My Reader Profile

 Hi all, 

I grew up being a voracious reader. I would read anything and everything that I could get my hands on. Then during my undergrad, I spent weeks on end trying to keep up with the three novels (and various other readings) that were assigned to me every week because of all the literature classes that I was taking for my English degree. I was apathetic towards reading for years and sitting down to read a novel that actually brought me joy was rare (even rarer if it overlapped with classwork).

At the beginning of 2021, I was determined to reignite my love of reading and roped both my mother and sister into doing a reading challenge. I set out with the goal to read 24 books but instead managed to read 39. This last year I again set a goal of reading 24 books and ended up reading 34. This year, I have a goal of reading 40, but much like the previous years, I hope to read much more than my goals. 

I like to claim that I read a little bit of everything (it helps that my best friend actively suggests books for me to read outside of my comfort zone because he reads at least double what I manage to read). With that being said, romance novels, specifically contemporary romance (more cartoon drawings on the front cover rather than heaving bosoms), are my favorite to read. There is something about the novel being so formulaic that I find comforting. Plus, I am a sucker for a love story. 

I am part of two book clubs. The first book club is run during only the spring and summer months because half of the members are teachers or professors. The second book club which has been dubbed "shadow book club" mostly because a few of us meet during the off months and discuss a book over dinner. I am also moderating a contemporary romance book club at my library. 

If I am being honest, half the reason I have a Goodreads account is to stalk what my friends are reading and the other half is because I like to see the little progress bar (and the percentage) get closer and closer to completion. If you want you can keep up with what I am reading there: 

https://www.goodreads.com/danymart

At this time, I am currently reading Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution. This book was both a gift and a recommendation from my best friend. 

**The following are in no particular order

My Top 5 Books of 2022:

1. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Vampires by Grady Hendrix
2. Ship Wrecked (Spoiler Alert #3) by Olivia Dade
3. In Love: An Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom
4. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5. The Roommate by Rosie Danon

My 5 Most Anticipated of 2023:

1. How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
2. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
3. Dear Dolly: Collected Wisdom by Dolly Alderton
4. Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley
5. A Tempest at Sea (The Lady Sherlock Series) by Sherry Thomas

Some of My Favorite Novels/Series of All Time:

• Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• Spoiler Alert Series by Olivia Dade
• The Lady Sherlock Series by Sherry Thomas
• The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Normal People by Sally Rooney
• Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
• The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
• The Overstory by Richard Powers
• Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of  Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie