This week’s prompt: Has your perspective on reading changed as you’ve grown older? If so, has it affected how you write your reviews?
I love this prompt. What a great one. Of course a lot has changed about my reading as I’ve gotten older. Here are some:
- I’ve realized that I don’t have to finish books I’m not enjoying, so I’ve gotten better at moving on to the next one or possibly trying again another time.
- I learned how to listen to audiobooks, which was a game changer for a new mom. I couldn’t have read most of the books I’ve read over the last 6 years or so if I hadn’t learned how to read via audio, because I don’t have time to sit and pick up a print book very often. This has been the biggest and most important change.
- I don’t chase review copies anymore because I need to have the flexibility to take breaks and don’t want to let down authors or publishers. I’m hoping in the future I’ll be able to again, though!
- That said, I have discovered that judging for The BookTube Prize is a hugely enjoyable experience, and though I missed last year, I’m hoping to get back into it again. It’s a great opportunity to read along with a group and to push myself outside of my usual comfort zone.
- I re-read books now. I didn’t used to because there are so many new books I haven’t read yet and limited time, so it felt like re-reading was a trade off. But I’ve also realized that reading is supposed to be for enjoyment. Reading a book I haven’t read in a while that I know I loved, especially if I’m interested to see how I feel about it after some time has passed, is actually a wonderful experience. I’m a convert!
- I try to read more varied books from genres I used to ignore, I also try to read about issues I’m interested in as a way of learning more about the world and stretch my understanding of things I haven’t experienced myself. I love this about reading, it’s a great way to explore other people’s lives and challenges.
That’s all I can think of for now. I think that the thing that has affected my reviews the most, though, is not having as much time and brain power available to me. My reviews are usually a little more slap-dash, and while I try to capture my thoughts, I don’t think I succeed as well as I used to before becoming a mom. Often I am not writing them soon after reading the book (I tend to write them in batches, meaning some books are ones I just finished, while others could have been read a month or more earlier) so my memories aren’t as clear as I’d like them to be. And I don’t think I’m as good of a writer. I’m not writing for school or work anymore, so I am not as inventive with my style or wording. I also have trouble with my memory sometimes, and can’t find the perfect word I want to use. So I think my reviews aren’t as good as they used to be, but I hope that I’m getting a bit more from my reading – at least, I’m enjoying it more!
Has your reading and/or reviewing changed as you’ve gotten older? If so, what changes have you noticed? Are any of mine ones you recognize from your own experiences?
The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly blog link-up that gives participants a different book-related question to ponder each week, and allows them to share their thoughts, find new blogs to follow and connect with new readers. The Hop was originally created by Jennifer at Crazy for Books and is now hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. To see a list of upcoming prompts go here.