Much like 2023, I surpassed my Goodreads goal of 60 books, and my numbers in November and December were better than anticipated. I also gave up on a lot of books. I might post a collage of those disappointments, eager to hear why others loved them, but doubt I'll be swayed to give them a second chance. I also sampled over two dozen books in December that have been on my shelves for years. They have gone in the donation box and it feels great to see some space in my bookcase!
Now for the fun stats of 2024!
Total Books Read: 63
Print Books: 50
Audiobooks: 13
ebooks: 0
Female Authors: 48
Male Authors: 15
New-To-Me Authors: 23
Fiction: 51
Nonfiction: 12
General Fiction: 29
Classics: 2
Poetry: 0
Historical Fiction: 5
Horror: 0
Science Fiction/Fantasy: 1
Time Travel: 0
Dystopia: 1
Mystery/Thrillers: 13
Westerns: 0
Epistolary: 1
Childrens: 1
Young Adult: 2
Memoir: 8
Travel/Food: 1
Nature/Science: 1
Essays: 0
Rereads: 7
Debuts: 9
Over 400 pages: 8
Over 500 pages: 3
ARCs: 12
Borrowed from Library: 11
From My Stacks: 40
Total Pages Read: 15,130
Pages not included from books I gave up on: 711!
Total Hours Listened: 163 hours and 8 minutes
Time not included from books I gave up on: 10 hours and 23 minutes
Ratings:
5 stars: 7
4.5 stars: 14
4 stars: 24
3.5 stars: 6
3 stars: 7
2 stars: 5
Top Picks of 2024 (5 stars):
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron
Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane
Billy Summers by Stephen King
Honorable Mentions (4.5/5 stars):
Still Life by Sarah Winman
Holly by Stephen King
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
September by Rosamunde Pilcher
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The Comforts of Home by Susan Hill
The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
The Soul of Discretion by Susan Hill
So many great books in your two collages! I have Holly on my TBR shelves and am really looking forward to reading it in 2025.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in a collage of your DNFs!
Helen, I rarely keep copies of Stephen King's books, but Holly is one that I may read again someday, so it's on my keeper shelf.
DeleteI plan to share the DNF collage later in the week. Stay tuned!
It looks like you had a great reading year, Les. I am glad to see Demon Copperhead on your list. That was probably my top favorite of the year of all of the books I read. I am currently listening to Sandwich. I can see why it made your list just from what I've read so far. I hope you have a Happy New Year and may your 2025 be full of great reads.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy. It was a very good year of reading! I will probably re-read Sandwich this year since I loved it, and it's quick. If you haven't read her previous book (We All Want Impossible Things), I recommend that one, too. It does have sad (cancer) themes, though, so be forewarned.
DeleteGreat post and you have many I have read and enjoyed here. Some are on my to-read list. Hope they do a mini series of Billy Summers as they did 11/22/63. Happy reading for 2025!
ReplyDeleteTina, I would love to see Billy Summers as a mini-series! Let's keep watch for a mention of that!
DeleteLes, you had a good reading year! I haven't read any of your top picks, but I've read several of your 'Honorable Mentions'. As to the ones you tried and decided not to continue - don't stress yourself (or that's what I think - ha!). Maybe try to them again or maybe not. Lots and lots of books and making room on the shelves is a good thing. I'm finding myself filling up my shelves here. Don't have as many as I used to, but that's OK too. Let's enjoy 2025!!
ReplyDeleteKay, yeah I doubt I'll go back and try the ones I gave up on. Life is too short and there too many others that I really want to read.
DeleteI like your fun stats. I think I will add categories to my stats next year: where I get the books and what format. I like knowing that. I like how you did your stats. I admit I rarely give books 5 stars (probably my fault), so I would have only 2 or 3 on my favorites if I chose only by 5 stars -- but I have various ones over 4+ that seem good enough for my year-end favorites ... the reads might have faults but also seem to take me away in a good way. I will try to better in my rating this year. lol
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. I think I've been using this format for my year-end summary for several years now. It is fun. I could add a lot more, but try not to make it too long! I do like to see how many books I'm reading from my own stacks. Of course, those stacks continue to grow thanks to my generous mom who passes her books along to me. :) I'm going to continue to focus on those this year, with only a few trips to the library to fill in some gaps.
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