Are you reading more since joining LibraryThing?

Only just a bit, as before I had to hunt down a book I would like and that takes time, now I read off my group zeitgeists

To be perfectly honest, warbrideslass, LT hasn't influenced my reading whatsoever to this point. I'm still reading between 7 to 10 books a month, and my yearly average has remained between 90-95 books a year for the last 5 years. I usually write a very flexible 'reading plan' for each year, plus I've kept a reading list of every book I've read for the last 12 years, a habit which I highly recommend too, because the list is not just a terrific memory-jogger, but it also becomes sort of a map of my thinking for each particular year, valuable stuff when you choose to look back to see where you've been reading-wise.

LT has led me down many a new path at the bookstore. I've been inspired, for example, to re-try some classics because Thingamabrarians whose opinions I don't share have roundly condemned some classics I too have condemned.

The What Are You Reading? weekly thread is smorgasbord for my trips to Half Price Books here in town. Often I find myself reaching for the last copy of a book (eg, Haruki Murakami's A Wild Sheep Chase) at the same time another wild-eyed acquisitor is about to get it. Being quite tall and very determined, I'm ordinarily the victor, but I often wonder if my competitor is inspired in his/er selection by LT....

I am definitely reading more since joining LT. that may be partly because my lifestyle has changed quite a bit lately and I have more opportunity.

I can`t think of anything I`ve read as a result of an LT recommendation - though I`ve made a mental note to try one or two titles at some point.

Being in the book trade and being in LT have actually added to my enjoyment of books. I was a bit concerned about the business aspect as I know a professional musician who tells me he can`t listen to music with pleasure the way he used to. Fortunately, nothing similar has happened to me.

My reading, no. My library, yes. I'd never given it much thought as a collection. I never looked at it as a whole. I'd never quantified it or analyzed it. Now I have and I feel that it needs improvement. Not so much to bring it in line with others' expectations, but to bring it in line with my own unrealized expectations. This boils down to obtaining the books I've loved and read, but never owned, during the years. Gatsby and Rebecca and Gorky Park are working their way to me in the forms I want.

Also, I'm being less harsh in my view of purging my collection. Books I had slated for exile have now regained a place. To me they serve as markers of my psyche/sanity and are sometimes pretty funny.

The amount I read I think has changed more due to circumstances other than LibraryThing... although I find myself not wanting to give up time for re-reads of favorites when I've got such a big stack of to-be-read stuff laying around... LTs let me see just how daunting that stack is.

I think that HOW I read has been changed... well, I started writing mini-book reviews last January, and since I started LTing in August I've had a place to put them. But... knowing that I'm going to have to sum up my thoughts on a book once I'm done with it has made me read a lot more critically, and retain more of what I do read for longer after I'm done.

I don't read more, but I am more likely to buy a book I am interested in, so as to have one more to add to my LT catalogue!

O John that's so funny - that's just like me! It's the first thing I think of now when I buy a book, "Good, now I can add it to my LT catalogue" lol

I have found myself influenced a little by Thingambrarians' recommendations. I've tried reading some Neil Gaiman, someone I'd never even heard of before, and I'm anxious to read some Georgette Heyer again, haven't read her in 30 some years just as examples.

I feel like LT has opened up whole new avenues of literature for me and it's wonderful. I'm pretty much of a home body, so I guess that's why.

Richardderus - I love your "wild-eyed acquistor" - I sometimes see myself that way while in the used book store :-)

I think it's having the opposite effect on me - now that I can look at exactly which books I bought when, it's sort of worrying to see that I purchased 31 books in October and only read one of them. I may buy fewer in the future. (But in my defense, there are some great book sales around here in October... my book purchasing isn't usually quite that excessive, really....)

While I can spend alot of time in the groups, I'm also a member of the 50 Book Challenge on LiveJournal, and seeing the other members post their latest reads and stats, gets me back on track. But if I hadn't made one of my groups, I'd be still looking for more good books to read instead of whatever fell into my lap next. Thanks to my group I added 9 books for September and October, I'll finish my tenth 'LT found' book tomorrow.

I'm reading books from my library that I hadn't, until I joined LT, really given a chance to make an impression on me. Today I added the 365th book to my LT Library. I found 3 that I wondered why I hadn't read before: Children of Men by P.D. James; White Gloves by John Kotre; The Church of The Dead Girls by Stephen Dobyns. They've been in my library since I bought them, unread.

Discovering LT was like a lightning bolt. Why haven't I known about this until now???!!! So, yeah, I'm reading more, and going into intellectual overdrive with mindspin. I gotta say thanks to Abebooks for the connection. Back to P.D. James. Off the tv!

I find that I'm buying more books than I used to and buying more of a variety (of authors, styles, genres, etc). To make up for that, to try to make a dent in my TBR pile, I have stopped going to the library except for audiobooks. I used to try not to buy any books at all and only use the library to get books to read. That was before I realized the gold to be found in thrift stores, used book stores and library sales. I seem to have been hit by an aquistive bug. I've been feeling a need to physically own books I've read and there's a joy in cataloguing each new purchase on LT.

I guess I am reading more again.

I used to read a book per evening, often. Then I had 3 years of startup company work=life madness and read more like a book a week. If that.

Then i reclaimed my life but i didn't start rereading much, but LT kind of triggered more reading again

I'm definitely reading more since joining last Summer. The 50 Book Challenge thread is a huge impetus.

I'm sorry to say that I'm reading ~less~ than before, and it's partly because I spend a lot of time on LibraryThing. I tend to be a slow reader, so I'll never join the 50-book challenge, and consider myself lucky if I read even half that in a year. I've got the speed-reading training book; I still try to use the techniques; don't remember ~any~ of what I scanned and have to go back and reread it at my own pace. So, I may actually be spending more time reading (books, newspaper, LT posts – not necessarily in that order), but I’m not reading more books. LT has broadened my interest in the types of books I buy (and will eventually read), though, and I now keep a reading journal.

Who's got time to read with all these books to catalog on LibraryThing? :-)

Actually, I think I am reading more since having joined LT. I'm more aware of the books I have (especially the ones I haven't yet read), as well as ones I would like to get.

It takes a while to learn to read faster WHL, you can't just read a speed reading thing and have it work the next book. How I looked at it many moons ago was just trying to take in just a little bit more than I had before, then increase that. Not the finger down the page really fast hope it works thing.

At least this was in my case, anyway.

LT has reminded me how much I love to read. Life changes give me more time now--and that led me to the NYTimes article and consequent membership. I love cataloging my books and have added about 15 books to the already huge TBR pile. I keep a list of books I'd like to read but don't yet own. And, I need to get a ton more books cataloged--or purged!

Suggestions on the site have prompted me to buy certain titles/authors. Jodi Picoult's was an LT find and led me to The Tenth Circle and Songs of the Humpback Whale (touchstone won't load for this title). I also have renewed my desire to read and own more classics.

As for speed reading--I like to read each word at my pace for pleasure. No speeding/scanning when I want to enjoy a book. Reading for specific information is another case entirely.

Thank you LT!

I would most definitely say that I'm reading more since joining LT. Mostly because of all the recommendations I see on here that sound so good, so I spend most of my free time reading everything that has been recommended.

I'm reading about the same amount, but I'm thinking about my collection and planning my reading differently with LT. Tagging has enabled me to plan my reading through a subject more easily than before. Discussions groups have been a great source of recommendations. Sorting my books chronologically by publication date (which took a great deal of editing in the catalog) has led to a better system for organizing my books on the shelf. And I don't buy books impulsively like I used to; now I jot down the ISBN, add it my wish list, and buy the book when I'm ready to read it.

The discussion feature of LT has been a marvelous way to keep in touch with people about books every day, all over the world. I am very grateful to have it.

I don't think my reading has changed too much. I have always read a variety of genres and authors. What I find is that I have been introduced to new authors. I am always up for that! I read daily, always have.. Some days 500 pages or more... other days maybe just a few chapters. It all depends on time and level of fatigue after my day at work. I plan for reading time, and wake early to do chores so that the time is available later.

I do love LibraryThing! I love being in among others that understand the compulsion to read... and enjoy it.

I keep a huge running wish list of books to read since joining LT. I used to read tried and true authors, mostly easy read stuff. Non challenging at all and certainly not brain cell stimulating. I have enjoyed my switch to more intellectual books, although I do tackle the easy reads now and then. I'm trying to read more of the classics. I'm amazed at how many I've never read. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this group and opened up my world to tons of new and interesting authors. Unfortunately, I'm not near a book store so I have to order everything online.

My reading has definitely increased. Like I mentioned in another thread, prior to lt I would see or ask for book recommendations on other forums and would always get the standard Middlesex, The Kite Runner, or Eat, Pray, Love recommendations. This way I get to see and pick out interesting reads myself. My wish list is pages long now and I read a lot more.

It's been awhile since anyone has posted anything here so I'll start it up again. I am finding that my reading has increased since I joined LT. Case in point, up til now I have read more books this year than I have read in any one year within the last several years. Plus all the great recommendations I get from everyone here helps to expand what I am reading by helping me get out of my comfort zone. Plus my eyes have been opened up to Authors that are new to me that I may have never thought of reading before.

beatles1964

Well since I just joined this group recently I figured I may as well answer this question. I never really kept track of what I read before so I can't say for certain how much more I am reading.

I can say that LT has helped me with finding new books and authors to add to my library. I know I have increased in my reading because I usually would read one book a year if lucky but now I am reading a book every month or at least trying to.

Joining the "75-Books Challenge" group has led me down the garden path of clearing out TBRs. It's a huge boon!

I don't know that I'm reading more, but I am now able to keep track of what I've read and even my feelings of the book. I also like to see what other people are reading. It encourages me to branch out. Unfortunately the only place around here to buy books is the local K-mart and there's not much variety! I do have the type of job where I can sit for a couple of hours a day (when it's not so busy) and read. I call it book review! I love it!

I have been steadily increasing the number of books read per year, but not sure if it has to do with LT or not.

In the past (since 2001 when I started keeping track), I would occasionally have book doldrums, where I would read only 1 or 2 books in a month. I just couldn't find anything to interest me. I seem to have less of those now.

Perhaps being around others all the time (on-line) and reading about their book joys and adventures has helped to keep me fresh. I do belong to RL book groups, and talk with friends about books, but perhaps its not the same as instant, constant contact.

Who knows. Of course once I have all my poor months overcome, I expect my total per year will level off, because I am not a speed reader, and don't really want to be.

I am back to reading again. I like being able to keep track of the books but I really like the review portion.

Initially joined LibraryThing to keep tabs on what I actually had, since it had gone far beyond what I could remember, books split over several places, I was having trouble keeping track of swapped books, and it was an easy way to spot and avoid duplicates.

I've seen how many books I still have to read (big guess as some I'm not sure if I've read or not, and some - like reference books - are not necessarily something expecting to be read cover to cover).

I've got a bit more specific in my book searching.

I've been reading a lot more, in a more directed way since joining. Work recommendations are sometimes useful pointers to further reading. I've also noticed I read more now I don't have a TV, though I do watch rental DVDs on computer - it's a case of picking when, where, what and how to watch I think (in instalments or marathons, with subtitles etc). I've also been reading more since I joined BookMooch (initially as a way to get rid of some books I didn't want any longer and couldn't sell).

I like being able to track what I've read, not read, swapped (given away), swapped (received in), purchased or whatever.

I've only recently started writing reviews, and at first I thought that they had to be really considered, carefully written. Now it's more likely to be a quick response at the end of the book. Partly it depends what the book is.

I think I've also got a bit better about abandoning a book when it's not working for me. I used to slog through books regardless, and I realised I should pay attention more to the enjoyment. It's not a case of this medicine is good for you. What's more tricky is knowing whether to hang on to the book to revisit in 10 years time, or abandon all together and give it away. Mostly I swap it unless I think, well I'm not sure....

I'm reading more since joining LT. For years from about 2004 until this year, I slid into a television habit. Now I make time for reading. I only watch the news and a few documentaries on tv now.

I used to read everyday. The past two years have been far too hectic. Right now I am spending all my time logging my books. Once that is finished, I will be back to reading them. I lurk the forums quite a bit and know that I will be buying more books from reading what people have to say about them. I am so happy to have found LT!