Wednesday 29 December 2010

A Reading Year in Review by Jess

I hope everyone had a marvellous Christmas/holidays, I feel as though I need another week off work to recover from all the festivities and all the eating that went on. As I slowly come around to the idea that I’m now back at work I thought I would share some of my thoughts on my reading over the past year.

This year I read just over 105 books. Out of those 100 I would have given 51 four stars or more and I estimate that I only gave up reading about 8 books making this a very successful year (or maybe I'm just easy to please). 20 of those books contained over 550 pages so I have certainly not shied away from your big chucksters but at the same time I have given more time (although not much) to reading novellas and short stories.

Because of the blog I have read a lot more classics this year and I read a Russian novelist for the first time. But I have also read more brand new releases than I normally would have because of the recommendations flying around the blogosphere when a book is first released. Some of these new releases such as Skippy Dies and Room were highly enjoyable and I’m glad I read them while they were still in hardback, but others such as The Passage taught me to not necessarily fall for the hype in future.

One of the biggest changes in my reading habits this year has been the type of books that I feel I am able to tackle. I am now willing to ‘work’ on a book and to challenge myself. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to go out and attack Ulysses, but I am less intimidated and more willing to give something a go at least.

A special mention has to go to some fantastic authors I discovered this year which include F.Scott.Fitzgerald, Kazuo Ishiguro, Daphne Du Maurier, Helen Dunmore and Toni Morrison. Three of those authors I discovered when taking part in challenges so I would like to thank the people that take the time to organise these.

What are my plans for this year?

I would like to get a lot further in my American Classics project, take part in a few read-alongs and maybe the odd challenge. Roll on 2011.

15 comments:

  1. I hope your 2011 is wonderful!

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  2. I'm going to try to resist the hype too. I really should stick to my instincts on books like The Passage (or at least give up MUCH sooner!)

    Our reading years have been very similar and I'm especially pleased that I discovered Helen Dunmore too. I look forward to following you and your reading through 2011.

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  3. It sounds like you really challenged yourself this year and it paid off. I'll definitely be reading in 2011 to see what you discover next!

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  4. Sounds like you did really well! Happy New Year!

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  5. Sounds like you've had a great year! I hope 2011 is even better.

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  6. I think I ate my weight in food at Christmas.. I am still full.

    105 books! Impressive :) Have a great New Years!

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  7. I'm glad you had such a great year! I topped 100 this year as well and that is such a good feeling. :)

    Good luck in 2011!

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  8. Thanks for everyones comments - I'll be very interested to see what 2011 brings for everyone else.

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  9. Congrats on such a great 2010 and here's to an even better 2011!

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  10. I hope you have a great 2011! I'm certainly glad your blog will be here to read during the year :)

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  11. I love these year end posts. 100+ books is amazing! Congratulations! There are a few authors you mentioned that I also need to explore. I keep hearing about F. Scott Fitzgerald being so much better as an adult than as a teen. I hated The Great Gatsby in high school. I must give it another read. I also need to read Kazuo Ishiguro and I'd like to read Room. I keep seeing fantastic things about that one too! I hope your 2011 is wonderful. Happy New Year!

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  12. 105?! Wow amazing. Hope you top this next year!! :D

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  13. Impressive total. I ended with 57 (I think) but I only read what I wanted to read, and many were rather meaty. I told myself last year that I would only read what I really wanted to read and I accomplished that, so I'm happy :)

    Happy New Year!

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