My aim was to read as many books in 2013 as I had managed in 2012.
This was achieved by October and the final total was 156 which I'm pleased with.
My challenge was.............
2013 READING CHALLENGE 1
 |
| 156 down, 2500 to go! |
- Last year I read 120 books, this year the target is to match it - 120.
- January - 15
- February - 13
- March - 16
- April - 14
- May - 14
- June - 10
- July - 10
- August - 8
- September - 11
- October - 14- SMASHED IT!
- November - 20
- December - 11
- Total - 156 - SMASHED IT!
Despite having 1 week's holiday from work August was most least productive month, when playing the numbers game.
November with 20 of varying formats, types and lengths was the most, quantity-wise.
A great year's reading and probably something that may prove beyond me to replicate in 2014, so I will leave the bar at 120 target-wise.
I will sum up my books of the year in a separate post.
Links to my monthly summaries are above, for those of you who may be seeking a cure for insomnia!
A few more statistics.........only about 14 or 15 female authors among the 150-odd......less than 10% which is pretty appalling!
24 - 5 star reads, 90 - 4 star, 30 - 3 star, 11 - 2 star and 1 book rated 1 star (Marek Krajewski - The End of the World in Breslau
Only 3 non-fiction reads, I think I used to read about 1 a month before 2013!
13 Scandinavian books read, 8 Irish, 5 Scottish, 4 Australian, 2 South African, 1 Polish......the rest - about 22 from England, (nothing Welsh) leaving 100-odd from the US, which sounds about right.
I read 76 new authors that I hadn't read prior to this year. (The actual number of books read by new authors would be higher, but I have only counted the first book as contributing to the figure and not any subsequent books I read by them, on the premise that they were no longer new after the first book.......does that make sense?)
Popular authors.......Lawrence Block (7), Robert Crais (5), Bill Pronzini (4.5......1 book co-authored), Leif G.W. Persson (4), John D. MacDonald (4),
Regrets..........I haven't kept pace with my wife and sons reads and I haven't stayed on top of authors, who I was previously up to date with, but subsequently got more books by.
A few things to work on in 2014........more females, more European books (France, Italy, Germany), more non-fiction......but mainly to continue to enjoy my reading.
A few more statistics.........only about 14 or 15 female authors among the 150-odd......less than 10% which is pretty appalling!
24 - 5 star reads, 90 - 4 star, 30 - 3 star, 11 - 2 star and 1 book rated 1 star (Marek Krajewski - The End of the World in Breslau
Only 3 non-fiction reads, I think I used to read about 1 a month before 2013!
13 Scandinavian books read, 8 Irish, 5 Scottish, 4 Australian, 2 South African, 1 Polish......the rest - about 22 from England, (nothing Welsh) leaving 100-odd from the US, which sounds about right.
I read 76 new authors that I hadn't read prior to this year. (The actual number of books read by new authors would be higher, but I have only counted the first book as contributing to the figure and not any subsequent books I read by them, on the premise that they were no longer new after the first book.......does that make sense?)
Popular authors.......Lawrence Block (7), Robert Crais (5), Bill Pronzini (4.5......1 book co-authored), Leif G.W. Persson (4), John D. MacDonald (4),
Regrets..........I haven't kept pace with my wife and sons reads and I haven't stayed on top of authors, who I was previously up to date with, but subsequently got more books by.
A few things to work on in 2014........more females, more European books (France, Italy, Germany), more non-fiction......but mainly to continue to enjoy my reading.
You certainly did smash your record - congratulations. And your last point is the most important...continue to enjoy - hope you do
ReplyDeleteThanks Bernadette! (I think you let me off lightly, I thought you might mention the derisory number of female authors read, I'm aiming higher this year - 20%)
DeleteI'm v impressed by your wide-ranging interests - *every* different kind of noir, hard-boiled, spy, PI - no, just joking, I really do admire your numbers, your different books, your new authors, your kindly pointing out books that I might like. You are a king of the world of reading! Just have to work on those female authors now...
ReplyDeleteMoira - you're too kind! Though as a form of balance you neglect to mention the books I point out that you won't like....
DeleteI'll try and work on the females, 1 in every 5 doesn't sound too much...Sara Caudfield, Agatha, Dorothy Sayers, Sue Grafton, Terry Shames.....bring it on,
Col - Well done! I am really impressed with how much reading you've done. And I like the the fact that you've read quite a variety of different kinds of crime novels too. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteMargot thanks. I would like to expand my range of reading a bit further, more females, more classic authors from the genre...but overall I was very happy with my reading last year.
DeleteAll I can say is Wow! I want to read more books, but I will never read that many in a year. And from all over the world and lots of different kinds of books. That is great. You are making an effort to read more books by women. That is what counts.
ReplyDeleteTracy thanks. I would like to read the same again this year, but I think it might just have been a freaky one!
DeleteGo on, Col, rub it in! I think 76 new authors is a terrific number. I'm sure you're going to break your own record this year. In the meantime, more non-fiction is on my plate too though I might not review all of them; too tedious.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm not trying to gloat Prashant. The same figures for this year would be good, but I'd settle for 10 per month, with more non-fiction for sure.
DeleteI didn't think you were gloating, Col. Your numbers are truly impressive. I'm aiming for six to seven books a month in 2014.
DeletePrashant, 6 to 7 is very respectable, along with all your films, comics and shorts - good luck!
DeleteHey guys, is two books a month decent?? That's about all I can handle. I just have way too many distractions. How do you all do it? I haven't even tallied up how many books I read last year. It didn't go past 100 I can tell you that much.
DeleteQuality and enjoyment are the most important. I just want to read more because there are so many books I want to read, but I like my TV shows and movies too. Not willing to give those up.
DeleteKeishon, two books is okay - that's more than anyone else in my family gets through (thankfully!) I think I'm helped by the 90% dross on evening TV over here!
DeleteTracy, I have started following a couple of shows over here and I watch more films than I used to......Sherlock - a modern take on Holmes is on TV at the minute and very watchable.
DeleteTV is my problem. I just discovered Breaking Bad (up to season four now) and Justified season five just got started. I'm also watching The Blacklist. I confess! I'm watching more TV than reading these past few weeks. Breaking Bad is a big distraction right now.
DeleteI've been looking at the box set of DVD's for this as we missed it and I feel it is something my whole family would enjoy, best price is about £50 so far, so it might keep for a while - post Christmas wallet blues!
DeleteSeason 9 Criminal Minds has just start started over here. My youngest (15) is a big fan, so I guess we will be watching. I quite like Matthew Gray Gubler in this.
I'll have to google The Blacklist - and I need to watch my Justified DVD'S before worrying about seasons 4 and 5!
The best thing about NBC's The Blacklist is James Spader. He plays this master criminal who knows all the other master criminals in the world. The show is OTT and funny for all the wrong reasons but entertaining overall.
DeleteI only know him from Stargate, but no doubt I have seen him countless other times, only I can't recall him. Sounds up my street, hopefully coming to the UK soon(?)......I'll try and check, cheers
DeleteGlen and I trade. He really likes Criminal Minds so I watch that with him; it is too tense for me. He watches Castle with me, which he doesn't really care for.
DeleteI'll have to look Castle up, as I've never heard of it.
Delete