Tuesday, January 10, 2023

2022 Reading Reflections and 2023 Intentions


Before we get too much deeper into January, I'd like to reflect on my 2022 reading and lay out some intentions for the year ahead.

Overall, 2022 was a challenging year... the death of my father-in-law, two stress-filled real estate transactions, and Hurricane Ian. Thankfully, it was a good year in books.


By the numbers:
52 books read - a comfortable one book per week pace
74% fiction, 26% nonfiction 
74% female authors, 26% male
70% new-to-me authors, 30% authors I'd read before

Format:
print/ebook  22%
audio  20%
read/listen combo  58%

Source:
print/ebook   40% own / 60% library
audiobooks   45% own / 55% library



Shortest book / Longest book
 Foster by Claire Keegan 89 pages 
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark 592 pages




Most shelved / Least shelved (goodreads)
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck



WHAT WORKED IN 2022?

Read/listen combinations:  Last year I tried to get an audio edition of every book I read. Reading just one book at a time works best for me and I love listening to audiobooks on my daily walk. Nearly 80% of the books I read in 2022 had an audio component.

Using the library: 2022 was the first year I actually tracked the source of every book I read. I'm fortunate to have two excellent libraries in FL, one for the island and one for the county. Between the two, they have nearly every book I want to read and will sometimes purchase books I request. The Sanibel library also gives me access to hoopla, which has a good selection of audiobooks.

A vague monthly reading plan: I like to have a plan, but not too much of one. A list of "possibilities" works well, especially when I give myself permission to stray from it.


INTENTIONS FOR 2023

Set a low goal on Goodreads: That takes away self-imposed pressure and allows me the freedom to spend more time reading the New Yorker, newspapers, etc.

Read/listen to more books I own: I love my libraries, but my physical and digital TBRs are out of control.

Try not to read as many new releases: Instead, I would to read more titles by authors I already know, more backlist  books, and more classics.

More statistics: I plan to keep track of publication year and page count of the books I read.



With my year-end posts complete, I plan to take a short blogging break. We're heading back to Florida to continue Hurricane Ian clean-up and oversee repairs. There is still no internet at our house, but we're hopeful it will be restored before the end of the month. I'll check in again as soon as I can. In the meantime, I hope your 2023 reading is off to a good start!




28 comments:

  1. I like you're reading plan for 2023. I plan to start tracking my book stats this year for the first time. I hope things are going smoothly in Sanibel!

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    1. Vicki - Tracking book stats in 2022 was so interesting... had no idea I used the library quite as much as I did. I'm planning to add a few more columns to my data this year. We'll see how it goes!

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  2. I like your summing up of the books read and what your goals will be. Like you, I plan to read more of the books in the house and on my Kindle. Also plan to catch up on series I have enjoyed such as Ann Cleeves Shetland series.

    Safe travels to Florida and I hoope the repairs go smoothly for you!

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    1. Tina - I say I want to read my own books every year... this time I really mean it! ;-)

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  3. You really did have a stressful year. I think my only big event was Rod's heart attack, but while that seemed to be horrific at the time, it was a quick fix and he's doing just fine now.

    I love seeing all your reading stats. I haven't quite got into the read/listen mode since I usually have one print book going at the same time as an audiobook. Wonder if that would hurt or help my numbers. As much as I love our local library, I try to stay out of it and focus on the books on my (and my mom's) shelf. There's really no reason for me to visit the library unless I need something for book club.

    My goals are to continue reading from my stacks, read more of my 500+ page books, and read backlist titles from favorite authors that I might have missed.

    Good luck in Florida. We'll be here when you get back, but you'll be missed!

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    1. Les - I'm so happy Rod's recovery was so smooth, but can't even imagine how scary it must have been for you at the time. That's more than enough stress for one year!!

      I used to have one print and one audio, but seemed to finish books more quickly with the switch to a read/listen combination. Of course that pace has slowed considerably since I haven't been walking for nearly 2 months. My knee is slowly improving and I already have an appointment to see my doctor when we get back to Florida.

      I love visiting our library, but that's where I get distracted by all the new releases. Really need to stick to my shelves this year - they're all books I want to read. But the library will be the only place I can get internet for at least a couple of weeks... what's a reader to do? ;-)

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  4. I also meant to say that I love your photo for this post. And... now I need to order a copy of Lonesome Dove. It's been on my list for decades and unless I have a copy here, I'll never get to it.

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    1. Les - I've been meaning to read Lonesome Dove for SO many years. Bought a copy with my birthday gift certificate last summer figuring if it's staring at me from my shelf, I would finally read it. Leaving it here in CT with plans to read it next summer.

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  5. Two things I envy you: libraries and audiobooks. I wish we have as much & nice libraries here as you have there, but Indonesians do not read much, so...

    The audiobooks, it's still difficult for me to listen to them as English isn't my first language. I can if I concentrate hard enough, but that takes away the fun in reading. But I guess I must make myself used to it little by little. Do you have recommendations on where/which should I start?

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    1. Fanda - The quality of libraries seems to vary by location in the US, but I have been fortunate to live in communities that generously support public libraries. I think listening to audiobooks is a learned skill and listening in a second language can make it more difficult. I would suggest listening to a book you have read before... maybe a favorite novel. There is usually a setting to increase/decrease speed. Listening at a slightly slower rate might help, too. Good luck!

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  6. Good luck with the clean up work in Florida; that is a lot to take on, but something you cannot avoid. I like seeing everyone's statistics at the end of the year. And, I like your goal of reading more from your own shelves.

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    1. Thanks, Helen. I love reading all the year-end posts, too!

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  7. JoAnn, like you, I love the 'read/listen' concept and have done that a lot the last couple of years. I've even been able to make it work when using a print book and an audio. Usually, a book on my Kindle will sync up pretty well. Anyway, I'm trying to get back to that too. Good to year your thoughts for this next year and, I have been thinking about you guys lately. You did have a rough 2022. Hope your next few weeks in Florida goes well and you can get past it as soon as you can. Sigh. Take care and we'll be here when you return. Big hugs, friend!!

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    1. Kay - I fully embraced the read/listen combo in 2022 and have missed it since my knee injury. It's finally improving, but I'm not back to walking quite yet, but hopefully soon. We just got back to FL today, but have a hotel tonight before tackling things at home. Fingers crossed!

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  8. A very interesting sum-up and looks like you had some wonderful reading experiences for 2022. I'm regularly at war with myself regarding books I own vs library books. I really need to read books I own especially since I haven't stopped buying books but the library has so many books I want to read! It's a challenge. Good luck with your goals for 2023 and the hurricane clean up and repairs.

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    1. Katherine - My shelves vs the library is a never-ending battle, but this year the shelves will win, lol!

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  9. It's nice having access to more than one library system, isn't it? Both of mine have Hoopla, but without audiobooks. It's disappointing, because when it was first launched here they had a great selection. Happy new year, my friend!

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    1. Audrey - Hoopla without audiobooks - oh, no!! I can't put their ebooks on my kindle, so use it almost exclusively for audiobooks. The Sanibel library also has Kanopy, which I'm determined to try for movies. Happy New Year to you, too... I really need to read some Trollope in 2023. Any interest?

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  10. Yes I agree with not putting too much self imposed pressure on your reading plans. Enjoy your blog break!

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    1. Vintage Reading - I know any pressure on my reading life is self-imposed, so have been trying to guard against it. Hope to be back to blogging next month.

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  11. You had a lot going on and I think that it's great you could still find time for books. I really hope all goes well with the reconstruction! And, definitely like your intentions for this year. I'm trying to read more from my shelves for sure but like you my advance review copies are out of control. I guess those are good problems to have :) Take care - we'll be here when you are able to get back to blogging!

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    1. Iliana - We just got back to FL today, but have a night at a hotel before dealing with the house. Tomorrow we'll begin the work... fingers crossed!

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  12. congrats on the reading resolutions for this year. I upped the number of books I want to read this year on the Goodreads Challenge and have read mostly ebooks thanks to ARCs from NetGalley. I resolve to listen to the audiobooks I have and listen even more later on.

    https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/

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    1. Great goals, Harvee! Good luck sticking to them.

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  13. Good luck with the repairs in Sanibel. I'm sure it can be overwhelming but I wish you success with it. Little by little to get your house back in shape. I like your reading intentions for 2023. I need to read more from my shelves too. Now what is hoopla? I use Overdrive still. take care.

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    1. Susan - Hoopla is similar to Overdrive, but you can borrow anything immediately with no waiting involved. Libraries can choose whether to provide it for ebooks, audiobooks, even movies. The cost to the institution is tied to both offerings and number of borrows per month allowed to each patron. I love it!

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  14. I always like reading wrapups and projections. I align with your goals, except I would like to read more new releases although that is tough to reconcile with the TBR shelf goal :) I also have an excellent library--small but with big arms to find most of what I am looking for.

    Happy reading!

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    1. JaneGS - A balance between my tbr shelves and library new releases would be ideal! Last year I got more wrapped up than usual in new releases, so will try to focus more on my shelves. Now that we're back in Sanibel though, the library is calling!

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