So you guys. Since early 2012 I’ve been working on this post I wanted to do about the differences between myself as a reader before I was a blogger and after I became a blogger because my habits have changed SO MUCH. I kept putting it off because of wedding plans. I wanted to make this cute graphic that was a list but, when I finally started to work on it this year, it was just looking TOO crowded with about 30 different things and overwhelming and not AT ALL what I had in mind. Then I decided…why not make it a series? The more I thought about it — it would lend to a better discussion if I just give you one at a time. I’m kind of glad my original idea didn’t work out because I’m liking this better. Check the end of the post for previous Before & After’s.
This one, besides the book real estate thing, is definitely the biggest change in my life. I read probably 20-30 books a year — which I know was more than a lot of my friends or the average human being I’m sure. Like I said in my first Before & After, I waited a longer amount of time before I would pick up a book upon finishing one. Sometimes I would wait a few weeks before I picked up my next book so I definitely read at a slower rate PLUS I wasn’t spending as much time per day reading a book — I’d read for an hour maybe before bed. There were times when I would spend a whole day reading on a rainy day but most of the time it was just a little time here and there.
I definitely read WAY more than I did before blogging — probably between 75-100 books a year (though last year was only 55 because of wedding planning, my job stress and moving). I definitely read more often and take less breaks in between books. I think there definitely is a pressure to read MORE as a blogger to make sure that I can have reviews for the blog. I confessed this in my Things I’m Afraid To Tell You post but I often feel bad because I know I can’t review as many books per week as many other bloggers because I’m simply not reading as much as them but that’s the choice I’ve made and have decided that 2 reviews a week is doable for me at the rate I WANT to read books. I don’t push myself to read when I don’t want to and there are times when I go for days without reading. I think I also read more as a blogger because I am so hyper aware of all the books out there –especially with all the habit of anticipating all the books as I mentioned in another Before and After.
Let’s Talk:
If you are a blogger — Has the amount of books you read per year increased or stayed the same since becoming a blogger? How much of a difference is there? Do you feel the pressure to read A LOT more so you can have reviews? If you aren’t a blogger — how many books would you say you read per year? Does this number fluctuate or stay pretty much the same? For everyone — How much reading time do you think you put in per day? Do you ever go days without reading or do you pretty much read even a little bit every day?
Previous Before & After’s:
The Time In Between Two Books – 2/27
Being Up On New Releases — 3/6
Book Real Estate — 3/15
Re-reading — 3/20
Meeting Authors + Myths About Them — 3/27
Sarah O says
It’s funny but for me, my before and after is about reading and engaging in book blogs. Once you’re immersed in it and you’re reading all these reviews and enthusiastic recommendations it’s so difficult to pace yourself with reading! It’s even harder when a new book comes out and bloggers are all gushing about it with eachother and you’re like hey I want to do that too! And then you also end up with an empty wallet. Sigh.
Amanda says
I think the pressure is definitely there, but I try and push that pressure to the back of my mind.
I don’t have the time to read 24/7, and there are some days where I don’t even want to look at a book. I don’t really give in to the pressure, though, because I know my reading AND reviews will suffer from it. If I force myself to read, I’m not going to enjoy the book. I want to read and review a book with a clear head!
I try to read a couple chapters before bed if I don’t read throughout the day, but like I said, some days I just don’t have the motivation.
You are definitely not alone, Jamie!
ashley says
My number hasn’t changed per say because of blogging, if anything the number has changed because I have less time to read because of graduate school (almost done!) but at the same time I keep better track of what I’m reading and my dreaded TBR list (AND NEVER FINISHING :'() I generally read at my lunch break at work to get a solid hour in. Of course that isn’t always true and accurate with other things in real life. But if I skip reading for a few days, I miss it.
Stormy says
I used to read about the same number of books before as you–30-40 per year. This year, I’ve already read more than all the books I read in 2012, which has really made me re-examine how I used my time. In high school, I read at least a book PER DAY. Maybe 2 days if it was really long. Obviously, I actually have to study in college and I have other responsibilities, so I don’t think I could ever keep up that pace again, but it’s shown me how much of my time has been spent wasting time on social networking(mostly facebook. . . I don’t even enjoy facebook. Twitter might be a time-waster, but at least I enjoy it!), and watching TV. Even now I’m only reading 1 book for every few days and I’ll still go days in between reading, but I feel I’m using my times in ways I actually want to.
DannyBookworm says
Oh gosh YES!!!! I mean I was always an avid reader but I have never read this crazy amount of books before. Now I read around 150 books a year which is crazy!
Jen (A Reading Daydreamer) says
These Before And After discussion posts are awesome because it really shows how blogging changes a reader’s life. I completely agree with you; I only read sporadically before I was a blogger, and only in my free time. After I was a blogger, I’ve definitely set out to read more books. I hardly ever take breaks in between books anymore because there are just TOO MANY BOOKS OUT THERE THAT I WANNA READ. It’s crazy. It’s a constant finish-a-book, pick-up-a-book type of deal. This is an accurate post, and I’m like you on many levels. Thanks for sharing, Jamie! 🙂
Rosie says
I just started adding book reviews to my blog and I am definitely reading way more than before. My goal is to read 5o books this year, so far I am on track to achieve that goal, but I will be moving back to the States in Nov. and then moving to who knows where, so I’m sure that may hinder my goal.
Jade says
I was recently thinking about this same thing, I’ve only been a blogger since very, very late 2012 (I’m talking last days here) and I’ve definitely noticed an increase in the amount of books I read. I don’t read a lot, well, compared to other bloggers. I hope to review at least one book a week, but I’m not going to lie, sometimes I don’t even get to do that. I feel like if I put that pressure on myself to put a review post up for appearance sakes, I will lose the enjoyment of my reading experience as well as the enjoyment of blogging being a fun thing.
I find this Before and After feature to be lightly thought provoking.
Ginger @ GReads! says
I most definitely read way more books now than I did before blogging. I average about 75 a year, which doesn’t sound like a lot compared to other bloggers, but like you I read when I want to read — and I don’t pressure myself to read more just so I can post more reviews. I am fine with my 1-2 reviews per week on the blog. It works for me.
Willa @ Willa's Ramblings says
Totally, Ginger! I only post twice a week, and it works for me too. I think the important thing is to do what you want to do, because, hey, you’re the one reviewing all those books, right?
Willa @ Willa's Ramblings says
As a blogger there is definitely a pressure to read as much as possible, but as a TEEN blogger, it’s even harder. Also, I’ve totally forgotten what it’s like to read a book and not review it. But that’s not to say I didn’t already read a lot, but blogging has really opened me up to new books. 🙂
Asti (A Bookish Heart) says
Ooh I’ve just started blogging, but I can see some difference. I think my biggest struggle is always with uni. When I have classes that require reading textbooks or classic literature or whatnot, I usually stop reading for pleasure. So for the past five years it’s pretty much been reading school mandatory stuff from September – May, and then during the summer I would get back into my reading groove and enjoy books. Now I have worked pleasure reading into my schedule with required reading, which hasn’t always been easy because I don’t like reading more than one book at a time, but I’ve worked it out. Either way, I definitely don’t stress myself about trying to read TOO much. I only do one review a week right now and have no plans on doing more unless I get more time to read. I don’t want reading to become a chore.
Savindi @ The Streetlight Reader says
I’ve noticed that I’ve read more since I started to blog, but like you I do feel a pressure to read more. Sometimes it can be difficult to handle that pressure because you want to write reviews. But then you don’t want to write reviews for the same of writing them because that takes the fun away. It also takes more time for me to write reviews because I actually write them out first before typing away on the computer. I noticed this year that I definitely don’t read well under pressure. It takes the fun out of it and hence I stopped participating in book challenges. Instead I just read whatever book that I feel like reading. Also I think I read more because I’ve discovered more books thanks to blogging. It challenges me to read outside my comfort zone which is always great. 🙂 Wonderful post Jamie! I hope you have a great weekend!
Candice @ The Grown-Up YA says
I don’t even want to think about how many books I read a year! But, I try not to stress out over how many books I read period. If I only read 50 books this year, so be it. I don’t know if I read more now that I blog than I did before, but I think I read more often than I did before – if that makes sense. Before blogging I would go through spurts where I read non-stop… then I’d stop and wouldn’t read anything. Now that I’m blogging, I read all the time, but I don’t think I really read a ton more than I used to. Love these posts; they really make me think about my life BB and AB (before blogging and after blogging!)!
Ariel @ One Little Library says
I love that you can say that you go a few days without reading! Since I became a book blogger, I definitely feel like I ALWAYS have to be reading something. I have learned, however, to strive for quality as opposed to quantity. I figure—what good is it if I read a ton of books and don’t like them? I’d rather read a few really amazing books than 50 average books.
Tara says
I read WAY more books as a blogger, mostly because I used to read adult books that were longer and more…intense. I find now when I read an adult book and it takes me longer I get frustrated–how wrong is that?! I should just take the time to enjoy every book, no matter the length or subject matter.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) says
Oh yes! I think I waited a lot longer between reads before I was a blogger, too. In fact, these days I have weeks where I’ll do just that. I then haev months where I can just read, read, read and not take a break … I just can’t find a happy medium!
Midnyte Reader says
I definitely read more now that I blog. And I’m so glad about it!
Jessica R says
I was the same way as you. I used to finish a book and then do other things for a while before I picked up the next one. I would sometimes go from one right into another, but only really when there wasn’t much else going on in life. Now I always have a book on the go. Always. It’s fun, and I love how many books I’m reading now, but sometimes it can get crazy!
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
100% absolutely with you. Before I was a blogger, I read about 30 books a year. Then I started obsessively buying books and read about 55 a year. Then I became a blogger and read 135 last year and I think I’m ahead of schedule to read about 150 this year. INSANITY.
But I love it and hate it at the same time. I have terrible reading retention (regardless if I’m rushing or not – For some reason I just cannot hold the details in my brain) but now that I’m reading SO MANY books in a week/month/year, I feel like it’s a little bit worse as far as remembering right off the bat what happened. Although I guess the good thing is, now that I’m writing reviews and discussing with bloggers, I get to read reviews and talk about the books all over again…. So I guess that’s helping.
SORRY, totally off topic and that was basically a blog post on its own haha. But long story even longer… I’m totally with you!
Leeanna @ Leeanna.me says
I’ve always kept lists of books read, ever since I was a kid, and I think I read about the same amount. Maybe a little less, because I get into review blocks and then I stop reading to try and catch up. I do have a good stockpile of reviews (at least 30), but I always forget to schedule stuff ahead of time.
I read at least an hour a day on my phone, and more or less with an actual book. I sneak in reading everywhere I can, which helps me read a lot. Very, very rarely do I go a day without reading. That’s only if I have a headache.
Reading Angel says
It’s the opposite for me. I read 200-300 a year before I blogged. Now blogging takes up half my reading time so I get about 100-150 read a year now that I read.
Sharon @ The Book Barbies says
Ooh, interesting topic!
I would be willing to bet that there hasn’t been a year since I was 6 years old during which I did not read 50+ books. But since I only started keeping track in 2007, I only have concrete records since then. I averaged around 75 books a year in 2007-8, but those were the height of my “book snob” years when the vast majority of my reading material came from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die/Rory Gilmore’s Books/Classics lists. And let me tell you, Atlas Shrugged takes a little longer to get through than your average YA or romance, LOL.
Then in 2009-2011, I read between 100-110 books every year. While the numbers are significantly more than 2007-8, I’d estimate that the TIME actually spent reading was approximately the same.
I started blogging late December of 2011. In 2012? I read 139. I am currently on track with reading about that many this year, if not slightly more.
I think one factor in this is that 2012 was also my first year of NOT being completely obsessed (as in, 5 hours absolute minimum a week spent doing things related to it) with The Vampire Diaries, since I cut it out a little before I started blogging. I also watched a lot less television in general and therefore spent less time reading fanfiction. Both television and fanfiction time went straight to books.
The biggest factor is definitely simply being so involved in the bookish community! I’ve learned about SO MANY more books I wanted to read. Reading, like anything else, is even more fun when there are people to share your love and excitement. However, I do not at all attribute my increased reading to wanting to have enough content for my blog. In fact, I sometimes want to slow down so I can get caught up reviewing all the books I’ve read already, LOL.
BASICALLY: Apparently, there are a lot of factors that impact this topic that I never even thought about until I started thinking about it today! But yes, my books-per-year count has definitely increased since I started blogging.
Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook says
I’ve always been an avid reader, but since I started blogging a year ago, I read soooo much more. I always have a book going. Partly it’s because I want to have book reviews for the blog, partly because I want to read so many books. Certainly my TBR pile has grown exponentially since I started blogging. But also, since I started blogging, reading has been so much more fun. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved to read, but now I have people to talk to about the books I read. It’s great!
Kelley (Another Novel Read) says
I actually started blogging BECAUSE I was reading so many books – but I have influence and lots of books available through my sister, a long-time book blogger. I do feel a pressure to read more and read often, so that I can have content on my blog, but also just so I can keep up with everyone else. There’s still no way I can read as much as most bloggers, though. I’m lucky if I post ONE review a week!
I wish I had time to read every day, but it doesn’t always happen. Usually during the week I get time to read on Mondays, Thursday, and the weekends. That stretch between Monday and Thursday is pretty brutal, because I want to read every day! But sometimes it is nice to have a break in there, too.
Alexa Y. says
I’ve always been a voracious, speedy reader. This is evidenced by the fact that I managed to go through books like they were crack when I was a kid. My mom insists I had to go to the bookstore or the library EVERY SINGLE WEEK to get something new to read. Whenever we had the SRA classes at school (this is basically a class where you’re required to read these stories based on what color level you are), I’d usually be done with the top color level two weeks into the year, and the teachers would encourage me to go and read other things (which was fun for me!). I always have had a pile of books – on my shelves, my bedside table, my desk… pretty much everywhere you can think of.
My habits haven’t changed all that much since blogging, since I read about the same amount or perhaps a little bit more than I used to read. I think it’s safe to say that I pretty much keep up the same pace because I’m that person that constantly using my extra minutes (on my commute, while waiting in lines or for events to start, my lunch breaks) to read. Since I do read pretty fast (or so my friends insist), I tend to finish a lot of books.
I don’t, however, feel the pressure to keep reading, especially if I’m not in the mood. Sometimes, it’s just wonderful to step back and experience life, to take a break from the written word and listen to music, or watch movies or TV or to hang out with people I love, or even take a break to do some of my own writing. I always believe (and always will) that life > books/blogging. That shouldn’t change, in my opinion, because it’s life experiences that will mean the most to us in the end. (Okay, that may have been off track, but that seriously is my opinion on the matter.)
Honestly, I think I read about 3-4 hours a day (2 hours on my commute, 30 minutes during lunch and the rest when I get home). I’m usually reading, as it’s part of my “getting ready for bed” routine and helps relax me. There are definitely days when I ignore it in favor of playing iPad games or watching TV or listening to music though.
This is such a great topic for this series Jamie! You definitely made me think and reflect a little on my own reading habits (though they apparently have not changed all that much).
Creative Mind says
I definately read more books since I started blogging, but I try not to feel pressured! After all reading is for fun!! 🙂 The greatest difference between my “before blogging” life and my “after blogging” life is the variety of genres.. Now I read more YA, paranormal and graphic novels- before I read most of the time epic fantasy. It still my favorite genre, but I enjoy the diversity in my book list!!
Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages says
I think my reading habits changed the most after I realized what a moron I was for not using the library more. I kind of read like you did, a book here, a book there after college. Then I got a Kindle and I read more consistently, but I still hated spending all that money. Once I could start taking books out of the library on my Kindle that led to a lot more reading, not only on my Kindle, but also with printed library books. The first year I had my Kindle I read 24 books, the year I could start taking books out of the library with my Kindle I read 114 books. Which is nuts, but I’m a very, very fast reader.
This year I started my blog and I’ve read 49 books so far. All because I wanted to, I don’t feel any pressure to read a lot except for the pressure of how many great books I’m now exposed to and wanting to fit them all in.
Traci says
I read more now, than I usually do during the semester. Since starting my blog in February I have read 7 books. A little less than one a week, but this i not including things I read for school. For me the hardest part isn’t reading, but actually writing the reviews. I’m not sure why that is harder for me though. I wish I could post reviews as often as other bloggers and maybe after I finish school this sumer, I will get a lot more done.
Skye says
I definitely read more now as a book blogger than I did before, at least as of the past few years. I fell into a kind of reading rut where I didn’t feel like reading anything despite my lifelong addiction to books, so I’m happy that reviewing has gotten me back into the swing of it.
I do feel quite a bit of pressure to read more so I generate reviews, but I made it easy on myself and post only one review a week right now. The biggest pressure for me, however, has been to finish a book when I don’t want to. I can be extremely picky about books, and before reviewing if I wasn’t engaged enough I would simply move on to the next book. Now I try to stick with a book to the end, so the previous reading time wasn’t in vain – although it can really be a bit torturous sometimes.
I’m always in a reading mood, but before I reviewed it felt like I was wasting time sitting around when I should be doing something more productive. Now reading counts as doing something productive, so I’m allowed to force myself to sit down and read! Definitely a win, even if there’s a little more work involved afterwards. 😉
Ashleigh says
I have a blog but I don’t do reviews or much of anything regarding reading. I do however read like CRAZY. So far this year I’ve read 67 books. Which is insane. My husband says it’s a super power. Last year I read 45 books but I had a job and I moved a couple times so I didn’t really have the time. This year I’m doing school but unfortunately I don’t have a job. On the bright side I can read all the books!
Janita (Book, Interrupted) says
I’ve never actually kept track of how many books I read in a year before I started blogging because I didn’t have Goodreads, or I didn’t write them down. I definitely read more than I did last year when I first started university, but before then, I’m not sure. I usually went to the library once a week to get new books.
Brie @ Eat Books says
I never kept track of how many books I read in a year pre-blogging, but I have a feeling I actually read more PRE-blogging, believe it or not! I think this is because when I finished a book, I just moved onto the next one I wanted to read….there was no review to write, no goodreads to update, etc. While I love blogging, sometimes I think all that time I spend blogging I could actually be reading! lol
Tammy says
I’m not a blogger. I read 130 books last year. This year my goal is 150 but GR says I’m 18 books ahead of schedule, yeah! I read in the morning while working out and then at night before bed. But I still have too many books on my kindle that I’ll never catch up to because reading books I check out from the library are the priority.
Ashley says
I definitely read more books now that I blog than I did previously. I always picked up the next book right after finishing the last, but I push myself to read more quickly now. It’s partly because there are so many more that I want to read, but a little is definitely because I worry about actually creating content for my blog. I don’t read nearly as much as some other really fantastic reviewers out there which worries me sometimes, but I’m trying to not let it stress me out.
Anny says
Hmm, well I blog about books but I don’t have a following, so I don’t feel pressure to read more or faster because people expect reviews. However, since getting involved in the book blogging community, I find out about more books, more new books specifically because everyone is talking about them, so I put the pressure on myself to read more because I have more and more books that I want to have the time to read. So yeah, my reading has increased, but not because of any outer pressure 🙂
Last year I read 50 books, but I studied and worked a lot and life was chaos. I’m still studying and working but I’m hoping to read more than that this year (I have my Goodreads challenge permanently set to 50 books because that’s a minimum I want to read to feel like I’ve even been remotely productive) 😀
Leah @ The Pretty Good Gatsby says
I try not to let the pressure get to me, but it’s definitely there at times. I can’t remember how many books I read a year before blogging, but these days it’s far more. I think my first year I read about 50-ish and have been steadily increasing that number each year, so yay, go me. 🙂
My goal for this year is 75 & if the past three months have been any indication, I can’t see myself having a difficult reaching that.
As far as the time I spend reading, I try to reach at least two books during the days I’m off and I’ll usually bring a book or my e-reader to work with me to read during lunch. Every once in a while I’ll go a day or two without reading, but for the most part, I like to keep on top of things.
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts says
I read SO MANY more books now that I’m a blogger. The first year I joined Goodreads, 2011, I only read 100 books or so, which I was really proud of and thought was a lot, comparatively speaking. Right now, it’s the first week in April and I passed 100 books read a LONG time ago.
And while it’s great I’m reading more and finding awesome books, I think the big downside is that my brain might be getting overcrowded. I find it hard to remember what happens in a book even a few weeks after finishing. Because I read so many books, it’s hard to keep them straight, and that never used to happen.
Rachael @ Rachael Turns Pages says
Joining Goodreads pushed me to read more books. I read 45 last year and this year I’m going to for 50, but I’m on track to pass that. It is crazy how much things change.
Laura Ashlee says
I definitely read more now than I did before I started blogging. Actually, the reason I started blogging was because I started reading so much. None of my friends were reading as much as I was and I couldn’t talk to them about the books so I thought I’d just talk to the whole world about them. It’s gotten insane. I just checked my Goodreads stats. In 2009, I read 34 books. In 2010, I read 141. In 2011, I read 217. Last year, I read 253 (though a good chunk were picture books). I’m up to 50 already this year. I’m shooting for 260 by the end of 2013. Not sure I’ll ever get any higher than that.
Kelley says
Hey! I’m a new blogger – weeks old – so super new! But I can already see there will be a change. I got my first ARC E-Books from Netgallery and just knowing they are there and need to be reviewed pushes me to read more. I on a typical month read 2-3 books.. I’m trying to hit 100 this year – or that’s my goal anyways. Reading is something I do because I love it though, and I never want to let it become a chore. The blog, i’m not getting paid for, i’m just doing it because of how much I love reading — and chatting with other people like me… So I think for me it’s about finding balance between reading, what I need to read for the blog, and my “real” job in society —
Nae says
I’m not a blogger, but I review books (sometimes).
So this year i have a challenge to review 50 books, I’m up to 20 so far 🙂
I read way more than that though. Since I finished Uni and now have a job in the city I commute about 4 hours a day. I read all that time, I always have something going and I hardly ever break between books, but i’ve always read this way, it’s not just because i’m commuting. On average I read 4-5 books a week and last year I read over 250 in the year (my first year at keeping track).
The main thing is I enjoy talking to everyone about books in the book community.
Meghan says
I’m not a blogger, so I can’t really relate to a lot of the comments here on that front, but when I started my goodreads account, I made quite a few bookish friends and my books read per year count increased exponentially because I finally had people to share and discuss with. I don’t feel pressure to finish arcs in a certain amount of time, but I definitely noticed that I put forth a lot more effort to keep up with my friends and read new releases. It can be hard to find that balance between real life (I’m in college and a Kappa Delta girl) and my life on goodreads. My junior year of high school, I read maybe 70-ish books. This was in 2010. Flash forward to 2013, and my new goal is 250 this year. This may seem like a lot, but the other girls I talk to have similar goals this year.
Molli says
It’s funny, I always considered myself a voracious reader, but looking back, before I blogged, I never read more than 40 or so books a year as an adult. (As a teen, with all the Sweet Valley, fantasy books, Stephen King I read, I’m sure it was more.) 2011 was my first partial year blogging, and I BARELY made it to 50 books. Last year I stressed SO much and read 120 but I was slowly getting miserable, trying to meet that goal. So far this year, I’ve read 38. In March? I read 7 books, and it was the BEST month since I started blogging.
This month I really need to crack down and get to all the review books I have, and I’m slowly making my way through them, but after that, I want to go back to just reading enough to have my 2 reviews per week. Like you said, that’s enough for me. I don’t WANT to post three or four reviews a week. I don’t want to kill myself reading a book per day because it takes so much of the joy out of it.
Emma @ Words And Peace says
I definitely read more now that I am a blogger. Even though I was reading a lot before, it seems I never hit 100 books/year before. I do now, and looks like it may be closer to 125 this year! It’s also the fact that I discovered audiobooks [perfect when washing the dishes, ironing, dusting the house, and painting – I’m an artist] and ebooks: I can read more easily in all kinds of places and situations. Plus of course the gentle pressure to finish a book for a scheduled review on a virtual book tour, and to join the discussions when several bloggers keep mentioning this or that book.
Judith says
So I haven’t commented on this series before, but I am so LOVING it. I haven’t been blogging for that long, but recently I’ve been thinking a lot about how different my reading habits are right now. As for this topic: I didn’t read as many books per year BY FAR. But then again, nor did I keep lists of the books that I read (I hadn’t heard of Goodreads either, so I couldn’t list the books I did read on there). While I’m happy I have been introduced to so many great books since I started blogging and I’m glad that I’m reading more, I don’t like the pressure this has added to the number of books I feel like I HAVE to read. Though I don’t like feeling pressured, so I have decided that I won’t be anymore. Let’s see if it works 😛
Anastasia @ Here There Be Books says
Like everyone else, I definitely read way more now as a blogger than before. Pre-blogging I read maybe 50-100 books a year; post-becoming a blogger I read closer to 200 books a year. I also pick up my next book much sooner. Sometimes immediately after finishing a book I’ll start a new one! I think I spend about the same amount per day reading, however, but because I don’t have any gaps between books any more my yearly total is still higher.
Michelle @ Michelles Minion says
I don’t know if my situation counts since I’m a bookseller and I’ve always been an 80-100 book a year reader, but I definitely understand what you mean about the pressure to read more as a blogger. I’m on pace this year to read about 90 books, which most people think is a HUGE number, but I feel like I should be reading more. I’m also a 2 book a week reviewers because that’s about all I can do having a three year old I have to entertain by day and working to sell books by night. Blogging definitely influences which books I read though. I have piles and piles of sequels I haven’t read yet that I just haven’t gotten to because I feel like I have to read new books for review. My time is stretched think because of how busy I am and it’s hard to make time for ALL the books I want to read.