Hello, book lovers! 💕
So I was inspired by Chelle’s Book Ramblings post about whether or not comics and manga count as reading and the Goodreads challenge to discuss it myself.
A little background: I’ve been reading a lot of comics lately because of Avatar the Last Airbender. I started reading those comics in the middle of last year, and I really enjoyed them (as you might know if you’ve been following my blog for awhile). I also have been slowly reading the One Piece manga series as well. And I’m currently reading the Lumberjanes series by Noelle Stevenson.
This is something that I’ve been thinking about for quite some time considering I partake in the Goodreads challenge pretty much every year. And I know there is some controversy surrounding including them toward the yearly goal.
So without further ado, let’s get onto the discussion!
There are a few people I follow on YouTube who don’t count comics and manga as books read toward their Goodreads challenge. That has always confused me in the sense that they’re reading the books, why not count them as books read?
Which brings me to the discussion at hand.
I understand, for the most part, why people wouldn’t consider comics and manga as books read since those types of books are mostly pictures and don’t take that long to get through. They’re easier to read and you’re able to get through so many of them in one sitting compared to reading an actual novel.
So because they aren’t typical novels, they shouldn’t count right?
No. I don’t think that’s right. You’re still reading, in my opinion, even if there are pictures that go along with it. I feel like, while there aren’t as many words in the story, the pictures add to the reading experience. You’re able to visualize what’s going on in the story (the setting, the plot, the action scenes) while only getting essential dialogue among the characters.
And if Goodreads counts the comic as a book read, then I think it should be count as a book read. Which means it should count toward the end of the year goal for Goodreads. There have been times when I was falling behind in my Goodreads challenge that I had read a few comics or manga to catch up. Because if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I would be able to read 50 books if some of them weren’t comics or manga.
My takeaway from this is if you’re reading, you’re reading, whether it’s a novel, a comic or manga. Which means it should definitely count towards your reading goal. But at the same time, it’s completely up to you. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to what counts and what doesn’t. If you want it to count, then it should count.
So there you have it. Those were my thoughts on whether or not comics and manga count as reading and should count towards a Goodreads challenge. I know that this post was kind of short, and I didn’t have too much to say about the topic. But it’s been something that I was thinking about for a while now and just wanted to share some of my thoughts on it.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you count comics and manga as books on Goodreads? I’d love to chat about this in the comments below!
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The Reading Addict 
I don’t really use Goodreads for tracking reading, but I’ve always counted comics and manga as reading! You still have to use alot of literacy skills in order to read them. That might not be a big deal for avid readers, but it is for people who might be struggling readers (no matter what age). Interesting topic!
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Exactly! That’s a really good point!
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I totally agree! Reading is reading. My husband on reads manga, but he’s still a reader.
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I was actually thinking about that! If someone only reads manga or comics, they’re definitely still a reader!
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Honestly I think people don’t count comics/manga towards the Goodreads goal because they don’t truly respect the medium. Its a lesser book to them. It really irritates me whenever I see people with that attitude because half my reading is comics, I’m a certified comics geek! 😅 Goodreads goals are for individuals not for the community. Gatekeeping what does and doesn’t count towards a goal is just another form of elitism.
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You make some really good points that I completely agree with. It annoys me when people treat any kind of book that’s not a full novel, (comic or graphic novel or even audiobook), as not reading or lesser books. You’re still consuming a book, even if there are primarily pictures or it’s being read to you.
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They always count as reading. The comics and manga helps people to read things easier much like the kids illustrated books. Some people say it’s even good for the kids who struggle to read(just make sure it’s age appropriate) words can help them to understand it better.
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That’s a great point! And I completely agree. Sometimes the illustrations helps aid in comprehension and understanding, especially in younger children who may need help when reading.
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I remember when I was a kid, before I learned how to read words, I would always look at the Marvel comics because the pictures look so awesome. Later on, I was slowly able to read them as I got older(I think I started to read the comics when I was seven years old or maybe eight) and thanks to their illustrations, it was easier for me to breeze right through. :3
And now I owned a lot of comics and manga as a grown adult. XD
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I agree with the contents of the post I too am a manga reader for the past few months it really helped me improve my literature skills it’s not only a form of entertainment but we can learn many real life facts. People should start counting them towards the Goodreads goal
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