A review by matthewwester
So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson

4.0

I'm relieved to say I really enjoyed this book. Because I can't tell you how many times I've been tricked in the past: I picked up books about writing/reading and assumed the authors were kindred minds, and that reading those books was going to be like grabbing brunch with a good reader friend. Then countless times I got those books home and they were something other than what the covers promised. Sometimes the writers were only writing about books from a certain publisher, for example, or other times the chapters were more about summarizing plots of books I haven't read than reflecting upon the experience of reading. Every now and then the authors of those books were only really interested in talking about their own work. Anyway, I was glad this book was something different.

This book is simply the journaling of an author who planned on reading a book a week for a year. In the ups and downs of working towards that goal she comments on many of the peculiar behaviors/mindsets we readers adopt. If that sounds interesting to you then I recommend you give this book a go. I also recommend you check out Nick Hornby's books of articles he wrote where he essentially does the same thing; each month he plans on reading certain books, actually reads other books, and discusses the ways those books intersected with his real life. With both authors the commentary is entertaining and approachable, good stuff.

And I'm especially relieved that I enjoyed this book because I picked it up hoping it would give me a boost of energy as I continue working towards completing a reading plan. I'm counting this as "a book about a hobby" for #vtReadingChallenge