Count em'. How many books do you read?

[B.R.Stateham]

A person on another web site said they read five or more books a week. That's roughly 260 books a year. Krikies! That sound's like a lot of reading stacked on top of a normal every day life. Frankly, I find it damn lucky to have the time to read just 20 a year. But it made me start to wonder. A writer spends a hell of a lot of time fighting their way through a manuscript. Lots of time slaving away on their next book. How many books do they read in a year? Is there an average range a 'normal' writer reads (and define 'normal' by whatever measurement you think appropriate.)

Be brave. Guess what the average number is for you. Heck, I might have to up my numbers and find more time to read myself.

[CJ West]

B.R.

I read one book a month for book club and one book a month for my Blog Talk Radio show. That makes about 24 per year, though I do add in others that I read for research and also those that I find interesting. I'm a thriller writers and so my favorites are gripping reads that take me just a few days. I agree though, with all the time poured into my own manuscripts, it's hard to find time to just sit and read.

CJ

[Toni Osborne]

I read more or less 2 books a week (I am an early riser 5 am, need to be quiet not to wake anyone) . I do reviews and post my thoughts on different sites (some of you already know that), I find it an easy way to keep track. Since being a big fan of thrillers I am with C J saying if the novel is gripping I will finish it in no time. Last year I reviewed 69 books. I do expect reaching the same amount maybe more this year. No objective, I read for my own pleasure and I do read all genre.

[Larry W. Chavis]

I'll read 7 - 9 per month, a few more in the summer (my day-job is as a physics/math teacher).

[Johnny Ostentatious]

I pick up over a 100 books a year, finishing about half that.

[Kate Thornton]

I keep track of the books I read. I used to list them all on my blog, but that got tiresome (I am notorious for not updating that blog!) I read, on average about three fiction books per month and maybe one good non-fic every six weeks or so.

I read at least 2 or 3 short stories per day as I subscribe to several deliver-'em-in-your-emailbox services.

But I confess, sometimes weeks go by and I get busy or travel or spend all my time writing and painting. Then I'll get bitten by the bug and go through five or six books in succession.

It's hard to average when my activities are random, sporadic, frenetic and compulsive.

[Paul Brazill]

One a week, maybe more. Lots of shorts on the web.

[Sunny Frazier]

Since I started requesting books from the local library, I find having a deadline makes me push to get more reading done without feeling guilty for neglecting my writing. But, what's the point of reading fast? I tell my critique group--no, I INSIST--that they read all books actively, not passively. Look at the word choices, sentence structure, use of adverbs and a word I hate to see in good novels: "it." They say I've spoiled their reading, they can now easily pick out bad writing. I think that's a good thing!

After I've written a book, I hope the readers will enjoy not just the story but the craft as well. If not the average reader, than at least tell me the writers are giving me more than a quick flip through pages. I worked hard, give me a bit more of your attention! Read S-L-O-W.

[Karoline]

weekly average? about 2 books I week (again it depends on length of book) I've slowed down recently as I have a whopping 800 page book that I'm trying to read and it slows everything down. No regrets though, the book is pretty good.