It's always interesting to look back over the year and see how my reading progressed--did I stick with my reading plans or veer off on unplanned paths? I tend to be pretty predictable, but I still like comparing from year (2007) to year (2006). I'm going to cheat a little as I am nearly finished with my short story collection, so I'll count that in now. And with two more days left in the year and (finally) no plans I might even finish another book as well. Here's what my reading year for 2008 looked like:
- Books completed: 84
- Fiction (not mysteries or short stories): 59
- Nonfiction: 6
- Classics: 15
- Books from the Modern Library list: 1
- Mysteries: 16
- YA novels: 0
- Books written by women: 70
- Books written by men: 14
- Books written by multiple authors: 0
- Books by American authors: 18
- Books by British authors: 52
- Books by Canadian/Australian authors: 2
- Books in translation: 8
- Short story collections: 3
- Individual stories: At least 52 but probably a few more
- Graphic novels: 1
- Plays: 0
- Virago Modern Classics: 5
- Persephone Books: 3
- Books read that were checked out from the library: 23
- Rereads: 2
- Different books by the same author: 5 (Wilkie Collins, Georgette Heyer, Mollie Panter-Downes, Margery Allingham and Ruth Rendell)
I contemplated breaking down my reads by centuries, but the vast number of books I read were solid 20th century publications, with a smattering of 19th and 21st century books. And most of the contemporary novels I read were actually historical novels. I read even fewer books by men this year than last as well as fewer classics (and I was pretty generous in what I considered a classic!). It was a little tricky figuring out which books were by British or American authors. Do you considered someone born in the UK but now living in the US American or British? I counted them as British. In any case I already knew I've been reading far more British authors than American and not as many books in translation than I hoped. Not even 10% of the books read were nonfiction! But I did read more short stories and a few more mysteries. Maybe next year I can get a bit more variety in my reading?