It was a good reading year. Read 99 books, but didn’t realize it until it was too late to make a final push to reach the triple digit. But that’s ok, it’s a funny number!
In the future, I’ll remember 2011 as the year when…
- I started tweeting
- I started reading Patrick O’Brian
- I realized that non-fiction can be as fun as fiction
- I discovered how read-alongs can enhanced the reading experience
- My TBR imploded
OVERVIEW 2011
Format
I’ve had my e-reader for two years but it still not part of my reading habits. On the other hand, I can’t live without my audiobooks.
Genres
Not an exact science, but it seems about right: lots of fantasy, historical, “literary fiction” and classics. I’m happy with this balance, most of the time I read what I feel like reading.
Type
The expected supremacy of fiction, although 12 non-fiction is a record. I had such a great experience with them that I’m determined to increase that figure in 2012.
Languages
Something I want to work on. If I can read in different languages, why don’t I? Laziness might have something to do with it…
So with this in mind, these are my
PLANS FOR 2012
I don’t want to be too strict because it gives me great pleasure to spend time in front of the TBR shelf and chose what to read next without any restraints. All in all, I’m very happy and motivated about these five resolutions:
Less challenges, more read-alongs
In 2011 I participated (and completed) three challenges: One, Two Theme, Graphic Novels and Steampunk – I also entered four read-alongs with other book bloggers – Villette, The Discovery of Heaven, Sense and Sensibility and Heart of Darkness. Although I had fun with the challenges, read-alongs not only added to the reading experience, but also worked better for me in bringing me closer to the community.
So far I’ve only signed up to one Challenge: The Introverted Reader’s Southern Literature Challenge. Others might still lure me, but what I’m really looking forward to is participating in read-alongs, especially if they coincide with books already on my shelfs. If you know of any interesting ones, please let me know!
Read more in different languages
At least one in Spanish, two in French and five in my native Portuguese. The plan is to read originals and not translations.
Re-read more
Only re-read three books in 2011, but they were some of the best. The lure of the TBR is too strong, but I want to make time for old favorites in 2012. Several that come to mind: The Mists of Avalon, Atonement, Mansfield Park and Emma, some by classic Portuguese author Júlio Dinis, some by Guy Gavriel Kay (probably Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan).
Read War & Peace
Already have the audiobook, all 61 hours of it. That’s about five hours per month. I’m taking it easy, there’s no hurry.
Celebrate Dickens & Shakespeare
I’m not a Dickens fan and it’s likely I’ll give him up after I read Our Mutual Friend, which has been waiting in the shelf for a couple of years. In 2012 the world will celebrate Dickens’ 200th birthday and it seems the perfect opportunity to pick it up, but I’m not sure I’ll have the courage. Still, I’d like to somehow pay homage to him (I’m always up for celebrating authors, even if they’re not favorites), probably by reading Clare Tomalin’s new biography.
Confession: I’ve never read anything by Shakespeare, but this is the right time to change that. After all, there’s so much happening to celebrate his work this year.
31 comments
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January 2, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Allie Danielson (@alliedanielson)
I really like your graphs! The very nerdy part of me wants to go make my own. 🙂
There are a lot of events going on right now-readalongs and otherwise. I’m hosting my Shakespeare Reading Month this month if you want to join in with a play or two! I also know that someone is hosting a Charles Dickens month this month too…but I can’t think of the blog. I know I’m just planning on reading a couple of his works next month.
Jillian at A Room of One’s Own is hosting a readalong for War and Peace through the end of June.
Kate from Kate’s Library is hosting a year-long readalong on Les Mis-that would be a fun one to read in French! 🙂
There is also a year-long readalong of Clarissa being hosted by Lakeside Musing. I would participate, but Jillian and I will be tackling it in the month of April (you are more than welcome to join in!).
I hope that helps! I love readalongs as well-such a great sense of community.
January 2, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Natalie ~ the Coffee and a Book Chick
What an incredible overview of your work and I am so impressed with your ability to read in different languages and your plan to include that into your reading experience in 2012. I can’t wait to see what you select for that and what your thoughts are for them. Here’s to another fun reading and blogging year!
January 2, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Jillian ♣
About War & Peace, there’s a group of us reading together through June. You’re welcome to join. 🙂
There are also a couple of Shakespeare events happening this monthy and in 2012. I don’t want to link them and send this post to Spam, but they’re listed on my Challenge page.
Cheers and have an awesome 2012. 🙂
January 2, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Jillian ♣
Oh — ha ha. Allie must have hopped in before I posted my comment. I see she’s told you about the Shakespeare event I was referring to. As well as War & Peace. (Thanks, Allie!!) 😉
January 2, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Pat de Gray (@PatriciadeGray1)
Extremely interesting article. I am enjoying your blogs and will definitely read some of your suggestions.
January 2, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Larissa
Oh, The Mists of Avalon definitely needs to be re-read regularly 😉
Very nice graphs, and I believe 99 books is a much more interesting number than 100!
January 2, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Steph
I love all your charts! It’s so fun to see other people geek out about their reading like I do… I’ve fallen behind though, as I still have a few books left from 2011 that I need to review AND I haven’t done a wrap up post yet for the year… I know I didn’t come anywhere close to reading 100 books, so even though you “only” made it to 99, I’m still very impressed!
January 3, 2012 at 12:55 am
The Literary Stew
Great post! I’m pretty bad when it comes to challenges but I’d love to do more read-a-longs too. Let me know if you’d like to do one together. I’m planning to do Midnight’s Children with Arti from Ripple Effects.
January 3, 2012 at 3:17 am
Sandy
I’m right there with you on the audio books. They are a critical part of my life! I’m sorta anti-challenge because they stress me out, but I’m giving some thought to the Stephen King Project, which would be a gimme. I’ve got at least three S.K. books on my TBR for the year and I’m halfway through one of them already. BTW I love your graphs!
January 3, 2012 at 10:27 am
Iris
I love all the graphs! I read far too little in different languages as well.
I don’t like Dickens, but, like you, I’d like to give him a try this year.
January 3, 2012 at 10:54 am
Violet
Cool graphs! Wish I could do that. Good luck with your reading plans. I’ve found read-alongs aren’t my thing at all, and have not yet managed to listen to an audio book without falling asleep or wanting to throw it out the window due to the narrator’s irksome voice. Very envious envious you can read in different languages! War and Peace is one of my favourite books. I hope you like it. Also, Shakespeare has something for everyone: such a wide variety of work to choose from. Best wishes for 2012. Hope you have a great reading year.
January 3, 2012 at 11:22 am
Tony
Laziness, hmm? Time to break out those books in other languages 🙂
January 3, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Sérgio
99 books that’s incredible … but I know it’s not your record 🙂
You proposed to me a read along for Dune let’s see if we can do that one and I propose one for História do Cerco de Lisboa from Saramago I know it’s one of fathers favorites and I’ve wanted to read it for some time now.
Have a great 2012 full of fun and interesting reads.
January 3, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Patty
Yeay for War and Peace, which will be my challenge as well this year!!! Also like you, I have pledged to read in more languages – the original is definitely better! Enjoy reading…
January 3, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Vasilly
I love your graphics! They’re such a great addition to a wrap-up posts. Congratulations on reaching 99 books read.
I know there’s a Salvage the Bones read-along going on this month on Twitter. The hashtag is #salvagethebones. It’s going to be from the 23rd to the 27th at night.
There’s also the Game of Thrones read-along that going on now and will last the whole month.
I’m hosting a read-along next month of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It’ll last the whole month too.
Good luck with your goals this year.
January 3, 2012 at 5:41 pm
victoriacorby
I’m not sure I wouldn’t rather read War and Peace than listen to it. It’s a fantastic book, the story is wonderful but the masonic bits do tend to go on and on and on, it’s much easier to speed-read or skim those parts than it is to fast forward an audio book!
January 3, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Simon T
What a wonderful lot of statistics! Would you believe that I still haven’t read Elizabeth and Her German Garden, despite having read three other E von A novels? It has to be on my list for this year, since I own two copies of it…
January 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm
flloorr
Adorei os queijinhos! Torna tudo muito mais profissional 🙂
January 3, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Joanna
Great goals, Alex, it has to stay fun! I can’t believe you haven’t read any Shakespeare!!!!! I’m shocked!!!
January 3, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Melissa
Love the charts. 🙂
2012 will also by my War & Peace year. I wanted to read it last year but didn’t get around to it.
January 4, 2012 at 4:09 am
Arti
Totally impressed by your stats and their presentation! And I agree with you that we ought to be doing much more rereading. I’ve always wanted to do all of Austen’s works as an annual read, but just don’t have the time. For the first time I’ll be doing two challenges this year, and a read-along. Look forward to our mutual visits and sharing of good reads! Have a great year!
January 4, 2012 at 6:56 am
Risa
That was an easy glimpse into your 2011! 😀
I’d re-read only 4 books last year, especially after having declared I wouldn’t re-read anything! Now, 2012 is going to be a year of re-reads for me. I’m really excited about it! :D… I’ve also decided to take part in a couple of read-alongs or so, this year (not counting the Reading Shakespeare: a Play a Month project in 2012 — we’re beginning with A Midsummer Night’s Dreams this month). I’ve already started reading for the Les Miserables read-along, and I’m quite thrilled about it! I can see why you would love to take part in more of these events.
I’m also looking forward to reading War and Peace! I haven’t decided, though, if I want to read it piece-meal, or in one go. …
Have a lovely 2012!
January 4, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Melissa
I want to make those graphs too! Those are awesome. I’m excited you’re reading Shakespeare for the first time this year. I also agree with your comment about read-alongs adding more to the reading experience than challenges. I think I’m going to host a read-along of Cloud Atlas in March, you should join in!
January 4, 2012 at 5:52 pm
farmlanebooks
I think I discovered how good non fiction can be this year too. I aim to read a lot more next year.
Good luck in reading in all those different languages. That is a fantastic skill to have and I hope you are rewarded with some fantastic reads.
January 4, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Zeba Clarke
Don’t read Shakespeare, listen and/or watch. Seriously, dramatizations and filmed versions are the best intro. Best start, the Baz Lurhman Romeo and Juliet. Or maybe Twelfth Night and Much Ado about Nothing, both great films. And watch with the subtitles (don’t worry about following along with the text, they cut a lot, and with good reason). Good tragedies: David Tennant doing Hamlet, the Ian McKellen/Willard White Othello and if you can find it, Anthony Sher and Harriet Walter as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This year, the BBC is putting on the Wars of the Roses history plays (Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2 and Henry V). Come with us to see Comedy of Errors at Kinepolis in March with Lenny Henry live from the National Theatre.
January 5, 2012 at 3:51 am
Jen G. (The Introverted Reader)
I feel honored that you signed up for my Southern Lit challenge! Good luck with all of your goals! I encourage you to re-read Tigana and/or Lions of al-Rassan. I re-read Tigana a couple of years ago and it still gave me goose bumps. It might be time for a re-read of Lions this year. I do love me some Roderigo and Ammar. 😉
January 6, 2012 at 10:09 am
Kinna
Cool graphs and love your TBR implosion. I will read a Dickens for the first time this year, at my mum’s insistence I should add. Your goals are wonderful. I will also be rereading a number of books. All the best in 2012.
January 6, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Shannon (Giraffe Days)
I love your graphics, Alex! Nerdy love. 🙂
I’m posting soon about a read-along of the Obernewtyn series, can’t remember if you commented about that before sorry! It’s YA fantasy from my absolute favourite author.
And I’m looking forward to our read-along! Oh whoops I have an email to reply to don’t I? I remember you mentioned Feb 11th – that works for me. 🙂
January 7, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Jessica
I, too, love the graphs. But I also love your summary of the year and your plans for 2012. I didn’t realize that 2012 will be Dickens’s 200th birthday. I’m not a huge fan either, but I think I’ll plan on reading a book or two of his this year.
(Also, I’m new to you blog and love both your writing tone and the design.)
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