The illusion of organized reading: 05/11/19

The last few weeks I've had lots of comments on how organized I appear to be with my blogging and my reading. That's just it, it's an illusion.

I know what my reading and reviewing goals are. The trick is to always have a mixture of books going at once. I keep track of what I'm reading and plan to read in two main ways. The first is GoodReads and the second is the It's Monday, What Are You Reading? meme.

Until last year, Goodreads only allowed the currently reading shelf to hold ten books at one time. Although the site allows more now, I have gotten used to having ten books going at once.

The reality is that of those ten books, I'm only ever reading one to three of them actively. The others on the shelf are there as to be read next.

So how do I decide what to read next? Well, partially that's where the meme comes in. I use the next week's post to keep track of what I'm reading. I like to cycle between a new book and a backlist book. If I have library books out, I try to read one of them each week. I also have my various themed reading and I try to keep one or more of them in play each week.

When I finish a book, I immediately put another book onto my currently reading shelf. If I finish a library book, I pick a new library book. If I finish a road narrative, I pick a new one. A mystery, a new mystery. And so forth.

But! I am human. I'm not a robot. I do have whims. And sometimes there's just something I really want to read. So I put that on the currently reading. And sometimes, I even start reading it right away.

So while it may seem like I have all my reading and all my reviewing planned for the foreseeable future, I don't. I do have a spreadsheet and I do have these two other tools, but they are ultimately "merely guidelines."

Comments  (6)

Comment #1: Sunday, May 12, 2019 at 13:44:01

Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out

I think most book bloggers have at least a vague schedule. While I’m monogamous, in that I only read one book at a time from start to finish, I made myself an about-to-read shelf on goodreads where I put books I’m planning on reading in the next week or so. When I finish my Currently Reading Book, I pick another one from my about-to-read shelf. Mostly I stick to it, sometimes I don’t . ARC’s get priority because I’ve made that promise by accepting them, but I choose them because I want to read them anyway. :) The main thing I try to ensure is that I have a variety of genres to read each week. Thanks for sharing your system.

Have a great reading week

Comment #2: Monday, May 13, 2019 at 20:46:00

Pussreboots

I'm mostly monogamous with my reading. I used to switch between books more often than I do now. I use my currently reading shelf much in the same way that you use your about to read shelf.

Comment #3: Sunday, May, 12, 2019 at 21:00:11

Lisa R. Howeler

I don't have a spreadsheet, that's for sure! You're still more organized thatn most!

Comment #4: Monday, May 13, 2019 at 20:51:00

Pussreboots

I started the spreadsheet when I was taking ARCs and doing give aways. Although I'm not doing either, I do find the spreadsheet useful.

Comment #5: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 10:05:59

Bryan G. Robinson

In the past, I have alternated between fiction and nonfiction, but lately I've been on a nonfiction kick. I operate more on whims, but I do have two books I plan to spread reading across the month of June.

Comment #6: Monday, May 20, 2019 at 21:19:00

Pussreboots

I haven't read as many nonfictions recently as I used to.