What I read: The Valentine’s Edition 2022

BOOK COUNT FOR THE YEAR

• January: 14
• February: 5
• March:
• April:
• May:
• June:
• July:
• August:
• September:
• October:
• November:
• December:

WHAT LITTLE BUN READ

• Zoey and Sassafras (series). He read books up until book 7.
• Richard Scarry’s Busy Busy World
• Funniest Storybook Ever!
• Matilda
• The BFG
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• George’s Marvelous Medicine
• The Magic Finger

WHAT I READ

Work has been really … a lot. I have been working a lot more than before, so reading has fallen off the wayside.

Find your unicorn space

[ SELF-HELP, CREATIVITY, WORK, LIFE, STRESS ]

Long story short, find something that fulfills you. Not for work, not for your children or family, not for anything else but YOU. Working out in a gym does not count, it has to be something that really celebrates what you find fun and interesting, even as a cross-section of hobbies. Something you find interesting and are into. You need something that sparks your creativity that is unrelated to anything to do with anything but your brain.

BIG SUMMER

[ LIFE, FRIENDSHIP, GROWING UP, PAST, FICTION ]

An interesting read that dives (as usual) deep into the female characters. Some if it triggered me in terms of body sensitivity but, overall it was a good read, just not her best work that makes me scream that you have to read it, but mostly that the plot was forgettable.

INCONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION

[ ENVIRONMENTAL, IMPACT, CONSUMER, CHOICES ]

If you ever wanted to know the environmental impact of cotton versus cashmere versus wool or silk, this is the book to help you with the research and facts. Personally, my general rule of thumb is – secondhand is best. Secondhand, gently used, do without the item if you can, or buy secondhand. That’s pretty much it. A great read, even if you are already environmentally friendly.

HANOVER AFFAIR (LACEY REGENCY SERIES)

[ MYSTERY, FICTION, CAPTAIN ]

Honestly, I was disappointed. I thought I would like it more (I am a mystery genre fiend), but this left me lukewarm. I’ll give the second book a try because .. well, you have to try everything at least a few times, but I am not holding my breath.

THE LOVE THAT SPLIT THE WORLD

[ FICTION, INDIGENOUS, SCI-FI ]

I really enjoyed Henry’s other books, so because of her writing style, I picked this one up. It’s unusual, and I love the interspersed bits of Indigenous storytelling, history, and a bit of a background, addressing said issues. This, I have never read in a fictional book to date and I AM HERE FOR IT.

 

 

FAQ

WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU READ?

I read about 249 books last year, here are my favourites in a roundup from 2021. Here they are for the 2 years I started doing summaries:

• Year 2020 (217 books)
• Year 2019

I have them all under this category: What I read. I like to read food, history, mystery, style/fashion, and lifestyle. I no longer really read money books as they all say the same thing these days.

How do I read so quickly?

I don’t know either. I’ve been reading books for as long as I can remember. I feel like my sibling is the one who patiently taught me how to read one book, and from there, it exploded.

So, lots of practice? I have been reading for so long that words come easily to my brain, it’s like I see a picture of the word rather than reading the word individually. So “disastrous” would be a word that you read “dis-sas-trous”, but in my head it’s disastrous“, just one word, meaning imprinted. Makes sentences go a lot quicker.

Save for my parents, my entire immediate family is a family of voracious readers.

We read while eating, we read while walking, we read in bed… I guess I just followed what my older siblings did as they always had their nose in their books, and a few going at the same time (you know, the disrespectful way we read through half a book than leave it half open facing the table, spines cracked, no bookmark?).

I used to read 30+ books from the library a week – all young adult, easy stuff. I can read 2-3 books of young adult fiction in a current work day to give you an example, and as a child I had way more time than I do now, so I burned through books like a firestorm.

Our partners remark that they’ve never seen a family read so much, and I guess it’s true.

Where do I get my books?

A lot of you have asked and I generally don’t buy books unless they’re secondhand and in ebook format, for many reasons – price, environmental, space, and even then, I don’t buy books. I borrow them.

I read them on my Kobo ereader (also secondhand), and check out books from the library from Overdrive. If the book isn’t there, I generally don’t read it, UNLESS.. it is a book I REALLY REALLY want to read, then I MAY consider buying it if I cannot wait for it or find it. So far, I have only done this for Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. Libraries are a gift, and we pay for them in our taxes yearly even if you don’t personally use them, so thanks.

How do I know what to read?

I don’t. I see recommendations and make notes, or put it on my Wishlist / On hold. I sometimes go into bookstores and browse, then decide if it is worth getting from the library. Or in secondhand stores, I pick up or buy books only if they’re photography / style-related where pictures and colour are a MUST (the one drawback to an e-reader).

I purchased only two physical books in 2020 that I couldn’t / didn’t want to buy in e-book format: Distinction (it was cheaper secondhand than the e-book), & Scoff (not available in ebook format at all).

Don’t you prefer physical books?

Who doesn’t!?

Aside from the cost, the space they take up, how heavy they are (we have a small bookshelf, most of it is Little Bun), I find them heavy to hold and hard to read in rooms unless there is bright daylight or very strong lamp light (I suffer from aura migraines and I’ve noticed dim light or lack of light triggers it when I am reading). I really like that the ebook illuminates the book.

I’d rather carry my entire library around with me in an ebook reader, plus be able to read with a backlight on.

I am currently considering a library option however only because we plan on buying a larger home in the future and I could allow a small library in my closet, perhaps.

Likely, it will only be filled with photography and style books however. Those are the only books I really want in physical copy and ebooks won’t suffice.

Where do I find the time to read?

I just make time for it. I have no other answer…

I’ve noticed if I am not watching TV shows, or aimlessly browsing on Instagram, I seem to have plenty of time to read if I am able to foist Little Bun off on my partner and/or keep him occupied otherwise.

I can go through a lot of books in a short amount of time if I am both interested, reasonably well-rested (or in a good mental state, not in limbo or stressed out) and the book itself is engrossing.

I read while brushing my teeth as you need to brush a full minute to two minutes (I have the reader on a stand), and I read while eating or drinking tea, I read while Little Bun plays or reads…. I read every time there is a spare moment.