I just updated my reading list for the year with the last 3 books I finished. So far I am at 64 books in 2025. At this rate (of say, 7 books a month), I should get to 85 books.

I am happy with that number. Although I feel that in the past month or two, I haven’t really gotten into reading much at all for long juicy periods of time. With all the traveling during summer, and morning yoga needing me to take an afternoon nap, I feel like I am barely reading anymore.

But I always have books ongoing. Especially with my book club, and my Shakespeare project, I CAN’T NOT READ. 

Not that I would like a life without reading.

I feel like my day did not have a spot of relaxation, of dipping into another world where I am alone, and being separated from the worries of my regular life if I didn’t pick up my book.

I can’t walk past a Little Free Library without taking a peek in.

I find it hard to leave libraries and bookshops once I enter.

My house is full of books in almost every room. And I love it that way.

But my love for reading doesn’t automatically solve my problem of finding me big swathes of time to read. That is always an effort.

Keeping on top of my arriving library holds is a big effort too.

And managing books at home- both borrowed, bought and picked up from the Little Free Library (to be returned at an undetermined time in the future), is also an effort.

Efforts I am willing to make for the love of reading.

My gym time has given me ample audiobook listening time. And in turn, the books make the workouts more bearable.

I find it hard to understand how people don’t read on a usual basis…it feels like a big loss to me. Also I think that the books of our lives add flavors and themes to our lives based on when and what we read. It’s a thread that weaves through a life guiding one forward, and being guided by the demands of that life, as well as adding colour making a life brighter and more interesting.

I always have a paper book and an audiobook going. Right now my paper book is Shakespeare’s play Richard III, and the audiobook is The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. And I hope to finish them both this month to bump up my number to 66- yes reading is also a game I play with myself to see how far I can go- both in numbers, and in reading hard books to see if I can digest them. I haven’t dared reading James Joyce yet…but I’ll get there one day.

Until then, I will keep reading whenever I can, and whatever my heart desires.