I was just thinking about how much I've read this year, and it's really put into perspective how unimpressive Ruby's reading output is?
I bought my e-reader in April, and checking the stats I've read around 30 books in the 3 months I've had it (we'll give that as a lower limit.) Now, I don't think this is impressive. I don't really read much that I consider particularly challenging anymore. Steinbeck is what I'm currently tackling, am currently about a 1/3 of the way through Grapes of Wrath. Most of what I read is very pulpy (saga historical fiction novels for old ladies) or pop-nonfiction (ngl I love Ysenda Maxtone Graham, would not have found her without Ruby, also have been devouring Jennifer Worth's stuff.) I've also been a student, and hence have had ample time to fill with reading whatever rit takes my fancy.
But if you extrapolate my output, that's 60 books in 6 months (which I believe is realistic). I don't consider myself a bookworm like Ruby does, but the stuff she reads seems firmly on a similar level to what I read. Surely, for someone who loves reading as much as she does, that's a low output for that level of literature?
If we were talking more difficult to read and digest texts (Austen, Achebe, Dostoevsky, Joyce etc) 56 in 6 months would be incredibly impressive, but at the level we see it seems low for a literature student (esp with the corners she cuts to count it.)
I'm not sure if people have been following my revelations especially but I would like to thank everyone here for encouraging me to challenge my perception. It's certainly opened my eyes a bit.