However, I did finish five of the books on the list:
Plus one that wasn't on the list:
Altogether, I read about 2,000 pages, which is pretty good, an average of 500 pages a week.
I also listened to an excellent audio book, beautifully narrated by Joanna David:
It's one of my favorite books and I never get tired of it.
Finally, I've started this audiobook, which will probably take up all of May as well:
Note that this one contains 28 discs, compared to the mere six of the previous one. I'm on disc 7 and it's just wonderful. I think it will be one of my favorite Dickens novels, nearly as good as Bleak House.
So, reading-wise, a good month. I've learned my lesson and I'm not going to plan out any of my May reading, other than books for my reading groups. Two of them were on the list for April, but I realized I didn't want to read them too early, since I tend to forget details when it comes time for the discussion (and I rarely take notes). That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
Bloggers, do you plan ahead or just choose books on a whim? Or a combination of the two?
I never have a reading plan, because I know I won't stick to it - I read by whim, though sometimes I have trouble settling on a book. I'm not a good book-club member, because I rarely want to read the book in time for discussion.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm guilty of sometimes not finishing books for discussions either, especially if I wasn't that interested in reading them. I wish I didn't have a giant TBR shelf (or TBR list) because I often think it sucks all the spontaneity out of reading. But I'm afraid if I delete my Goodreads list I'll never remember all the books I want to read!
DeleteNo planning here. I have a to read shelf and pick out what looks appealing to my emotions at the time.
ReplyDeleteI used to have just one TBR shelf, but it's grown exponentially and now there's almost 200 books in the house I haven't read! I wish I could stop checking books out from the library, but I work at a branch and I'm surrounded by books all day. It is too tempting!
DeleteI mostly read by whim, but I find a plan helpful when I am having a reading block. I haven't had many of those in 2012 so I'm mainly reading according to appeal right now.
ReplyDeleteI love A Room With a View also! One of my favorites and I'd like to re-read it soon.
I'll look forward to your thoughts on The Lifeboat - I finished it yesterday and have mixed feelings.
Happy May reading!
My multiple book groups force me to have some reading planned out. But the advantage to RUNNING the book groups means I have control over what we're reading -- I tend to pick stuff that's on my TBR list, very mercenary!
DeleteThere are many excellent audiobook versions of Room with a View. It was really nice to listen to one of my favorites in the car to and from work.
It's a mix of the two leaning heavily towards whim for me. Though I think if I'm choosing from my TBR bookcase on a whim, that's sort of a plan.
ReplyDeleteSo you're planning your reading whims? Or you're planning not to plan? Planned spontaneity, does it exist? Why not? I like it!
DeleteMost of the time I go by whim, although sometimes I plan if I'm reading one book and it reminds me of another book in my library that I haven't read yet and then that may lead me to another one, usually putting me on a genre kick temporarily. I try not to plan out more than 2-3 at a time though. I enjoy that moment when I finish one book and I go into one of our guest rooms that serves as an office / makeshift library and I just stare at my shelf for awhile seeing where my fancy takes me next :-). I do have two BIG books planned for this year though - I'm currently in the middle of Gone With The Wind (figured it was suitable for spring / summer reading) and am planning on taking up Les Miserables when the weather turns cold and dreary again lol. Even with the big books though, I break them up with reading a few quick reads in between.
ReplyDeleteI like that moment too, as long as I don't have anything that I need to finish for a discussion or read-along.
DeleteI have some big books planned for this year too -- I SWEAR I will finally read East of Eden by John Steinbeck come hell or high water! I've liked most everything I read by Steinbeck so far, I don't know why I'm putting it off. It's on my daughter's summer reading list for high school so I think that will behoove me to read it along with her.
I loved Gone with the Wind and have read it several times, but still haven't tackled Les Miserables. Maybe next summer.
I always have reading plans - these are books for review, for my book club and books that need to be back at the library soon. Usually, I have some time left at the end of the month to choose another book or two from my shelf, but not this time. April was an odd month.
ReplyDeleteLibrary books do tend to alter my reading plans as well. I keep trying to check out less books but as I work at a branch it's hard to resist. If a book has a long waiting list that usually shoves it ahead in the queue. I do return an embarrassing amount of books unread. I have several I've checked out on multiple different occasions and still haven't read!
DeleteThere is no way you can claim to have "failed" in April. That's a boatload of pages! I really want to read The Lifeboat, and, of course, South Riding.
ReplyDeleteI have a set of classics I've committed to, plus a few books that I know I want to read this year, so I sort of alternate between choosing something from my TBR shelf (as the mood strikes), indulging in a library or Amazon splurge if I just have to read something (Tomalin's bio of Dickens came under that category), and reading from my must-read list.
I also tend to pepper short reads with long ones, so after finishing Little Dorrit, I'm reading several short ones before commmencing a long book again.
I loved Room With a View also, and listened to an audio version from the library on my most recent encounter with it. I wonder if the reader was Johanna David :)
You're right, failure is a bit harsh. I just set my goals unreasonably high. I should have listed them as "possible reads" or something like that.
DeleteI also like to alternate a short and long reads -- after a big chunky book like a Victorian, I usually read something very different, like a contemporary nonfiction book or children's fantasy. Nice to mix it up.
Your April certainly doesn't sound like a failure to me! I really want to read South Riding and will be curious to hear what you thought of Rose. I love A Room With a View and will consider audio for my next reread. The only thing I really feel obligated to read are my book club selections, so any plans often give way to whims.
ReplyDeleteI returned Rose to the library a couple of weeks ago, and I liked it but oddly enough I can't think of anything in particular to say about it. It was mildly interesting but I can barely put two sentences together to describe it. Kind of a tell-all book without any major gossip, if that makes sense.
DeleteMakes perfect sense... and is probably one I can skip given my current TBR overload.
DeleteMostly I read on a whim but I do read some books more quickly if they're on hold at work or I've been sent review copies. I feel obliged to at least start those quickly, I don't like having them staring at me from the corner of the desk! I often pick up a book that's not in my tbr pile or one that's just arrived & I want to read it right now. All part of the fun of reading.
ReplyDeleteI also find that books on hold from the library get pushed to the top, especially if they have a long list of holds. If not, I send them back until I try to read them again (there are several books that I have put on hold repeatedly and never read. Embarrassing, but good for circulation stats).
DeleteMy question is when are you going to read the other 5 books???
ReplyDelete