42 Comments

I’ve never been one to plan reading ahead of time. One of my greatest pleasures since childhood has been going into a library and wandering the stacks, reading titles, looking for favorite authors, plucking out whatever appeals to me at the moment.

Now that we have the internet, I do peruse lists of what’s coming out, and Ali keep a running “want to read” list so I can put them on library holds or purchase the ones I know I’ll want in my permanent library.

I read two books at a time usually, one fiction, and one non-fiction. Sometimes I do choose the non fiction books more intentionally if they are related to an essay or Substack post I’m working on.

I generally read 90-100 books a year. Reading has been a mainstay of my life for as long as I can remember (I’m 68 years old now.) Truly one of my greatest pleasures, and part of the pleasure of it for me is that it’s something I can do purely for the love of it, no pressure, no plan!

I hope you land on a system that helps your reading life be fulfilling and fun 🙂

Expand full comment
author

I love this, thank you for sharing your valuable experience! :)

Expand full comment
Aug 12Liked by Molly Ella

Some time ago, I had realized that I loved seasonal reading and so I started this big reading plan, cataloguing my TBR according to the seasons. It never really worked though, because I'm also a mood reader and I ended up forcing myself into a book that I could have enjoyed way more if read at the right time. So I decided to avoid planning at all and just add notes like "perfect for Winter" to my wishlist for new books I'd like to read. There is a nice sense of nostalgia in intuitive reading, like stepping into a bookshop ready to stumble upon your next adventure without knowing you actually needed that book!

Expand full comment
author

I love this description, it sounds like a really nourishing approach to reading :)

Expand full comment

I cannot imagine planning ANYTHING in the sort of detail you mention! Everything in my life is intuitive, including my work day (which would surely benefit from being a bit more thought out). I'm extremely ADD (or ADHD) despite not having an official diagnosis... As for reading in particular, the most "planning" that happens around it is that I know what I might eventually want to read given the time and right surrounding circumstances!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for sharing!

Expand full comment

You will know what I am going to say on this subject. It is quite possible to over-plan. Relying on intuition often feels like things are out of control. However, I think it is, sometimes, necessary to do just that as it is then that you really discover things. See you knew I would say that!

Expand full comment
author

I did indeed!

Expand full comment

I joined an online book club as I really wanted to be introduced to new books that I normally wouldn't have come across, those that were either written or set in the war interim years. Also the classics which I love. I do have to admit there have been books suggested yet were not that interesting, however I was determined to read them, I have found while those books were not my cup of tea! I did actually learn a lot about the era the books were set in. I am also interested in the lives of women during the war interim years and have found I am grateful to have more choices by living in this time in history. I do read seasonal books. I am quite happy to have my books planned for me this year which surprises me as usually I would love to browse a bookshop and see which book would take my eye and suit the mood I am in. Thank you Molly!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for sharing Caroline! A book club sounds like a fab idea to branch out and try new genres :)

Expand full comment
Aug 12·edited Aug 12Liked by Molly Ella

Like you, I plan nearly every aspect of my life from my meals to my chores and plans. I have a TBR Tower (a friend and I call out list towers because they’re so long), but I try not to plan my reading. I like the idea of reading seasonally but I don’t restrict myself. For example, I’m interested in reading Edgar Allen Poe for the first time. However, I’m waiting until closer to Halloween because I want to wait not because it’s a fall-vibe read and I have to wait. If something calls to me, I let myself gravitate towards it. This summer, I literally skipped across the library lobby to a book called “Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things” because of it’s catchy title and cute cover - even though it doesn’t sound at all summery. The story was very cute and I really enjoyed reading it. I try to keep myself open so that one of my favorite fun, relaxing activities doesn’t become a stressful or restricted one.

Expand full comment
author

I think you've nailed it here in saying how you 'want' to wait rather than you 'have' to wait. Part of the fun of planning your reading can be the excitement of books to come, so it sounds like you've got a wonderful approach :)

Expand full comment
Aug 12Liked by Molly Ella

I have to say that I do not plan my reading at all!! I go to the library and just pick what I like the sound of. I suppose the only planning I do is deciding what order I will read them in. :) I have never understood the need to plan reading so much, I did that at Uni so don't want to do it now. I really think your new approach sounds like the perfect solution for you. Let us know how you get on with it.

Expand full comment
author

I will! Thank you Michelle :)

Expand full comment

So interesting to read this as I'm in such a similar place to you! I have a Notes page dedicated to my current physical TBR (let's not talk about my Kindle...) where I put which of my books I want to read under each month. It's really helped me be less overwhelmed by how many books I have to read and, like you, it's stopped me buying more when I don't really need them. This month, though, I felt completely uninspired with what I'd set myself (British summer isn't quite what I'd hoped) so I picked up something I'd planned for next month and I'm LOVING it! I love that flexibility but still appreciate the organisation of my list!

Expand full comment
author

Love how you break up your reading by month. Yes, I feel like I've been drawn towards more autumn books with this slightly damp summer!

Expand full comment
Aug 12Liked by Molly Ella

Sometimes I’ve felt rigid in my reading, always going for the same things. When that happens, I’ll go into a bookshop. Close my eyes and pick a random book off a shelf. Sometimes the book is just not my thing, but more often than not, there’s a gem in there which I never would have gone for and I love how it keeps reading fresh and keeps me more open minded about genres.

Expand full comment
author

What a wonderful idea!

Expand full comment

I have developed a very similar approach. I read 2-3 normal-length books per month but I lean into NF and classics which are often tomes. Its not unheard of for me to spend three months on just one title. Realistically, my annual goal is 24 books. But I chose 40 books for my 2024 TBR. I divided these into four quarters (by calendar not season.) I read loads of biography-memoir-autobios and 19th c british classics. So those pepper every quarter. But I also want to read literary fiction, books from other cultures, translations, and a few prize winners. Also every year I keep a swipe file of titles my favorite booktubers, prizes, and publications suggest to me that pique my own interest. I don't intend to read them in the year I hear about them but I want to capture the title and author for a future date. So when I compile my annual TBR, I first look at that overwhelming list of titles.

With a TBR of 40 books, I know I can't read all of them in a year and so I have permission to skip some, to jump around. I try to read the titles chosen for each quarter, but this year, I even read some from the 3rd Qtr in the 1st Qtr. Only to read Western Lane and North Woods have I read outside of my 2024 TBR. My curiosity just got the better of me and I could resist. But both of those fell in months when it was possible to squeeze in a third title. I will know that by years end, I will have read almost entirely from my planned TBR and checked off books I really intended and wanted to read. However, I have felt throughout the year I was mood reading. I haven't felt obligated to read anything. I will say, bc I "intend and want" to read the books I read, I do push myself to not give up easily on them. I read "Now All Roads Lead to France" a NF book about poet Edward Thomas and his friendship with Robert Frost. I really disliked the experience and should have DNFed it but I wanted to know about Edward Thomas and his poetry and so I slogged all the way through it. Currently I am reading the big book, "Look Homeward Angel" by Thomas Wolfe. This one is also a slog but for different reasons. Driving myself to not give up on books is both good and bad. Often a book takes a lot of reading to really hook me but the end is worth the beginning. So fighting through it pays off. But sometimes it also means I read all of bad book.

I don't like the time it takes to plan my reading and one of the reasons I loosened my former planning was to make it less time consuming. I used to keep a reading journal with 2-3 pages of synopsis of every book I read, a little printed photo of the book cover etc. I loved keeping the journal but I spent hours on it, hours I could have been reading my next book. As a slow-ish reader, I didn't want to sacrifice those hours to recapping books I've read. Now I write a very quickie review on Goodreads and then a more thoughtful review on my substack. I realize apps are companies and there is no guarantee they will last forever but for now, I'm fine having them act as my reading journal.

All that to say, I agree with you and think you are on the right track.

Expand full comment
author

So interesting to hear about how your approach has changed over time! I'm the same and lean into quicker recaps of my reading in my Notion, although I do love writing out quotes. I just make sure I restrict myself to only tabbing those that really inspire me!

Expand full comment

I've been thinking about separating some of my TBR stacks into specific seasons of the year, so this resonates with me!

Expand full comment
author

Oh interesting!

Expand full comment
Aug 12Liked by Molly Ella

I bought your planner and filled it in…all enthsiastic to be more structured in my reading this summer. However, when I went back into it recently to update it, I found that I’d read hardly read any of the planned books, indulging instead in the books found at the numerous free and second hand places that I came across. So I think that maybe I’m an intuitive reader. It’s good to see the options awaiting me though, and to have a record of what I actually did read. I may need to add another column to record when/where each book was found

Expand full comment
author

How interesting, thank you for sharing Alison! Yes my planner changes all the time, which is the upside to Notion being so flexible! :)

Expand full comment

I love this. I do both— plan my reading but then read what I want. I see the act of planning almost an entirely separate hobby from actually reading. 😂 I just need to get over the guilt I feel when I don’t read what I planned to.

Expand full comment
author

I resonate with this so much, I love a cosy planning session!

Expand full comment
Aug 12Liked by Molly Ella

I never was a planner when it came to reading, because whenever I did plan my reading it never ended well as I felt suffocated and it certainly made me want to read less because I have always been a mood reader, even if I did not realise it younger.

And this feeling strenghten when I became a bookseller. We did not "have" to read the new releases or other anticipated releases, yet at the end of the day it was a good point if you knew the next book, and could truthfully recommand it or not.

Because of that aspect whilst being a bookseller, even if I loved being a bookseller, it also meant that I felt that I could not read what truly wanted. Or I could not read what I wanted when I wanted because I was always aware of that next book or that other awaited book.

So I am really amazed at those who can plan their reading or give it a guideline because I do believe it helps. I can go so far as plan a broad outline when it comes to which books I would like to read or what genre but outside of that any TBR simply puts me off, and I find myself reaching for anything but the selection I made from my personnal library or the library.

Expand full comment
author

So interesting to hear your experience as a bookseller, thank you for sharing! :)

Expand full comment

P.S - can you remind me of the name of your mum’s Etsy shop?

Expand full comment
author

Of course, its Scottish Island Living - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Scottishislandliving

Expand full comment

I think you’re new approach is much better and you will enjoy it more! I love reading, devour books. At the moment the ACOTAR books and anything by Sarah J Mass literally consumed my life. But then I finished them and had to go back to my to be read pile and I hated it. So for the first time, I started a book and didn’t finish it! It felt sacrilegious 😂 but like you, I’m trying to not let that stress me and find books that I actually enjoy! I’m currently reading a murder mystery set in Germany in the 1930s during all the political upheaval, and it’s easy to read!

Expand full comment
author

I've dipped my toe into this series and just read the first one and can see how this can become compulsive!

Expand full comment