Wow, what a year 2015 turned out to be! Between gardening and planning/building for chickens in 2016 and my new passion for biking I am surprised I had much time to read at all. But I did! And I managed to read 75 books, the same number as I did last year. I think it helped that I read quite a few short books and graphic novels, but in the end it isn’t the number but the quality that matters and did I ever read some excellent books this year!
Here is how it breaks down:
Books read: 75
Fiction: 43
Nonfiction: 30
Plays: 1
Poetry: 1 (while I only read one complete book of poetry, I read lots of poems)
Breaking it down even further it was a good year for hybrid genres which is why the numbers don’t add up:
Biography/Memoir: 13
Children’s/YA: 4
Comics/Graphic stories: 15
Culture/Social science: 2
Diary: 1
Environment/Climate Change/Nature: 2
Essays: 4
Fantasy: 5
Gardening: 2
History: 2
Humor: 1
Books about books/Literature/Writing: 6
Science: 1
Science Fiction: 5
Short stories: 3
Steampunk: 1
Books Written by…
Women: 41
Men: 33
Multiple: 1
Rereads: 3
Number of authors whose books I read more than one of: 7 (Matt Fraction, Ann Leckie, Noelle Stevenson, Jo Walton, Kurtis Wiebe, G.Willow Wilson, Virginia Woolf)
In translation: 6 (French, Japanese, Spanish, Greek, Dutch) this number is way down from last year, I really need to work on upping my in translation reading
Book Source:
ARCS: 15 (many of these were books for review for Library Journal and Shiny New Books)
Own: 11
Library: 49 (I am such a good library user!)
Publication Dates:
2015: 35
2014: 17
2000-2013: 13
1950-1999: 4
1900-1949: 2
1800s: 3
BCE: 1
Favorite Fiction:
Imperial Radch Trilogy by Ann Leckie Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword, Ancillary Mercy
The Waves by Virginia Woolf (for Shiny New Books)
Orlando by Virginia Woolf (also for Shiny New Books)
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
Favorite Nonfiction:
On Immunity by Eula Biss
This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein
Notes from Walnut Tree Farm by Roger Deakin
The Art of Daring by Carl Phillips
The Rider by Tim Krabbé
Honorable Mentions:
When Mystical Creatures Attack! by Kathleen Founds
The Martian by Andy Weir
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Just City by Jo Walton (for Shiny New Books, hmm I am seeing a trend here…)
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
Biking
This is the first year I have ever kept track of how much biking I did, and frankly the first year I have ever done enough biking that I would want to keep track. Would you believe I pedaled 5,311 miles/8,511 kms? Holy mackerel! I did it over the course of 209 rides and 301 hours. Not all of those rides and miles were outdoors. Astrid and I covered 1,500 miles/2,414 kms together outdoors with our longest ride topping 70.6 miles/114 kms. The rest of the miles were on a stationery bike in the late winter/early spring, and with Astrid hooked up to a smart trainer since the end of October.
Using Zwift and a smart trainer, I have pedaled since October 23rd, 1,593 miles/2,564 kms in 88 hours 29 minutes climbing 86,873 feet/26,479 meters of virtual elevation and burning off 117 pieces of pizza (285 calories each). My longest virtual ride was 100.2 miles/161 kms.
Gardening
In the garden we had our 1 1/2 car garage torn down, built a shed, installed a chainlink fence and framed a chicken coop. In addition we had the pleasure of a family of hawks nesting in my nextdoor neighbor’s backyard. All but one ear of popcorn was stolen by squirrels. We grew potatoes for the first time. Also Brussels sprouts and amaranth. None of our lettuce seed sprouted but it was a great year for peas, chard, sorrel, basil and zucchini.
Thanks for sharing 2015 with me!
I hope you all have safe New Year’s celebrations. And may 2016 be filled with lots of good books and joy and all the things you love most.
Happy New Year, Stefanie! I hope 2016 brings you lots of new things. One of these days I’ll finally pick up Ann Leckie’s books.
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Happy New Year Ana! I hope the same for you! I think you will enjoy Leckie’s books if/when you get to them 🙂
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Happy New Year to you and Bookman Stefanie! Wishing you a fabulous 2016 filled with great reads, new biking adventures, verdant gardens and awesome vegan food!
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cirtnecce, thank you! I hope 2016 is off to a good start for you!
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Hope this finds you –
From a dedicated reader but not a commenter!
Thanks for all the blog entries – I still go back and read the archives.
Kudos ..
Sent from my iPhone
>
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Ellen, thank you and happy New Year!
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5,000 miles! I think Astrid needs a holiday! You know I’m watching over your shoulder with my Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Bikes hat on, don’t you! Seriously, though, that’s impressive. Good for you.
Loved your reading stats. Your reading is always so wonderfully diverse. I don’t properly remember your Karen Memory review so will go check it out.
Anyhow, Happy New Year to you and Bookman and all the best for a wonderful 2016 full of books, bikes and chooks (as we call them here, anyhow).
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whisperinggums, I know, I was astonished! Don’t worry about Astrid, I take good care of her and she is quite hardy. Except in winter, she doesn’t like snow and ice which is why she agreed to be attached to a trainer 🙂
Sometimes I wonder if diverse doesn’t actually mean “reads all over the place with no real plan” or something like that. It’s true, but diverse is wonderful and the other, not so much. The important thing is I enjoy what I read. No one gets bonus points for being a subject expert when they die, do they? 🙂
Hope 2016 is off to a good start for you!
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Now Ms Stefanie, do I detect a value judgement regarding planning?! 😊 Who says you have to plan? And anyhow, if you plan it or not, I see nothing wrong with dying a dilettante …
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Well maybe you do detect some value judgment there 😉 I do, however greatly admire people who manage to read deeply in a subject area but I just can’t manage it. Whenever I think I might try my brain starts to short circuit and my stubborn, rebellious side comes out. For a long time I thought I should have more focus but that just ends up making me an unhappy reader and there is no reason for it.
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Me too. I guess I read quite a bit of Austen, but nowhere near as much as other serious fans. I can’t spend significant parts of my time re-reading her books AND all the biographies AND the myriad of books that come out each year about every inch of her. I’d like to, but I just can’t. So much else out there to read. I start to feel claustrophobic.
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What? You’re not into all Jane Austen all the time? I’m shocked. Shocked! 😉
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This sounds like a great year. Those biking numbers are impressive! I’m a little jealous of all the time you got to spend on the bike! Nice that you could read so many books too. Happy New Year!
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Rebecca, thanks! I am surprised at the biking numbers they added up to more than I ever thought possible! Happy New Year to you too!
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What a wonderful year! All that activity, and reading all the while. I’ve been sewing so much that my reading was reduced, but sadly, extreme sewing or embroidering doesn’t even burn off 1 slice of pizza….. 😉
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Melanie, it was pretty good. I had hoped to do some sewing last year but didn’t even manage to finish cutting out the skirt pattern I laid out. I blame the cats who were trying to “help” me. Hmm, extreme sewing could be interesting. I’m sure there is a way to figure burning some calories into, maybe you have to carry you machine somewhere exotic? 🙂
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Thank you for your blog, I enjoy it a lot… Happy Healthy New Year!!!
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Thanks Nancy! Happy New Year to you too!
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A great reading year, Stefanie! I admire your balance between fiction and nonfiction. Also, you’ve inspired me to try growing brussels sprouts in my garden next year for the first time. Happy New Year!
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Laila, thanks! sometimes when seem to be reading nothing but nonfiction during the year I worry I read too much of it, but I figure if I like to read it there is no reason to change. As for Brussels sprouts, they are really easy to grow, just be sure to give them lots of room. I didn’t realize how big the plants got and crammed them too close together causing a few of them to be a bit stunted. Happy New Year to you too!
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Happy New Year! That’s an impressive 2015 all ’round! It’s funny we read the same number of books–while you have been doing gardening and riding your bike I seem to have been sitting on my fanny in movie theaters as I am sure that is where some of my time was lost in books I might otherwise have read! I envy you all those nonfiction books–maybe I will read more next year. Always so hopeful at this time of year. Best wishes to you and Bookman!
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Happy New Year Danielle! 2015 was a pretty good year! I was surprised we read the same number of books, you seem to usually read a few more than I do and I thought with all my biking the number would be way down. Graphic novels helped 🙂 If you like your movies there is no reason to feel bad spending time there rather than reading. And you do see some interesting movies too! I do enjoy NF very much and always have one or two on the go, it’s a nice balance to the fiction I find 🙂
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Happy New Year Stefanie!
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Happy New Year roughghosts!
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Happy New Year, Stefanie! Spotted Notes from Walnut Tree Farm on your list, one of my favourite books ever.
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Happy New Year Anthony! Notes from Walnut Tree Farm was a gift from a friend, one of the best gifts ever. A beautiful book!
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Wishing you many happy miles biking, many happy hours reading and gardening, happiness and good health in 2016!
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Dear Joan, thank you. All the best to you and Jack in 2016!
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Happy New Year Stefanie, just imagine: considering The Netherlands is about 300 km from north to south. I cannot help smiling imagining how many times I would have been standing waving at you passing by.
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Cath, happy New Year! Oh that image made me smile! Perhaps now and then I could have a rest break and cup of tea when I come by 😉
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I really wanted to like the new Ishiguro but I simply couldn’t get past the second chapter. I’m afraid my boredom factor is becoming lower with age. I do admire the number of non-fiction books you read and I want to do something about my own totals in 2016. Essay will be a good place to start, especially if they are to do with literature.
Have a wonderful New Year .
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Alex, ah that’s a shame about the Ishiguro. I know many people had similar difficulties to yours. It hit me in a sweet spot though 🙂 I never plan my nonfiction reading. I just always have at least one or two on the go because it helps me counter the fiction in my multiple books at a time reading habit so all the plots and everything don’t get mixed up. I love essays and there are so many really good and interesting people writing them these days!
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That’s a lot of cycling–awesome! Are there a lot of good trails and paths in your part of the world? I suspect I would do a lot less if I didn’t live where I do (i.e., lots of trails and not too many overly steep hills)!
Looking forward to what you do, in every aspect of your life, in 2016!
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Colleen, thanks! The miles added up more than I thought they would! Yes, there are so many great trails around the Twin Cities, I am really lucky. Minneapolis is either first or second on the list of most friendly biking cities in the US. The city government even has a committee and department that focuses just on biking. The terrain around the cities is relatively flat but there are some decent hills for those who don’t mind having to look for them 🙂
Happy New Year!
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Happy happy New Year!
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Thanks Jenny! I hope 2016 is off to a good start for you!
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Stefanie, what a fabulous year! You had such a great diversity in your reading and congrats also on doing so well wit h your biking! Here’s wishing you another great reading year in 2016!
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Iliana, thanks! I hope 2016 is off to a good start for you!
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8511 kms. That’s fabulous, Stefanie. I am more inspired now. 🙂
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Deepika, Thanks! It turns out when you ride six days a week the miles add up! Keep pedaling! 🙂
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I like Ann Leckie’s stuff too.
Reading can sometimes take the back seat to today’s tech toys so I’m delighted that you managed to squeeze in 75 books in 2015.
I think exchanging lists of fave books is a good way of expanding a library, so I hereby attach my own “Best of…” for 2015.
https://cliffjburns.wordpress.com/2016/01/02/best-of-2015
Keep reading!
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Cliff, hooray! Another Ann Leckie fan! 🙂 I enjoy technology but I try to not spend too much time with it, chasing after the next big gadget. I’d much rather be reading or biking! Thanks for you list! I hope 2016 is off to a good start!
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My pal Ian Sales, a superb U.K. science fiction author, introduced me to Ms. Leckie’s work. Another SF author I keep an eye on is Alastair Reynolds–always worth reading.
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Did I already tell you I am going to read that Ishiguro this year….it comes out in paper soon and a copy has my name on it! And did I ever wish you and Bookman a Happy New Year? Well, Happy New Year and happy reading and here’s to lots of fun mail!
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Danielle, no, I don’t recall you mentioning that. I hope you like it! Happy New Year to you too! Good books and lots of mail for 2016! 🙂
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Happy new year! What great numbers, I’m loving all those stats (I’m a stats-nerd too). I’d love to try the Naomi Klein and the Ishiguro, but I’m a bit intimidated by them both, each in its own style.
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smithereens, stats are fun when they don’t rule your reading 🙂 Don’t be intimidated by Klein or Ishiguro! Klein is scary because of her subject matter but her writing is clear and straightforward. Ishiguro’s writing is pretty straightforward too though sometimes he leaves things ambiguous and it is up to the reader to work it out but it isn’t impossible 🙂
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