Setting reading goals

Now that the new year has started, many readers will be in the business of setting reading goals for themselves on various apps. It's a practice that seems to excite a lot of strong views. Some people, rather like certain men when they see a woman dressed less than conventionally, can't seem to stop themselves informing you of their opinion on the matter. As you run down the street clutching your paperbacks to your chest they chase behind you yelling "wait! I have an opinion!"

I'm not sure why it causes this reaction in some. I suppose it's because as a society we have elevated reading to a precious rite symbolic of intelligence, wisdom and rooted back to pre-digital times. I mean, as an avid reader and a writer, I'm not going to argue with that, but also, maybe relax a bit.

I get some of the reservations. When my daughter was learning to read the school she was in had a very pressured reading goals system. It completely removed the enjoyment of reading for her, it became a chore, and something she could fail at by not getting to the next level fast enough. It put her off recreational reading for years, but now in her 20s, she reads loads, exceeding my annual haul.

I also get the reservation that trying to maintain reading goals can put you off long books (honestly, though why are long books so long?), or cause you to skim through some to catch up. When I first sat a reading goal about ten years ago I went from 50 books to 100 books in a year. That first attempt at 100 was very much marred by a sensation of needing to maintain progress.

But I think what that year did do was ingrain reading (and particularly listening to audiobooks) into more of my everyday practice. I don't listen to podcasts, but when I'm on dog walks, driving, running or cooking these are all valuable reading times. I now have a target of 150 books a year, which I meet pretty much exactly, without particularly aiming for it. That seems to be about my pace now.

This year I have returned to Storygraph (I still keep Goodreads) after trying it a few years ago. Why? Well when you read this much, you can lose track of what you've read. I also share my reads in my monthly round-up on my blog. Plus, I just, you know, enjoy it. And that is the element I think those that criticise annual goals miss - people who set them are fully aware of the possible drawbacks I've mentioned (and often joke about it), but they get a kick out of it. And so, why not let them?