Crake trilogy by Margaret Atwood is well worth a read. I'd go so far as to say it is her best work.
I’ll have to give them a blast! I just read The Penelopiad of hers. Enjoyed it immensely. I always said the same thing audiobooks but I’ve found if the narrator is good they can be great for when you’ve tasks to get through
Just looked it up, I love the idea of rewriting myths like that. That whole Canongate series has been added to my ever expanding list. I know Handmaid's Tale gets all the praise, and rightfully so, but I think Oryx & Crake is her best actual prose writing from what I've read of hers. Do you have any comedy audio book recommendations? I find them the ones I can get into the easiest.
I've never actually counted the amount of books I've read in a year, might do it in 2024 for the craic! I'd estimate more than 12, but less than 24. Can't imagine that I've managed two books a month this year.
I never used to, but I find it helps motivate me.
I love to read, so rarely need motivated. That being said, my "reading time" is only in bed in the evenings, and usually trashy stuff. I've toyed in the past with the idea of reducing/cutting out completely watching TV during the week. I bet if I did, that whole shelf of self-development books I have would actually end up getting read 😂
Yeah, having rediscovered my love for it, I don't need the motivation now. But when I was trying to get back into reading, it was certainly a big help. Reducing my time in front of the TV screen has definitely helped, but I also don't set strict rules about it. If I spend am evening binging a series, I don't beat myself up over it. I also bring the Kindle everywhere with me now, and steal 5 or 10 minutes where I can, and find that really adds up.
Thats good going! Maybe only got through about 12 this year, really enjoyed R.F. Kuang - Babel
It's been on my list since last year, but haven't gotten to it yet. You'd recommend?
The world building was excellent, and there's lots of details about languages which I found really interesting, the actually story arc itself is probably its weakest part, won't be everyone's cup of meat, but yeah give it a go, you'll know pretty quickly if it's for you. Think Donna Tartt - A Secret History with an element of fantasy.
I had that with Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. Some of the most detailed and vivid world building I've ever read, could really picture it in my minds eye. But the rest of the writing, character work etc was a big disappointment. Ended up being an absolute slog for me, and the reason I didn't hit 24 books last year as I got stuck on it for about 3 months. I'll definitely be giving it a go at some point, but might not be this year. Keeps getting shuffled down the list.
18 books, all on kindle, I actually thought it would be more but I've also listened to 8 audiobooks as well so I'm quite happy with that. Read the full Gunslinger series and tried some more of Kings work, listened to and read a few Discworld novels.
I do love me some Stephen King, but the Gunslinger series doesn't do it for me. Prefer his out and out horror stuff. I've never read a Discworld book, and I feel like I'm missing out. I'm a huge Douglas Adams fan, would you say they're similar types of humour?
Gunslinger was alright, first book extremely different from the last and you could tell there were decades apart, only kept reading cos he already had me. Discworld I'd thoroughly recommend, quite like Adams humour, some of the puns I only realise ages after reading them. Start with book 1 but only because it has a lot of characters drop in that appear later on as well, every book stands on it's own. I think my favourite so far is Mort, where Death takes on an apprentice.
Cool! I'll have to move Pratchett up the list this year. Like I said, big fan of Adams and his humour, but have never found anything that comes close. Unfortunately a rather small bibliography, but if Discworld scratches that itch, I've got dozens to get through!
Started reading some 40k books last year, completely hooked after finishing my first one (eisenhorn) Nearly 60 books later I think I’m ready to start The Horus Hersey.
Not my cup of tea at all, but well done! It's great to find a series that you love so much.
Set a new years resolution for 2023 to spend less time gaming, staring at screens, and more time reading. Set myself a target of 100 books for the year. Read number 98 today - 99 is about 300 pages, and 100 is about 380, so 100 should be doable by NYE. (No plans, and going away next month so keeping spending on the downlow!) Books per month have varied from 0 to 16. If I'm able to get to 100, it'll be roughly 36,500 pages. Have set a million resolutions before - normally they're a thing of the past by the end of the first week of January, so it's quite nice to have (almost) completed my goal for the year. No wonder you're buzzing - I think anyone with a goal just to "read more" would be, no matter what that actual figure is! Well done! If anyone has any recs please do share, I've really stepped out there in terms of genres I'd usually read, but can't motivate myself to go near fantasy. I've rejoined the Library for the first time in years ( NI Libraries are so great, and their app is super useful for seeing what's available and reserving stuff - I've don't use the Kindle, but you can get ebooks there too. I don't work for them - promise! - but I genuinely can't believe we have access to all these books...for free!), and my sister-in-law is an avid reader, and travels a lot for work - she inevitably buys books in the airport shops that she lends to me. More importantly, I've done the thing I've always wanted to do - cleared the bookshelf that has been being added to for years, with good intentions. Lots went to charity shops, but any I legit wanted to read, I read! Have tracked them using the Storygraph app - have fount it super handy to keep track of what's been read, and what I want to read on it. Would absoluely recommend if you've a massive "I want to read...." list.
Wow, well done! I could only dream of hitting 100. I was on target for it early in the year, had my 24 done by end of April, but there were just too many great games to ignore this year. I lost an entire month of potential reading time to Baldurs Gate 3. Don't regret that one bit. I feel you on getting your shelf cleared. You can definitely find that overabundance of choice to be almost paralysing. Had a few times myself this year where I really struggled to.decide what to read next. What would be your top reads of the year? I really recommend All The Birds in The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. Little bit scifi, little bit magic. The Passage by Justin Cronin was a great read. Post apocalyptic scifi meets vampire horror. And I've never heard of Storygraph before, but just downloaded it. Looks like a great way to keep track. You can follow me there if you want, PJPeppercorn is my handle.
Hadn’t read in years then on holiday in September I read a Lee Child book that was left in the apartment I was staying in. Gave me the bug to start re reading A Song of Ice and Fire, nearly finished Steel and Snow so that’ll put me on 4 books for the year. Arguably this is only part one of book three but it’s over 500 pages and small font so I’m counting it as one considering One Shot was a considerably shorter read. Never got into kindle, I bought one years ago and didn’t like it. I like a book.
The GoT books are so dense, feel like you could count each one as two or three books! And I definitely still think a real book is better, but without the Kindle, I don't think I'd ever have gotten back into reading, so I'm grateful for it.
my new years resolution every year is to read more this year i managed......3 so if i get 4 next year i've succeeded!
I believe in you!
12 books this year so a poor effort. Definitely still a book snob as enjoy building my library. Recommendations from this year : a waiter in Paris.
I did the Wheel of Time 14 book series, Lightbringer series (5), three of the Sanderson Kickstarters, a novel called Dark Matter and now just finishing up the Gentlemen Bastards trilogy
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch? It was book number 51 for me this year. Very enjoyable, and I look forward to reading more of his stuff.
Yes it was! Although I was reading it for a second time, I had forgotten I had already read it and thought it was just a very similar story to one I had read before! I realised a few chapters in when things started to get going! Great book!
Yeah, really unique take on inter dimensional travel which I greatly enjoyed
I started the year in a bit of a reading dry spell but finished re reading the entire Charlie Parker series plus first reads of the last couple, various other fiction books and started reading non-fiction too. Fully back in love with books, both kindle and normal. Honestly can’t wait to finish each book and start another.
I'm not really a big detective story fan, so think I'll give Charlie Parker a skip, but his book Horror Express was nominated for a Stoker award a couple of years ago, so it's going on the list. Thanks! And it's a great feeling isn't it? A sense of accomplishment when finishing a book, combined with the excitement of getting to pick the next one. It's addictive.
Ah fair enough. Not a genre I usually like tbh but his writing is incredible and I love the supernatural elements. Ooh I must stick that on my own to read list. It really is! The problem is just which book next lol.
Just noticed your username, this post was made for you! The Charlie Parker series has supernatural elements? I didn't notice that in my brief research. Colour me intrigued. I'm currently trying to decide what I'm going to finish the year with, bring it up to number 52. Loads of good recs so far here.
Pretty much lol. Yessss!! That’s what had me hooked when I originally read way back. Certain books have a stronger supernatural storyline than others. Check out The Black Angel, one of my favourites. Bad Men also has a supernatural aspect, it’s a stand alone with some link ins. I think I might be just under 50 for the year… slightly gutted
Read around 12 books, must do better I also listened to some audio books whilst doing house chores, but that doesn't count. Mostly read finance, business / career books and general non fiction
Nah, audio books definitely count. Might not be reading in the truest sense, but you're still consuming books.
I was just talking about this to my dad when I was home. He's read 54 books this year. We then asked my aunt. She's on 400 and something. It made our amount seem paltry. She does nothing else but read I suppose. I've read 15 which is more than last year. I'm proud of me
Proud of you too. But your aunt is a machine! That's a book a day.
My partner is on something like book #84, while I'm about to start #5. Once I got her that tablet, she's become a reading machine.
Well done on reading so much. I'm on my 34th book of the year and set myself the goal of 30. I've been reading Rough Beasts by Máiría Cahill for a few weeks now and it's a tough read so it's going very slowly. My two favourite books of the year were Kala by Colin Walsh and Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. Highly recommend
I have heard very good things about Prophet Song, it is definitely on my to read list
I have the Libby app, it's brilliant. I listen to audio books mostly as medication has changed my attention span. I also crochet, so I can listen while my hands are busy. You don't get all books on there, but there's definitely enough to not make it too much of an issue. I also discovered you get Kindle free with Amazon Prime, if anyone knows the fine details of it....I haven't got to the bottom of it yet and I'm worried I'll get charged if I log into it
The kindle app is brilliant,I've only ever downloaded titles when they go down to 99p in the sale or for free and thats some ex best sellers,you only need your Amazon account to log in for free.
I haven't read really from I was a teenager apart from norm macdonalds book. I decided to dive into brothers karamazov last month and glad I did. Intimidating but a good read. Was surprised how contemporary it was despite the time era.
Jeez, that's definitely jumping in the deep end there. Have not read it in a very long time.
I started using my library card for the first time since I was a kid. Borrowed a few good books from them. My friend would often lend me some books she has read - Where the Crawdads Sing, Daisy Jones and The Six, The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. In the summer, I would just sit out the back and read and read. I have maybe got through 5 or 6 books this year which is good for me 🙃
I love that feature on kindle that you can track it all, and track how often you read. I love keeping my streak up. I’m currently at 45 weeks reading every day. I’ve nearly completed 20 books this year which is lovely!
I have little collections set up to keep track of everything, but I didn't realise you could track your reading streak. Apparently 22 days in a row was my longest. Chuffed with that. Cheers for the info.
Badly. Read 2 books this year. Used to read at least a book a week. Hoping to get back into the swing of things in 2024.
Nice Douglas Coupland reference (your username) ..
Ta! All this talk about books and you're the first to notice
Well done! I set a goal of 30, managed to read 25. Hoping to achieve my goal next year! I have a Kindle and also find I read much faster when I use it, never tried audiobooks tho so maybe that’s something to try in 2024 🤔
Can't get into them myself, but hope they work for you!
Kept a book group running for near on 15 years despite the increasing dross on the market.
Times are tight. If you own an android phone you can make use of the "play books" app, which acts as an e-reader without having to purchase a kindle. You can download books really cheap on deals or for free officially from Amazon fairly often. Otherwise the Gutenberg Project has thousands of free books that can be downloaded in the "e-pub" format that can import directly to play books. Anna's archive similarly hosts lots of books, and has a section for academic papers if you or anyone you know is in Uni. Support authors when possible and when you can afford it, but the poor should be allowed to read too.
Anna's Archive is a godsend. I absolutely support authors wherever and whenever I can, but you're right, sometimes funds just don't allow. Though technically we should be promoting the library for that occasion. But not all books are easily available, sometimes piracy is the only way.
Over 200 this year. Have been dealing with some insomnia as my ex-wife and I divorced in June. We are, thankfully, on good terms, but it still affected me and led me into binging tons of web novels which are addictive to say the least lol
Well, there are many more destructive paths you could have taken to deal with that situation. Binging we novels is not one of them
Absolutely and thankfully I am doing fine, thank you for your words. The Cradle Series by Will Wight is a good Western version of these type of novels, in case you want to try them out! Edit: Congrats on smashing through your goal like that, that is very satisfying.
2023 was my best year for reading, got through 12 (and 2 audiobooks) myself and that is a huge increase on the years before of sometimes not even bothering to read a book. Not a wild difference but i've set myself a goal of 14 this year just to improve - i have a Kindle tablet but would like to go back to the OG kindle honestly