How is it going so far?

@advil Read “five” books so far and midway through another. (Five in quotes because one was originally published as three separate novels that were later combined into a single omnibus.)

I try to keep my reading progress updated here (https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/ophiuchus) for any interested bettors.

I feel your pain on all of this (I started a book reading accountability market for next year too, for similar reasons!)

it's a pretty big leap to go from 12 to 52, particularly with.the potential barriers you listed. are you setting yourself up for success?

I hope you meet your goal!

@shankypanky Before the end of the year I’m going to go through my bookshelves and decide which ones I absolutely want to read that I already have. I’m aiming to have 26 ready to go so I can grab one immediately upon finishing another, and still leave half my list open to whimsy.

The other trick I might use is listening to audiobooks in Japanese. I find it much more enjoyable to do that instead of normal English books as the VAs are professionals instead of freelancers. That said, the Serkis rendition of LotR sounds incredibly promising.

I think those two strategies might help put me over the edge, along with alternating fiction and nonfiction to keep it lively. One of the main reasons I take longer to read books in the first place is that I write extensively inside them while reading, so I might gain a little speed if I refrain from doing that too much.

@Broseph that all sounds like a solid strategy - I took a similar approach and started a spreadsheet where I collected the titles of some books I (theoretically) have on the go now, which I won't count but gets me started with visibility and accountability. Then I built on the list with some books I own and can choose from so I'm not in the weeds when I finish one. Similar to you, I have some real challenges with focus (and I'm great at starting books but terrible at finishing them).

I definitely think this is more attainable when you say you're also up for giving audiobooks a try. My goal is 24 and I hope that's on the low side but wanted to feel like it's a number within reach. Hope we're both celebrating this time next year!

@shankypanky Spreadsheets for reading 🤯

@Broseph haha - check my markets you'll find it. I linked it there (tbh I was inspired by @firstuserhere's reading goals market/tracking although mine is much more rudimentary)

@Broseph lots of people are more motivated with lists (building or crossing things off of them) so if the spreadsheet idea is alluring it might be a good ally for your journey here!

How many books would you say you read this year?

@GrantGwynne Finished ~12. It’s hard to say exactly though because I started many more than that and dropped them partway through.