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Reflecting on a year of reading
Dec. 24th, 2011 11:47 pmI've finished 101 books so far this year, and I suspect that will be the final total come Hogmanay. I have a number of other books on the go at the moment, but all are likely to take more than a week to finish. So I might as well recap now on my reading over the year. For this I've been doing a rough analysis of the books finished.
For example 64% are fiction, compared with 36% non-fiction. The largest number of non-fiction books include technology and science books, which includes computer science ones. However I've also read history, art history and media works, such as a number of books analysing Hitchcock and other classic movies.
19% of the books I finished were Dr Who related. This includes both fiction books, such as new and old novels related to the series, and also histories of the series, and Elisabeth Sladen's autobiography. This category also includes Torchwood novels, Iris Wildthyme books (a spin-off character from the Dr Who novels), and Faction Paradox (a spin-off idea from the novels).
Close behind at 18% of books finished are fantasy. Some are traditional swords and sorcery, like The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. But others are different fantasy, such as Paul Magrs' comic / gothic / fantasy / horror Brenda and Effie novels. And similarly in the comic fantasy are Terry Pratchett's Unseen Academicals, Small Gods which was a reread, and Snuff. And Terry Jones's new collection Evil Machines from Unbound. I also read my first ever Diana Wynne Jones book: Enchanted Glass.
Short stories continued to be a significant presence among my reading, at 14% of books finished. I really enjoy the short story form, and have done ever since I was at school. But they are also well suited to someone with significant brain damage and resulting cognitive problems. Each story is like a fresh start, and I don't have to remember a plot read on a previous occasion, which is a plus.
I'm quite surprised that comics and graphic novels are a smaller presence this year: just 4 titles in total. Last year I was working through The Sandman of course, which bumped up the number. And I do have an enormous pile of graphic novels waiting to be read. But this year I've spent more time reading word books, particularly on my Kindle. Though I still read comics on my iPad.
In my Goodreads account I rate each book read on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. Anything from 3 upwards is an enjoyable read for me, 4 excellent, and 5 outstanding. Looking through the 5 star books this year some jump out as my absolute favourites: Paw Tracks in the Moonlight by Denis O'Connor, Larklight by Philip Reeve, The Dracula Papers, Book 1: The Scholar's Tale by Reggie Oliver, Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones, and (another reread) Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.
Looking ahead I'm doubtful that I'll get to 100+ books again in 2012. But I hope to continue to read widely. Though I really must start to make inroads into that groaning pile of graphic novels ...
For example 64% are fiction, compared with 36% non-fiction. The largest number of non-fiction books include technology and science books, which includes computer science ones. However I've also read history, art history and media works, such as a number of books analysing Hitchcock and other classic movies.
19% of the books I finished were Dr Who related. This includes both fiction books, such as new and old novels related to the series, and also histories of the series, and Elisabeth Sladen's autobiography. This category also includes Torchwood novels, Iris Wildthyme books (a spin-off character from the Dr Who novels), and Faction Paradox (a spin-off idea from the novels).
Close behind at 18% of books finished are fantasy. Some are traditional swords and sorcery, like The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. But others are different fantasy, such as Paul Magrs' comic / gothic / fantasy / horror Brenda and Effie novels. And similarly in the comic fantasy are Terry Pratchett's Unseen Academicals, Small Gods which was a reread, and Snuff. And Terry Jones's new collection Evil Machines from Unbound. I also read my first ever Diana Wynne Jones book: Enchanted Glass.
Short stories continued to be a significant presence among my reading, at 14% of books finished. I really enjoy the short story form, and have done ever since I was at school. But they are also well suited to someone with significant brain damage and resulting cognitive problems. Each story is like a fresh start, and I don't have to remember a plot read on a previous occasion, which is a plus.
I'm quite surprised that comics and graphic novels are a smaller presence this year: just 4 titles in total. Last year I was working through The Sandman of course, which bumped up the number. And I do have an enormous pile of graphic novels waiting to be read. But this year I've spent more time reading word books, particularly on my Kindle. Though I still read comics on my iPad.
In my Goodreads account I rate each book read on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. Anything from 3 upwards is an enjoyable read for me, 4 excellent, and 5 outstanding. Looking through the 5 star books this year some jump out as my absolute favourites: Paw Tracks in the Moonlight by Denis O'Connor, Larklight by Philip Reeve, The Dracula Papers, Book 1: The Scholar's Tale by Reggie Oliver, Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones, and (another reread) Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.
Looking ahead I'm doubtful that I'll get to 100+ books again in 2012. But I hope to continue to read widely. Though I really must start to make inroads into that groaning pile of graphic novels ...