I am a fast reader. I also love to read. And I am avoiding scholarship and my novel, sometimes my children. That's how I read so much, if you asked here, on IG or on FB. Also, I have a PhD in the humanities and after slogging through dense academic theory and also thousands of feet of Planned Parenthood archives at Smith College (who do archives measure their stuff in feet? So daunting) a couple hundred books is a BREEZE.
I also do not buy books EXCEPT I get a book every month from Book of the Month, and I have an Audible subscription. I have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, but I think I am going to cancel it and will use the money to buy an e-book if library waitlists are too long for stuff I really want to read, since most of the KU stuff is just filler.
I am a huge library stalker. I periodically google "best books of the year" or "books releasing in <whatever month it is next>" or "best books of <the upcoming season>" or "most anticipated book releases" and put stuff on hold BEFORE it comes out. Sometimes, even early googling is too late for the library, though, which is how I am 338th on the list for the new Kristin Hannah, for example
If my library doesn't have the title yet, I add it to my Amazon wish list and remember to check on that from time to time and update my holds accordingly. I don't buy books from this list, but I do use it buy Audible books with my monthly credits and update my library lists.
Libby is the app I use for audio and sometimes Kindle library books, and I can only have 20 on hold at a time-- so I throw some on Libby hold and save a few spots for books I can't get into in print but would probably like to listen to. Right now, I have 16 books on the way from Libby, and this is a good number for me.
Also! Books come out on Tuesdays, so you should peruse your library new release walk-in shelves on Thursday mornings, IM(not H)O.
Here is what I am looking forward to in 2024 based on a quick morning's google. (There's an old King collection on my Amazon list because I haven't read it yet). (Also book screen shots are on my Amazon list because the library doesn't have them yet, but I also managed to find 11 to put on library hold).
I loved kindle unlimited at first but have finally gotten into a good library groove with holds and wishlists that I found I wasn’t using KU anymore (also, when I started KU many years ago it wasn’t as much fillers like it is now) so I canceled KU months ago and haven’t regretted it. I didn’t read as much this year (only 40 books - I don’t do audio books, and mostly read on my kindle) but hoping I can get into a better groove next year. I love your monthly lists and get lots of inspiration from them!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will miss KU, looking at what I have read on there.
DeleteThis is Lisa. I nearly exclusively read ebooks from the library using the Libby ap. I keep my TBR list on Libby, too. I used to use Goodreads for TBR but I don’t anymore. I get 15 holds for each library card and I use the ebook holds from mine, my husband’s and Paul’s library cards. So I get 45 total. I usually max them out but right now I’m at 37 holds. I need to figure out what all to add to bring it to 45. I get ideas on what to read from book podcasts and the indiebound.org next list. So I am not ahead of the masses in terms of requesting books but that is ok. I have plenty of books to read as is! I end up reading about 50/50 new release and back list.
ReplyDelete90-100 is my average. I can’t read more than that unless I have some kid free vacations. I don’t listen to audiobooks since I listen to too many podcasts! When I am retired, I will read way more but that is a long ways off!
ooooh I only get 10! I gotta steal another kid's library card
DeleteOMG, Sarah. This is too complicated for my brain. But I just LOVE that you've found a nerdy way to make the system work for you!
ReplyDeleteNerdy is my whole vibe
DeleteI read mostly audiobooks and eBooks and I have done what you do and looked at new releases and NONE of them are even available to put on hold at my libraries yet (Kristin Hannah for example). So I will just keep checking back. I have two library cards and I get 10 holds at one and 12 at the other so I pretty much keep 22 books on hold at any given time.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to The Heiress and The Women, but I am happy to read them later this year or whenever I get the chance. I think 2023 reads for me were about 30%, so clearly I vary my publication years a bit and am okay with that.
I usually forget to keep checking-- it is an imperfect system
DeleteI cannot place a hold on a book in my library system until the book is in circulation, so I will never be able to get new releases as much as you do. I am not really interested in the newest books, though, so that's fine with me.
ReplyDeleteI'm always fascinated when people say that they don't have time to read. Like...of course you do? I can listen to audiobooks while cooking, driving, working out, and walking the dog. I can read before going to bed. I can read when I'm standing in a ginormous line at Costco. I get that people don't necessarily read as much as you and I do, but they certainly HAVE time.
AGREE-- the time is there if you want it
DeleteI am doing my first audiobook with Libby! I'm finding that changing from constantly refreshing the news (sighhh...) to listening to my book (nonfiction, I can't do fiction on audio) is good for my mental health. Duh, Anne. Let's hope this is the first of many! You and Engie are great influences.
ReplyDelete