If you count up the books you read in a year, do audio books count and do you include YA fiction?

[bookieboogie]

DH says audiobooks don't count, YA counts but story books definitely don't (I am a teacher).

I think audiobooks do count but would accept not counting the YA stuff.

So if I read the Hunger Games this week, your DH would say that I have read zero books this week?

It all counts.

I jot down what I've read each week in my diary, still working on paper! I include audio books in this list, don't often read YA unless it's one I've had specifically recommended to me.

I sometimes work in a preschool and wouldn't include books I read with the children, as there would be too many...

I count YA and children's fiction but not graphic novels aimed at kids - not because I don't think they're "proper" books, I do, but because they only take me about 10 minutes to read!
I don't listen to audio books anyway.

Personally, unabridged audiobooks count, abridged ones don't. It would never occur to me not to include YA.

I include YA but I don’t include audiobooks.

This was my first thought. Audio books definitely count, no matter the the listener. To say they don't suggests that there is only one valid way of accessing the content of a book.

I also agree that it often takes greater concentration to comprehend an audio book.

I definitely count audiobooks - the majority of my 'reading' is in that format. However I know a lot of people who say it doesn't count which I find madness.
YA also counts although I'm less vocal about it which is silly.

Is physically reading a book really a story? Audiobooks are the original way to read literature. Paper and pens relatively new invention in the world of storytelling. Not to mention there are people who aren't able to see, concentrate or comprehend the written word but it doesn't mean they don't count.

Personally I'm pretty choosy with my paper books and if a certain font, typeface or size of a book isn't doing it for me I'm going to listen to it instead. Hopefully by someone who has a better reading voice than the one in my own head. Richard Ayoade reading The Twits anyone? Yes please. I'm counting that.

Abridged audio books is a good point - I do count these as I keep a list of books I've read which happens to be numbered and wouldn't miss one out (I like looking back on it and occasionally need it for checking whether I've read something previously or not). I don't track the total from year to year or try and beat target numbers. Also it's unlikely that having listened to an abridged version I'd subsequently read or listen to the full version. But I can see that if you are trying to reach a target of a certain number of books a year you might not count these as it would feel a bit like cheating.

I count all consumption of books.

I find it ablist to discount books for xyz' reason.

Consume books how you want to and are able to!

I listen to 4-5 audio books per week while doing the garden or housework. I also have 2 physical books (paper pages not kindle) that I'm reading so I'd count that as 6-7 books.

I count audiobooks, YA & even children’s as long as they are more than about 150pg (not picture books/carton etc but something like Anne of Green Gables would count)
I’m interested how some of you would count “hybrid reading” - for instance last weekend I read one book about 40% via audio, 40% on my kindle & 20% paper copy - same story but in 3 formats (I’m reading another hybrid kindle & paper now)

I do hybrid sometimes too, it's all the same book so it counts as 1.

I find it ablist to discount books for xyz' reason.

I agree.

I count both, I even count audio YA books.
A good book is a good book, or to quote CS Lewis: 'no book is really worth reading at age ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at age fifty.'

I find the way that (some) men have to make anything and everything into a competition so bloody tedious!

You have consumed the content of the book in the words the author wrote, whether they have gone into your brain via your eyes or your ears, your brain is still the richer for having consumed the story.

Damn straight I include paper books, Kindle books and audiobooks in my "books I have read" list.
The only books I don't add to the list are actual childrens' books that I read to my children at bedtime, but that's only because I want to be able to go back over my lists and see what patterns/genres have emerged; which, in turn helps me choose more books to add to my TBR pile.

I didn't realise counting books was a thing. Where do you post this information? What do you get if you win?

In other news ... how many shits have you taken this year? I'm on 198 ... but my DP says runny ones don't count. Worth a thread?

I count them, I ace quizzes on literature. Which would be impressive as if I don’t count them, I’ve never read them.
I do think it’s helpful to read in print as it helps with spelling and punctuation. I am dyslexic.

What is YA?

Young Adult, usually targets teen readers.

Ah thanks!

I count both. I’ve also asked at school whether we can record audio books as reading for the kids and they’ve said yes.

Why would audiobooks not count? The words of the book are going into your head, what difference does it make if it's through your eyes or ears? Would reading books by braille not count either?