Well, I’m still reading.

But I’m also still mentally fatigued, I think. Or depressed. Or anxious. Fatigued and depressed and anxious? Some other combination? Who knows. Brains are weird, and it can be hard to tell what is actually going on behind the apparent symptoms. But reading remains a constant, even if the speeds change.

Honestly, I find myself reading reading as a distraction from the weird things my brain is doing to me. At the same time, it’s harder to get into a book, which means I’m reading a little slower, and I start a few new books at a time before one sticks. I remain optimistic that the fatigue won’t last forever, which is somewhat cheering, but can also just make me tired.

40. » Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha 1) by Tasha Suri
41. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
42. » Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
43. The Gallows Black (The Grave of Empires .5) by Sam Sykes
44. » The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
45. Fangirl* by Rainbow Rowell
46. ◊ Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books For Better, Faster Writing by Libbie Hawker
47. » Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars 1) by Elizabeth Lim
48. Furyborn (Empirium 1) by Claire Legrand
49. Kingsbane (Empirium 2) by Claire Legrand
50. Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy 4) by Ilona Andrews
51. The Unkindest Tide (October Daye 13) by Seanan McGuire
52. American Royals (American Royals 1) by Katherine McGee
53. Sabriel (Old Kingdom 1)* by Garth Nix
54. » Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
55. » Gideon the Ninth (The Ninth House 1) by Tamsyn Muir

So far this year I’ve read less each quarter than the quarter before. I’d like to say that I’ll try to read more in the last quarter of the year… but that seems unlikely. I always read less during NaNoWriMo than normal. There are some exciting things coming out towards the end of October and beginning of November though, so hopefully those will carry me through the Writing Month.

There were some really good books in this quarter’s line-up. You’ll likely see a few of these on my Best of 2019 list at the end of the year. I slacked off on nonfiction last quarter and that trend carried itself into this quarter as well, so I’m starting October with some nonfiction to balance things out. (Also with an interesting subject, it seems somewhat easier to fall into a nonfiction book right now with the whole brain weirdness.) Hopefully the last quarter of the year will have more than a few nonfiction books in the lists.

We’re moving into the cold months, which is both when I read most and also when I slow down for various reasons. I think the end of the year tends to be slower, but I usually find myself picking up speed at the beginning of the new year. I’ve maintained a relatively consistent average for the year though, and I anticipate hitting my minimum goal of 80 books read in a year—even if Goodreads is telling me that I’m behind on that goal…

Been thinking about reading one of the books above? Or just curious about one? Ask me in the comments, and I’ll let you know what I thought about it. Spoiler free, I promise.