Happy 2014 everyone!

2013 was a game-changer because of baby David, but other great stuff happened as well. Here are some highlights:

  • Added two new countries to my list: Lithuania and Uzbekistan
  • My team was top 3 on pub quiz a record number of times
  • Ate jelly-fish, yam and shurbo dushpera for the first time
  • Met Margaret Atwood
  • Began drawing again
  • Managed to keep a plant alive for more than 6 months (and counting)

dgja amih

Reading-wise, this was one of the years I’ve read less. It was expected, that’s why my 2013 Plan was to have no Plan. I’ve only read 54 books, 30 less than 2013, a 36% decrease. Still, it’s an average of a book a week, which, as everyone keeps telling me when I sound disappointed, it’s an accomplishment with a newborn.

As last year, here are the customary geeky stats. In parenthesis the difference compared to 2013 (it would make more sense to include the percentage, but I’m lazy). I’ll post the best books of the year tomorrow.

Format

As in last years, paper still rules, but percentage-wise audio continues to rise. I wonder if 2014 will be the year it reaches the top for the first time. The decrease in ebooks is related to the fall in the number of Classics I’ve read. For me, ebooks = Project Gutenberg.

Format

Fiction vs. Non-fiction

Although fiction still has the clear majority, in terms of percentage non-fiction’s weight actually increased. When my head is mush, fiction is usually the remedy but at the hight of baby-madness, I was drawn to non-fiction, mostly via audiobooks.

fvsnf

A closer look at Fiction

Who’d say I’d EVER read more poetry (can I consider it “fiction”?) than graphic novels? It was one of the surprises of the year, although by an almost insignificant difference. I have the wonderful Shel Silverstein to thank for it.

Fiction

The surprise of the year was the drop in Classics. In 2013 Classics was at the top of the list and now it’s 6th. I think it’s the result of a lack of challenges, read-alongs and bookclubs. Also, there’s the general decrease in concentration and patience that most classics demand.

It’s also interesting that the need for “easier” books led me to increase Crime, but at the same time I haven’t read a single Romance or Chick-lit. Psychologists, please analyse.

Genre

A closer look at Non-fiction

In the middle of so many decreases, it’s good to see a category with only one! Parenting books were a new thing, but some of the most rewarding reads of the year.

non-fiction

Languages

#FAIL. Need to fix it this year and invest some brain power into reading in French and Spanish.

translated

Translated vs. original

#DOUBLEFAIL. Must become a 2014 project.

translated2

PLANS FOR 2014

I’m going to risk it and actually making reading plans. As the baby grows and becomes more independent I’m also gaining the sense of actually being in control of my time again. I don’t want to be too ambitious, so I won’t set an overall number of books I want to read, but I’d still like to:

1. Come back to book blogging

It’ll be a challenge, but I want to do at least 1 post a week. I also want to go back to visiting and commenting other blogs. I’ve missed it.

2. Participate in book blogging events

I’m thinking in particular about the Ada Lovelace Day, Armchair Audies and RIP. I’d also like to join a couple of read-alongs, if they fit the plans below.

3. Try non-fiction in graphic-novel format for the first time

Have a couple of Guy Delisle’s travelogues in the TBR and they’ll do nicely.

4. Read more translated fiction and non-fiction

Let’s say 10% of all 2014 books. Does anyone know of a Challenge that’s about books in translation?

5. Read more in the original

At least 5 books in Portuguese, 3 in French and 2 in Spanish.

Looking forward to reading about your own reading plans – did you make any?