Let’s talking about our reading lives for a moment.

How do you support your book loving habit? The library. Almost all the books I read come from the library. I don’t keep many books at home. If there is a book I really want to read and the library doesn’t have it, I’ll buy it – more than likely it will be an eBook. If it’s a book written by an author of color, or feature a person of color on the book cover, then I’ll buy the physical book, read it, and then donate it to the library.

How do you pick your next read? It’s a very random process. I no longer maintain a “To Be Read” list, so when I come across something, I tend to take out my phone and search for it at the library using the Overdrive app, where I can get eBooks and Audiobooks. One of the libraries I belong to also uses the Axis360 App. Occasionally, I’ll go to the library and look around on the shelves and pick out something that catches my eye. I love “book browsing” or “shelf shopping.”

What do you do after you’re finished reading a book? If the book was really good, I don’t start another one until the next day. I just want it to sit in my brain and ruminate for a bit. I’ll go to Goodreads and record a rating and perhaps a short review. I no longer write individual reviews here on Girlxoxo, but I do think about any potential lists that I can add the book to – or perhaps start a list and pick up 1 or 2 more similar books.

When do you find the time to read? Anytime, anywhere. In the car on the way … anywhere … I’ll listen to an audiobook – it’s very rare for it to happen anywhere else. I discovered reading on my phone using the Kindle and Nook app this year – and promptly ditched carrying around my Nook. I LOVE reading eBooks this way, because it can literally happen anywhere. On the weekends, I try to reserve a chunk of time for reading, usually on a Saturday night.

How many books per week? On average, just 1. On a good week – maybe 2; some weeks, 0. I now average about 50 books / year. This year, it’s slightly less.

“Did Not Finish” Books – Does this happen often? It’s very, very hard for me to leave some books unfinished. With an audiobook, I’ll know within 5 – 10 minutes if I’m going to enjoy it, and I’ll move on with the quickness – but I won’t even consider it a book I’ve started. If I get fooled and move an hour into it, well, it’ll be torture and it’ll take weeks, but finish I must. With physical books, I’ll give up if I’ve been reading the same book for months. I finished all the books I started this year DNF this year – but I wished had saved my time and quit Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future, A.S. King, Prince Lestat, Anne Rice and Geek Love, Katherine Dunn.

What’s your favorite genre? I like “genres” like fantasy, horror and mystery. My least favorite genre is contemporary (Young Adult and Literary fiction), but I do like dark contemporary.


When do you find the time to read? What’s your favorite genre?

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// Comments //

  1. It sounds like you have quite a minimalist approach to your reading – which is good, and refreshing when there seems to be a lot of amassing of books in the book community (I know your blog extends further than the book community but you know what I mean). I buy quite a few books, but I also make good use of my local library. Also, if I don’t see myself rereading a book that I’ve read from my shelves, it gets donated.

    I read a variety of genres, but darker reads are my favourites. Whatever that says about me, I don’t know!

    Thank you for sharing; it was good hearing a little more about how you read.

  2. Akilah

    Dec 28

    Yes, I get all my books from the library, too. If I buy a book now, it’s usually as a gift or a book club book that I absolutely can only get online (which drives me nuts). I am a big user of ILL (interlibrary loan) as well. Whatever I want, the library usually has.

    I usually carry a book with me wherever I go. Today, I made an amateur move and totally left my book at home so couldn’t eat out or anything. AMATEUR MOVE.

  3. What a wonderful post with terrific answers.

    I always have a book with me and read whenever I can too.

    I am glad someone else only reads one book a week. I am totally in awe of those folks who finish five or more books a week. Not sure how they do it, but that is wonderful.

    ENJOY this last week of 2015, and thanks for hosting.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
    My A Month of Faves