Everyone likes a good look back at the previous twelve months at year’s end. No? Only me? Well, since it’s Christmas time, and I assume that no one is actually paying attention to the last few blog posts of the year, I’ll slip this one in right now. You’re more than free to click away if you’ve got something better to do. Probably more turkey eating or wine drinking. If, however, you’re trying to escape relatives for a few precious moments under the guise of ‘very important emails from the office to tend to’, please enjoy the visual summary below of my 2013 reading list:
Ooo, colorful graphs and all.
My goal was to read fifty books this year. Turns out that was just a little bit ambitious. I got through thirty-four in the end, which isn’t all that bad, I think. I’ll try to set a more realistic goal for the new year. I read much more non-fiction than I figured I would, and read a disturbingly small amount of fantasy. This needs to be corrected in the new year. I had a lot of fun reviewing [the fiction books] once I realized that I could do that–give my opinions of written works. In a public place. Where people will read them. GAH!
Mostly, I just enjoyed reading again. As I mentioned in a previous post, in the last five years, I really haven’t had a chance to read much at all. Moving out of my parent’s house, starting university and moving to the other side of the world were just a few of the hectic life changes that have kept me from the sort of leisure time that I would spend with a good book in the past. Unfortunately this means that my reading library ended after high school, while my tastes have matured along with me. I’ve missed out on a lot of good books, new and old. Now, fortunately–and with the help of many likewise bookishly minded friends– I’m discovering some of those great reads for the first time.
So, for all you book lovers out there desperate for a few more minutes of alone time before braving the family holiday drama once again, what were your favorite books of 2013 and which books (preferably fantasy or science fiction) do you consider must reads?
Diary of an Aspiring Writer 
Oooooo! Fancy graphs!!! Where did you make those? They’re so cool! *totally going to not not rip of the idea at some point, haha*
You did read a lot of non-fiction this year…. But, the nonfiction you read served a purpose, and it’s important to be balanced. (so over 50% was genre fiction, just not all fantasy). Good work!
I found this site here:
http://www.rapidtables.com/tools/pie-chart.htm
It’s pretty easy to use, though I couldn’t figure out how to label the bars themselves on the bar graph. Oh well, It’s good enough. I’m going to try for 2/3 fiction next year, though that’s always open to change. Who knows when an interesting looking book might pull me off course?
That’s a nice mixture of books! It’s nice to see you’ve read Leviathan – it’s a very interesting book. If you haven’t done so, read Machiavelli’s Prince, Discourses and Art of War, as they’re all very well written and pretty short too!
Three great books to read (ones that I actually enjoyed reading for university) are The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Lolly Willows by Sylvia Townsend-Warner and Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee. They’re all superbly written, and very engaging reads.
Leviathan was an interesting book, but I liked The Prince much more (I’m going to read it again next year). One of the things that makes earlier political or philosophical texts a bit of a drag for me is that the point sometimes gets lost in endless definitions. Still, I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks for the book recommendations! I’ll definitely add them to my wish list.
Dear njmagas
Happy Reading, Travels and Holidays!
I saw your post that you got to Canada sick. I am sick every year just before Christmas ad the Evil F. Bunny says I have done it to avoid putting up the tree or decorations.
I wish that was the case.
I am embarrassed by the number of books you have read. I think I can come up with 5. I used to read 50 to 100 a year and then people complained that I knew too much, so I cut back. I did not read any of the books you have chosen, however, if you have not done so, I would read The Writers Journey. I enjoyed the simplistic way they described the components of every story.
Early in the year, I read and did several exercises from The Complete Artists Way by Julie Cameron. I liked the exercises. I did not care for her continued explanation that God could be anything. If she felt God, she should say God and then let the writer assume the anthropomorphization of the spirit form.
Once I got past that, I enjoyed the writing exercises.
Have a good visit and wonderful Holiday and get healthy!
Stan Walsch
I was trying for a book every week, but work got in the way and it ended up being closer to a book every two weeks. I’m a little disappointed with myself, honestly.
I’ll add your recommendations to my list. The best writing book I read this year was definitely “Thanks, but This Isn’t For Us”. It has a lot of great advice in it from the publishing side of things.