The Maiden's Court: 2013 Reading Stats

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013 Reading Stats

I know that some people have said lately that they don’t feel the desire to do a year end summary. I am not one of those people. I actually like taking a look back to see how my reading stacked up against previous years and seeing what I can learn about myself from it. So here are some raw reading stats from this year:

BOOKS READ: 54

BOOKS REVIEWED: 48

PAGES READ: 10,727

HOURS LISTENED: 315.45

TYPE OF BOOK: (some may overlap)

Hardcover: 2
Paperback: 18
ARC: 32
Audio: 23
E-Book: 10

GENRE: (may overlap)

Historical Fiction: 39
Young Adult: 4
Contemporary Fiction: 4
Romance: 4
Non-fiction: 10
Mystery: 3
Fantasy: 2

SETTING: (may overlap)

England: 8
France: 3
Italy: 1
Scotland: 2
Ireland: 1
Spain: 1
Germany: 2
America: 28
Ancient Greece: 2
Ancient Egypt: 1
Fantasy: 1
Middle East/Africa: 2
China: 1
Japan: 1
Russia: 1
Open Ocean: 2

MALE/FEMALE AUTHOR RATIO: 15/38

FIRST LADY READS/PRESIDENT READS: 1/4

AUTHORS MOST READ:

Janet Evanovich (2)

Well, I read fewer books this year and fell dreadfully short of my goal of 70. I don’t know what it is about 70 but I can’t hit it no matter what I do. The closest I have come was 67 and 68 three years in a row. This year I didn’t hit 60. So I thought that even if I hadn’t read as many books, it was because I had read longer books, especially on audiobook. But that was simply not true too. I read on average 3,000 less pages than any year since I began keeping track, and my listening hours were virtually equivalent. I will just have to chalk it up to taking a little more time for family and friends since getting engaged.

In terms of what I have actually read though – I read much more widely in terms of settings. I finally crossed that invisible Asia barrier that has held me back previously and read a couple. I also thought I read a lot more President/First Lady and non-fiction than I actually did. I am guessing that because they were VERY long reads they felt like I read more of them.

And authors most read was sort of a wasted category this year. There was only one author that I read more than one of their books, and that was Janet Evanovich (with two books), who has been on this list each year.

Ok, so what were my favorite reads this year? Well I don’t have a top 10, but here are some of my favorites in no particular order:

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Turncoat by Donna Thorland
Roses by Leila Meacham
The Secret History by Stephanie Thornton
The Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle
Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons

And here is what I am looking forward to most in 2014 – that I know of at least so far:

Somerset by Leila Meacham
The Rebel Pirate by Donna Thorland
The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki
The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott
Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton
The Girl on the Golden Coin by Marci Jefferson

I also have put together a Pinterest board with a complete list of books I’m looking forward to in 2014.

To change up the year-end summary a little bit this year, I found a few survey questions from The Perpetual Page Turner that I wanted to address to round out my reading experience.

Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

Well, the books I recommended most often this year, I didn’t read this year (that honor would go to The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak to any and every one that asks me for a recommendation). However, if pressed, I did recommend The Turncoat by Donna Thorland.

Best series you discovered in 2013?

The Northwest Passage series by John A. Heldt. So far the series comprises of: The Mine, The Journey, The Show, and The Fire (I have only read the first two books so far).

Favorite new-to-me author discovered in 2013?

Michelle Diener. I have read Banquet of Lies but have a couple more to read now!

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

The Secret History by Stephanie Thornton. This cover is SO atmospheric and fits the story perfectly!

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?

A little bit of a toss-up. The book I read this year that I waited the longest to read was The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. I started to read the book over 10 years ago and I only got around to actually reading the whole book this year. I am surprised that I let it remain outstanding for so long. However, the book that I was most excited about reading and I can’t believe I put it off because it was so good – was Roses by Leila Meacham. The one good thing is I didn’t end up having to wait long for the prequel!

Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?

The Tudor Conspiracy by C. W. Gortner! Hands down! Love anything he writes!

Best 2013 debut you read?

Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle. Great book!

I’m looking forward to 2014. Hoping for a little more on the reading front than 2013, however I have a feeling it might end up being very similar. What was 2013 like for you in terms of reading?