My Bookish Week and 2024 Lessons Learned

[@isabellemenez5704]

I've been through a break up and moving places last year (not surgery, though !) so I get how you feel. And as I grow older, I enjoy feeling more confident and rejecting BS. Good for you, yay ! I smiled when you talked about how garage sales books make you smile and feel giddy, I'm happy for you !

[@noteworthyfiction]

Interestingly, I don't know if I've noticed that your reading of books has slowed down or decreased, but I have noticed that you're enjoying your reading more.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@noteworthyfiction thanks Nicole! 🥰

[@marnasorensen988]

I support your new philosophy. After becoming a widow, the truly important things in life have become starkly clear. Bullshit is not among them.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@marnasorensen988 ❤️❤️❤️

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

Fantastic goals and lessons. Many congratulations for not just serving a tough year but for thriving. You go girl 😊

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@RaynorReadsStuff thanks Debs! 🥰

[@mame-musing]

I’m impressed your book club agreed to read a 900 page novel, particularly at this busy time of the year. I hope you all enjoy it. It’s pretty much agreed among the members of my book group that we keep the page count around 350 or less. Best wishes to you and your family for a Merry Christmas!

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Really lovely video, Kim. I appreciate hearing about your year and where you are now. I'm so grateful to have met you here this year, and I value your friendship immensely. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and all good things in 2025.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@BookChatWithPat8668 thank you Pat! Merry Christmas! 🎄🥰

[@stuartgriffin1001]

I think you made a good decision not to overcommit to group reads. This year, I found that most readathons don't work for me. They constrain my reading too much. Like you, I am more and more careful how I spend my time as I have less and less of it

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@stuartgriffin1001 that’s exactly how I feel. Constrained. Thanks for the description. I hope 2025 is a better reading year! 🥰

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

Hurrah for getting through a challenging year and coming out on top and with a lovely reading philosophy.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks 🥰🥰🥰

[@_aileenmaria]

I have found that as I’ve gotten older- there are a lot less F’s to give. I don’t hesitate to say no to what doesn’t resonate with me, my soul. I 100 percent agree with your feelings here. I’m already scouring library postings for their updated book sale dates! I get the same giddy feeling! 😂🙈💕

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@_aileenmaria do you watch booksalefinder.com? TOTALLY worth it! 😍

[@_aileenmaria]

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCHYes! I have for years!!!!

[@readandre-read]

Good reading, less over-commiting, more family fun time, library sales and no bullshit - this all sounds terrific!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@readandre-read 🥰🥰🥰

[@pegthebookprizeaddict579]

Thanks so much for your open and honest talk! I am 20 years older than you and am asking myself some of the same questions, mainly about reading and knitting and what I want to accomplish in the time left. Perhaps all deep-thinking people go through this periodically! Though I know it's not the most important thing you look so healthy and at peace! 📚🧶😍

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@pegthebookprizeaddict579 thank you so much! 🥰

[@JamesRuchala]

Hooray for not caring what people think and for library book sales!

[@SluggishReader]

Kim, your IDGAF attitude is inspiring and I wish I can have more of that!!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@SluggishReader when you get as old as me it’s easy! 🤣🤣🤣

[@Ali-AvidReader]

This is a great video Kim, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I’m so glad I found your channel this year. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your lovely family❤️🎄❤️

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@Ali-AvidReader thank you so much! 🥰

[@tealorturquoise]

Loved the bookish lessons that you've learned about yourself. That's important because it keeps reading enjoyable. Happy Holidays Kim to you and your family. 🎄

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@tealorturquoise thank you! ☺️

[@Europa1749]

I know how great it feels to purchase used books at great prices. I don't need more books but it's worth it for the happiness of getting more at the semi-annual book sale at the mall, and the hopeful optimism of reading them soon.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@Europa1749 ditto for me!!! I also love supporting libraries by buying their books. 🥰

[@ariannefowler455]

There are some similar bookish goals that I'm setting for myself. I want to take my time with books, read more of the books I own and not join every reading event, no matter how tempting they may be. I will participate in some group reads or buddy reads but I'd like to create my own projects around the books I have. Library sales are the best!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@ariannefowler455 ditto to all! 🥰

[@nathanfoung2347]

Hi Kim, it's been a real pleasure watching your channel this year, I've gotten so many great book recommendations as a result. So I'm really looking forward to seeing what you have planned for 2025. Go well.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@nathanfoung2347 thank you Nathan! Your support has been lovely! 🥰

[@amyrosaline]

I enjoy your channel so much. Sending you and yours lots of love and wishing you a Merry Christmas! ❤❤❤🎄

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@amyrosaline thank you so much! 🥰🎄🥰

[@nadineaugustyn130]

One of my 2025 mantras is going to be "FOMO books begone!" Thank you for the video.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@nadineaugustyn130 that’s an excellent attitude!!! I have so many books on my shelves that have nothing to do with FOMO! 🥰

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Kim, this year has been tumultuous for the world and for me personally. I always enjoy watching your channel and hearing your wisdom. I just wanted to say that age doesn’t always equate with less anxiety. But every day brings challenges and joy. I enjoy your channel as always. I am with you on library sales 100%. Aloha friend.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@MarilynMayaMendoza ❤️❤️❤️

[@josmith5992]

Heck yes I want to read Romola with you! And there is no deadline on our buddy read, it takes what it takes! 👍 Totally with you on the caring less what others think as I get older 👍 and I think part of the reason I like to read many books at one time and buddy read is because it slows me down and makes me think about the book more. Sometimes I just want to keep reading so it doesn’t always work but although I will be keeping my buddy reads to a more manageable amount in 2025 I get so much out of them. My plan for next year is no plans, just deciding what I want to read when I get there!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@josmith5992 yay!!! Can’t wait! 🥰

[@Tetsujin-28]

What do I think? I think you're great and I love the channel. Enjoy the holidays.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@Tetsujin-28 thank you!!! 🤓🥰

[@carolnash5617]

I understand what you mean about BS... i am 71, and i have been a grumpy old woman a lot in last decade! Doesnt mean that i am not kind and dont want to spend time with others. If i cant get into a book within 10 to 20 pages, it is gone. There are so many other things i want to read and there may not be enough time left for me to do that. I have gotten into non-fiction so much more last 4-5 years, so there is a whole new genre from which to add books to my list. I am becoming a poly-reader, and am currently reading 5 books (not counting several i DNFd recently... Persuasion (for 1st time), Howard Zinn's A Peoples History of the United States, Time of the Flies (thank you, Kim and Kate), DaVinci by Isaacson, and James (thank you to several booktubers). Oh, and i am listening to Maisie Dobbs by Winspear.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@carolnash5617 that sounds like a great line up! 🥰

[@marciajohansson769]

Hi Kim, Good to see you this afternoon. I totally believe slowing down the reading has increased the pleasure of reading. Letting go of something, not necessarily DNF but putting aside for now is becoming more acceptable in my mind and not a "failure to finish something". I tried to take on too much in October reading events and then the upset I felt in the beginning of November sort of forced me to realign my "reading goals". I have been prioritizing a book club (Life On Books) as it provides weekly interactions with others reading the same book. We have read thus far Lonesome Dove, Song of Solomon and now The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano. Tomorrow a friend is coming over to help me put together some Ikea Billy shelves and my daughter will help me organize and reshelf my books (my only xmas gift wish). I am the same as you with the library book sales. I did buy a bag full for about 7 dollars and today I found a pristine copy of The Midnight Library at the local dump in "the shack". I had a copy but without the dust jacket so yeah me. Continued wishes for you and your families wellbeing and good cheer.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@marciajohansson769 thank you Marcia! Sounds like great books in your book club. Enjoy the reorg! Merry Christmas! 🎄 ❤️

[@theresepazell7875]

Hi just read what interest you at this time .Tis the Season.lots to be Thankfull for i hear ya im me and will always b me like me fine don't your loss not mine i know who i am...I think u do too.Happy. Holidays .Do what u can and GOD will take care of the rest...❤ Life is tough you have to be tougher...