Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. I used to LOVE top ten Tuesday, and then it fell off my radar, but lately I have had a desire to join back in with memes again, so here I am!
This week’s TTT topic is Changes In My Reading Life. I started my blog, Book Briefs back in February 2011, which means that in a few months I will be celebrating 9 years! That is crazy to me! Today, I am going to talk about some of my reading habits that have changed in the last 9 years.
You can join in on the Top Ten Tuesday fun Here
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10 Changes In My Reading Life
1. I read way more books per year now
I have always read a lot of books, but now I am averaging 150-220 books a year. So yes, a lot more books.
2. I keep track of the types of books I am reading
Before blogging, I never formally tracked what books I was reading. But at the end of 2010 I was introduced to Goodreads, which was the first step for me in creating my blog. Once I found goodreads, there was no turning back for me. I started shelving books in all different ways…by genre, by age group, by rating…
Now I keep much better track of the types of books I am reading, and it has really helped me figure out not only my favorite genres, but my favorite themes, tropes, authors. By looking at my goodreads list I have become a much better judge of how much I will enjoy a book. It also helps me discover new books, which leads me to number 3…
3. I find out about new releases in new ways
I used to browse the new release section of Barnes & Noble, or Borders to find out about new releases. For my very favorite authors, I would stalk their websites to hear about new releases, but that was it. I didn’t hear about books months before they came out. I had no idea was book hype even was. Now, I find out about new releases sometimes over a year in advance, and I find out about new books from several different sources. Publisher newsletters, Instagram, other blogs, goodreads are all big sources for me when I am compiling my lists of upcoming releases. And none of those were sources for me back in Feb 2011.
4. I read less classics
This makes me a bit sad. I still read classics, but now if I am looking for a classic story, I find myself looking for a retelling of a classic, rather than the original classic. The reason is two fold. First, I have read many of the classics already and I don’t do much re-reading anymore (spoiler alert- see my number 5!) and if I haven’t read them, then I know the basic storyline. And Second, I love to see what kind of fresh take or what new direction or perspective a retelling is going to reveal.
5. I don’t have much time for re-reading
I used to love re-reading my favorite books over and over again. I can’t even tell you how many times I read Ella Enchanted when I was younger…plus every Meg Cabot book ever written. My copies would be so beat up because I read them well into the double digits. Now, I have so many books for review consideration that I almost feel guilty if I choose to re-read a book vs. read a new book for review purposes. Am I the only reviewer that feels this way?
6. I collect more hardcover books
This is all Instagram’s fault. I just love the aesthetic of hardcovers lining my bookshelves in my library. Sometimes, I just sit in my library and stare at the bookshelves. No, I am not kidding. I love collecting hardcovers, and I love collecting all the books in certain series. If I have an ARC of a book, I want a finished copy as well. I used to prefer paperbacks because they were cheaper and when I was younger, I wanted my money to buy me as many books as possible. I still do…but now I troll bookoutlet.com for deals on hardcover books, so I can BUYALLTHEBOOKS.
7. But I read more ebooks
Before blogging, I never read ebooks. I only read paperback or hardcover. I never saw the point, but then I got a kindle and my love affair began. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the look and feel of a physical book, but I love the convenience of an ebook. When I am traveling my kindle is always with me. It’s just so nice to be able to have thousands of books at my finger tips no matter where I am, just in case a different reading mood strikes my fancy. Plus, ebooks are easier when it comes to review copies.
8. I buy more bookish stuff
This is also instagram’s fault. The rise of bookish merch is something that really appeals to me. It started with bookmarks and book tote bags with fun bookish sayings on them, and it has evolved into funko pops for book characters, candles from my favorite books and all kinds of art prints, pillows and trading card. I subscribe to book subscription boxes to get limited edition merch and books. The addiction is real.
9. I have discovered new genres
When I first started reading, I loved contemporary romances and the occasional middle grade fantasy. Now I still love a good romance, but I am obsessed with all things fantasy with the occasional paranormal romance, and rom com thrown in. But the biggest change in my bookish life is that I discovered new genres, like reverse harem, and all of the sub genres of fantasy. My reading tastes have become more diverse.
10. I read less fanfiction
After reading Harry Potter for the first time, I discovered fanfiction.net and my love of fanfiction quickly became an obsession. I can’t even tell you how many hundreds or thousands of Harry Potter, Gilmore Girls and fiction press romances I have read. But as I started my blog and started reading more and more review books, my time for reading fanfiction diminished. Nowadays, I almost never read it. (but now that I am talking about it…I think I might pop in to fanfiction.net and see what is new…)
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How have your reading habits changed? Let me know in the comments below!
Lydia
It’s cool you’re reading more these days.
My TTT.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Yes, I am always amazed at the number of books I read by years end, when I think about how busy the year was.
Thanks for stopping by Lydia 😉
Lisa of Hopewell
Good list. #3–is a great point. I’m a librarian from the mists of time (1989) and I am constantly amazed at the sources of book reviews, publishing news, etc, that inform my reading now. The explosion of great resources. #5 I have 2 that I still re-read, but only my favorite parts 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Thanks Lisa! I know, when I think about how many sources I gather information from it can seem a bit overwhelming. It was easier when I just turned to the bookstores haha.
Thanks for stopping by!
patrick prescott
Hardbacks mean you care about that book and author. Nice to know how you’ve grown as a reader. https://pmprescott.blogspot.com/
Michelle @ Book Briefs
That’s a very nice way to look at it. Yes, I do care about the book and author haha
Jessica @ a GREAT read
OOh nice! I wish I could say I read more books a year, but sadly it’s been steadily getting less and less over the years. This is the first year I didn’t make 100 books, but I had anticipated this though I was more hoping it meant I got a new job! Lol. Sigh…I wish I didn’t need sleep. That would solve a lot of problems!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Skipping sleep would help me a ton too! Except I would be unbearably grumpy to be around I’m sure. haha Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Gabby
I also have re-read very little lately…but I do sometimes re-read via audio if I’m really feeling like I want to get a book back in my life but don’t have time to pick it up otherwise!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Audio re-reads are a great idea! It would allow me to enjoy a favorite book in a different way 😉
Greg
That’s so true about new releases. I had no idea about Netgalley or blogs or any of that before I started blogging myself, and would just stumble on new books in the bookstore! How things have changed. 🙂
Also I read SO many more e- books now.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Blogging opened up a whole new world of information for me!
Thanks for stopping by Greg!
The Candid Cover
Blogging does really change the way we read! Reading more books is definitely a bonus! 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Yes, blogging changed my bookish habits a lot. I didn’t even realize all the ways it has changed until I sat down to write this list actually.
sherry fundin
i used to reread a lot and now…almost never
sherry @ fundinmental
Jessica at Booked J
Almost all of these traits/changes have happened for me, too! I’m going to single out the classics, though. I’m the same! I read a lot less of them now. I still love them and it’s kind of one of those things that randomly bums me out, but then I am like, well, I’m exploring so much more outside of the box. SO, I’m glad someone else is in the same boat.
As for rereading: I feel like I reread less now but I still try and reread fairly often. It’s like this, new books are new, and they’re not going anywhere. Neither are older books that I’ve read and loved. It’s up to me and what I want to do, and whether or not I want to/can make time for rereads vs. new reads. I’m trying to get to that place where I know I’m not obligated to read anything on anyone’s schedule but my own and I am trying to read more for me and less for others.
Dedra @ A Book Wanderer
I’m rereading a lot less too, but I miss it! One of my goals for next year is to try to reread a book at least every other month. I probably won’t stick to it, but I’m going to try! 😉 Great post!
Here’s my TTT