Books & Things

Inspired by the most recent ep of Currently Reading, I thought it would be fun to delve into reading habits lately. (Mine, but if you are reading this, I am also interested in yours!). Here we go, in 5 parts because apparently everything is more fun to write about that way.

1- I consider myself a Medium Volume Reader. I heard a stat (maybe on Currently Reading?) that only 4% of Americans finish 50 books per year. I tend to hover right around that point, and while that means that on the grand scheme of things I do read more than most people, but out in blogland it seems to be common for people to be snarfing 10+ books/month (these two lovely friends are good examples!).

I like other things (podcasts, music, TV, deep text conversations with friends + family) too much to do that and also work, so I am pretty content with my ~50ish books/year.

2- I consider myself a Medium Ambition Reader. I like reading books that challenge me sometimes, and I also love Elin Hildebrand, Liane Moriarty, and Taylor Jenkins Reid. (I also think those three women are all good writers!). I love a good mix, really. I often like books that are a little bit twisted (FAVES: Annie Bot; Sky Daddy), but I dislike an outright unlikeable protagonist (what can I say? When I read I feel like I am hanging out with the characters and I don’t love hanging out with people that annoy me that much. Two examples: Yesteryear and Yellowface).

I am also not that into fantasy (though I will enjoy a quasi-crossover like Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo!) or dystopian tropes. I guess I just don’t like thinking about the world ending in my spare time.

3- I read a lot of Non Fiction / Personal Development compared to most people. Three reasons: a) I am now an author IN that genre, so it’s great to see what people are doing; b) it’s often great fodder for my podcasts – I usually read the entire book of any guest coming on; and c) I like them!

(I know many people don’t, to the point where I will warn people in my real life when ask me about my own work that “It may or may not be your kind of thing.” Ahh well – that’s okay, something for everyone!).

4- I LOOOOOVE A PAPER BOOK. Love it. From the library, bookstore or (gahh, sorry but it happens) purchased in one click through Amazon. I rarely read an audiobook and I hate reading on the phone or Kindle. I do have one, but I don’t know where it is. I often bring a paper book with me to appointments or any time I think I might have to wait. I tend to carry a big bag. For better or for worse, I do not live in a walkable place so it’s not a big deal to have a bigger bag that I throw in the car.

5- I tend to have 2 books going at any one time: one nonfiction (can be memoir) and one novel. Right now I’m most of the way through The Glass Castle and Long Island Compromise. It’s a funny pair actually (one family incredibly poor, another incredibly rich). Nonfiction I mostly read in the morning, and my fiction pick is for nighttime. The main activities getting in the way of reading are a) scrolling (if I’m in a bad mental space – thankfully not frequent lately!) and b) TV. And just to be clear, I have no regrets about TV. I love good TV! I love having a show with Josh, a show with the kids, and often a “just me” pick, though right now I don’t have one (and am open to suggestions. I have not yet gotten into Heated Rivalry . . should I?).

And for fun . . . here’s my current library holds list!

I will often stop my walk and add a book to my holds list while listening to Currently Reading or What Should I Read Next (by Ann Bogel / Modern Mrs Darcy)!

Finally, here’s my current 2026 reading progress (LOWER numbers than prior years but I feel like the momentum has picked up lately so I wouldn’t be shocked to end close to the usual ~50).

Tell me about your reading life!