Where does the time go? Shouldn't it still be early November or something like that? That's the only reason I can come up with for why I should have failed to remember to buy a new calendar while at the mall this afternoon.
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.
I guess not.
Anyway, I'm reading Can You Forgive Her? and The Master and Margarita this week, and there's no chance I'll finish either of them before midnight tomorrow, so it's time to post my 2009 reading stats.
I read 101 books this year! I'd not managed triple digits since 2001 and would not have not read near that many this year were it not for the 17 books I completed in October, thanks in large part to those pulled muscles in my lower back--and truth be told, I'd rather never reach 100 again if it means my back won't hurt.
The stats break down thusly:
Nonfiction: 15
Novels: 79
Books of short stories: 7
Library books read: 48
Newly-acquired books read: 32
Newly-acquired books stockpiled for later reading: 140
Free e-texts read: 5
Books just published in last year or so: 55
Works I consider classics: 10
Works written prior to 20th century: 7
Books written by women: 55
Authors I read multiple books by: Anthony Trollope (4); A.L. Barker (2); A.S. Byatt (2); Richmal Crompton (2); Amy Hempel (2); Susan Hill (2); Patrick O'Brian (2); and Dan Simmons (2).
Re-reads: Zilch
Poetry: Zilch
Plays: Zilch (at least I did go to see Hamlet, so there's that)
Have I ever gone a year without re-reading something? This may be a first. I'm also disheartened by the fact that I'm reading more library books while simultaneously acquiring more books than ever before. Even R. turned on me this week and called me a hoarder when I hesitated on donating a duplicate copy of Don Quixote to charity--so if anyone ever complains that we're down to only the Grossman translation, it's her fault, not mine.
Stats/favorites from previous years:
2008: Favorite books and reading stats
2007: End of year stats
2006: End of year reading stats
2005: A look back, a look ahead
2004: It was a good year for reading
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Wow, that is a lot of library books, which is not a bad thing really. Of course I also think about how many new books I'm buying and not reading and then borrowing instead. There's a catch-22 in there somewhere. 101 is an impressive number--but I'd rather not have a bad back either. Still, you have something to show for it? And even if it shouldn't be the beginning of November it should at least be the beginning of winter break. Ugh. Why does it have to go so fast??? Happy reading in 2010!
ReplyDeleteUgh. I didn't hit triple digits like I'd hoped I would. I didn't break down my reading as well as you did, as I don't keep track of library books. But I did break it down into male and female authors. Very original of me, huh? :)
ReplyDeleteHere's to another year of reading!
Congratulations on hitting triple digits! I did this year for the first time as well. I think it's the blogging that influenced me to read more books!
ReplyDeleteHooray for triple digits, but I'm sorry about your back.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 101 books! I'm pretty sure I'll never make it that high, so I find the number impressive. I'm glad you had a good reading year, but sorry about the back trouble.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 101, but as you noted, at what cost? I'm somewhere in the 60's, I think, which is a big drop until I consider how I read Crime and Punishment, Infinite Jest and Shadow Country in one years. Those took a while.
ReplyDeleteHow many shelf books did you read, or should I not ask?
Impressive stats. I think I'd rather not read over 100 books either if it took being laid up with back problems for it to happen. As for hoarding, I don't think you are hoarding at all. I have multiple copies of several books too and there is always a reason for it! Happy New Year Susan!
ReplyDeleteRe: Shelf books
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure since I'd have to check purchase dates on some to determine if I bought more than a year or two ago, but it would be less than 15, and probably closer to 5.
Single digits. Yow. That's even worse than I thought.
Hurrah for making it to the triple digits!
ReplyDeleteI read quite a few poems but I didn't read a single poetry collection which was something I had wanted to do. Oh well, maybe this year! :)