Monday, August 28, 2017

How Blogging Has Changed My Reading Habits


Hi everyone!  I'm back from vacation - we had a great time!  I didn't get in a lot of reading (mostly on the plane), but that's ok because I got a lot of quality time with my niece and nephews!  Today I'm delving into how blogging has changed my reading habits.  It wasn't something I expected, but becoming a book blogger has actually had a big impact on what and how I read.

I read a lot faster than I used to. 
I used to read maybe 70 books a year, which is still a lot, but last year, the year I started to blog, I read 130 books.  Instead of lingering over one book for a week, now I read at least two books a week.  Now that I have an ever-growing TBR, I want to read everything, and the only way I can read more is to read faster!

I go to my library a lot
Like, all the time.  At least once a week.  I don't have the money to buy books all the time and especially not if I'm reading at such a high rate.  I really rely on my library and I'm so lucky they have a great collection.

I read more new releases. 
I never really used to pay attention to publication dates; I would just read whatever looked interesting.  Now I'm constantly coming across new books (through Goodreads and especially through all my fellow bloggers!) and I want to read them as soon as they're released.

I'm making notes in my head as I read, even if I'm not going to review a book. 
I think I read a bit more critically and I make mental notes of things I would have discussed had I been writing a review.  All those things we talk about in reviews (character development, plotlines, writing style) - I seem to notice all these things more.

I'm branching out and trying new genres.
I'm more willing to try something different, especially based on recommendations from other bloggers.  Reading so many other blogs has really opened my eyes to all the books that are out there and genres that I never even knew existed.  It's inspired me to start my own feature in which I read books from genres that are outside my normal comfort zone, and there are also some genres, like YA and fantasy, that I'm reading pretty regularly now that I didn't before.


How has blogging changed your reading habits?


24 comments:

  1. I read a lot more books than I used to. However in the last 2-3 years I've been reading less and less books again when I compare to previous years but that might be because I've been reading more bigger books.

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    1. Yeah, reading longer books has a definite impact on my totals. I've been reading one 800-page book for a month now!

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  2. Blogging has changed my reading habits in a lot of the ways you've mentioned as well. I'm definitely more "new release centered," and while I do love reading new books, I want to eventually balance it with older books since I have a lot of those as well. Branching out and trying new genres is one of my personal favorite things that have happened. When I first started blogging, I stayed in a very select area of books, but anymore I'll basically read anything. Great post, Angela! :)

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    1. Thanks, Lauren! I find myself gravitating towards new books, so to balance that out, I've been doing a backlist reading challenge this year, to remind me to read older books!

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  3. I definitely read more. Blogging made me check out audiobooks which I love now. I buy more books!! I am always looking at the kindle sales and bookoutlet. I have also branched out on genres. Great post :)

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    1. Thank you, Grace! I haven't tried audiobooks yet, but if my work commute gets any longer, it might be something worth trying!

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  4. I read a lot more than I used to. I also read fewer classics because the newer books are just too tempting.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I definitely haven't been reading any classics, although "Rebecca" is on my list for this year. I do want to read more classics, though.

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  5. I hadn't thought about how blogging changed my reading habits, but it definitely has! I don't read as fast as you do, but I have read way more books since I started blogging. Reading other blogs is a great way to find recommendations from genres I generally don't read.

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    1. I know, I have been exposed to so many new genres I didn't even really consider before! It's been fun to branch out.

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  6. This is such a great post :) I'm glad you had a relaxing vacation.
    I can relate to many of these points here: I read so much more since I started blogging, and much faster as well, since...well, I've got a bit of training now. I get to new releases quicker because there is this thing called the hype that we can't quite escape, ahah. I've wandered more into new genres as well, now I really love fantasy, while I wouldn't have read these kind of books too much before :)

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    1. Thank you, Marie!

      Oh yes, the hype - sometimes I feel more pressure to read hyped books so I can be part of the crowd!

      Fantasy is definitely a genre I am reading now that I never really did before - I find myself adding new fantasy titles to my TBR all the time!

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  7. Absolutely wonderful post!! Since I have started book blogging, I also read more new releases!

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    1. Thank you! I feel like I find new books almost every day, and I want to read them right when they come out!

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  8. I'm so glad to hear you had a great vacation.

    I relate to everything in your post, especially reading faster and being more aware of new releases.

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne!

      Sometimes I even surprise myself at how quickly I go through books, yet my TBR never gets any shorter!

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  9. I was asked to join my blog just this January, but I have have noticed that I read a little less. I now have to give up some of my reading time for writing posts and social media associated with the blog. I have always written Amazon/Goodreads reviews after I finished a book, but now I feel so much more pressure when I write a review, that it takes me a lot more time. Discussion posts are also very challenging for me. I love commenting, and always have, but coming up with an idea and executing it is a lot more challenging. My daughter has been book blogging for years, so I always had her ARCs at my disposal, but now I am reading more in the genre I enjoy the most.

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    1. I can definitely see how blogging could make some people read more and some people read less! Writing posts and doing everything else associated with a blog takes so much more time than I thought it would. I didn't really write reviews before I started blogging, and now than I am, I see how much time they really take!

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  10. Yes to all of these except for the last one. Well, idk that I read faster, I just read more. And I read so many more new releases because of NG and arcs. I kinda hate that I make all those notes in my head and whatnot as I'm reading. I feel like it makes it harder to just sink into the book, but I can't seem to stop doing that now! But reading so much has actually helped me figure out what my taste is and exactly what genres I like, so I just stick to those now.

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    1. I know, I really have to force myself to just enjoy a book and not analyze every little thing.

      I've found I like a little bit of everything, my mood changes all the time and I crave different genres.

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  11. YES! Book Blogging totally changed my reading habits!

    I, unlike you, now read LESS because I have less free time! A lot of it is taken up actually BLOGGING instead of READING! :)

    I also read a lot more new releases or ARCs and I definitely make notes!

    I haven't branched out too much - I may have even become more focused on YA fantasy because that's the new releases/arcs I'm being provided! But I am still loving what I'm reading and I'm now trying to strike more of a balance between my backlist 'for me' books and my new releases. :)

    Great post!

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    1. Thank you, Di! I can see how bloggers might actually read less than before. Blogging takes a lot of time! I think if your blog is focused on one genre, it makes sense that you would read that more.

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  12. I can relate t most of these, especially trying new genres and reading outside of my comfort zone. Never used to read thrillers much, or contemps or even YA- now I read 'em all! So glad I discovered so many new favorite authors! Same thing w/ new releases.

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    1. I know, I can't believe I used to think there were lots of books out there - I had no idea about whole genres!

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I'm so glad you stopped by, and I would love to hear your thoughts! Comments are always greatly appreciated!