If you’re good at math (which I CLEARLY am not) and you saw 200 Books in 2024, you might have noticed that’s 16-17 books per month. YIKES! But, I decided to give it a go. After all, what’s the fun of an easy challenge?

At the mid-year point, I’m pleased to say I’ve already finished my goal!

BAHAHAHAHA.

In reality, I’m well behind in my count. At current I’ve read 65 out of 200 books. Not great so far as my goal is concerned. However, I’ve read more books in six months than I ever had! Is it mathematically possible to get to 200 books by the end of 2024? Probably not. But I’ve learned some things about myself as a reader this year.

Starting a new book is HARD. I have to set a ten minute timer to get going. After that, I usually don’t want to put the book down. It’s akin to the gym—I never want to go, but if I make myself get in the car and walk through the front doors, I’m happy to be there!
Audiobooks changed my life. Do I prefer sitting down with a physical copy in hand, bundled in blankets and sipping coffee? YES! But I’m constantly on the go. If I had to guess, 70% of my reading now happens thanks to audiobooks.
- I have to listen at a 1.5 - 2.0 speed, otherwise my mind starts to wander. And it helps if I listen while doing some kind of physical activity (i.e. laundry, walking the dogs, mindless paperwork, etc.)
- I can read nonfiction. But I have to listen to it. Something about listening helps me absorb the information, whereas when reading the text, I forget everything almost immediately. It’s like a podcast now!
It’s okay to pause my reading of one book so I can pick up another. I used force myself straight through, but I’ve learned it’s been more enjoyable to mood read!

Despite failing miserably at my goal thus far, I’m proud of the way I’ve adjusted my reading to better fit my lifestyle. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? We read for the happiness (or thought/knowledge/etc.) that it brings. I can’t wait to see what more the year holds!

The Journey So Far

Books are in the order that I read them, NOT in the order of favorite to least favorite.

January

February

March

April

May

June

I had to slow down in May because we were closing out the school year, but I managed to get some more reads in for June as I wrapped up my mid-year marathon! 2024 hasn’t disappointed, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading some incredible stories!

To find out which ones were the best of the best, check out my Top Reads of 2024’s First Half!

200 Books in 2024: Mid-Year Update