Yes! Outlander!

Is there another “Holly” in the works, Constant Reader?

REACHER!!!❤️

You see, you can’t do that here! You’re guilty of the same thing I did a few days ago, which was responding seriously to a sarcastic comment. My “sin” was not realizing it was meant in jest. As posters mocked me for having it go over my head, I honestly replied “I have no sense of humor.” And that statement has generated plenty of upvotes. You’re already getting downvoted, and my downvotes are still climbing several days later! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Exactly. Even if it’s Saturday night.

IMO, there’s nothing better than being alone on a Saturday night, in comfy jammies, curled up on the couch as it snows outside, while you immerse yourself in the book of your choice.

Or read the same page over again after you fell asleep while reading that page - most likely multiple times.

In my teens, I used the library exclusively. Once I was on my own, I started buying. The problem is, I ran out of room. I found myself donating to the library after weeding out books.

Some books I’ll still buy if I can get a good deal on used books. I’ve bought used books on Amazon for $2 or $3. With Prime, shipping is free. I do buy all things Stephen King in hardcover, and I have a bookcase dedicated to him only. But I started using the library more and more the past 10 years because it’s more cost effective.

I thought that might be the case, but that’s not reading! Listening to a book is no different than listening to a documentary on TV. I do that when I’m cleaning the house.

I’ve tried listening to audiobooks while driving to a vacation spot, but my mind wanders and I find myself continuously rewinding. However, I never considered that reading in the true sense of the word.

In my opinion - and it’s just that - someone who listens to audiobooks and speeds it up to finish quicker- is doing it to pad their numbers. They are deluding themselves if they think it classifies as reading.

And before I’m downvoted by those who don’t agree, just look up the definition of reading: “the action or skill of reading written or printed matter silently or aloud.” Similar alternatives are “browse through, look through, glance through, leaf through, flick through, skim through” - but no “listen to.”

The Complete Works of Dickens. The style of writing is a hard read for me, but I’m determined to read his entire collection of stories. It took 3 starts before I finished Oliver Twist, and while I knew the dynamics of the story, I never knew the ending until I actually read it all the way through. The more I read, the easier it became.

I’m trying to read the classics myself. I started Oliver Twist 3x last year before I finally finished it. I want to read The Complete works of Dickens but that style of writing slows me down. I want to read the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Hunchback of Norte Dame. Frankenstein. Phantom of the Opera. I would even like to tackle Shakespeare. I bought the book of complete works of Longfellow.

Classics can’t be rushed. Reading shouldn’t be rushed. A good book is savored, like a glass of good wine. Take your time and enjoy the books.

Having said that, a friend of mine has the most appropriate screen name: 2manybooks2littletime

I totally agree with you. Some people throw out unrealistic numbers. Impossible numbers! You have to eat, sleep, most people work. How does someone read 200 books a year?

Don’t get depressed over the number of books you read or don’t read, because frankly, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

There are only 365 days in a year. Reading 200/year sounds impossible - unless they’re third grade golden books 😁

I don’t set reading goals. I see many readers want to top the number of books they read the previous year, but imo, that takes all the fun out of reading. I read because I love to. 2020 and 2021 I read nonstop. I don’t know how many books I read, but I always had a book open in my spare time.

2022 was totally different. I was given short notice that my rental agreement would not be renewed. I ended up buying a house (I’m so over shitty landlords), I packed up to move, then unpacked, and came out of a short-lived retirement and went back to work.

I’m still not totally unpacked, so I feel guilty if I sit down to read for even 30 minutes because there’s so much yet to do.

The other issue is, you have it in the back of your mind that it’s all about numbers. You may find yourself rushing through a book without really absorbing what you’re reading. You read just to finish the book and move on to the next one, scratching another line on the tree adding to the number of books you’ve already read.

This all defeats the purpose of reading. Read because you love to, not because you want to top yourself.

I generally feel that way after a series of books, or an 800 or 900 page book I really enjoyed. Clan of the Cave Bear comes to mind, The Outlanders is another series. When I read the last book of each series, I was left wanting more - I felt empty, disappointed, I was almost going through withdrawal! Such a longing for more.

This must be a normal reaction for avid readers since you raised the question!

I’m on the Stephen King sub, and initially I felt inadequate because I seemed to be missing the “deeper meaning” of his books. People would write about what “the book really means” and I would think, “they got all that out of this book?” I was perplexed.

Then I decided if they want to look for these deeper meanings, more power to them. I don’t read a lot of fiction, but I don’t try to analyze them either. I read superficially - for entertainment- and no longer apologize for it.

Amen to that.

No, you’re not dumb. I read for fun, and I read superficially. Stephen King is my favorite author. I have every book he published. I’m also on a SK sub on Reddit. I read people’s reviews about his books, and I think to myself, “They got all that outta that book??

I used to worry about it, but not anymore. If they want to pick apart his books looking for hidden meanings, then by all means, go ahead. I read for pleasure and I will continue to do so. So the only thing I get out of it is nothing but pure entertainment.

I don’t try to analyze, or interpret, I just superficially read. If you’re reading for yourself for fun, don’t worry about deeper meanings.

And I’m so glad you got it for Christmas! There’s nothing more exciting than getting a book you really want to read! Sounds like it was a surprise - which tells me 2 things about you: someone knows you very well, and a simple thing like a book, can make you richly happy.

I’ll let you know what I think!

I never heard of this book. But, as I always do when someone recommends a book they are extremely excited about, I did a library search and put the book on hold for pickup in a couple of days. The comments have me really excited now! Thank you for the recommendation. 📖📚🍹

My sweet Hannah was vindictively poisoned by a neighbor. I moved. That was 2003 and I’m still not over it.

The library lists 2 books for Hans Fallada Alone in Berlin AND Every Man Dies Alone. They didn’t have the first, but they did have the second one, so I downloaded the ebook. The Sympathizer is there so I ordered it. I did recommend that they obtain Alone in Berlin.

And this is a perfect example of how I deal with recommendations! No list. Nothing to forget.

No, I haven’t, but thank you for the recommendations! Both sound really interesting - so when I leave here, I’ll go right to my library’s website! 😁

Hmmm……have I commented back and forth with you on something else or somewhere else on Reddit? It’s your screen name - boxers are my favorite breed, I just love them. I just bought a house a few months ago and I’m still painting, unpacking, etc, but the entire yard - front and back - is fenced in, and I’m thinking about a boxer now!

Oh I totally get that! Back in my pre-computer days, I would go into a bookstore and buy anywhere from 5-10 paperbacks. I was on a True Crime kick - I literally went down the section of said books and just piled them in my arms. I would spend $50-60. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but it was the mid-80s, paperbacks were only $4-5 each, so I could get a lot of books with $60! And I also have read many books recommended here as well.

I’m also with you when you say being in a book store is like being in a candy store. That is such a perfect analogy. Having said that, spread sheets, listing and categorizing tbr books whether on paper or in a computer, sounds like too much work. Time spent listing, categorizing, and updating could be used to read instead.

After reading many of the comments, I’m feeling inadequate. I don’t keep a list - I never have. When I come across a book I want to read, the first thing I do is an online search at my local public library. If it’s there, then I place a hold. If it’s not, I go to Amazon. I check out Kindle Unlimited, then the regular Amazon books if it’s not on KU, and I may find a used copy for sale.

When I find another book that looks appealing, I start the process all over again. No need for a list!

Oh, don’t let that stop you! While every library system is different, just about all of them let you borrow up to 3 weeks. As long as the book doesn’t have a list of people who placed it “on hold”, you can renew it for another 3 weeks, and some libraries will let you renew again for another 3 weeks. That’s a total of 9 weeks. On occasion, my local public library has even let me renew a book again for 3 weeks, making a total of 12 weeks. That should take the stress out of using the library - and you can renew online, you don’t need to go in personally, making it so easy and convenient to have a book as long as you need it.

Don’t forget ebooks at the library. My library lets you borrow them for 3 weeks with an option for renewal. There are no late fees, because even if you don’t return it yourself, it will disappear off your kindle on the last day of the loan the next time you turn on the Kindle’s Wi-Fi. Keeping your Kindle’s Wi-Fi off, will give you extra days with the book if you need them. And again, you can peruse the ebooks available, send it to your Amazon account, and from Amazon, download it to your Kindle - all from the comfort of your home.

My theory is, if it’s a book that hasn’t been checked out in months or even years, they’re more apt to let you renew it as long as you need to since no one else is showing any interest in reading it. I don’t know if that’s true or not, it’s just a theory I have, but it sounds logical - while I have been able to renew some books 3 times, I haven’t been able to renew every book I’ve tried to renew that extra time, but I was able to renew most of the ones I wanted to renew. I haven’t done it often because realistically, I read, on average, a book every 8-10 days, but on occasion, life happens and I’m unable to find or make/take time to read, in which case I will use the multiple renewals if I need them.

Another option, if you have a Kindle, is Kindle Unlimited. It’s like a library that you pay for. You can pay monthly, semiannually, or annually. KU allows you to borrow up to 10 books at a time with absolutely no set return date. None whatsoever! I have books I borrowed through KU a year ago, and they’re still on my kindle, still listed In my Amazon account, with absolutely no pressure from Amazon looking for me to return. If you have 10 books, you can keep them as long as you want, you just can’t borrow any more until you return one.

That should help ease the stress, and if you’re buying books and spending at least $10/month or more, KU is a less expensive alternative @ $9.98/month. If paperbacks are at least $10 if you go to a retail bookstore and you only buy one a month, you’re way ahead with KU. Good luck!

Maybe they should try texting each other…..

And I’m sure there’s a little bit of genetics at work somewhere. It’s just so interesting to see four kids raised in the same fashion, all being read to every night - and I really looked forward to it - and to grow so differently. Reading is such a big part of my life. I daydream about a screen tent in my backyard with a hammock, a little table, and a camp light - so I can read outside at night without getting eaten by bugs! To go out there early in the morning with a big carafe of fresh coffee, a good book, a gorgeous sunny but slightly cool day, and nowhere to go and not a thing to do but read all day. 📖📚🍹☀️

Here’s how it was for me….I’m the oldest of 4. My parents did not have a bookcase full of books (I have 4). My father spent his evenings watching TV, although he did read the newspaper from one end to the other. My mother was a typical 1950s homemaker - always cleaning, cooking, canning, baking, etc - I never saw her read BUT she read to me and my brother (2yrs younger) every night.

I used the library as a very young person, and remember signing out 5-6 books at a time. I’ve loved reading my whole life. My brother is not a reader even though we were identically exposed. Interestingly, the first (me) and third are avid readers - the second and fourth are not. And the second and fourth did not do well in school, but first and third did. My brother- the one 10 years younger- can quote the Bible and cite chapters and verses. He didn’t go to college but he’s extremely knowledgeable about so many different things.

My sister (#4) is clueless about everything. I’ve always attributed my love for reading to my mother reading to us nightly, but that doesn’t explain why 2 of 4 children raised identically in the same house with the same parents love to read and the other 2 don’t!