It was really interesting to hear your own experiences of numerical reading goals and get your thoughts on their wider impact and causes. Plenty to think about and good advice. I can see how setting a goal is motivating for people so good luck to them. I use it only to see at a glance how many books I've read. I set it low and couldn't care less if I achieve it or not. I should want to read, not feel I have to in order to reach an arbitrary number. I have a similar origin story to you and only started doing it because that’s what the internet book community did. It wasn’t something I’d considered before. Why would I need a goal for something I enjoy? I don't set a TV or movie watching goal. I like the idea of non-numerical goals that I can use to broaden what I read, try something different or make sure I read from tried and tested authors, but I kind of do this when I decide what to read. I completely agree that reading more isn’t necessarily better. Now that I have Libby and lots of audiobooks available, I read a lot more. I’ve read some amazing books in the last 2 or 3 years, but the experience I remember most fondly is from before when I read a few chapters each day and savoured the story. I still remember most of what I read but I’m guilty of getting swept along to read the next shiny new book I’m excited for and definitely need to let some sink in.. The more I read, the less surprised I am because I’ve read similar stories, and the harder it is for something to impress me. I’m glad you started a channel. I’ve really enjoyed your content - I’ve got some great recs and you’ve made me think. I admire you for coping with your anxiety and getting out of your comfort zone. I don’t mind the look of goodreads (I’ve said it!) but agree that it should work much better. I don’t like Amazon trying to push books. I like it for organising my reading, and find lots of reviews in one place helpful even if some of them are useless and the helpful ones are buried several pages down. You’re right that for every person who says ‘Best book I’ve read all year. Mindblowing and emotional. 3 stars’ there will be one who says ‘Worst book I’ve read. Put it down after 4 pages. No character development. 3 stars.’ It has its issues but I prefer it to other book tracking apps. It’s a pity you’re not setting a reading goal because this lengthy comment would probably count towards it :) I hope you have a great reading (and hopefully creating) experience this year!
Thanks for watching the video and for sharing your experience as well. I also like the idea of non-numerical goals. I am trying to diversify my tastes though I didn’t specifically set a goal towards that. This year I want to concentrate more on taking notes and doing a bit of journaling (I’ve kind of been doing that already but not in a very organized way) and I guess that by the end of it, it will be interesting to revisit that and see my year in evolution. I believe I would be reading more as well if I were able to listen to audiobooks. I really admire those who can follow a story by listening to it. Unfortunately, I get distracted, especially if I do other things in parallel. I also have a visual memory and I usually remember where on the page a specific thing happened but, if I listen to something, I lose that image. The only way I can listen to audiobooks is if it’s a re-read or if I am reading alongside listening to the story. I actually did this with some books last year and it helped me with better understanding or pronouncement of some words. It especially helped with Wuthering Heights since there are several passages written in Yorkshire dialect and it would have been impossible to understand the written words without listening to them. I am glad you find my recommendations useful and I hope to come with more of them this year. Wish you great reading as well!
Our cone of interest and attention is necessarily limited. We have to prioritize. Sometimes, when I hear of people who scatter their way through book after book, I get the impression their priority is the book itself. I'm going to be dramatic and say I do not care about the book. I care only about the concepts in it, and thus there is no rush to complete any one book. Each page can be its own library of riches, attended to carefully, slowly, with focus and time, and each idea can be chewed on, tenderly, for the sake of itself. I have the benefit of time to read throughout the day, and so I may be someone who gives the impression of being a fast reader, but I adore steadily reading, pencil in hand with various annotations along the way. That is intensely gratifying. The fact that I accumulate completed books over time is superfluous to that experience. Bliss is in moments of devotion, not in a review of a checklist. Thank you for sharing your story of adoring stories, and for the bits of history and of current trends along the way. I did not know about some of the complaints from BookTok readers, complaints which feel like such a shame, but they're also along their own journey, perhaps currently just on the initial steps. I'm glad this year you didn't let the goal undermine the point: the pleasure of sitting down with extraordinary patterns of words. And I'm glad you've overcome your anxiety to create this channel, one of the genuine hidden gems out here on BookTube: your thoughtfulness and honesty is always much appreciated.
Thank you Ruben! You always have a wonderful way with words and you capture the essence of things in an uplifting manner. Your comments are much appreciated. I created this video more for myself as a reminder and also because I had all these thoughts on my mind and needed to let them out somehow. And if anyone benefits from them too, I am more than humbled and grateful.
@Bobbie-c4sure I don’t know why TH-cam deleted your comments. I’ve seen both of them in my notifications but now they are gone and I am not able to reply. So, I wanted to thank you for watching my channel. I’m glad you are not caring about the number of books you read either. When you think that 1 book of 1000 pages is equal to 3 books of 300 something pages, that number loses its significance. I love Donna Tartt. I’ve read both The Secret History and The Goldfinch and they are amongst my favorites. I wish you good luck with your reading and I hope you’ll enjoy the books from your tbr.
I do that. I’ll put in comments and then after I proofread, I delete them thinking they’re not relevant, appropriate to the conversation, etc. I appreciate your analysis and sincerity. Your literature recommendations are spot on. Thanks so much!
Your comments were relevant and I really appreciated them. That's why I wanted to reply. Thanks for taking the time to write and share your reading experiences.
It was really interesting to hear your own experiences of numerical reading goals and get your thoughts on their wider impact and causes. Plenty to think about and good advice. I can see how setting a goal is motivating for people so good luck to them. I use it only to see at a glance how many books I've read. I set it low and couldn't care less if I achieve it or not. I should want to read, not feel I have to in order to reach an arbitrary number. I have a similar origin story to you and only started doing it because that’s what the internet book community did. It wasn’t something I’d considered before. Why would I need a goal for something I enjoy? I don't set a TV or movie watching goal. I like the idea of non-numerical goals that I can use to broaden what I read, try something different or make sure I read from tried and tested authors, but I kind of do this when I decide what to read.
I completely agree that reading more isn’t necessarily better. Now that I have Libby and lots of audiobooks available, I read a lot more. I’ve read some amazing books in the last 2 or 3 years, but the experience I remember most fondly is from before when I read a few chapters each day and savoured the story. I still remember most of what I read but I’m guilty of getting swept along to read the next shiny new book I’m excited for and definitely need to let some sink in.. The more I read, the less surprised I am because I’ve read similar stories, and the harder it is for something to impress me.
I’m glad you started a channel. I’ve really enjoyed your content - I’ve got some great recs and you’ve made me think. I admire you for coping with your anxiety and getting out of your comfort zone.
I don’t mind the look of goodreads (I’ve said it!) but agree that it should work much better. I don’t like Amazon trying to push books. I like it for organising my reading, and find lots of reviews in one place helpful even if some of them are useless and the helpful ones are buried several pages down. You’re right that for every person who says ‘Best book I’ve read all year. Mindblowing and emotional. 3 stars’ there will be one who says ‘Worst book I’ve read. Put it down after 4 pages. No character development. 3 stars.’ It has its issues but I prefer it to other book tracking apps.
It’s a pity you’re not setting a reading goal because this lengthy comment would probably count towards it :) I hope you have a great reading (and hopefully creating) experience this year!
Thanks for watching the video and for sharing your experience as well. I also like the idea of non-numerical goals. I am trying to diversify my tastes though I didn’t specifically set a goal towards that. This year I want to concentrate more on taking notes and doing a bit of journaling (I’ve kind of been doing that already but not in a very organized way) and I guess that by the end of it, it will be interesting to revisit that and see my year in evolution.
I believe I would be reading more as well if I were able to listen to audiobooks. I really admire those who can follow a story by listening to it. Unfortunately, I get distracted, especially if I do other things in parallel. I also have a visual memory and I usually remember where on the page a specific thing happened but, if I listen to something, I lose that image. The only way I can listen to audiobooks is if it’s a re-read or if I am reading alongside listening to the story. I actually did this with some books last year and it helped me with better understanding or pronouncement of some words. It especially helped with Wuthering Heights since there are several passages written in Yorkshire dialect and it would have been impossible to understand the written words without listening to them.
I am glad you find my recommendations useful and I hope to come with more of them this year. Wish you great reading as well!
Our cone of interest and attention is necessarily limited. We have to prioritize. Sometimes, when I hear of people who scatter their way through book after book, I get the impression their priority is the book itself. I'm going to be dramatic and say I do not care about the book. I care only about the concepts in it, and thus there is no rush to complete any one book. Each page can be its own library of riches, attended to carefully, slowly, with focus and time, and each idea can be chewed on, tenderly, for the sake of itself.
I have the benefit of time to read throughout the day, and so I may be someone who gives the impression of being a fast reader, but I adore steadily reading, pencil in hand with various annotations along the way. That is intensely gratifying. The fact that I accumulate completed books over time is superfluous to that experience. Bliss is in moments of devotion, not in a review of a checklist.
Thank you for sharing your story of adoring stories, and for the bits of history and of current trends along the way. I did not know about some of the complaints from BookTok readers, complaints which feel like such a shame, but they're also along their own journey, perhaps currently just on the initial steps. I'm glad this year you didn't let the goal undermine the point: the pleasure of sitting down with extraordinary patterns of words. And I'm glad you've overcome your anxiety to create this channel, one of the genuine hidden gems out here on BookTube: your thoughtfulness and honesty is always much appreciated.
Thank you Ruben! You always have a wonderful way with words and you capture the essence of things in an uplifting manner. Your comments are much appreciated.
I created this video more for myself as a reminder and also because I had all these thoughts on my mind and needed to let them out somehow. And if anyone benefits from them too, I am more than humbled and grateful.
@Bobbie-c4sure I don’t know why TH-cam deleted your comments. I’ve seen both of them in my notifications but now they are gone and I am not able to reply. So, I wanted to thank you for watching my channel. I’m glad you are not caring about the number of books you read either. When you think that 1 book of 1000 pages is equal to 3 books of 300 something pages, that number loses its significance. I love Donna Tartt. I’ve read both The Secret History and The Goldfinch and they are amongst my favorites. I wish you good luck with your reading and I hope you’ll enjoy the books from your tbr.
I do that. I’ll put in comments and then after I proofread, I delete them thinking they’re not relevant, appropriate to the conversation, etc. I appreciate your analysis and sincerity. Your literature recommendations are spot on. Thanks so much!
Your comments were relevant and I really appreciated them. That's why I wanted to reply. Thanks for taking the time to write and share your reading experiences.