Reflections on 2009 Reading Challenge

When I checked in on week 51 of my "52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge" and saw that I was only four books shy of reading 80 books in 2009, and I knew that reading one book that last week would bring me within 3 of 80, I knew I had to shoot for the big 8-0. I doubt I will ever even get close to that number again, so it would stink to be that close and not make it. When I finished my 80th book on the morning of the 31st, I put it down and declared that I will not be reading again any time soon. Of course, I had another book in my hand by that afternoon and picked up others at the library today. I thought I would take this opportunity to interview myself on my thoughts about the reading challenge.

How did I find the time to read 80 books in 2009? I wonder that myself. I don't have cable or even local-channel TV, so that had to have helped. I don't think I've spent much more than 10 minutes on my computer at any given time this year. I used to surf around lots of sights and research all sorts of things. Looking back on the year, I think I spent that time reading instead. I read whenever I had a few minutes. I read as I fed babies their bottles. I read when the kids had their silent reading time in the afternoons. I read between activities and as long as possible at night, which was not often very long because I get tired quickly at night. I know that I woke up in the middle of the night on several occasions and read myself back to sleep. I walked fewer miles in 2009. My housework probably suffered. I spent days reading books while recovering from surgery. I read more books to myself and fewer to my children--hmm, maybe that was bad. It all added up to just enough time to fit in 80 books.

What did I learn about the books I like to read? I found that a large percentage of the books I read are non-fiction. I enjoy memoirs. I like historical fiction. I like books that challenge me to do better in an area of my life. I am most likely to read fiction when someone gives me the book or when my book club assigns it. Those fiction authors who are wildly popular just don't seem to tempt me. I know they are wildly popular for a reason, so maybe I should give them a chance. I just seem much more drawn to non-fiction.

Are there certain books that I've read that I most enjoyed/will remember? I guess the only fair way to answer this is off the top of my head, without looking through the list of all the books I read. Water for Elephants was powerful, and I especially remember that I don't want those I love in a nursing home unless absolutely necessary. Gang Leader for a Day explained the Chicago gang culture in ways that I never even imagined. I'm a more understanding person for reading it. I loved The Book Thief. I really enjoyed Still Alice even though I was paranoid of my own mental capacities the whole time I read it. I think the sum total knowledge I gained from the financial books I read and the self-management books I read has made me a better person. I know that I'm going to look back over my list and kick myself for forgetting to mention a lot of other books, but those are the ones that I can think of right now.

If I was challenging myself to read 52 books in 52 weeks, why did I keep going and even work extra hard over Christmas week to get to 80 books? Those who know me well, know that I love a challenge. I don't tend to do things half way or even "good enough" or "just right." I go overboard. I push myself to extremes. I don't know why. I read extra during the first months just in case I couldn't find the time, energy, or desire to keep up with it all year long. I read extra during the middle months because I was doing well and used to reading and didn't see a reason to stop. I read extra at the end because my son was reading extra and I didn't want him showing me up too badly, and then I had numbers like 70 and 80 starting to look like attainable goals. It's funny that Brishen and I ended on exactly the same number. If the final week had been a normal week and not a week of late nights spent playing with cousins and no time to read at night, he would have easily beat me. I would have been happy to have him beat me, but it's kind of nice that we ended on that same number, even if I know he read tons more books than I did if I count his school books.

Will I be doing the same challenge in 2010? Nope. I love a challenge, but I prefer a new challenge. I will be glad to read a magazine and not worry that it is cutting into the time I have to finish a book. I will be glad to bring a book that I am not enjoying back to the library without feeling that I really should push through it since I already spent so much time on it. I will be glad to read a book or no book at all and not tell anyone about it. It really is a very personal thing to tell a blog (and possible readers) about every single book I read. If you know the books I read, you know a lot about me, and I don't get to know the same about you!

Will I ever read another book? You'll never know! Just kidding. I have a couple that I am reading right now. I got a couple more at the library today. I have lists of books that I want to read. I have subjects that I want to explore. I have a good example that I want to set for my children.


Dave Ramsey likes to quote a man, I'm not sure who, who states that you will be the same person you are today five years from now, except for the people you meet and the books you read. I will be a different person in five years because I will have read a lot of books. Dave also mentions that the average millionaire reads an average of 1 nonfiction book a month. I won't be a millionaire, but I'll have little trouble maintaining that reading average. I'm going to keep reading. I've had a whole year to start new habits, and I plan to keep up with them. I'm just not going to count...or tell.