Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
November 19, 2019: Top Ten Changes in my Bookish Life
I started blogging in September of 2015. I had no idea what I was doing, and still don’t. I have undergone many changes in my Bookish Life since then.
1. I had no idea that ARCs were a thing available to the general public. I love reading ARCs and getting in on the ground floor of a new book.
2. I used to just read physical books, but now read more on my kindle than physical books.
3. I used to save my favourite books to reread. I had so many bookcases full of books I had already read. I do not keep books to reread anymore, because I have so many books to read, I will probably not ever reread them. I donated them to various organizations to sell at used book sales. (Not my children’s books, I reread them all the time with my grandchildren)
4. Audiobooks are one of my favourite ways to read/listen to a book. A few years ago, I tried this medium and didn’t like it at all. Now, I think I listen to as many audiobooks as ebooks.
5. I will have several books on the go at the same time. I can read a physical book, an ebook and listen to an audiobook, depending on my activity. They have to be different genres so I don’t get confused, but it works.
6. I participate in blog tours. I never thought this was something I would do, but I enjoy it. I did get in a bit too deep (with six different publicity groups and some publishers) but have cut back a bit.
7. When I started blogging, I had authors reaching out to me to read and review their books. Now, I have publishers reaching out to me to read and review their books. Wow, never thought that would happen.
8. I read many more genres than I used to. I was pretty much a contemporary fiction and mystery/suspense reader before, and read the same authors over and over. I now read so many different genres and authors, that I will never read all the books on my TBR.
9. I review books. Now this sounds pretty silly, but I used to read a book and then move to another. I now reflect, and write my thoughts about a book. I review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and my blog.
10. Challenges: I read what I wanted, when I wanted in the past. With the various challenges I participate in, I have widened my genres, added new authors to my faves, and gotten out of reading ruts several times.
I loved the idea of having a reflection post reminiscent of a journal entry or something.
How has your reading life change recently or over time?
November 23, 2019 at 2:23 pm
I only learned about no.1 recently, too. Marvelous.
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November 23, 2019 at 2:49 pm
It sure is.
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November 21, 2019 at 6:28 pm
Oh yes – what a lovely post, Carla! I love the way your reading has expanded due to becoming a book blogger – especially since you have retired. I can also relate to finding you now read a LOT more ebooks than physical books and have also steadily increased your consumption of audiobooks.
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November 21, 2019 at 7:01 pm
Thanks Sarah. I always tell people the audiobooks are an acquired taste and may not be for everyone, but I have come to love them.
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November 22, 2019 at 6:31 am
Oh, me too! And I’ve recently converted Himself by buying him a Kindle that was able to play audiobooks – and now he can’t get enough of them:))
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November 22, 2019 at 9:58 am
That is awesome and there are so many read/listen options on Kindle Unlimited too.
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November 21, 2019 at 11:19 am
Some pretty big changes!
I can’t believe you don’t keep your books to reread anymore!
Ohh, doing all those tours keeps you reading at fast pace I believe.
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November 21, 2019 at 12:05 pm
I am trying to downsize, I plan to be out of this house in 4 more years, so it was time. Yes, I have been reading and posting, but not having time to keep up with the blogs I follow, which I really want to do.
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November 22, 2019 at 7:30 am
I understand, there’s always something that pays price, to say it that way. I also have hard time keeping up with my comments atm, but it is what it is. If we spend too much time blogging, we don’t get to read enough. If we read more, then we don’t get to interact with other bloggers… I’m still trying to find balance between everything…
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November 22, 2019 at 10:00 am
When you find it, let me know. 😁
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November 21, 2019 at 2:36 am
Love this post Carla!
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November 21, 2019 at 2:36 am
Thanks Nicki.
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November 20, 2019 at 7:27 pm
Many of your changes align with mine: I used to read more physical books than Kindle books but now I mainly read on my kindle due to ARCs either from NetGalley or for blog tours.
Blogging life is fraught with challenges and setbacks but I am kind of proud of myself for blogging for over 3 years. I was recently approached by a publisher with a recommendation of an ARC. Now, that was a surprise!
Great post, Carla!
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November 21, 2019 at 2:38 am
Thanks Noriko. Congrats on blogging for over three years. That is awesome. I was so excited the first time a publisher approached me. That is great and more will come, I’m sure.
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November 20, 2019 at 3:04 pm
I love this, Carla. We have so much in common. I’m pushing to read more on my Kindle, but I’m currently still reading more physical books though. I too had issues with audios at first! In fact, we used to grab the CDs from the library and I disliked it so much because of the fact that you can’t save your location. Thank goodness for Audible, the library, and places like Scribd. ☺️ Thanks for sharing this. Inspiring ♥️
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November 20, 2019 at 7:19 pm
Thanks Jen. When I took the time to think about the prompt, I was amazed at how much my reading has changed in the last few years.
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November 20, 2019 at 1:27 pm
I don’t get much time to read, but love the recommendations I get from bloggers- I’ve found sound wonderful new books that I might otherwise have never tried!
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November 20, 2019 at 7:18 pm
Absolutely. I have read some of my favourite books based on recommendations from fellow bloggers.
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November 20, 2019 at 12:14 pm
My reading and writing life has changed hugely since I started blogging too, Carla. I originally only read classic books, dramas, biographies and children’s books, now I read thrillers, science fiction, horror and even cozy mysteries, which I didn’t think I would like. I have found I like a lot more genres than I thought I would. My wider reading range and the encouragement of all the lovely bloggers and writers out there, have encouraged me to spread my writing wings too and I am now writing murder mystery and horror short stories, supernatural fantasy and even science fiction.
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November 20, 2019 at 12:21 pm
The blogger community is amazing. I love that it has not only changed your reading, but your writing as well.
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November 20, 2019 at 10:20 am
You’ve made some pretty major changes in your reading, Carla💜
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November 20, 2019 at 11:48 am
I sure have. Being retired enabled me to have so much more time to read for enjoyment.
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