I didn’t read as much this year as I typically do, usually my total books read is more in the 90s, but I attribute this number to the many DNF books I had this year. Still, I found some books to love and ended up reading some very good books, especially towards the end of the year. Here’s the breakdown of 2010:
Total books read in 2010: 79
Books by women: 57
Books by men: 20
Books by couple: 2
Fiction: 34
Mystery: 29
Classics: 2
Non-fiction: 4
Young adult: 6
Sci-Fi/Fantasy: 1
Graphic novels: 3
Short story collections: 1
Books in translation: 11 (Swedish, Spanish, French, Japanese, Icelandic, Italian, and German)
Books borrowed from the library: 20
As usual my reading tends to go towards fiction and mystery and books written by women. I was happy to read a few more non-fiction books as well as continue reading books in translation. I was very excited to discover books by publishers such as Bitter Lemon Press, Other Press, NeWest Press and Europa Editions.
I’ve been thinking of the year to come and there are some things I hope to accomplish. First, no reading challenges. I love them but I’ve been participating in them for four years and I need a break. I may make an exception for the R.I.P. Challenge just because it’s the first challenge I ever did and I love the season but none other. Help me stick to my plan will you?
While my plan is always to read more across the genres, I also want to finally discover the works of some authors I keep meaning to read. I hate to mention names as the pressure will be on but here are some: Nadine Gordimer, John Steinbeck, Hilary Mantel, Ursula K. Le Guin, Italo Calvino, and Iris Murdoch.
So those are my reading plans. I also have some other crafty plans and I’ll share those with you soon because I’m hoping to share more of my adventures and maybe even have you join! So, stay tuned.
In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful new year. May it be filled with joy, health and happiness. And, a lot of good books.
Hugs,
Bookgirl
You may have read less than you typically do but I’d say it was still a pretty good year! And I think your 11 books in translation is especially impressive. Happy New Year Iliana!
I think you had a great year! I plan to read more books in translation next year as I only read three Swedish books (all by the same author) so I’m impressed by the fact that you read eleven books in translation. I hope you do have time to get to Le Guin and Steinbeck. I’ve only read one book by Steinbeck and two by Le Guin, but I liked each three that I’ve read.
It’s always tough, the line between challenges etc and not putting yourself under too much pressure… I hope you have a great 2011 Iliana!
You had a really good reading year. No pressure but if you want to read something by Steinbeck. why not Of Mice and Men? It’s about 100 pages. Happy New Year!
I think our reading patterns seem to be very similar–though I wish I could read more books in translation, and more classics. Maybe next year! I’ll definitely be reading John Steinbeck as he is on my list and we’ll see which other new authors I might finally try. Happy New Year, Iliana!
Challenges can really be tough at time. I only managed to join one and the time pressure is really too much to handle. Good luck on your reading goals and have a blessed 2011! Will be looking forward to more of your posts 🙂
How exciting to have discovered new presses! That’s something I wish I did more of – this looks like it was a wonderful year of reading.I agree about challenges, but don’t think you’ve committed yourself as far as named authors go – you can always change your mind. I do, all the time! Happy New Year, iliana, do hope it’s a lovely one for you and yours.
Happy New Year Iliana 🙂 I know what you mean about the reading challenges. Looks like you had a great reading year.
Happy New Year Iliana! I look forward to hearing all about your crafty plans and reading your future book reviews. I swore off all challenges last year and will do that again in 2011. I just don’t like to have the pressure of reading certain things at certain times. I like to read wherever my mood happens to take me.
Like you, I’m not signing up for challenges this year. I do want to get back to some of the authors I’ve enjoyed before–I seem to be reading more and more new authors, which is great, but that means not getting to some of my old favorites. I’ve fallen way behind in several of the series I follow.
I hope you have a wonderful New Year.
Happy New Year! Your list of authors to read next year sounds good (no pressure, though!). I’m definitely with you on wanting to read Le Guin and Mantel. Steinbeck is really great too.
Well, you read more than I did.
Congrats.
I need to check out your links for the indie publishers.
I’ve never read Nadine Gordimer or Ursula K. Le Guin either–although they’re on the shelf!–so maybe 2011 will be the year I read them for the first time as well.
Happy New Year and happy reading, Iliana!
Looks like you had a fantastic year! And I think your plans for the year are very sensible. I hope you have a fantastic 2011!
Happy New Year, Iliana!
I think you did very well! Let’s hope this year will be another great reading year for us all! 🙂
I think RIP is a good exception to make. 🙂
May 2011 never let your nightstand be free of books. Have a fabulous Year Illana. If you come to Artfest this year let me know. I live very close now. I have finally moved into a new house on Christmas eve. It is so nice to be home. Take care.
Happy New Year Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was very nice and it was filled with books. I’ll tell you about them soon. Wishing us all a great reading year ahead 🙂
Till November I was very sure I won’t be joining ANY challenges and then everyone started joining and I could not resist and there you go I joined again.
I have not read any of the authors you have mentioned, so there you go I have to read them too 🙂 But I do not have any reading plans what so ever, but I do want to read more authors I have not read till now 🙂
I hope you have a fantastic year ahead…
Europa is one of my favorite new discoveries too! I actually found a new book at B&N the other day published by Europa, and I picked it up for that reason alone!
I’m skipping challenges except for the RIP, too. And, that’s a maybe. I’m also challenging myself to read off my own shelves but I’m not joining any official challenge in order to do that. I just don’t want to feel any pressure, I guess. 🙂
Steinbeck is awesome in my humble opinion.
Happy New Year!
I’ve curtailed my challenge participation as well and like you, I want to read something by Iris Murdoch this year. I’ve had a couple of her books since seeing the film about her life a few years back but of course, never read them. Something to remedy this year!
Good luck with your reading goals!