Should I Track Books I Don't Finish?

 I've been thinking about this for some time. I've been tracking the books that I have finished reading per month. It’s a wonderful achievement and makes me feel accomplished. I’m proud of myself. It’s also a fun way to recommend books to my friends and family. “Oh hey! You read this too? Let’s talk! What did you think?”

I usually get about two novels in a month, because of being a mom, writing, wanting to watch tv or movies, hanging out with my husband. You know, life things. However, I haven't been tracking the books that I pick up then set aside and never pick up again. I've been thinking about why I don't finish them. What about the book didn't resonate with me? Why did I set it aside? Was I bored? Did I not connect with the diction/writing style, the characters, the setting...did I just really want to read something else? Was it fulfilling my idea of escapism? Did the author break a promise? etc. 

I try to read as much as I can. I love reading so it makes it easy. My bookclub helps me read novels that I would have never picked up on my own and forces me to finish them. I love bookclub because it helps me broaden my world view, makes me a better writer/reader. Hopefully more empathetic. 

However, I feel as an aspiring writer, tracking my 'dropped books' is just as equally important as tracking my finished ones. It’ll be a fun challenge I can set for myself. Help me explore what I want in my own novel. Analyze what I need to be successful.

I know I am not going to resonate with all my readers too. People have different preferences, like different writing styles than I do, different genres. Like I said this is just for me. To help me with my own craft.

That said: maybe I'll do a: I started X book on date such and such. See if I get back around to finishing it. I do that a lot as well. I'll pick up a book, read it until I'm scrolling through Reddit or Goodreads then find an interesting recommendation, drop the book I was reading and start reading the 'recommended' book instead. Then finish the ‘original’ book months later.  

 I'll post the books I didn't finish per month at the end of the year with my yearly finished book list. I hope it’ll give y’all the same incite and reflection. Help you know that you are not alone in dropping books and help inspire you to track your own yearly reading progress.

Happy reading!