It's truly silly...

[matt_doyle]

So far this year, I have read or re-read 217 books.

And part of me is mad at myself, because I want to hit an average of a book per day this year & I am behind schedule.

I know how ridiculous this is. I am even proud of myself for being at 217.

But dangit, when I was in college, reading 1-2 books every single day was effortless. I don't expect to remain 20 forever, I know my limits have both expanded & contracted in numerous & diverse ways since then, but I didn't want this particular limit to contract!

Comments

[matt_doyle]

On the other hand, looking at my 2024 post, I am absolutely on track to beat last year's number of books read. So, result.

[shanaqui]

Yeah... I resemble this. Reading's so integral to my identity, so even though I know I'm objectively still reading a lot, it's less than I did and that feels sucky. You are not alone!

[matt_doyle]

This exactly. From age 6 onward, "reader" was the core of how I conceived of myself. I know that reading 250 books a year rather than 365 doesn't make me not a reader - but it's my head that knows, not my gut.

[mrissa]

I keep wishing that some convention (not Fourth Street probably, it's less our oeuvre) would put together an "evolution of your readerly identity" panel so people could TALK ABOUT this stuff. Because I hear a lot of it in different interesting forms.

[matt_doyle]

I would love to either be on, or simply be in the audience for, a panel like that.

I agree it's not a 4th Street panel, but it could possibly be one of the 4th Street evening discussions in a kaffeeklatsch format? I'd get much more out of that than the "intermediate writer" evenings, though those seem to be very in demand for people who are not me.

[feuervogel]

Ooh yeah, that would be a good evening chat!

[mrissa]

Oh, are they still? I was hoping we could gradually phase those out as the person who used to run them has been gone and I think there are a lot of issues with them. Sigh.

[matt_doyle]

I want to say we no longer officially sponsor it, but most years someone puts something together anyway? It's possible it's phased out & I just didn't notice because I avoid it.

Regardless, with the same lack of official sanction, putting together an unofficial readery conversation of some kind would be possible, I wouldn't even have to run mad with power to do it.

[mrissa]

Oh absolutely, an it harms none, people can do as they will in the evenings. (This was coming out halfway to that sentiment so I just...went with it.)

[matt_doyle]

(Reasonable)

[feuervogel]

I've read, uh, 10 books this year? 15? I slacked off on my record keeping at one point. Not counting the 2 I got paid to read.

[matt_doyle]

Paid to read still counts!