2013 – Another year in reading

Donna’s recent post about her year’s reading got me thinking about what I read in 2013 and what it might tell me about the year.

Like Donna I use the catalogue to record what I’ve read (and what I hope to read, but that’s another story). I managed a total of 102 books read in 2013.  I also have a list of what I took home but did not read (17 on that), and books to have another go at later.

Anyway I was surprised to find I’d read 75 non-fiction books and only 20 fiction. Seven graphic novels made up the numbers.

Within the non-fiction I do count turning the pages of a fashion book in a trance-like state as reading it. If that didn’t count I’d be down to to 59 non-fiction:  9 on art, 1 on jewellery, 2 on gardening, 6 cookery books, 12 miscellaneous, and 18 on houses and decoration. Officially obsessed with the latter, in fact one of the gardening  books is really about taking the stuff you can no longer fit into your house and sticking it in the garden, so it probably could count as  a house book.

Eleven memoirs, 10 of them ‘misery memoirs’, or mis mems as Jennifer Saunders calls them. Her Bonkers was the only one of the 11 definitely not of the mis mem variety.

Not sure why there is so little fiction on my completed shelf (the completed shelf – such a satisfactory feeling adding a book to to it ). Even the 7 graphic novels I read this year are mostly non-fiction and cheery they are not.

So my 2013 book list is mostly a combination of visions of perfection in clothes and houses, and  stories of less than perfect lives. Paging Dr. Freud.

As for doing better next year, I already have my 2014 resolution of reading 7 books off The Guardian’s list of the best of 2013 on the go. Then there is my For Later list. A goal might be not to add to it as it’s up to 354 titles now, so at current rates of reading it will take me over three years to get through it.

Sadly for me the best predictor of future reading seems to be past reading. The three books I am most looking forward to are in the genres I read most of last year:

• The bucket by Allan Ahlberg – a memoir
• Fire Island Modernist by Christopher Bascomb Rawlins – a house book
• A conspiracy of images by John J. Curley – an art book

2013 – A year in reading

I was inspired by this Vic books post: December — A Time to Review the Year’s Reading. We have all been busy picking our Best of the year, but the idea here is to go a bit deeper – to look at your reading habits, and maybe stir them up a bit.

I use the catalogue to record the books I’ve read (here’s how) – so have a look at the flavours of my completed shelf  – from Kylie Fashion back in January to Morrissey in December …

• 111 books read
• 18 New Zealand titles
• 88 non-fiction
• 28 graphic novels
• 15 memoirs
• 18 books about art and photography
• 32 on fashion and style
• 7 music-related titles
• 5 books about science
•  and in a meta meta thing – 6 books about reading or books.

I thought I’d read a lot of New Zealand books this year – but is 18 out of 111 a lot – or not? Either way – my impression is of a stellar year in New Zealand publishing all round.

I think what my list tells me is:

• When pushed for time (and who isn’t), a nice book on fashion, style or art can be consumed (and savoured) more quickly than a novel.
• Girl gotta have her graphic novels/comics.
• Where are all the history books I used to read? And the occasional historical novel? In 2013 – not a lot.
• NEEDS MOR SCIENCE.
• I definitely used to read more music books too …

What the list doesn’t reveal is my chronic overarching bookily ambition. I can never read all the things I borrow – my book consuming eyes are bigger than my stomach. Still, it is fun to try and gorge.

Here’s my next targets that may slip in before the end of 2013:

• An imitation library book – S  by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst  …read The Guardian review. Sounds well intriguing and I do like a challenge.
• The World is ever changing by filmmaker Nicolas Roeg. A memoir, a directory, a plan. It has been extravagantly reviewed.
• And the memoirs of Geoffrey Palmer too. I think he is a great New Zealander. And a dude.

Best book covers of 2013 – My pick of New Zealand’s finest

This year has been a stellar one in New Zealand publishing, with a crop of splendid books coming out. And there are striking covers that deserve a round of applause.

I have grouped my favourites around themes. The standout for me is how cartoonists/comic artists are creating awesome covers, and not just for comics but for novels too. My two favourite New Zealand covers are Sarah Laing’s stunning illustration for Emma Martin’s Two girls in a boat and the weird skewing of space in the cover image of Pip Adam’s I’m working on a building. You can read about Sarah’s creative process in her blogpost The making of a book cover.

Viva comics

Colourful eye-pleasers

Driven by text

Potent simplicity

Poetry

Photographs

Playing with perception

See last year’s book cover tributes:

• The colourful book covers of 2012
• Best book covers of 2012 – New Zealand’s finest