Opinions of a Wolf

Every year, I wrap up the old year and start the new one here on the blog with a look back at my reading stats.  You can see my stats for the years 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 by clicking on the years.

Total books read: 54
Average books read per month: 4.5
Month most read: May with 7 (No idea what gave me so much momentum in May)
Month least read: November with 2 (A long cold and the holidays)
Longest book read: The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey with 538 pages
Fiction: 45 (83%)
Nonfiction: 9 (17%)
Series: 28 (52%) (This went up by 11%. You can tell I found a couple of series I really like.)
Standalone: 26 (48%)
Formats: 
–traditional print: 13 (24%)
–ebook: 27 (50%)
–graphic novel: 0 (0%) (I’m in shock that I somehow didn’t read a single graphic novel this year!)
–audiobook: 14  (26%)
Genres:
–scifi: 20 (Winner the fifth year in a row. It’s clear what my favorite genre is.)
–fantasy: 11
–horror: 9
–indie: 7
–YA: 7 (I dislike most YA, but when I find a well-done one, I read everything by the author I can find.)
–GLBTQ: 6
–historic fiction: 6
–romance: 6
–urban fantasy: 6
–dystopian: 4
–humorous: 4
–post-apocalyptic: 4
–short story collection: 4
–classics: 3
–Mental Illness Advocacy Reading Challenge: 3 (I really should at least get to the lowest level of the challenge that I run! Wish I’d completed one more book for this.)
–mystery: 3
–nonfiction history: 3 (As someone with a History BA, it surprises me not at all that this is my most read nonfiction.)
–contemporary: 2
–cozy: 2
–nonfiction cookbook: 2
–nonfiction lifestyle: 2
–paranormal romance: 2
–thriller: 2
–time-travel: 2
–transhumanism: 2
–African lit: 1
–bizarro: 1
–Chinese lit: 1
–Cthulhu mythos: 1
–nonfiction environmentalism: 1
–nonfiction fitness: 1
–nonfiction memoir: 1
–nonfiction relationships: 1
–nonfiction social justice: 1
Aliens vs. Demons vs. Vampires vs. Zombies
–demons: 7 (Demons just barely beat aliens, who definitely got the extra attention I said I thought they deserved last year).
–aliens: 6
–vampires: 6
–zombies: 1
Number of stars:
–5 star reads: 9 (17%)
–4 star reads: 26 (48%)
–3 star reads: 16 (30%)
–2 star reads: 3 (5%)
–1 star reads: 0 (0%)

Glancing at my stats, I can see that I definitely achieved my main goal for 2013.  I read more books I like and stopped forcing myself to read books I don’t enjoy.  My percent of 5 star reads went up by 3%, and my number of 1 or 2 star reads went down by a whopping 11%.  I’m really glad to have refocused myself on the joy of reading, instead of treating it as a responsibility.

Overall, my stats make me happy.  There is still a variety for the well-roundedness I wanted to hold onto, but there is also a clear focus on the types of books I enjoy.  The one thing that took me aback was my complete lack graphic novels.  I can’t stop reading the new format I discovered just a few years ago! I also would like to see a bit more nonfiction and at least a couple more reads that count toward the Mental Illness Advocacy Reading Challenge.  I do run it after all.

Beyond those two minor goals, I mostly just want to continue seeking out books that truly appeal to me, reading at a comfortable rate as one of many hobbies, and continue to expand my horizons a bit with a healthy sprinkling of variety.

Happy 2014, everyone! Any suggestions for my 2014 reading goals?