Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Goodreads offers a reading challenge every year. I joined the group for the first time in 2017. My goal was 36 books. I thought I usually read at least three books a month. I was wrong. I only read ten books that year. That was 28%. I did not repeat this program in 2018. I did not realize the books I read that were not e-books could be added.

I read traditional books. I read audiobooks. I even read books published by independent authors who are personal friends. Goodreads has no way to know that these books even exist. I now know how to add most of these to my list.

Since 2019 I have exceeded my goal each year. That year, I wanted to read at least twelve. That was two more than I completed my first time. That was the year I retired. I finished twenty-six then. That was 217%.

In 2021 and 2022 my goal was 100. I exceeded that goal in both years. I have set a record this year by reading 120 at this time. With four more days to go, I should add at least one or two more by the 31st. Some of you may wonder if I am reading some of the books you have read this year. You can add me as a friend on Goodreads and check my reading list. We could also discuss these books online.

We could form a book club and meet once a month via Zoom for a discussion if some of you want. I read non-fiction, self-help, biblical studies, historical fiction, sci-fi, mysteries of all kinds, and even the occasional romance novel.

Writers are readers. We get our ideas from what we read, see, and hear. I often pull out my phone, a notepad, or just a scrap of paper to make a note of a story idea.

I read a George Lucas biography years ago and remember how he came up with robot names. We all know the R2 and C3 series. R2D2 was a notation in one of his notebooks from the filming of American Graffiti. It was an abbreviated version of the setting for one of the lights.

What better way for us to learn even more in 2023 than by discussing the books we are reading. An alternative to a book club discussing the same story is for each to choose something we read in the last two weeks and share it with the group.

Comment below to join. We can use e-mail to decide the best days and times to have our discussions. If you do not zoom, we can do a Facebook live event or join in some other manner. I would even be open to joining a group in the Springfield, Missouri area. Let’s talk.

©Copyright 2022 by Charles Kensinger