Charging Rent for My Mindspace
I completed the goal of “1000 books read in 10 years” a few months ago, over a year early, but I’m still in Turbo Mode. I just breezed past book number 1800 on my “have read” list, 1700 ratings, and 600 reviews, and to misquote Hamilton, I’m reading like I’m running out of time.
It’s the result, in part, of Gail Carriger’s Great Parasolverse Read-Along: rereading the Parasol Protectorate, Finishing School, and Custard Protocol books in chronological order, ending with the final CP book coming out next month. I’ve also decided to read all of Shakespeare’s plays this year—one a week—and that would bring me through September if I wasn’t in the habit of reading more than one a week. (I have about 10 left but have already concluded that Shakespeare is another “problematic male genius.” Some of his work is beautiful and insightful, but a lot of it is sexist and racist as fuck and the greatness of the good stuff doesn’t excuse his contribution to the acceptance and perpetuation of oppressed groups. Being an adult means—as FremFreq eloquently says—being critical of the media I love. *shrug* But you do you.)
Last month, I reorganized my “to read” list into six sections.
Section 1: Stand-Alones
Stand-alone books listed in the order I added them to my list, further divided into sections small enough to read in a year. For example, in 2019 I’m going to try to finish reading all the stand-alone books I put on my list in 2011, 2012, and 2013 (originally about 30).
Section 2: Series to Finish
Series that have ended that I’ve read at least one book from. I’ll have to start over on a few of them, but there are only six series on this list and I bet I can finish them this year.
Section 3: Series to Continue
Series that haven’t ended that I’m in the middle of (Jane Yellowrock, Fever, Mistborn, etc).
Section 4: Series to Re-Read
So far there are nine series in this section, but that’s a very conservative estimate.
Section 5: Series to Start and Finish
Series that have ended that I haven’t read any books from.
Section 6: Series to Start but Can’t Finish
Series that haven’t ended and I haven’t started.
And honestly it’s the same pressure to complete things as my initial goal was, only organized differently. I’m definitely going to hit the annual goal of 100 books before the end of June. If I don’t make it, know it was worth it. All these books were worth it.