Mid-Year Reading Check In

January:          7 books   ::    3 audio / 4 novels    ::        Total- 7/52

February:     10 books   ::   4 audio / 6 novels     ::        Total- 17/52

March:           8 books     ::   3 audio / 5 novels     ::        Total- 25/52

April:              9 books    ::    5 audio / 4 novels     ::         Total- 34/52

May:               9 books    ::    3 audio / 6 novels      ::        Total- 43/52

June:               9 books    ::    5 audio / 4 novels       ::        Total- 52/52

Only halfway through the year, I met my reading goal of 52 books.  I was kind of blown away.  But really excited! Most months I read 9 books, and in February I read 10! If I keep this up, I could read 100 books this year! That would be a first!

I know one of the main reasons I have been able to read so many books is because I use audio books.  Listening to them while I do chores around the house; walk the kids to and from school; and when I drive to appointments (Logan & Wyatt's specialists are out of town) or to visit family gives me far more "reading" time than if I was strictly reading books myself.  I use the Overdrive & Hoopla apps for audiobooks.  Overdrive works by using your library card to check books out to you, for 14 or 21 days.  Hoopla also uses your library card to check books out to you, but instead of waiting for books to become available, you are allowed 7 books per month (audio or ebook) and they are immediately available.

I also am reading more this year because I've made it a priority.  I want to be spending my time reading.  So I try to always have a book with me wherever I go (doctor appointments, to the pool or park, in the car, etc.), and I try to do at least some reading everyday.  I also have started setting page goals when I sit down to read. Like, "I'm going to read 50 pages" for example.  That has helped me read books a lot faster than usual.

Also this year I gave up ebooks, and am only reading real books.  I found that I just much prefer the feel of the pages in my hand to my phone or kindle.  When I was nursing Carly for her first two years, reading via the Kindle app made my life easier (the one handed convenience) but now I am happy to be back to real books.  In addition to all that, I have given myself permission to DNF (Did Not Finish) books that I don't like.  In the past I forced myself to finish every book I started.  But no more.  And my reading life is so much better because of it.

Now, without further ado, 

I will share the best (and worst) 

books of 2019 thus far.

Best Audio Books:

Honorable Mentions:

Most Disturbing Good Reads:

 Midwife Novels:

DNF/Do Not Recommend:

Great Biographies:

If you're looking for book accounts to follow on Instagram for reading recommendations, I suggest Readwithkat and Modern Mrs. Darcy and Haverlee.  They are my favorites.

As you can see, I went through a midwife period and I found I really love biographies.  I think getting on a kick of certain kinds of novels also increases my reading speed and consumption.  I get excited and am really motivated to keep reading.  

I truly am curious, what genres or themes get you excited? What kind of "book kick" have you been on in 2019 so far?  For the rest of 2019, I will be reading my neighborhood book club picks (Eden's Outcasts, Murder at the Brightwell, and A Severe Mercy) as well as The Inspired Readers Book Club books- The Perfect Couple and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Other than that, I am going to try and follow my heart and just keep reading!!!

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