2007 Book Challenge Recap
I started annual book challenges after I had my first child. My time was no longer my own, and I wanted to retain reading as a priority. I also wanted to know more about what I read, since my memory took a hit it’s never quite recovered from. I wasn’t re-reading a lot of books, and I kept buying books even thought my to-be-read (TBR) pile was already precarious.
Tracking the books I read has helped me become a more conscious, and therefore better, reader. Giving brief reviews hones my writing and editing skills, plus allows me to share what I’ve read. This has resulted in many enjoyable virtual conversations about books. Reading in a vacuum is no fun, and my book group only meets every six weeks. I have re-read many of my books, allowing me a deeper understanding and appreciation of them. Further, I’ve stopped buying as many books, and have finally made inroads, however shallow, into my unread books. I’m also reading more nonfiction, and more challenging fiction, then I have in the past.
Last year I read 62 different books, one of them twice. My goal was fifty; a book a week makes my identity as a reader more real to me, though the number is arbitrary. 14 were from the shelf, 17 were borrowed or gifted, 21 were new purchases, and 11 were re-reads. This felt like a good balance, though next year I hope to read more from the shelf and purchase fewer books. 31 of these were fiction; 20 were graphic novels; 12 were nonfiction. I don’t enjoy nonfiction as much as fiction, so this accurately reflects my interests; I’m a novel gal.
I’ve begun to catalog my books at Gurulib. I chose this site because it is free and there is no limit, plus it allows for categorizing movies, another of my hobbies/passions. You can see last year’s books on my Gurulib shelf. I also have shelves for this year, and a tentative TBR pile. I know and admire many readers who take on many challenges and make comprehensive lists. I did that last summer, and I didn’t care for it. Reading is a conversation, to me. It doesn’t follow a set path. It forks, diverges, and doubles back on itself, and I like to leave myself the freedom to read whatever I like next. I’ve found that I can rarely even follow through on what I think are my next three books.
Back to 2007’s books, though, for the ones that stood out.
Favorite new-to-me classic: Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast
Favorite re-read that brought so much more of the book to me: Kate Atkinson’s Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Favorite non-fiction book: Eat, Pray, Love. I read it twice.
Books I learned from: Kris Holloway’s Monique and the Mango Rains; Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea; Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma.
Longest book: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. A favorite of a dear friend, I’d avoided it because of its length. I loved it.
Proudest reading accomplishment: finishing the six major Jane Austen novels. Still my favorite: Pride and Prejudice. But I loved researching and discussing Mansfield Park.
Favorite novel: The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver. This got some mixed reviews, but I loved the idea of diverging fates, and Shriver’s execution of it in story and character.
Biggest disappointment: The Minx line of graphic novels from DC comics.
Favorite graphic book: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel.
January 8th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
i have very very fond memories of ‘a suitable boy’.
the more i thought about it afterward, the more disappointed i was by ‘post-birthday world’. i was surprised to see it on EW’s list. not as surprised by yours, but i remembered you liked it more than i did.
i just did my best books post tonight as well. great minds…
January 9th, 2008 at 8:48 am
On your recommendation, I purchased “Post Birthday World” and plan to read it (irony) on my birthday trip to the Caribbean next week. I am eager to read it after all your gushing and REALLY eager to discuss it with you afterward.
You should be very proud of this list. Reading is a life-line for you, and you exceeded your lofty goal of 50 books during a very tough year. Nice job, sister!