Pam Webb

a writer's journey as a reader

A Good Year for Reading


January is a month of reflection. This is probably due to January being the default month since it is between Christmas past and Valentine’s Day to be. While working off Christmas treats in order to succumb to anticipated chocolate hearts I have decided to give my 2015 year of reading a closer examination. Actually, I probably wouldn’t have done much more than said “Cool. I met and surpassed my Goodreads Reading Challenge.” Since they took the time and trouble to send me such an attractive report, I shall share the highlights with you all. If the pontification of accomplishments is not within your scheduled viewing, I am absolutely not offended if you drift off to the next blog in your reader. However, I am hoping you will stick around.

First Off:
Books Read: 91
I set my Reading Challenge at 50 books, thinking “Hmm, that’s about one per week–that’s doable.” With so many great recommendations from so many dedicated Book Boosters like Heather and The Paperback Princess, I kept adding to my “To-Read” list and kept reading. I still have about 73 books on my TBR list. *Sigh* I have need to read issues.

Secondly:
The Short and Long of It
Shortest book: 96 pages

The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep

by Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin

Reading books to kids at bedtime is a lovely routine, a cozy bonding time, and a way to pass on the joy of words to children. I anticipated this sort of connection when I requested Ehrlin’s The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep and was sorely disappointed when I discovered the text to be a form a hypnosis-inducing sleep tool. The purposely scripted story is almost a little scary in its intent. Instead of waving a golden watch and chanting, “You are growing sleepy” a fuzzy bunny becomes the stuff dreams are made of.

While some may like a lab technique to put kids asleep, I’ll go for the classic lullaby of cuddle and lulling words.

                                                             LONGEST BOOK
                                                                  624 pages
                                                                   Jane Eyre
                                                         by Charlotte Brontë

Average Page Length: 305 pages

Most Popular Book:

4,019,963

people also read

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
I decided to reread the entire series in one dedicated weekend as a preparation for the last installment of the film adaptation. I do think JLaw IS Katniss.

Least Read Book:

2

people also read

Sky Blue Pink
by Pam Lippi 
This is a self-published fictional memoir and it is a fun little read about two seventeen year old girls who travel around Europe after graduating from high school. This was back in the days of the seventies when bell-bottoms and adventures were part of the culture.

Benediction:

Completed square

You read 86 out of 50 books. [I actually snuck in 5 more after this]
172%
Congratulations! You’re really good at reading, and probably a lot of other things, too!
Not a bad year for my Goodreads [a litotes, if there ever was]
Okay–your turn…
How was your 2015 year of reading?
Favorite book?
Definitely won’t be recommending?

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23 thoughts on “A Good Year for Reading

  1. 91 books is soooo amazing! Great job! Good luck in 2016:)

  2. Congrats on such a high number. That’s wonderful. I pledged to read 50 last year and I ended up with 54, so I was pleased. This year I’m pledging 50 again. I’m currently reading ‘The Goldfinch’ for book club. It’s good but looooong, so I’m starting out of the gate at a slow trot. 🙂

  3. Good work! It’s always a nice feeling when you beat your reading targets. I have a similar problem to you, in that I’m always adding to my Goodreads TBR based on what other people have been reading/recommend. The good thing is that with my book buying ban this year I won’t be able to add to my actual TBR Towers.
    Do you know which was your favourite book of the year?

  4. You forgot to also mention that those rabbits are hideous to look at.

  5. That’s a great amount of reading. I managed the 52 I set myself – just! I must check and see if I got a nice report too!

  6. I have not been keeping track of my reading. I know you have far outpaced me in lit fic. I’ve read several hundred picture books while I’m writing and revising my own PBs. I’ve also logged a handful of middle grade novels. But I must say that my discovery of Neil Gaiman has been a revelation this year. Have enjoyed The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Graveyard book, and several of his short stories. Am enthralled with his his work.

    • I tried his writing and it didn’t work for me–something about a wall and magic? Maybe another title. He does kid’s books, right?

      • The Ocean at the End of the Lane is considered a book for adults, but The Graveyard Book and Coraline are considered kids books that adults enjoy. I would call these works “paranormal realistic fiction.” The Ocean is about childhood memory and how unreliable or inconsistent memory can be.

      • I hear a lot about Ocean–I’ll check it out.

  7. Congratulations, that’s a really good amount to read in between all the stuff that life throws at you. I’m not sure how many I read last year but already this year I am on my third book and all of them have been absolutely wonderful and thought provoking, it’s shaping up to be a good year and I hope this year is equally kind to you on the reading front.

  8. Dang, girl! That’s a lot of books. Congrats!

    I’m happy with surpassing my 25 books goal finally in 2015. I reedited an old book and wrote a first draft for a new one, so that’s not too shabby. 🙂

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