I know I read really fast. You must figure I read really fast, since there’s a new review up here every single day (and they’re actually scheduled up through March). So it makes no sense that I haven’t read a book I got as a review copy or a book I insisted on getting the moment it released… two years ago.
(Sorry, Scott Lynch. Robin Hobb. Joe Abercrombie. Guy Gavriel Kay. Various others.)
The thing is, I have a backlog currently standing at 1,049 books purchased and not yet read. Yes, I said 1,049. That figure doesn’t include ARCs or library books or books that’re just on my wishlist. This is books on my shelves or on my Kindle, ready for me to get round to them.
The other thing is, when I make strict rules and reading lists, I stop reading. When I’m impulsive and I just read what catches my eye, I read a lot more. Whichever way I do it, I end up behind on books I requested or bought with the greatest impatience — and it’s not that I don’t want to read them, don’t think they’re shiny, have gone off the idea, whatever. It’s just that I have a lot of books, an impulsive way of choosing books, and an inability to just stick to one reading list. (And, well, sometimes I have gone off the idea of the book, for now. That doesn’t mean I’m not interested at all, just that right now I’m trying to devour everything in reach featuring a certain trope or certain information. At the moment, it’s archaeology.)
I’m doing my best. At the moment, I’m loading books to review onto my Kindle right away and starting them ASAP, to prevent my backlog getting bigger. I’m working through the backlog slowly, rediscovering things I thought were exciting before and finding new excitement about them. I feel bad that these books have been sitting so long, but there is some consolation in the fact that these are books that’re probably no longer actively being marketed, and with as many active readers as follow me, I’m bound to help someone match up with a backlist book they’d love.
The other thing is, well, I’m kind of contrary. If you hype a book up to me, I might well avoid it. Or I’ll get a book the minute it comes out… to taunt myself with for months, delaying the pleasure.
And, well, I bite off more than I can chew. A lot. All the time.
I’m also busy. Really busy. I’m doing a full-time biology degree through the Open University, which means that I have to direct my own pacing through the course while still meeting rigid deadlines for assignments and prepping for exams. I’m also self-employed, and sometimes after a long day of transcription and copywriting, I just want to flop into a chair and rereadĀ Strong Poison for the umpteenth time. Sorry.
The thing is, I’m a fairly rubbish human at times. I’m doing my best. Have a bunny.
MeaĀ culpa.
I ‘fondly’ remember my Open University studying and the stress I was under trying to get everything in before the deadlines and then sweating it out for the results! I swore never to do it again! Wishing you lots of good vibes for success there! I’ve had a crap week but you have cheered me up by sharing your numbers! 872 doesn’t feel so bad now! I’d be reducing the numbers fine if I’d stop adding to the numbers with STS overloads every week! These author newsletters are to blame…
I think you are doing pretty darn great keeping on top of things. Working and studying doesn’t leave you as much time as the rest of us for reading and your reads are often complex & technical subjects, probably longer than the fun fluff I read, (if you can call zombies & mad dinosaurs ‘fluff’ and not get bitten by them for cheek…!) so I think you are doing a good job!
Thank you! The encouragement is much needed, sometimes. But hey, to me, archaeology and genetics are kind of my fluff anyway.
Another post that I heartily concur with, one that I could have almost written word for word. (Apart from the rate of consumption — but you know that. And using a Kindle.)
I especially recognised your being contrary over recommended or hyped books — I have a similar streak of stubbornness too, needing to read any book only when I’m in the mood for it.
Chris Lovegrove recently posted…Where was The Shire?
There’s even some books I’m really excited about… but I’m stubborn and weird.