But first, if you missed Margaret's comments in the
100 Most Influential Books by Women post down the page, she's traced the meme back to its source--Erica Jong--and located Jong's
1998 article detailing why she put together such a list--and who contributed names. Thanks,
Margaret!
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I read 81 distinct works this year, although since several of these works were novellas or long short stories, I can't say I read much more than I did last year, when I completed 75 books and 35 stories (I didn't track short stories in '07, I'm afraid).
This is the way I broke them down:
Nonfiction: 8
Novels: 62 or 63, depending on whether you count
The Unvanquished as a novel or as connected stories; I can see it both ways and can't decide
Books of short stories: 3 or 4, see above
Plays: 6
Book of poetry: 1 (
Gilgamesh)
Library books read: 14
Newly acquired books read: 31
Newly acquired books stockpiled for later reading: 141+ (little wonder why a cookbook was the only book I got for Christmas, huh?)
Books "just published" in the last year or so: 34
Works I consider classics: 23
. . .although only 5 out of 13 from my classics priority list completed; 2 others started (of those, one is now in progress and should be finished by the end of January)
Works written prior to the 20th century: 12
Re-reads: 8 (
The Brothers Karamazov, Waiting for Godot, Wise Blood, Emma, The Fountain Overflows, No Exit, The Stranger, Death of a Salesman)
Books written by women: 33
Books started that remain unfinished: 6
Authors I read multiple books by: Rebecca West (3), Patrick O'Brian (3), Flannery O'Connor (3), Christina Stead (2), Jane Austen (2), Joseph Conrad (2), D.H. Lawrence (2)
Stats from previous years:
2006: End of Year Reading Stats2005: A Look Back, A Look AheadObviously, I need to read more nonfiction, poetry, and works by women in the upcoming year. And I need to study my book lists from previous years to see if I can determine when I began to read predominantly male authors; I know I used to read nearly 50/50 without making an effort to do so. Is it because I'm not focusing as much on contemporary literature these days? More than half of my new books were written by women, though, so at least I'm not slighting them at the cash register.
Tomorrow I'll post a few reading resolutions and my list of favorites.
