I like to read, but I haven’t been as voracious since my comprehensive examinations a decade ago (when I obviously read quite a lot, at least partly out of necessity). One of my goals going into 2017—not a resolution, per se, with all of its connotations, but certainly a mindful intention—was to read more.
To help plan my acquisition and direct my reading, I set more goals. First, I hoped to read at least a few books recommended by friends. Second, I wanted women to be well-represented in my list. Third, I planned to dip my toes into some of the popular mid-1990s fantasy revival series (e.g. Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, A Song of Ice and Fire).
This latter goal evolved into a feverish marathon consumption of the entirety of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and Stephen King’s Dark Tower series (thirteen novels in total) between 26 June and 28 October. I alternated after each book to keep my interest sharp and to make the beginning of each new book feel like a return to a comfortable nook. Neither Rowling nor King were at risk of overstaying their welcome, but my strategy prevented Harry Potter’s formulaic structure from feeling repetitive and helped mitigate King’s prolificness.
Outside of that era of single-minded focus, I did manage to read some recommendations. These included The Outsider by Albert Camus (thanks Brian), The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis (thanks Sandra), Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (thanks Tony), and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (thanks Rob).
Stats
In 2017, I acquired 38 books and read 25. The total regular price of those books would have been $711.13, but I spent $330.27 (savings of 53.6%) thanks in large part to a firesale on paperbacks that saw King’s entire series delivered to my door in one box. I spent an average of $27.52 per month, or $8.69 per book.
The oldest book I read was published in 1942 (The Outsider), and the most recent was published in 2017 (J. R. R. Tolkien’s Beren and Lúthien). If you don’t count repurposed Tolkien manuscripts, the most recent would be Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, published in 2016.
I read eleven books by authors from the UK (most of them Rowling), nine by authors from the USA (most of them King), three from Canada, and one each from France and Ghana. Eight male authors wrote fifteen of the books I read, while four female authors contributed the other ten.
I didn’t keep track of how many pages I read, but I will in 2018.
I’ve moved the other books I acquired but didn’t have time to finish to the “backlog” section of my 2018 reading list. I’m just about to finish one such holdover (James Clavell’s Gai-Jin).
The List
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