CYNTHIA VARADY

All That Glitters is Prose

BooksSoapboxYou're Doing It Wrong

Just A Friendly Reminder. . .

A couple of days ago, I opened my inbox to find a message from GoodReads. This isn’t a rare occurrence. I get several messages from GR a day. Most are updates from authors I follow, book recommendations, friend requests, or messages from other readers. This one was on the status of my yearly reading challenge.

GR1

Holy crap, I’d completely forgotten I’d signed up for this. Thank you for reminding me GR. That is very thoughtful of you. Now let me return the favor by going through your friendly little reminder line by line….

GR2

A boost you say? How much of a boost do I need to complete my challenge?

GR3

Oh wow, you weren’t kidding. I need a serious “boost.” I’m not even halfway and it’s already November. Wait. November? Really GR? You couldn’t have sent this to me in say, July when I might have had a fighting chance to reach my goal? No, instead you wait until the 11th month to give me a heads up that I need to miraculously complete nineteen books in 60 days. Fantastic.

GR4

This seems like a lot of pages to have read in one calendar year. I don’t feel so bad now. I just about to finish up another 300 plus page book, bringing my total to a nice round 4,000. That’s like reading Stephen King’s It four times.

GR5

 

Nope. I’ve recorded them all. Thanks for the friendly reminder of my failure to read 30 measly books this year. I suppose I could count the board books I read to my son like I did last year to reach my goal of 50 books, but it feels like cheating. Although, I must admit to getting a perverse thrill as I sat in the airport bookshop at Christmas, reading my way through the children’s section during our layover, my phone open to GR, checking off titles to reach my goal in time.

GR6

 

Thanks for the suggestions GR, but I have about 1,000 books on my want to read list. I think I can manage this one without your obviously timely assistance.

 

 

Cynthia Varady

Cynthia Varady is an award-winning short story writer and Pandemonium Cozy Mystery Series author. She resides in Portland, OR with her husband, son, and two kitties. Cynthia has a BA in English Literature and a Master's in Library and Information Science. In addition to writing, Cynthia loves baking on the fly, crocheting, playing video games with her family, and reading mysteries.

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