Twelve months ago, I was pondering whether to keep a record of the books I read during 2016. I’d never done this before but, after the discussion on this blog post, set up a spreadsheet. I recorded the basics – title, author, reading method (paperback, Kindle, audio), genre – and a précis of the story. Just enough to remind me of which book this was.
Along the way I added three columns: series name/number, a 1-5 score, and setting. For next year I will add a column for the year of publication. I discovered this past year just how far behind I am in my reading, as in, how many books are in my TBR (both ‘real’ books and digital.) In 2017 I’d like to read a better balance of new releases, TBR pile, and old/comfort favourites.
With only a couple of hiccups, I kept the spreadsheet up to date and can now – drum-roll!!! – report on my year of reading.
Total books read: 72 (I recorded 75 but 3 were DNF.) I’m pretty amazed by this total. I think I can safely say my reading slump is over. Of this total only 3 were non-fiction. This year I aim to double that.
Breaking down the genres:
- Category/Series Romance: 23
- Crime/Suspense: 14
- Single Title Romance: 11
- Womens’ Fiction: 11
- Novellas (romance): 9
- Historical Fiction: 1
- 5*: 17
- 4*: 25
- 3*: 17
- 2*: 8
- 1*: 5 (kinda surprising that I finished the 1s and 2s, but perhaps the recording project pushed me to persist when I might, in the past, have given up)
What do you do with books you no longer wish to keep? Who do you give/donate them to?
And how was your reading year in 2016? Did you read more or less than usual? Have you set reading goals for 2017?
I give my books (including those autographed) to my girlfriend's mom's senior residence for them to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI have read over 250 books every year since 1973 (high school). Most were romances, but 10-20/year are usually non-fiction.
I made it to 254 books in 2016. I actually read less pages than usual, as many of those noted were novellas/eBooks I found online. Sometimes that's all I feel I can read....
254!!! That's brilliant, Laney. And agree: some days novellas and other shorts are just the ticket. Especially between big, meaty stories. I do like to mix up my reading, between book lengths, genres and tone (light vs dark, fantasy vs realism.)
DeleteA senior residence sounds like a perfect recipient for books. I will look into that.
DeleteHi Bronwyn
ReplyDeleteWOW that is so good I have a word doc as well but only list the title and author too complicated for me to do mush else but I do keep a record on Goodreads also and set myself a challenge last year I read 208 books I had set myself 200 to read and did it :) so I have set it at 200 again this year fingers crossed I do it again. And yes the majority of books that I read at on my kindle although I love to have the paperbacks too :) and I have been giving a few of the older not signed books away to people that I know will love them as much as me and get a lot of enjoyment out of the mainly one of my sisters and this year I am going to organize some to go over to the local hospital they have a book stall once a month and raise funds to help out the hospital
Have Fun
Helen
Helping out the hospital with your book donations is a grand thing to do, Helen. I've donated in the past to the local library when they have a massive book sale to raise money. That's something I could do again; thanks for reminding me!
DeleteCongrats on making your goal of 200 books. I think I will challenge myself with a few goals this year, especially regarding the type of books so I stretch myself to read more widely than I am doing.
That's a great effort, Bron. I really should track what I read, but I don't. I occasionally update my goodreads list, but should do it more often.
ReplyDeleteI find it really hard to give away books. We have a big library stacked to the top. When we moved, we did donate lots of books to friends and to charity shops. But, it was hard to do. Books just seem to precious.
Oh, Jen, I am so with you on the difficulty of pruning the book collection. Over the past few years I have had several reductions but it is always soooo hard and I always end up keeping many, many more than I intend to.
DeleteLove these stats, BRon and you've inspired me to do the same this year. Coincientally I have an email from Goodread last night abut a 2017 book challenge which I'm going to do because its an easy way to record books that you've read as I'm not a spreadsheet kinda gal....
ReplyDeleteI think I'll set myself a target of 100 and hope to exceed it. I reckon in the last month of 2016 alone I read 10 books so fingers crossed!
I should look into the Goodreads challenge, although I've not been an active member. I will also need to remember my log-in. But YAY on challenging yourself. This is always a good thing, right?
DeleteGreat stats Bronwyn.
ReplyDeleteStill not sure on the how, but I read 210 books in 2016 (this did include around 40 re-reads). I'm aiming to read a lot less this year simply because I let a lot of my writing time be taken over by reading.
I've spent the last 5 days sorting through my ebook collection so I can ensure it's backed up (after the very short notice closure of All Romance Ebooks I realised I had no idea what was and wasn't downloaded nor source in many cases) - what it has made decide that aside from must-read authors (and possibly author giveaways) I am not adding to my ebook collection in 2017. Main aim like last year is to make a dent in that ebook collection and possibly decide what print books to part with.
Question for you Bronwyn: Would the fact that you read almost all the books on Kindle and no print be the result of how easy it is to reach for the ereader? [I know this seems to influence how easily/quickly I'll get through a book these days]
210 PLUS re-reads! That's an impressive total, Lyn. But I do agree: it's tough to get the balance right between reading and writing time. This year my "challenge" will be 50 books. I want to spend more time writing!!!
ReplyDeleteMy Kindle preference has several parts: firstly, it is very easy to pick up and find my next read by flicking through the TBR list (which is extensive.) I also find it way too easy to purchase new books recommended on various blogs or on sale or whatever. One click, and it's mine!!!
The other part is I've come to prefer reading on my Kindle. I often read at night, in bed, and my paper white allows me to do that without disturbing my dh (too much.) I also find it easy on my eyes.
Totally understand that Bronwyn. That 210 was inclusive of the re-reads. I think I would have been encroaching on day job time if it wasn't. That said, I'm still not sure how I got through so many books
DeleteI can't begin to guess the number of books I read. I subscribe to a reader service & receive 226 of those per year...yes I read them all. I also get 5-10 books per month from the library...again I read them all. Those are all paper or hardback. Then I download books and novellas on my ereader. Just finished reading a series of books that have been on my ereader TBR list for about 6 months... they got put back because of the Christmas season and wanting to read and re-read books related to that. What can I say I read fast, always have. When I was little, our hometown library had a limit of 10 books per check out. We would go to town on Saturday and would have my books read by Wednesday and had to wait until Saturday to get more. And that was along with the chores on the farm.
ReplyDeleteAs far as paper books or ebooks. I split between the two. Usually at home it's a paper book. My ereader is in my tote to use when I take myself out for a meal, waiting somewhere and during my lunch break at work.
Giving books away is hard. I quit giving them to one of the local libraries when I saw the organizer of their booksale look at a bunch of paperbacks, in good condition, and because they were romance, she pitched them in the trash. Her comment was that no one would purchase those. A few years later, I discovered she had been replaced as the organizer, and one of the reasons being they weren't getting as much revenue from the sales, because she was pitching so many paperback books and people were complaining.
I give them to my hospital. They have a library for patients who feel well enough to read, but are not well enough to go home. The senior home sounds good, but be sure the print is large enough for older eyes to read. Many publishers are getting better at this, but there are still many that aren't printed in a large enough font. That's why our library always has a waiting list for those books that are in large print.
Wherever you decide to donate I'm sure the will be used well!
Wow, Rita, you ARE a prolific reader. In a perfect world, I would read much more than I do. I look forward to retirement when I can read and read and read and read!!!
DeleteGood point about checking print size before donating to seniors' homes. I will do a sort through. And re the library sale donations being turfed... I'm shuddering at that. What a nerve! Especially when you and I (and everyone else reading here) knows how popular those books would have been. SMH.
Well, my goal was 120 and I read 153! I kept track on GR. There were some DNF's in that, too, I think 11. I read mostly paperbacks, but if it is a novella and/or only comes out in ebook, I read on Kindle. I also read on cloud reader on the computer (especially at work. ;)) I swap books on paperback swap and also donate to Savers (2nd hand shop) and the library used book donation area. I have sold some on Amazon, but only trade size or hardcover.
ReplyDeleteYay Charlene on smashing that goal! Have you raised the bar this year? Or do you keep your goal more realistic? Also, is that goal a Goodreads Challenge or just your own goal?
DeleteI ask because I'm contemplating re-engaging with GR so I can do a challenge there in 2017.
I've not considered swapping...probably not a good idea as I'll only end up with MORE books which I don't have time to read. I will have a chat to my local librarian about what they can use. Many of the books are brand new but are at least several years old, some even older. I have a bad habit of picking up bargains "for later" or to gift and they have accumulated to an alarming level.
Goodness! Where do you find the time to log the stats! It would be an interesting exercise for sure. I have way too many books at my house and I never give them away as they feel like friends to me. I can map all the stages of my life through looking over my bookshelves.
ReplyDeleteMelanie, I guess you could say that recording things is a labour of love for me. I have spreadsheets for all manner of things. The actual recording of each read takes less than a minute, as long as I remember to do it promptly. If I get slack and go weeks and weeks, then I need to gather up the info again.
DeleteI hear what you are saying about your book "friends." I have those -- many bookshelves of those, but these ones that I have never read I do not feel the same emotional attachment to. But I can't simply throw them out; I want someone else to befriend them.
Bron, I read less in 2016 which I'm not happy about, so my goal for 2017 is to bring my reading back up to my average rate. Only problem is I've never recorded any details so I don't know what my average rate it. I guess I'll know I'm at it when I feel better about it. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you will know, Rach. Not reading -- or not being satisfied with your reading -- makes for an unhappy soul.
ReplyDeleteWow, Bron, you did great with your reading (and recording) this year. I record my reads too -- but just the book, author and date I finished the book. I only managed 44 books this year (but then I'm not counting the many textbooks I've been reading for my PhD as I'm only reading the odd chapter here and there). But I do love to look back see what I've read for the year. :-)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this exercise, both the recording, and being able to look back over what I'd read. I'm sure I'll use in future when I need to recall the name of a certain book that has slipped my mind. Which happens rather too often these days!
ReplyDeleteHappy 2017, Michelle.
Bron, I'm so with you! Tracking books last year helped me finish a couple I'd have otherwise given up on. And I was surprised by how many I managed to read. I've already set up my tracking page in my Bullet Journal!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? And you're another Bullet Journaler? I am insanely attracted to this but know it would be a disaster in procrastination for me. I use a digital To Do list because it's quick and brutal and does the job...but is so unsatisfying creatively.
DeleteI love reading other people's stats! Very interesting. I too want to read a bit more non-fiction this year, but I have a huge stack of paper books that I'm trying to get through so I can reduce the amount of physical books in the house.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I'm starting to wonder whether I want to keep paperbacks. I think for now, I'm only keeping those that were 5 stars reads and have the potential for a re-read in the future.
You know, Stef, I have a huge box of my 5-star read paperbacks because they are too precious to part with. I always think I might read them again but now I wonder if I would be better to buy the digital version when/if I want to re-read. I know I've done that with some, when they come on sale, and others I'm afraid to re-read. In case they haven't stood the test of time and that may sully my memories of their awesomeness.
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