Why I read fewer books this year. Some surprising reasons:

1. I used to drive four hours to my MFA program each week. During that time I listened to writerly podcasts and audiobooks. I read 8 more books/year because of solo car time.

2. I’m sleeping better! I used to wake up around 2am for a couple of hours and would read or listen to a book. Now I’m falling back to sleep more promptly and that reading time is gone. I read 5-8 books/year thanks to insomnia.

3. This year I read at least five longer books (400+ pages).

4. I let myself give up on a handful books midway. (Only one memoir btw.) In previous years I would have marched myself to the end. #capricorn

5. I’m spending more time reading memoirs for craft and structure. I have a couple dozen more memoirs I really thought I’d get to in 2025. But no. They’re moving onto my 2026 TBR.

6. I’ve been reading a LOT more news (local news + The New Republic, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Contrarian). My brain is full of fear and fight, depending on the moment.

How about you? Do you track your books? Any changes this year? Pls dish!