67 books in a year. And why I care

This books in a year review post should have been initially about the books read in 2022. For some reason, some call it procrastination and others perfectionism, it remained in draft status for way to long.. Even now, most year-in-reviews were done and it is late.. but .. who really cares? I did a bit, but moved on after a few minutes.. so let’s unroll..

Goodreads has this thing.. called Reading Challenge. As Isee now there, it first started in 2012 — at least for my profile, not sure if it was before. If you are on the platform before this year, let me know if you had it in 2011 or previously. As you can easily see in my challenges history, I oscillated a lot between the number of books read. And I failed more than I succeeded.

In 2022 I kind of got tired of falling this challenge as I knew reading is important — at least for me — so I decided to really care about it. I did started it very well during the winter and spring, but as summer came… and I spent more and more time outside.. I read way less..

So there I was in August.. AGAIN behind with the reading. I surely do not learn fast some lessons. But posting about it made me more accountable. ( Even if probably no one cared nor saw my tweets.) I got to 2 books per week, sometimes more. And it did not get easier.. oh no.. in Dec 23rd I had 8 days to go, with 8 remaining books. CRAZY! This is not healthy people. Do not do it.

But I made it. And it all felt in place so right. Ending with a couple of hours reading some poetry. Epic.

If you are curious about the 2022 books, you can find them here.

Now, with this super long intro let’s go back to the 2023 books read. The big chance was to keep it on track. One book at least per week. The real achievement was that even if I completed the challenge earlier, I did not stop. So Igot to a total of 67 books in 2023. Because for me it is not to tick a box, to get the challenge. The challenge motivates you to make it into a habit. To be present in it, to show up to make it.

And it gets more debatable.. Because this last year I read very diverse books… To quote someone around me, I read leaflets also. <joking> But I am ready to be crucified for it. ( take that slightly, metaphoric not literally). The best thing that I did in 2023 for this habit — yes, we are reading as a habit — was to get a library pass. Berlin has an amazing network of libraries, also connected to most in Germany so the offer is vast! Cluj-Napoca (and Aiud) has several libraries and I did find a lot of amazing books in their offer — from old to new.

Berlin Library pass — gets you access to printed book (like d’oh), ebooks, audiobooks and sooo many other one things (not gonna mention all them but .. paintings are on that list) This helped a lot. The library’s digital collection can be found on overdrive but it also uses the app libby — which i ended up loving. So at any moment you have access to books. No more excuse.

And if there is to give just one recommendation into reading more — it would be this — have a book at hand at any time. i used to read while walking during Walking Month ( please be careful and check in front of you). i have many books started and in progress. One on the kindle, few physical, one audiobook, few ebooks. So wherever i am with some time on my hand I read. Do not think i do not waste time on social media. unfortunately i do, it is not that easy to ditch that “habit”. But in many situation I choose reading too. Be it a walk, a flight, cleaning or enjoying your morning coffee or tea. Choose reading.

Going back to my joke on reading leaflets — it is more that yes, i read some cookbooks — for sure it is not the classical reading, nor u can do much with it read — you need them in the kitchen. I read coffee table books like Kinfolk, or the one about most beautiful libraries around the world. Are those easier? Do they count. You decide. Cause it is your reading and you choose what you want to read. You do not read for others.. So if it is leaflets or quotes on t-shirts, you do do.

Some random thoughts:

• get a library pass — is not that i do not buy books, but i get access to very random book and in different mediums. Plus supporting the library brings benefits to the community not to the individual.
• check second hand books
• donate books — in almost all places I go I see different places where you can pick a book, drop a book — use them!
• listen to books — it is reading — the only thing i do not like with audiobook is their bookmarking part — cause they do noit generate the text for you for example so u need to do that manually — if you know a better system.. enlighten me please!
• join book clubs — they make you read more diverse, you exchange ideas, recommendation and you get to belong! i have around 3 ones that i am active in. There is even an app for book clubs.

So hope this will inspire you to give reading a chance in 2024! And do share some reviews and recommendations. My challenge is still the same this year — a book per week, 52 in total. I could have raised the bar, but I am looking to keep the habit not to organize my life around it.

And if you are on Goodreads, get in touch.

Some historical data, books read in: 2012(3/10), 2013(1/24), 2014(12/24), 2015(19/18✔️), 2016(15/24), 2017(7/24), 2018(23/24), 2019(36/30✔️), 2020(18/30), 2021(27/52), 2022(52/52✔️), 2023(67/52✔️).