2019 Reading Wrap Up
Jan. 20th, 2020 11:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forestofgloryIn 2019 I read a lot of books! And even more sequential art! I wanted to look back at my year of reading so let’s have some numbers:
Books Read: 173
Nonfiction: 19
Oldest book: Magic Mommas, Trembling Sisters, Puritans & Perverts by Joanna Russ
Most recent book: Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
Books by non-white authors: 102 (59%!)
Graphic stories: 120
Novellas: 11
Highlights:
Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night by Katherine Fabian and Iona Datt Sharma — I utterly adored this queer, cozy Jewish novella!
Not For Use In Navigation: Thirteen Stories by Iona Datt Sharma — this collection of short stories was just lovely! The characters are so well drawn and I really enjoy the focus on people doing the boring work that makes the world work.
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine —I loved the worldbuilding in this science fiction novel, but my favorite part of this book is how the characters are constantly trying to solve their problems with diplomacy and not violence.
Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa — I found this manga about a city kid who goes to agricultural school heartwarming. I enjoyed all the ways the story wrestles with the idea of a vocation.
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language by Gretchen McCulloch — This book was just so funny and interesting, and now I feel more confident using emoji!
Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer — This minute into the future YA novel features online friendship and a really adorable AI.
Descending Stories Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju by Haruko Kumota — I loved this ten volume manga about Rakugo storytellers with its themes of finding your own voice versus being part of a tradition, and its complex intergenerational relationships.
I keep tracking numbers but the last few years I have been feeling that they aren’t very useful for comparison between years. I’ve been reading more and more sequential art and while I like tracking it I don’t really feel like it's the same as prose. I could track separately but really I doubt I would track at all if Goodreads didn’t make it very easy for me, and I don’t want to get into a more complex system though I admire those who have them.
I do still find the number tracking useful for comparing with in a year. For example, this year I read 59% books by non-white authors! Which is the highest percentage I’ve managed since I started keeping track of this stat. If I didn’t track at all, I wouldn’t be able to get that stat.
Another reason I’m finding these numbers less valuable than in the past is that this year I’ve read a ton of fanfic and I haven’t recorded it in any real way. Which means that I’ve read a lot more prose than these numbers really reflect. Still, I’m glad to have my Goodreads account to look back on and help me keep track of the various books I read, even if I find the numbers it gives me not very useful.
However, I’m very proud of how many books by non-white authors I read. I really upped my game there! I’ve also been focusing on reading fun and comforting stuff and letting go somewhat of my need to keep up with new releases—though I still read plenty of hot-off-the-press books. I also read a ton of manga which I haven’t done in a while but really enjoyed.
In 2019 I had two reading goals for myself. The first was to read 30 books by non white authors with 40 as stretch goal. As we can see I did awesome on this, reading more than double my stretch goal mostly thanks to manga. My other goal was to read 15 non-fiction books (with 20 as a stretch goal). I also succeeded at this goal, reading a total of 19 non-fiction books though again a lot of those where sequential art.
For 2020 I’ve decided to start without any reading goals, except to reevaluate my reading goals every quarter and think about if I want to change them. There are ways that I could improve my reading. For example, while I read many books by non-white authors last year, I could be reading more diversely within that group. But having goals just seems stressful so I’m opting out for now. So I will continue working on reading in the way that gives me the greatest pleasure. I’m going to read as much fluffy fic as I want. I’m going to keep reading tons of slice of life manga. And I’m going to work on not frittering away my time on the internet when it would be better spent reading.
How was your 2019 in terms of reading? Do you have reading plans for 2020?
Books Read: 173
Nonfiction: 19
Oldest book: Magic Mommas, Trembling Sisters, Puritans & Perverts by Joanna Russ
Most recent book: Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
Books by non-white authors: 102 (59%!)
Graphic stories: 120
Novellas: 11
Highlights:
Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night by Katherine Fabian and Iona Datt Sharma — I utterly adored this queer, cozy Jewish novella!
Not For Use In Navigation: Thirteen Stories by Iona Datt Sharma — this collection of short stories was just lovely! The characters are so well drawn and I really enjoy the focus on people doing the boring work that makes the world work.
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine —I loved the worldbuilding in this science fiction novel, but my favorite part of this book is how the characters are constantly trying to solve their problems with diplomacy and not violence.
Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa — I found this manga about a city kid who goes to agricultural school heartwarming. I enjoyed all the ways the story wrestles with the idea of a vocation.
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language by Gretchen McCulloch — This book was just so funny and interesting, and now I feel more confident using emoji!
Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer — This minute into the future YA novel features online friendship and a really adorable AI.
Descending Stories Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju by Haruko Kumota — I loved this ten volume manga about Rakugo storytellers with its themes of finding your own voice versus being part of a tradition, and its complex intergenerational relationships.
I keep tracking numbers but the last few years I have been feeling that they aren’t very useful for comparison between years. I’ve been reading more and more sequential art and while I like tracking it I don’t really feel like it's the same as prose. I could track separately but really I doubt I would track at all if Goodreads didn’t make it very easy for me, and I don’t want to get into a more complex system though I admire those who have them.
I do still find the number tracking useful for comparing with in a year. For example, this year I read 59% books by non-white authors! Which is the highest percentage I’ve managed since I started keeping track of this stat. If I didn’t track at all, I wouldn’t be able to get that stat.
Another reason I’m finding these numbers less valuable than in the past is that this year I’ve read a ton of fanfic and I haven’t recorded it in any real way. Which means that I’ve read a lot more prose than these numbers really reflect. Still, I’m glad to have my Goodreads account to look back on and help me keep track of the various books I read, even if I find the numbers it gives me not very useful.
However, I’m very proud of how many books by non-white authors I read. I really upped my game there! I’ve also been focusing on reading fun and comforting stuff and letting go somewhat of my need to keep up with new releases—though I still read plenty of hot-off-the-press books. I also read a ton of manga which I haven’t done in a while but really enjoyed.
In 2019 I had two reading goals for myself. The first was to read 30 books by non white authors with 40 as stretch goal. As we can see I did awesome on this, reading more than double my stretch goal mostly thanks to manga. My other goal was to read 15 non-fiction books (with 20 as a stretch goal). I also succeeded at this goal, reading a total of 19 non-fiction books though again a lot of those where sequential art.
For 2020 I’ve decided to start without any reading goals, except to reevaluate my reading goals every quarter and think about if I want to change them. There are ways that I could improve my reading. For example, while I read many books by non-white authors last year, I could be reading more diversely within that group. But having goals just seems stressful so I’m opting out for now. So I will continue working on reading in the way that gives me the greatest pleasure. I’m going to read as much fluffy fic as I want. I’m going to keep reading tons of slice of life manga. And I’m going to work on not frittering away my time on the internet when it would be better spent reading.
How was your 2019 in terms of reading? Do you have reading plans for 2020?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2020-01-20 08:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-20 09:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 08:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 12:18 pm (UTC)I really couldn't remember reading any pro books except a re-read of Watership Down when I did my year-end review. It was a bit shocking... I'm currently still so in the throes of reading fanfic in a fandom where I can read widely and enjoy most of the fanon that ATM I don't have high hopes for book reading in 2020, but I do want to read a little more, and more widely and varied this year...
no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 04:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 06:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 06:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 06:27 pm (UTC)It's nice to be able to look back and see which books I read when on Goodreads, but most of the other stats I don't really care about.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 06:32 pm (UTC)I would definitely have to set a lower yearly total for myself if I weren't counting them!
no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 06:44 pm (UTC)I've still got one foot in SFF book fandom so I get a lot recs for books that way, though as I said I'm trying get off the new release treadmill a bit.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-21 07:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-22 11:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-22 02:10 pm (UTC)I also read a TON of fic. One of my students asked what my favorite books were this last year, and fic kept coming to mind but I didn't feel like I could recommend that lol
My goal this year is to read 50 books. I read CONSTANTLY, but it takes me forever to finish things because I also read multiple books at a time. One of my goals is to get down to one fiction/fun book and one book for professional/personal growth at a time. But I'm also a chaotic good reader and interested in too many book clubs.
I'd love to have a goal of non-white authors. I'll have to ponder that for a bit. I feel like I've got a pretty good mix, but I should pay more attention because unconscious bias is a thing.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-22 09:27 pm (UTC)Do you think you'll try tracking your fic-reading somehow this year? I want to come up with a system because I feel like not tracking mine makes me feel like it doesn't really count as reading, or like I value it less (and by extension value my own writing less), and I'd like to...stop doing that, haha.
way to go absolutely CRUSHING your goals :) (But also choosing not to have any in particular to start 2020--here's to reading what makes you happy!)
no subject
Date: 2020-01-23 12:41 am (UTC)I know what you mean about not wanting to recommenced fic when people you don't know ask about it. I'm having a much harder time answering the question "what have you been reading recently" now that the actual answer is generally fic.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-23 12:55 am (UTC)I've never had any luck with making my own tracking systems. Even just having a simple list on paper or something. I just tend forget about it after a little while. I'm surprised that I can keep up with good reads actually. So I don't think tracking the fic I read would really work. But I would be nice to have a better record.
And I think you are getting at something when you say that tracking fic might help me value it more. Right now it all feels so fleeting and also on fic kinda blends into the next, and more tracking might help with that. Something to ponder...
no subject
Date: 2020-01-23 04:29 pm (UTC)Thank you for reccing Not For Use in Navigation a million years ago, it's SO GOOD.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-23 06:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-27 11:41 pm (UTC)I'm with you on the fanfic thing! Although I think I'm going to track that if I can - it's easy to link & easy to figure out wordcount, so when I read a whole festival of work it's a pretty significant amount of (often quite comparatively good) literature, so I'd like to know that I did! Haven't made up my post for this year though & sadly didn't keep track of last year. Trying to get back on my reading game now.
Also trying to read a ton of graphic art stories if I can - some of them are so well-written & evoked with the pictures together with story. More than even writing, I'd like to get back into art & drawing comics - they save so many thousands of words on world-building & scene-setting!
And I’m going to work on not frittering away my time on the internet when it would be better spent reading.
Amen! Although thankfully flittering away my time reading the journal of others' still feels like pleasure reading :D I had two reading goal ideas: 1) have a list of Upcoming Books (that way I can pre-sort them to be more diverse, shuffle them well together) or 2) make one of those cool Book Trees for Christmas made of a tree-shaped, decorated tower of books I'd then read my way down to the bottom with. Think I might like that for a New Year's activity some year!
Thanks for sharing your reading stats <3 Inspirational!
no subject
Date: 2020-01-29 06:02 pm (UTC)Its not time spend here on DW mostly -- its when I keep refreshing stuff but nothing is happening and I'm not having a good time but I don't want to get off the internet. I would like to get better at doing that less while still you know having all my friend be online.