I had a less than stellar year, reading-wise. Not that I didn’t read lots of good books, I did; but the number of books I read is down. My usual goal is 104 books, two per week. So, a year with less than a hundred is somewhat disappointing.
I know several people (you know who you are!) who read many more books than this, but I’m not a terribly fast reader [as in: slow] so I have to be satisfied with what I manage:
This is also the time of year, and post, when I mention favorite books, but I’ll make that a separate post, in a few days. I also usually mention goals for the forthcoming year, in addition to the total of at least 104, such as reading more of one type of thing than another.
Last year I said I’d read more fantasy, and I did, fifteen of the fantasy and science fiction number was fantasy, much of it read early in the year. I’ll do more of that in 2020, as the last two volumes in a six book fantasy series I’m reading are due to be published this year.
I expect to read a few more graphic novels in 2020, starting with Watchmen in a week or so, and I have several things from British Crime Library awaiting my attention, plus a handful of ebooks burning a hole in the good old iPad Kindle app.
I hope you had a good 2019 reading year, and an even better one in 2020!
Tip the Wink 
I agree with you on reading goals. I also had a not so great year (total-wise) with just over 100. I really want to get it back to the 150 range, but can’t say I’ve gotten off to a great start this year. Since we’ve been in Florida we seem to be running around all day (or I’m on the computer, as I am now) rather than reading.
That’s less than usual for you! And here I thought you two were there relaxing.
That’s less than you’re usual. I thought you two were there to relax!
Mine would probably divide fairly evenly between mystery, general fiction and memoirs/biographies.
That makes sense since you don’t read other genres.
I read 155 books in 2019, roughly divided between Fiction and Non-Fiction. One of my favorite books was The Hooded Gunman: An Illustrated History of Collins Crime Club by John Curran–a book you recommended here on this blog. I have stacks of books waiting to be read, but I really have no real order in what I will read next. Mood, length, and genre all play into my choices. I’d be happy if I can read around 150 books this year.
I would have guess more, as fast as you read, and being retired. I just pick what calls to me when it’s time to pick the next book.
I read around 150 books this year. Down from 165 last year. Mostly mystery/crime novels. The rest a mixture of literary fiction, SF/F and a few bios and history books.
Good for you, that’s a lot. Your reading is like mine, you just do more.
Readiñg more graphic novels should help you boost your total number!
I doubt I’ll read enough to make much difference.
Rick, my count for 2019 is 345, which doesn’t mean a thing because a lot of these books were small, fast reads while others were large omnibuses. It seems I read a lot of Lester del Rey, Basil Copper, and Max Allan Collins. I can’t pick a favorite book; usually it’s whatever I’m reading at the time.
So far in 2020 I’ve read sixteen books, including ones by Charles Beaumont, Brian Aldiss, Richard Matheson, Ed Gorman, Edmond Hamilton, and Donald A. Wollheim. I’m currently reading three books — a creaky 1920s SF by Austin Hall, a less creaky 1950s SF by Donald A. Wollheim (under his “David Grinnell” pen name), and the second book in E. Nesbit’s Five Children trilogy.
No matter how much I plan for future reading, something bright and shiny pops up and distracts me.
Boy, is that the truth, Jerry! One of the things I’ve read (over time) was the official biography of Winston Churchill. I got an email offering book seven (I believe) in the series, covering 1939-41, for $1.99 on the Kindle. I recently finally bought a copy of volume six (1922-39), so snapped it up. When I went to check on Amazon, the next volume (1941-45) was also available for $1.99. You guessed it.
Don’t ask when I will get around to reading them, but they are mine and I have them now.
So Jeff, when will you… 😊
Show off. That’s over two years for me. So far this year I’ve read 4.
Rick, I enjoy your year end stats and I intend to keep better stats this year. I read more in 2019 than I have since I have been recording my reading: 121 books. I like to keep my goal lower than that and this year I am aiming at 84, 7 books a month. I think I will be reading some longer books but also more graphic novels, so it may balance out.
I had forgotten to mention that we got a copy of the The Hooded Gunman in mid-December, after seeing it on your blog. I haven’t read any of it yet but loved looking at all the book covers.
Years ago, I set up a table in Word for my books I read list. I update it after every book finished. At the end of the year I can sort it by type and make the stats from it.
I loved reading through that book,and looking at the covers, too.
Why seven books a month?
No real reason. I like multiples of 12 and in 2017 I said 60, in 2018 I went for 72, then in 2019 it was 84. For this year I decided to stay at 84. I just don’t want to aim higher than that… even if I have been reading more every year.
Now that you’re retired, depending on your other activities, you may read more.
Richard, 91 is a good number. I have never reached anywhere close to the nineties. This year I plan to read more nonfiction, especially Indian and world history, and other books of interest.
You read a lot of interesting things, Prashant. Reading good, interesting, enjoyable books is better then just reading a lot of books.
I read a dozen Big Fat Books last year. That slows me down and surpasses the Books Read count.
Yes, that’s true. I just finished a 650 page one, and the count for the month will reflect that.
What with hip surgery and a few other medical problems to deal with last year, if I averaged more than two books a month, I’d be surprised. My New Year’s resolution: Read more books!
I get that, Steve, when I’m laid up I tend to not read as much.
When I blogged regularly my goal was always 100 and I do believe I hit it once, but usually it was more in the 80’s or thereabouts. Last year my reading was way down. I had a goal of 50 and I know I didn’t reach it. I spend a lot of time I normally would have been reading playing and replaying video games last year. Between continuing long replays through modded versions of Skyrim and Fallout 4 and replaying through the Dishonored series a couple of times I just didn’t read much. Hoping to achieve a little more balance this year and am off to a good start. By the end of the month I should be at 5 books completed.
I never got into RPGs or video games. I was well into my 30s when Pong came out (!!), so you can imagine. Five books so far sounds good!