Blogging about books has certainly changed the way I read. I read more, and pay more attention to details about each book so that I can have something (hopefully) interesting to write about. I keep better track of what I want to read soon, and what books might compliment one another. I have a better awareness of what books are out there, and what is getting good reviews, so I can choose more deliberately. Don’t get me wrong – I read always and only because I find it enjoyable, but blogging has made me a bit more systematic in my approach to books.
However, one thing that has not changed is that I just.don’t.care about reading new books right as they’re released.
Recently, I read this great round-up of books that will be adapted for TV and film in 2015 from River City Reading. I had a moment of panic about all the books I haven’t read yet (but mean to): The Casual Vacancy, Me Before You, The Maddaddam Trilogy, The Martian, and so on and so on! Ahhhh!
And then I remembered that in addition to rarely getting around to new release books (and yes, I realize that there are books on that list/link that are not at all new releases), I am also non-committal about seeing TV/movies when they’re released. I am currently (slowly) watching season 3 of Big Love, and just finished season 3 of Justified. I’m clearly okay with being behind the times.
I understand that there is some benefit of weighing in on cultural conversations when a new book/TV/movie is released. I also understand that many of those conversations take place on the Twitter these days, which is another area I just can’t keep up with. Maybe that’s why I don’t like Twitter – it’s too current. I should probably start reading backlist Tweets to see how that feels.
What do you think? Are you up-to-date on new releases? Or trying to finish books you’ve had since 1996?
Gun In Act One 
This made me laugh. I think I am the opposite. Which is exhausting. I think I prefer your way.
Big Love! I watched the first season of that show way back in 2007 and then…I just stopped!
ahem, well I DID try to read those books from 1997 (really, 97!) but was all, this is crap! I should have read them then, sigh
Does both work? I have books from 2000 AND releasing sometime in 2015.
Of course! Whatever works for you. I have read a few new releases lately too, but I am just not invested in keeping up.
Haha, I love the thought of backlist tweets 😉 I think I’m definitely running in a mix of both. My husband and I are still catching up on a bunch of old TV while watching some new shows, too. And I’m still reading authors I’ve been meaning to read forever (like Toni Morrison) in the middle of all of my 2015 reads.