Let's be real: I'm short on time these days. This is my first blog post on here in e o n s. I barely have time to check my email, let alone send replies. Squeezing in my editing work around my full-time grocery store job leaves me minimal time for writing and social media posts. So reading? It's (sadly) at the very, very bottom of my priority list.
Reading is still a very valuable pastime to me, though! It's still edifying and entertaining, but ... I am learning that I do read differently when I'm pressed for time. Because when I've got time for maybe 10 books in a year instead of 50+, things are bound to change a little, right?
Historical fiction. I think we all know by now that it's my favorite genre and always will be. (If this is news to you, welcome to the Abi-love-his-fic club. Please send recommendations.) I want to soak up other cultures and other times and learn new things about history all while enjoying a good story!
Powerful themes. Confession: I will read a bad book if it has good themes. And by "good" themes, I don't mean that they have to be mindblowing or super unique. They instead need to be a well-written arc in the book and speak to me for where I'm at in life right now.
No-fluff plots. The faster a story engages me and hints at the grandeur of a plot left to unfold, the better. I love complexity and long books just as much as ever, so this doesn't mean I want short or shallow. I just really appreciate intentionality.
Standalones. While I just bought myself a 13-book series for my bookshelves ... I hesitate to invest in a series these days. A couple hundred pages? Sure. A couple thousand pages? Eh ... Standalones hold more appeal for me than ever simply because I have less time to spare.
What's Changed
More DNFs. The amount of books I start and read only a page or (if they're lucky) a chapter of these days is so vast that I don't even bother listing them all on Goodreads. Because it's not always the book's fault if it didn't click with me at this precise moment.
Fewer genres. Most of the books I DNF (do not finish) these days aren't what I typically read anyways. And most of the books I do end up finishing? Yep, historical fiction.
More editing. As my editing business continues to grow, I get paid to read more books than before. While it's still a side business, it's also still my dream job. So paid editing having higher numbers than my casual reading is new, but it's also okay. Just because I'm editing a book doesn't mean it can't be an enjoyable read at the same time.
Fewer reviews. I hate this, but it's true. I try to make sure the books I actually finish go on Goodreads. But reviewing them? It's not a common occurrence these days, which is a pity for everyone, I know. Even when I do review them, it's super-duper short (almost more like an endorsement) than it is thorough and detailed and organized. Oh well ...