Thursday, January 1, 2015

By The Numbers and a Few Awards



This may be a boring way to begin the New Year, but I wanted to get the numbers down for the books I read in 2014.

Total books: 105

Fiction: 9
Mysteries: 42
Children/young adult: 4

Nonfiction: 16
Essays: 6
On art or writing: 8
On simplifying/home care/self care: 12
Humor: 4
Biography: 1
Memoir: 3

Author events/signings attended: 4

Of the 105 books read, 46 were read as e-books from my library. They account for almost all of the mysteries. Last year I read 99 books but for some reason didn't take the time to sort the titles. 

Although I posted (here) the books that guided me this past year, here are a few awards for 2014:


Favorite Book That Was a Reread:
A tie between 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff and 
The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

Most Mysteries Read by One Author:
Seven by Peter Lovesey

Best Binge:
In just weeks I read seven books by Alain de Botton

Strangest Book:
A Rebours (Against Nature) by Joris-Karl Huysmans

Best Take on the British Upper Class:
Snobs by Julian Fellowes

Handsomest Authors I Met This Year:
The Minimalists
Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Everything That Remains

Number of Books I Said I Would Read That Are Still on the Shelf:
Countless


I look forward to finding out what I will read in 2015!

10 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a good year of reading. I hope 2015 is even better. :) Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks, Lark. What were some of your favorite books in 2014?

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    2. I ran across two new authors: Donato Carrisi and Yrsa Sigurdardottir who both write International thrillers...I really enjoyed reading their books. But probably my favorite read was The Taliban Cricket Club which was just amazing.

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    3. Thanks for the recommendations, Lark.

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  2. I especially like the number of books...on the shelf! That's pretty much the state of my shelf as well. And 84 Charing Cross is one of my all-time favorites.

    Cool that you met the Minimalists--I read their blog.

    I look forward to seeing what you will read in 2015, also!

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    1. The Minimalists were great. I followed their blog for a while and when I saw they were doing a signing at the local independent (of course) bookstore, I knew I would have to go and meet them. They gave a little talk and then Josh read from the book, 'Everything That Remains'.

      Of course I bought the book to add to all my other books about simplifying one's life!

      It was pretty much about Josh's journey getting rid of everything. And then Ryan (they had been friends for a long while) jumped on board and did the same thing. They are living large now, in a minimalist sort of way, that's for sure. Just finished a book tour in Europe!

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  3. "Countless" - yes, I know that feeling, and I find it both reassuring and puzzling - where did they come from?! Happy New Year!

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    1. Yes, vicki, where do they all come from? I still have books to read that I bought on The Grand Southern Literary Tour 2012. And the one in 2013. And the books from books sales and the library sale table....on and on.

      Sigh. At least I know I won't ever be stuck at home with nothing to read.

      Happy Reading in 2015!

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  4. Handsomest authors indeed! I love the Helene Hanff, too. Happy New Year!

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    1. Happy New Year to you as well. The Minimalists were great fun. In addition to 84, CCR, I also read Hanff's "The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street", her journal of her first trip to London. I laughed and cried through both books.

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