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.
Last Saturday (9/24/22), I finished reading my 100th book of the year. 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:
Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Excellent read. Couldn’t put it down. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
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
Robin Lee Hatcher
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Robin, what a great idea! I love books on paper, but listening to a book read is an entirely different experience. One to cultivate. Folks in the 1900s loved serial stories on the radio. The human voice adds a new dimension.
So true, Lois, and the narrator of an audiobook can elevate it or ruin it for me. I definitely have some favorite narrators in the audiobook world.
I am with you in that the majority of my books this year have been audiobooks. I’ve found myself doing more crafting and so the audiobooks fill the silence while I work (Or cover the sound of the sewing machine. LOL). I also am able to listen while I do my day job so that leaves a lot of hours in a week! I purposely set my reading goal low this year because there’s a rather large book I’d like to read and I know that’s going to take me a couple of weeks to get through. So it looks like I’m 12 books ahead of schedule, but really, I think I’m right on time. I have two books going right now that will complete my goal and allow me to dig into that large one without pressure to finish my goal. I’ve considered setting my goal low going forward just to ease some of the pressure I put on myself to stay ahead of it. LOL
Joy, listening while crafting is great. I do it while knitting. And your comment about a rather large book reminds me that I own the three-volume Winston Churchill biography, The Last Lion. All are super long. The shortest is 36 hours, the longest is 53 hours. So listening to them will be equal to listening to about 19 other books (on average). Since I’ve already passed the century mark this year, maybe this would be a good time to begin listening.
When audiobooks became more popular a number of yrs ago (tapes and CDs—types) I was thrilled. I could cross stitch and ‘read’ at the same time! I’m still ‘in love’ with them and listen as you do—while I’m doing just about anything!
Anne, remember when the tapes and CDS cost a small fortune. I couldn’t afford to listen to very many audiobooks. Digital changed everything.
I joined Goodreads in 2014 at my daughter’s encouragement. The highest number I have read is 85 in 2019. My goal this year is 60, and I have read 49, so I think I will make it. Congratulations to you for your wonderful reading achievement!
I have never read an audiobook, mainly because of not thinking I have enough quiet time. I’ll have to figure out how to change that. Five years ago when my granddaughter was in 5th grade, she read to me after school for her reading log, and I did count those books. I really love Goodreads for organizational skills and information.
Betty, I do love Goodreads. It helps me track books. It also helps me find writers I might never have tried otherwise.
Robin–I sure wish I could “listen” to books like you do…unless I’m driving for a long stretch my mind wanders too much. Kudos to you!
I would love to know which books got your top rating so far this year. (I’m always on the lookout for great books!)
Roxanne, I had to learn to listen and really pay attention. Having audiobooks on my phone, that I just carry around with me, helped too.
The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone written by David James Warren (James Rubart, Susan May Warren, and David Warren) absolutely captured me. I binged the six books. Four of the six got 5 stars from me. The other two were 4 stars but they were also wonderful. Highly recommended. I couldn’t read them fast enough.
Adorning the Dark (non-fiction) by Andrew Peterson. I wept over the beauty of this book about creativity.
The Record Keeper by Charles Martin. This is the third book in the series. I binged this series too, but this last book was my favorite.
Long Way Home by Lynn Austin.
These are just five stars. So many great four star reads too. Feel free to follow me on Goodreads.
Bravo on hitting 100!! Like you, audiobooks have hugely increased the number of books I read in a year. I’m a big fan of them. 🙂
Yes. Fans of audiobooks unite! LOL!
I too, thought I’d never “read” audiobooks, but yes they are a game changer. I love Goodreads for the challenge, keeping up with what I’ve read, rating, TBR. Thanks for your rating system.
Lisa, it sounds like we are Goodread twins.
In 2020, I read over 200 books! 🙂 Clearly that was not the norm! Last year it was into the hundred+, but this year I set the bar lower knowing I’d have a new job that would cute into my time. I’m at 82 this year, surpassing my goal of 75. This year is the first year I’ve tracked with Goodreads. It has helped me remember to review as soon as I’ve read it as I wasn’t always good with that.
Wow! 200+. I doubt I will ever hit that mark. Awesome. And tracking on Goodreads makes me remember to review as well. Without it, I rarely did. I meant to. Just didn’t get around to it.
I like your rating system! I give very few books a 5-star rating. My criteria for 5-star books is basically, “Would I love to read this again?” Currently, I am at 29 books for the year, but like you, I have other things going on that require my attention. (One hundred books? Holy moley.) I keep track of what I read in a book lover’s journal simply because my son gave it to me and I should use it, right? I’m also part of two FB book challenge groups, which are helping me clear out my TBR.
Janice, I haven’t joined any of the challenges, like, read books set in Kansas, or read a book with a pink cover. Mostly because I like to be freewheeling. I can think I know what my next read is, and then something comes along to move ahead of it.
I have used Goodreads since 2012. It is a great tool to keep up with what you are reading and want to read and reviewing what you have read. My goal this year is for 100 books. I am at 65 books so far. I hope to hit my goal, but my 10-month old doesn’t like for me to read when I can be playing with her!
Oh my goodness. Reading time definitely takes a hit when you have a ten month old! I’d saying you are going great at 65!
You may be talking me into audible books. We like listening while traveling but have not tried it at home.
Jen, I am happy to try to convert you. LOL!! I began with listening only while traveling. It evolved from there. I love Audible. And if your local library uses Hoopla for audiobooks, that is a great way to get to listen. My library recently dropped the service. So sad about that. But you might ask. Libby isn’t very successful for me. What I want to listen to is rarely available. Audible has been my main source for 20 years.
I have read 94 books and my reading challenge was for 70 this year. I have enrolled in the Goodreads challenge since 2015 and enjoy doing it. I haven’t tried audiobooks yet. Maybe one day I will. Congrats on your reads!
Great reading year for you, too, Gloria. I love the Goodreads challenge.
Gosh, Robin – you’re amazing. Congratulation!! Makes my goal of 35 seem puny, even though I’m on track to reach it. Glad there are so many of us that like Goodreads – our church librarian got me interested and you’re right – it’s makes keeping track and following authors fun and easy. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Lynne, this is definitely a first, and I doubt I’ll up my annual goal by much for next year. But it has been fun.