August 10, 2023
“How can you read so many books?” I’m often asked.
A few months ago a friend wondered if I read as many as 50 books a year, and I felt a bit sheepish when I said, “Actually, this past year I read 150.”
How is that possible? Well, again, sheepishly I admit I often read, instead of doing something else I should make more time for in my life, like walking and other exercise. I suppose I could listen to audio books then, however, and my book totals would not change that much.
I am a fast reader and sometimes I exhort myself to slow down. I know I sometimes miss something I would appreciate more if I took my time, but oh well.
I think one reason I am able to read so many books is that I only read what I want to read. I quickly discard a book and move on, if it doesn’t grab me right away. I’m not willing to suffer through a book that doesn’t appeal to me when I could be reading a book that absorbs me. Perhaps that is why I am no longer interested in being in a book group–I want to read what I want to read. Yes, I know by making a quick “yes/no” decision I miss out on reading something that would have become memorable, but oh well…
Reading is a pleasurable habit. It is an integral part of my life–not just an add on when there is nothing else to do. While I have always loved to read and considered it one of life’s great pleasures, I have not always been able to read to the degree I can now.
Reading More as I Age
Last Saturday I had a busy hometending day: making a grocery list and then grocery shopping, making a batch of pesto with basil from our garden, doing some laundry, and cleaning the first floor of the house.
In the past I would have moved determinedly from one task to another and not thought much about it. Just a normal hometending day, but now what I need to do is to pace myself. I need to pause between tasks and take a break.
For example, when I had put away the groceries and harvested the basil, I grabbed my book and read for 20 minutes before getting out the food processor and the pesto ingredients. Then after making the pesto and putting away what I used, doing a quick washing of the counters, I moved back into the snug for more reading time.
That back and forth continued until the kitchen and bathroom were scrubbed clean and I had put away the vacuum cleaner and other cleaning supplies. The house looked fresh, AND I had read a big chunk of the mystery I was currently reading.
In my younger version of myself, I would have done all the required tasks, bing, bing, bing, still leaving enough energy to write a blog post or some letters or work on an essay or take a walk or whatever. Not anymore.
I am trying to pay attention to my energy levels and to match those to what I feel I must or need to do. And while I still manage to accomplish a great deal, I need to spread tasks over more time. I need to pace myself and build in more rest and recovery time.
And the winner of this new state of being is more time for reading!!!!! Yahoo!
An Invitation
Are you reading more or less as you age? I would love to know.
Special Request:
I am writing an article for BookWomen about keeping a book journal and TBR (To Be Read) lists. I would love to hear from you about the ways you keep track of what you read or want to read. OR if you don’t record your reading life, why not? Do you use Good Reads or another online method? Do you have a physical book dedicated to book lists? What else do you keep track of in your reading life? Number of pages read? A summary of each book read? Do you give books stars to evaluate what you’ve read? I would love to learn it all.
Send me an email at nagneberg48@gmail.com and do it soon, please. I have an August 20th deadline, so I am working on this now.
Thanks to all of you who have responded already. I plan to reply to you individually, by the way, but in the meantime I am grateful to you.
Living on Life's Labyrinth 
Love, love, love the sunflowers!
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I too am an avid and quick reader and like you, age has enabled me to read more although I work full time. I used to have a TBR pile but honestly, I read so much that it needed to be updated more than I wanted to devote the time to that when I could be reading.
Reading is such a treat these days when for years with young children I had no time to pee let alone read. So, like you, I will make a quick decision on a book, but sometimes, mostly because I belong to a Reading Group, I do try and preserve in order to participate in our monthly meetings.
Fast reading was very much an asset to my past work life, and has equipped me with other skills too. However, and here lies the rub, I am dyslexic and so often read a sign too quickly and my brain deciphers it incorrectly which can lead to rather hilarious consequences 😉
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Ah, the shadow and light of reading quickly. So glad you have more time to read these days–and to pee!!!!
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Me too. We bought the sunflower pitcher many years ago when we were in Florence, Italy. It was challenging to carry home, but worth it–and is one of those things I treasure, even though I only use at sunflower time.
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There are definitely seasons in our lives. Reading time and enjoyment naturally ebbs and flows through the seasons! Years were spent reading to my young children instead of reading myself, but it paid off big time since they are all avid readers! And it’s never about the numbers or how many hours we can squirrel away for reading, but rather the joy of reading however it works out! I love how you describe how you fit reading into your life in between home tending and other pursuits and are making good use of your rest stops! 🙂 I love it when I have a book that I’m loving so much that I steal moments from my busy day to get back to it. But I also remember times in my life when I had lots of time but just couldn’t focus on a book at all.
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Bravo to you for raising readers. That is true in our family, as well. I can think of times when I wasn’t able to focus on reading, also. For example, when my mother died I just couldn’t read a book, but I was able to enjoy magazines. Eventually, I returned to the book love.
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I read so much more in retirement. That’s why I got the library card. I could not keep buying books at the rate I was going. Not enough money and not enough space. And, like you, if I get a book and it’s not something that grabs my attention in the first 5 pages, back to the library it goes. There are too many books to waste my time on something I don’t immediately like.
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My library and I are best friends!!! I try to balance what I buy with what I borrow.
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I am reading more now that I am older….I worked as a nurse and raised 4 daughters, plus volunteered a lot, so not much time to read in my younger days.
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You’ve earned more reading time!
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Like you, I read quite quickly and even when I was working full time, I would rarely read less than 4 books a week. I choose to read over watching Tv which frees up so many hours compared to how a lot of my friends spend their time. Bringing your pitcher home must have been quite an exercise but definitely looks worth it.
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You are a reading champion!
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I always wondered how you read so many books, so thank you for explaining! I read about 50 books per year. I rarely read during the day, as I’m too busy with hometending, cooking, gardening, errands, yoga classes, exercise, getting together with friends and family, etc. Usually the only time I read is late at night, to relax before I go to bed. If I do sit down to relax (like I am now!), I’m usually on my phone. That’s my bad habit. I know I could read a lot more books if I’d put my phone away.
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Obviously, there is no right or wrong and no ideal number of books to read . Needs change. Interests change. Energy changes. Fifty books, by the way, is no small number. You are a reader!
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