Monday, December 1, 2014

#amonthoffaves: Faves Month Introduction


Today is the Faves Month Introduction where I'm supposed to write about my reading this year. I won't be getting my full stats together until the end of the year but here are some quick facts about my reading this year, some goals for my December reading, and some questions for you to help me on my way --

Last year was my first year trying to add in audiobooks as part of my reading and I got through three in the whole year. This year I have listened to eight so far, mostly because I did some rereads as audiobooks instead of paper reads. My favorite was probably The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, read by Jim Dale. Can I make it to ten before the end of the year? What is your favorite audiobook that you think I would love as well?

Last year I totally sucked at reading books in translation and only read four. This year I've done an even worse job with two. Can I find a couple of books in translation on my TBR shelf to read this month? What is your favorite book in translation that is also a quick read?

I always have a yearly goal of reading around a dozen and this year I've read six. Can I fit at least one more in? Which non-fiction book had you totally captivated this year?
two of the books on my review pile
I have seven books I received for review that I would like to get to before the end of the year (five of which are very short so it's actually doable). Which book on your review pile do you most want to read before the end of the year?

I'm where I want to be with number of books read (98), books from my TBR (49), review books (9), and library books (28). The only number that is a little lower than I would like is rereads (22) but I'm actually planning a winter reread project. Overall, I'm happy with 2014 and can't wait to see how it ends!

Making stacks and lists,
K

22 comments:

  1. Wow - I'm impressed at your number of re-reads! I re-read 2 books this year...only 2! I'm planning another one for this winter. I also read some great nonfictions during Nonfiction November (My Salinger Year and Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy were my favorites. Congrats on a great year!

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    1. Well, a lot of the rereads were children's books that I read as a child originally so they were quick and easy. ;)

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  2. I didn't count my rereads! I'll have to go back and do that. I love rereading.

    Have you listened to Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman? It is one of my favorites.

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    1. I started counting rereads after I all but stopped rereading when I started blogging. I love rereading too!
      I listened to the radio play of Neverwhere last year which was amazing and I've read the book twice. Maybe I should fit in a Neil audiobook before the end of the year because I love him so much!

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  3. Like Sarah I'm impressed by the number of your rereads and I call myself a "rereader". I've reread only four books this year and plan another one in December.

    I read a lot of books in translation (I'm French so I mean books not written in French originally). You've got Stefan Zweig's books: short and quick to read + fantastic writing and, well, simply stunning literature.

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    1. I have never tried Zweig so now I think I must! Thank you for the recommendation!

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  4. Audiobooks! I don't listen to nearly as many as I'd like because my son won't tolerate them on our daily commute, but I loved The Night Circus and also The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue.

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    1. And I have no commute so I just fit them in here and there. I did more this year because I used them for chapter book rereads for the 100 project. I read The Stolen Child years ago and have been meaning to reread it so maybe that should be an audiobook reread! Good idea!

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  5. I pretend my rereads aren't happening so they don't screw with my stats. It is not my shiningest hour, this reread-ignoring thing that I do. But on the other hand, I don't review them, and I often don't even read the whole book. So it's okay, right? (Right?)

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    1. I usually don't review my rereads either unless something really stood out or I was reading them for a project. I did not know that you don't always reread whole books. That's actually really interesting. Have you posted about the hows and whys of that? And hey, if I can get over you reading the ends first, I can accept any of your reading quirks. ;)

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  6. I love the Keigo Higashino series (Salvation of a Saint etc). They are translated fiction that are quick and lovely reads.

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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    1. Ooh, I haven't heard of those. I'll go check them out!

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  7. I love The Night Circus (wanted to reread it this October, but didn't find the time) and I can imagine how glorious it would be on audio. A book I wasn't eager to read, but was hugely effective and therefore wonderful on audio, was Room. The little boy's voice was so real to me I felt he was telling me the story in the chair next to me.

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    1. It was amazing and really drew my attention to different parts of the story than those I focused on while reading. I even had different opinions of some of the characters this time through. Now I'm torn as to how I will reread it next time.
      And I'm still not sure if I can handle Room or not but if I do get up the courage, I'll try it on audio!

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  8. Have you read Peter Ackroyd? I read London Under and Newton this year -- both slim nonfiction volumes. Newton, in particular, is quickly read.

    Joy's Book Blog

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    1. Yes! I read London Under last summer as part of a project and loved all of the fun facts in it. I did just buy a small England volume by him so maybe I need to squeeze that in!

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  9. audiobook: I loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
    book in translation: Colorless Tsukuru And His Years of Pilgrimage
    nonfiction: The Innovators - I actually also listened to it, awesome!

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    1. Okay, now I'm really thinking I need to get to Colorless Tsukuru as my next read!

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  10. Re-reading favorites by way of audiobooks is something I've been meaning to do for a few years now. Maybe next year!

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    1. It has worked really well for me. I don't do as well with audiobooks as first reads because my mind wanders but when it does that on a reread, I don't get completely lost. :)

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  11. Every one of the Flavia de Luce mysteries by Alan Bradley are wonderful on audio. Jayne Entwhistle is the reader, and she is fantastic.

    Ready Player One, read by Wil Wheaton, is excellent. In fact, it is a book that I've only experienced on audio and frankly would not want to experience it any other way. Wheaton is the perfect reader for the type of book this is.

    Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels are wonderful on audio. The narrator does a great job, and I recently learned that his first take in recording is the first time he has read that particular section, so he is just as surprised as the reader to find out what is happening.

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    1. Ready Player One was actually the first full audiobook I got through because it was AMAZING. I want to relisten sometime next year. I honestly couldn't imagine reading it in paper now either.
      And a Flavia reread on audio is a fantastic idea. I've also meant to start the Louise Penny series and it's good to know they're great on audio because I'll probably get to them first there! I'll check on both series to see if they're in my library system.

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