I began blogging about books in early 2008, and have done so off and on (mostly on) in the seven years since. During that time, I’ve come to realize that I’m a bit different from many book bloggers. I don’t say that in a disparaging way – toward myself or toward book bloggers. I love this community, and I love my kinda-unusual place inside it. The diversity and acceptance of this world is what makes it so wonderful.
It is okay that I am a book blogger that prefers to go out with friends instead of staying in to read a book. I am an extrovert. Yes, I love books, but I love people even more. I love discussing books with people. I love going to bookstores with friends, and meeting up with booknerds from around the world, and attending conferences, and going to book clubs, and making new friends. Hey, the reason I started blogging in the first place was to meet fellow like-minded people!
It is okay that I am a book blogger who focuses on decreasing the number of books I read each year. Years ago – through blogging, in fact – I discovered that my happiness did not increase with the number of books I read, and that actually, I began to resent books when I was reading dozens each month. I didn’t remember them, didn’t appreciate them, didn’t feel good reading them. It is hard for me to slow down and really take my time with each book, to give myself time and space between books, but when I push myself to do this, I get more of everything – pleasure, meaning, refreshment – from the written word.
It is okay that I am a book blogger who does not want to own a huge library of books. No, I don’t like to own a whole lot. I want to own only those books that I’ll revisit again and again, the books that make me happy. I don’t want to own books before I read them, and have no trouble not bringing new ones home. My public library system is wonderful, and my home library consists only of those books that bring me continuous happiness. This was recently brought home to me by a Facebook group for book-swapping, when I realized I literally have fewer than five books on my wishlist at present. And that’s okay.
It’s okay. It’s all okay. There is room for all different types of us in the book blogging world, and really, that makes me so very happy. I love all you people!
The Zen Leaf 
All very good ways to live a balanced and fulfilling life. I appreciate all the book bloggers, those who read more books in a year than I could ever read in several years, and those who only managed a handful of books each year but are passionate about discussing them when they touch a cord.
BTW, congrats on your move back home, your excitement is palpable. It is good to be in a place that makes you happy.
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It’s really nice to be in a place – both physically and mentally – that make me happy. 🙂
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I love this post! I always identified as a different sort of book blogger as well. I think more people need to remember that diversity is awesome. 😉
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Diversity IS indeed awesome. 🙂
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Totally okay on all 3 ….even though I’ll never understand not wanting a huge library. 😉
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Ha! Well to each his own, right? I’m just happy I have a good library system.
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Love this! I’m an extrovert, too, and I feel kind of out of place sometimes because everyone assumes I am introverted or that everyone who loves to read doesn’t like being social. I can walk up and talk to anyone on the street and be instant friends with them. Doesn’t mean I don’t love curling up with a good book, too!
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This. Exactly this.
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This is the kind of thing I’m constantly trying to drive home to a couple of friends who feel like they’re not *doing it right* as readers. No, no, no, whatever you’re doing is right if it makes you happy. I like being surrounded by books but if you have a super library system and are perfectly happy with 6 books in your house and a few library books marching in and out each month, fine. If you’re a slow reader, don’t compare yourself to others. What you read is fine as long as you’re enjoying it. I’ve actually deliberately slowed down my reading, this year, for the same reason you have. I felt like I was blasting through too many, not getting out of each book what I desired. Reading fewer ARCs has really helped my reading improve, also.
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Heh, well, I’m not happy with SO few books, I probably have around a hundred or so, but yeah, I’m okay with a more minimal amount.
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Great post. I’m still wrapping my mind around the idea that it is okay if I only read a handful of books of year and only post a handful of times per month. Everyone is different, and as you say, that’s okay.
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It took me a couple years to get there. 🙂
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I have had some of the same realizations. Last year I only read 30 books, whereas before I had kids I was reading 100+ books a year. Because my reading time is more limited now, I am much pickier about what I choose to read. And I get almost all of my books from the library now, instead of hoarding them. I am slowly going through my library and selling the majority of my books. If I didn’t like it or won’t read it, why hold on to it?
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That is exactly it!
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Yes, it’s ALL okay!
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🙂
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Yes! There’s no wrong way to book blog. 🙂 I have my definite tendencies (which happen to be the opposite of yours above!), but what’s the fun in pigeon-holing yourself? We need all types and also to accept that we’re more fluid than we think!
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There was a time when I wanted to acquire more and when I focused on reading more. But it’s been years since then. ;P
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