Books, Books, and More Books

Sometime near the end of 2015 I read an article talking about how the author had read 180+ books that year. I read a lot, I like reading more than just about anything - eating chocolate is a close second, maybe, but yes, I would still rather read - so the number didn't alarm or startle me. The interesting thing was that the author kept a record of everything she'd read, and then analyzed the list for patterns and holes in her reading history. Sounded intriguing, so I started a list for 2016.

It's been incredibly enlightening.

It's probably a lot like writing down everything you eat (consume) and checking the calorie content - except when I do that, I really do pay more attention to what I'm going to eat later that same day. I TRY to be more conscientious about what I'll read (consume) next, but TBR piles are fluid, changing things (at least as fluid as a pile of objects made from tree bark can be). And then the Kindle TBR 'pile' - that thing has a crazy mind of its own.

I just finished my 100th book for the year. Don't freak out or make any comparisons - I really have no life. I have so little life that that number would actually be higher, except that I've been on a Marvel movie kick lately, a Hallmark Christmas movie kick - sue me -, and my light switch relationship with Netflix is most definitely ON at present.

'Working' books. Plus others that ended up on the pile because it's convenient.

Here are some things I've learned: I have read exactly three books written by men this year. (One mystery, two YAs: an end-of-the world, and a coming-of-age. Both were fascinating, and heart-wrenching.) I read a LOT of Romance, and while occasionally I feel like my brain is stuffed with cotton candy in large part I read books by people who can really, really write. I'm a loyal reader - if I like your style (i.e., you make me laugh) I will read all of your books. If I like your descriptions and characterizations I will read and re-read your books even if there are minor period or cultural anachronisms. I am NOT cool with grammatical errors or stilted, trying-too-hard writing. I've read a lot of YA this year, and have plans to adapt several of the stories as plays. I've also done a lot of mysteries and gothic novels (see above re: author loyalty). I've read almost no non-fiction, despite determined attempts to fill out that category with major library hauls and Kindle biography purchases. I have a few auto-buy authors whose books I will buy or pre-order, regardless of price and always for my Kindle so that I can stay up all night reading (they usually arrive before midnight the day before they're 'out') or be a zombie at work wondering when I'm going to get back to my book. Otherwise, everything comes from a Kindle sale or the library, and those are definitely not always good choices.

Current library stack - except for the one on the bottom, which I purchased after reading it in the library because I decided it needs to be a children's play. My stack categories are... nebulous.

(I found a quote in a newspaper years ago: 'Never read a book that is not a year old.' I like it, I agree with it, and it doesn't work out so well for me.)

I read more books on my Kindle than on paper (the convenience!) even though I currently have some MAJOR book stacks happening in my house. I've also read more new books than re-read favorites this year, which is good because I tend to read what I know I already like. I definitely need to branch out, read SO MUCH MORE non-fiction - I probably ought to get to that biography of Alexander Hamilton that is a doorstop in my room; if I start now I may be able to finish before I finally see the musical in 2-5 years (and I really want the Hamiltome) - I also really need to get back to classic fiction. ('At LEAST a year old. Maybe lots of years old.') I definitely need to read more books by male authors, to balance out perspectives if nothing else. And I need to stop reading sometimes and get working on those plays. (And read more of my 'How to Write Plays' books currently sitting in my stacks.)

Recent acquisitions. I have connections, which means I have WAY TOO MANY BOOKS.
(By which I mean I don't have enough shelves.)

Technically, I have read more that 100 books this year. There are a few that I have read and immediately hated myself for them - for the most part I have recorded everything, no matter how awful, but a very few I just couldn't. (Am now going to add a book I didn't want to admit I read. Okay, I'm back.) And just a few days ago I went to the library after work - to return books, but there's no walking out of either of the two library systems I use without at least one book in hand (as my piles can attest) - picked up... something... off the New Books table, sat down, and read it. I can sorta vaguely remember it, but I couldn't hang on to the title or the main characters' names even to the next day. I really should stop doing that - there's a lot of important, MEMORABLE stuff out there to read. In a way, it made me feel like I was cheating on my list, that I spent a couple of hours reading it and then couldn't even write it down.

So. Bookworm, or Book SuperHero? I guess the next six months will tell!