tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post2498323854904086049..comments2024-02-20T17:51:43.989-05:00Comments on Buckling Bookshelves: Thoughts on Books that "Count"Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-80810031228712212152014-03-23T12:25:40.690-04:002014-03-23T12:25:40.690-04:00I love your feelings toward this -- it really is b...I love your feelings toward this -- it really is best to each do our own thing :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-88196186298099571762014-03-10T20:05:09.979-04:002014-03-10T20:05:09.979-04:00Honestly, I don't play by the "Book Blogg...Honestly, I don't play by the "Book Blogger" rules. I just read books that I am interested in as well as children books and audiobooks. I remember when I first started book blogging way back in 2012 and bloggers where talking about audiobooks don't count as reading. WHATEVER! I count it all short stories and everything. I think the authors and publishers would think they count. LOL! I started my blog to keep track of the books I was reading not to follow the crowd. Love this topic and I agree with you! Great post sweetie!Alysiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02921848593897537382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-64576479021185975802014-02-26T10:42:37.344-05:002014-02-26T10:42:37.344-05:00That is definitely how I keep track as well -- if ...That is definitely how I keep track as well -- if other people really don't want to, that's obviously OK too, but I think it's nice to give ourselves some credit for all the different things we read. In my opinion, there is not just one kind of book deserves recognition -- page count or genre doesn't make one book any better than another, if you ask me :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-88526945847610870882014-02-23T15:20:47.305-05:002014-02-23T15:20:47.305-05:00See i completely agree with you! I count everythin...See i completely agree with you! I count everything i read even the short single stories on tor.com and my graphic novels. I don't care if other people dont. Im reading for me and to keep track of everything i read that year not just novels! Tabitha (Pabkins)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11945588780690794396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-83599333683092107342014-02-18T14:10:06.905-05:002014-02-18T14:10:06.905-05:00I've been wanting to read more award-winners, ...I've been wanting to read more award-winners, but I definitely see your point! We really shouldn't care what other people think -- that's their problem, not mine :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-56571820616466535612014-02-17T08:05:36.870-05:002014-02-17T08:05:36.870-05:00I definitely agree! I've been guilty of being ...I definitely agree! I've been guilty of being embarassed about what I read in the past but I don't see why! The main thing is we're reading and we're enjoying ourselves. Who cares what it is we're reading? What I've also noticed recently is that all the books nominated for literary prizes tend to be really hard hitting, intense, and often depressing stories. Not to knock those stories but are they really saying that a book can't be award quality unless it's harrowing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-86981787563696367392014-02-11T11:47:30.871-05:002014-02-11T11:47:30.871-05:00Thanks for stopping by Kate! I'm definitely on...Thanks for stopping by Kate! I'm definitely one of those people who sometimes looks at other people's "Read" lists with a twinge of envy, but that's mostly because I am a slow reader and I know it, lol. I'm trying to break myself of that though and I definitely know a particular reader's pace does not determine enjoyment of the book alone! Sometimes I drag books out too long when I am busy and know that if I had finished it in a more condensed timeframe I would have enjoyed it even more.<br /><br />And you are so right about deflecting compliments! I hadn't really thought of it that way, but it really does often extend to all different areas of life in addition to books.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-48233765493217890752014-02-11T11:40:54.807-05:002014-02-11T11:40:54.807-05:00It is so heartening to hear so many people share s...It is so heartening to hear so many people share similar sentiments on this subject. Team reading all the way :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-7549429238253369582014-02-11T11:39:26.521-05:002014-02-11T11:39:26.521-05:00It is sometimes hard to practice what we preach! I...It is sometimes hard to practice what we preach! I definitely understand how listening to a book doesn't always feel quite the same as reading a print book and I think that is one format that is not "counted" quite often. For me though, I would read hardly any books these days if it weren't for audio! Busy schedules make it hard to find reading time, so I do love to multi-task. I can only do audio for certain genres though, because if I have trouble following a story, there wouldn't be any point in "reading" it in that format -- multiple narrators & complex storylines are not my friend when it comes to listening to a book!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-49094842401511829242014-02-10T17:36:02.171-05:002014-02-10T17:36:02.171-05:00Agreed, I read what I want regardless of genre, ag...Agreed, I read what I want regardless of genre, age, or length and they all count..because they effect me and mold me.Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15658833731713991138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-48522594156239905122014-02-09T10:23:27.363-05:002014-02-09T10:23:27.363-05:00You can't see it, because I'm behind my co...You can't see it, because I'm behind my computer screen and you are behind yours, but I am totally giving you a standing ovation! I'm always dismissive about my reading, as if I have to justify how much I read (oh, I read a lot of YA, I listen to audiobooks at a higher speed, I get to read at work) for those that don't have as much time as I do to read. I sometimes almost feel weirdly guilty about it. I read a lot in January, and one of my commentors actually asked me if I was taking the time to truly savor the books. I responded that whether or not I savor a book has more to do with the author's talent and not how quickly or slowly I read a book.<br /><br />Of course it could just be a female thing to do, because we're quick to deflect compliments. Love my blouse? Oh, I got it for super cheap at Ross. Love my hair? Oh, it's really Feria #21b! Congratulate me on how many books I read? Oh, it's mostly YA or audiobooks! It's just in our nature to downplay. I have no idea why. Kate @Midnight Book Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01220575670960466054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-78915333777711176312014-02-08T16:28:59.866-05:002014-02-08T16:28:59.866-05:00I totally agree with you, but I don't always p...I totally agree with you, but I don't always practise what I preach! I'm good at not judging any genre books/graphic novels (I used to be a total book snob), but for some reason, I don't 'count' audio books when I listen to them. I don't know why this is...Sam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-55723989611865974612014-02-07T14:58:02.978-05:002014-02-07T14:58:02.978-05:00I love the way you put this Belinda! It can be har...I love the way you put this Belinda! It can be hard to not compare ourselves to others, but I agree that it is the experience that matters most. The talent of a good writer never ceases to amaze me.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-63025712552147829802014-02-07T14:55:33.805-05:002014-02-07T14:55:33.805-05:00Best. Comment. Ever.
That is all :)Best. Comment. Ever. <br /><br />That is all :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-20610209624957202502014-02-07T14:55:08.063-05:002014-02-07T14:55:08.063-05:00Definitely something not to stress about! We don&#...Definitely something not to stress about! We don't all have to like the same kinds of books or formats, but we decide for ourselves what we prefer. I read a post once about a blogger getting asked in real life what she was currently reading and when she answered that she was listening to an audiobook, the person's response was something like, "oh, so you're not really reading anything then" -- which I think is so wrong! A person can decide that for themselves if they'd like, but not for other people! A "real" book is whatever we decide we want to read, if you ask me :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-42702280172295338932014-02-07T14:47:50.048-05:002014-02-07T14:47:50.048-05:00That makes perfect sense to me and I can see why y...That makes perfect sense to me and I can see why you might want to be more picky in certain cases -- but as I just said in the above comment, it's the self-criticism based on insecurity or worry about what other people think that I don't think serves any real purpose. I just hope that whatever we count (or don't count) be decided by our own true preferences, rather than a result of a fear of judgement. I certainly shouldn't be telling anyone they *must* count books they don't actually want to count -- that would be just as bad!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-64114873115139640892014-02-07T14:38:30.160-05:002014-02-07T14:38:30.160-05:00Personal preferences I totally understand -- I jus...Personal preferences I totally understand -- I just don't think anyone should feel they *have to* exclude something based on other people's opinions. We should all count (or not count) however <i>we</i> truly want to for ourselves.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-43483802254243951242014-02-07T14:34:10.686-05:002014-02-07T14:34:10.686-05:00I'm with you -- I'm on team reading all th...I'm with you -- I'm on team reading all the way :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-68804418216535665412014-02-07T14:33:31.958-05:002014-02-07T14:33:31.958-05:00I totally understand that and I think it's som...I totally understand that and I think it's something to be proud of, whatever a person chooses to read -- it just makes me sad to see people put themselves down out of fear of judgement, which seems so silly when it comes to reading -- there are enough books out there for every person and interest!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-869783706951050502014-02-07T14:31:52.259-05:002014-02-07T14:31:52.259-05:00I think that is a great way to think about it -- e...I think that is a great way to think about it -- enjoyment is key -- and even if we don't enjoy a particular reading choice, I'm sure we <i>thought</i> we would when we picked it up!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-70051790704829695562014-02-07T14:29:19.672-05:002014-02-07T14:29:19.672-05:00That's a very good point! I do the GoodReads y...That's a very good point! I do the GoodReads yearly challenge, but I use it more to organize in one place a chronological account of what I read. I try not to really think about the number & would never want to race through a book just to check it off the list. It is always interesting for me to see my number at the end of the year though, even I don't take it too seriously!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-85487839864440457142014-02-07T14:27:03.701-05:002014-02-07T14:27:03.701-05:00Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way! ...Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way! There are no book police after all, lol :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-79980262531910706162014-02-07T14:26:26.690-05:002014-02-07T14:26:26.690-05:00That's exactly how I feel!That's exactly how I feel!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215797870829907924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-4385369214054997672014-02-07T12:53:45.360-05:002014-02-07T12:53:45.360-05:00I agree as well. I definitely feel those feelings ...I agree as well. I definitely feel those feelings of inadequacy creep in when I see how many books many have read on Goodreads at times. But I too enjoy audio books, YA etc. The bottom line is a person created the story from their imagination and published it to share. The experience is the point not the number of pages, genre of the book. Cheers to you for writing this post. Keep on reading girlfriend!<br /><br />BelindaBelindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02261430786214484113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3216081229982312439.post-6431043435062736472014-02-05T09:38:03.684-05:002014-02-05T09:38:03.684-05:00Come on readers, we all know that it's not the...Come on readers, we all know that it's not the size of the book that matters. It's how it stimulates your brain that really counts. ;-) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com