I can't tell if this is a humblebrag or a sad admission

[kristamm]

I have kept a list of the books I've read for the last eight years now. (WARNING: GIANT DORK) The number of books I read in a year has varied wildly. Out of curiosity I just did the math, and I've averaged 40 books a year in this time. Now, is that high or low? I mean, I'm aware it's high when compared to the entire population, but I have no clue

Comments

[lazy_hoor]

When Facebook had the Living Social book thing, I found I read in the region of 100 books a year. This surprises me, given the amount of time I spend on t'internet or watching telly. Then again when I go on a fortnight's holiday I read pretty solidly.

I'm not sure if I have read that much in the past year because I've read more academic journals and Victorian newspapers and the like. One novel which I started before The Flood (Oct 24th) got finished in the new year! That must be some sort of record. It was a hefty tome, mind you (When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon K Penman).

In other dork news, you know how Helena and John have both kept scrupulous records of their film viewing? I've started doing something similar this year.

[kristamm]

Once upon a time it might have been worth me tracking the films I saw. Now, not so much. My film-going has suffered mightily.

I'm not surprised you read that much at all.

[mollydot]

Gut feeling is that it's low amongst my peers, but average to high for readers in general.

Has it changed since becoming a mum? I would guess that's it's high for mum of a toddler that I know.

It's not laggardly anyway. There's people who challenge themselves to read 52 a year, and fail, so if you're averaging 40 without putting special effort, well *shrug*

I don't know what my own numbers are. I would guess more than 40, but I could be very wrong - sometimes I read a book in a couple of days, sometimes a few weeks. I couldn't be arsed keeping track, though I sometimes wish I had.

[kristamm]

I have to say, keeping track turns out to be more fun than I had expected. Enough so that I've been doing it eight years, anyway!

2010, aka the year after Anton came along (born Nov 2009), was my lowest number year. Only 22 that year. The year I moved to Ireland was the highest, 65. I had no social life! But I don't know that I can blame Anton for my reading dropping off really. When he was an infant I had plenty of time since he slept so much. I just tended to use it up on TV instead, since I felt a bit fried all the time.