Discussion: How Blogging Changed My Reading Habits

Book blogging may seem like a harmless little hobby, but all who enters be warned, you will emerge sparkly and different.

Here are some perplexing, at times good, at times terrible changes to my reading schedule, all thanks to blogging.

1) I’M MORE CRITICAL OF BOOKS

In the blissful days before blogging, if I didn’t like a book, I would breezily move on and promptly forget about all the flaws of my previous reads. Now, I sit there staring at a blank document for an hour, stewing over all of the things that turned me off: character development inconsistences, gaping plot holes, uneven pacing — the whole she-bang.

Whereas I could happily break up with a book silently in the past, I now announce it to the world, and have to examine every aspect of the unhappy relationship in microscopic details. It also means I am more alert shortcomings in books. Gone are the days where I could mindlessly read a novel. Sometimes, I mourn for my lost innocence *dabs eyes*

2) I READ A TRUCK LOAD MORE BOOKS

I have to admit in shame that prior to my blogging days, I was a sporadic bookworm at best. One of those people that read only when she was on a plane or found a new series to obsess over. Do I lose my bookworm badge for admitting that out loud? I HOPE NOT.

Now, thanks to the wonder that is my blogging friends and Goodreads, I read about 4 books a week! Will I get burned out and stop reading so crazily at some points? Undoubtedly. But then someone on twitter will rave about a book and I’ll be headed right back in.  Plus there’s Netgalley! And catalogues! AND SO MANY SHINIES. I wish I started reading in earnest earlier because I feel like I will never catch up on all the series!

3) I READ MORE RECENT RELEASES

I don’t remember the last time I read a book that was published before 2010! Thanks to marketing and friends, my world has been constricted to primarily i) ongoing series and ii) the latest release of the month. I feel a little short sighted, and would love to backtrack and find some oldies once in a while. While reading 10+ reviews of Queen of Shadows will never get old for me (I LOVE IT SO MUCH), I do appreciate the bloggers who break the mold and feature some older reads, I want to be a little like them!

4) I KIND OF FOLLOW A READING SCHEDULE

The dreaded day has come where I have to form some concrete plan on what to read next. As a person who sucks at adulting and organisation in any form, my body still rejects this. I use to just read whatever the heck I felt like, but now, due to meeting ARC release dates and whatnot, I have to be RESPONSIBLE. BZUH?  This clearly means I need to request less lmao. I am grateful forever for all the books that I receive, though!

I’ll confess though, when I come across a book I think I’ll love, I still drop all responsibilities like a hot potato and do what I want 😉

5) I’M MORE AWARE OF KEEPING DIVERSITY ALIVE IN MY READING LIST

If there’s one thing I am grateful about in terms of blogging, it’s how it’s made me a more socially aware reader.  I never paid attention to whether I was reading a diverse book or about the representation in novels – now I go out of my way to read at least 2-3 titles of the kind a week. Because I want diversity to be forever and I want everyone involved to succeed. So if you know any great diverse fantasy, please rec away ❤

How about you? Has book blogging changed your life as a reader in any way? Please share ❤