2020 Reading Stats
As usual, borrowed and modified from the sadly now discontinued Boston Bibliophile.
How many books read in 2020? 60, which I hit just in time. Last year, I read 89, and the year before 73, both record-breakers for me, and...I am so freaking proud of myself for what I've been able to accomplish this year.
How many fiction and nonfiction? 36 fiction, 24 nonfiction
Female/male/nonbinary author ratio? 50 female, 10 male, including one collection of short stories with female, male, and nonbinary authors
Writers of Color/Minority Writers? 14 books by writers of color, 9 books by Jewish authors, at least three by LGBTQ writers, and more including some of the writers in the short story collection
Favorite book of 2020? Middlemarch. I spent a long time reading and savoring it, especially in the uncertain days right after we were all told to go home and stay there.
Longest and shortest books?
Longest: Middlemarch by George Eliot, at 904 pages.
Shortest: Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich, at 72 pages.
How many books from the library? 17. Pretty good, considering I couldn't access any physical books from the library for at least four months this year.
Which countries did you go to through the page in your year of reading?
Germany, Britain, Sweden, Jeju Island in South Korea, fictionalized Syria, Cuba, France, and some distant planets.
Any translated books?
A few! Finally! I read books translated from Swedish, German, Spanish, and French this year--4 books in all. Better than most recent years.
Most read author of the year, and how many books by that author?
Judy Blume! I read Summer Sisters and Deenie this year.
Any re-reads?
Yes, I reread The Amber Spyglass at the beginning of the year and in pandemic-land, I reread Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich and You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero.
Favorite character of the year?
Mona, from A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking. I also enjoyed Elsa, Granny, and "the Wurse" from My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Which book wouldn’t you have read without someone’s specific recommendation?
I read a lot of books this year for book clubs that I wouldn't have read otherwise: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, Life Will Be The Death of Me by Chelsea Handler, The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright, Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult
Which author was new to you in 2019 that you now want to read the entire works of?
Charlotte Lucas
Which books are you annoyed you didn't read?
None. I'm just focusing on reading for pleasure and that doesn't come with obligations
Did you read any books you have always been meaning to read?
Yes, I'd wanted to read Exit West for a while. I also got to read many books I had been waiting to come out like Detox Your Thoughts by Andrea Bonior, The Art of Showing Up by Rachel Miller, and Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel. I'd also wanted to read The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker.
How many books did you read on your ereader?
7. That was the only way I could get some books out of the library for part of this year.
Oldest book read? Middlemarch by George Eliot, pub. 1871
Newest? A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher, pub. July 2020
How many SFF books did you read? 7. Wow, way down from 32 last year!
Comments