I may need to start reading full-time

I mentioned last month when I did a quick summary of what I was planning to read next, at the end of my 2022 round-up, that the few books pictured there (2 fiction, 5 non-fiction) would probably take me till March to read. As I noted here three years ago, I only read 479 books in the decade 2010-19, so say 48 books a year. Obviously it depends what else is going on, and how thick the books are, but go with 48 for now. That's 4 complete books per month. Let's gloss over the fact that I only completed one book in January and pretend I'm on course to 48 this year. Now where have I seen that number recently?

I keep a handy list on my phone, of books I'd like to read. Whenever I see an interesting review or a recommendation on Twitter, or someone suggests a book they think I might like, it goes on the list. The idea being that if I'm in a shop or library, or OneMonkey asks what I want for Christmas, these are the books that get bought or borrowed. In fact, thirteen of them I now own, but obviously haven't got round to reading. The trouble is, there are 48 books on that list at the time of writing - a year's worth of reading - and I add to it faster than I remove entries from it. And there are at least 16 books that I own and intend to read soon, that weren't on the list in the first place.

When I finish a book and I'm looking for the next to read, I'm not always in the mood for one of the physical books sitting on the To Read shelf in my study. So I pick up the kobo and while it's charging up I have a quick look on the library's BorrowBox app to see if any of the books on my list are available. Typically they won't be, but after fifteen minutes' browsing I'll add two more books to the list and start reading the one I've borrowed that I hadn't heard of before then. The kobo goes back on the shelf till next time.

I used to commute to work. While I disliked it intensely, it did give me an hour a day on a train, when reading was the obvious and best way of filling the time. I'd often fit in a chapter or two at lunchtime too. I haven't had a daily commute since mid-March 2020, which is fantastic in almost every way, but means I don't have a habitual reading time. Books are always competing with cat-entertaining, housework, Twitter, online articles, the daily walk, podcasts, and writing.

I had a conversation last weekend with my two oldest friends (most long-standing, I mean. Or possibly long-suffering is more appropriate), about books we were reading now and next. Their To Read piles are sizeable but, I felt, manageable. Mine is out of control. Friend T is reading a book I like the sound of, she says she'll pass it on when I've made progress on my To Read pile. I fear it will never come my way.

If you want to encourage me to sit down and read, you can always buy me a cuppa…