Comments on: Exactly how much do you read?

By: Anu Kalgudi

Anu Kalgudi — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 05:48:56 +0000

I moved recently too and didn’t have a nervous breakdown either. It’s definitely not annoying at all to be stuck between what used to be and what will be or to find your favorite pair of shoes broken.

To answer the question, my rough calculation is a modest 10 hours. The rest of the time it’s just writing…and rewriting and obsessing over grammar. And did I mention rewriting?

By: D. C. DaCosta

D. C. DaCosta — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:58:01 +0000

I’d rather write than read.

By: Yat-Yee Chong

Yat-Yee Chong — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:37:23 +0000

Oh, and speaking of reading, I just finished State of Wonder, a book you suggested for me when you did that book-recommendation thing a while back. Good choice. Still thinking about it.

By: Yat-Yee Chong

Yat-Yee Chong — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:36:03 +0000

42 hours.
No, I was just trying to be facetious. I don’t know how much I read in a typical week because there is not typical week. If I count only what I read for pleasure and disregard reading stuff online, I’d say that 30 hours a week is about ballpark.

By: Kellie Lovegrove

Kellie Lovegrove — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:02:23 +0000

I have actually been asked this question on more than one occasion and still don’t have a definite answer. It all depends on how may books I’m reading at the time (which can range from one to five) and how much I am having to read for work. I would guess that I am right there with you at about 30 hours, but it could be more. Especially when I get so involved in a novel that I end up hearing my morning alarm go off and the dogs proceed to try to wake up the empty spot in my bed so they can eat. But I also have off weeks where I just don’t have time to read as much as I would like.

As far as better things to do with your time, I agree with Ms. Ruechert. I all depends on how you feel about it. The only thing I can think of is spending time with family and friends.

Best of luck in getting a more accurate count of your reading hours and unpacking.

By: Laura Rueckert

Laura Rueckert — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:45:51 +0000

I agree it’s hard to set the limits. In addition to leisure reading, when composing communication at the office or working on a critique, part of the time is reading. My best guess is my consolidated reading time is easily almost 30 hours a week.

If I’m really into a book, my reading hours will peak at something unspeakable. Once engrossed in a novel, I tend to hide out in the kitchen with my Kindle. My family thinks I’m cooking. Slowly.

I think the interesting aspect isn’t whether you could be doing something better than counting reading hours, but how you’ll feel when you know how many hours you spend on it. Is a high number an accomplishment? Or disappointing because of all the other experiences you could have been having? Or is it just another classification for a percentage of life? Eat. Sleep. Work. Read?

By: Joelle

Joelle — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:23:31 +0000

I think I’d rather read than take the time to keep track. Have fun, though.

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:25:14 +0000

It’s so hard for me to calculate because I don’t know what counts! Right now I don’t have as much time for leisure reading as I usually do, but some of that time has become dedicated to reading news, professional literature, work-related things, etc. It’s a lot of hours overall, and I’d still like to do more.

Don’t stress about unpacking. If you read a lot, at least your books will get naturally unpacked that way!