2013 Books and 2014 Reading Goals

An analysis of books consumed in 2013. This year, I read 68 new books with a total of 19800 pages.

Memorable Books from this year: This is not a definitive list by any means:

Longest Book: Game of Thrones with 811 pages.

Most Challenging Books: Walden by Henry David Thoreau

New-to-me Authors I look forward to reading more: Robin Sloan, David Mitchell, John Green

Classics Club update: I’m up to 17 books now, and I am quite behind.

Most Read Author: Georgette Heyer and Neil Gaiman.

Poetry: None! Sad.

Month Read the Most: August

Total number of books read: 68 out of projected modest goal of 65.

2013: 68
2012: 65
2011: 50
2010: 67
2009: 20
2008: 83
2007: 52
2006: 61
2005: 83
2004: 71
2005: 66
2002: 66

2014 Reading Goals:

As I am spending less time online and more time in the real world, I have decided to simplify my reading goals a little bit more. As much as I enjoy joining reading challenges, I am going to make one definitive list of goals I’d like to accomplish and review it at the end of year.

  1. Read 70 books – This is simple enough as I have been reading in the high 60s ever year, but I would like to push myself a bit more. I think the most I ever read as 83 at one point. As I have a lot of hobbies already, I don’t think I’ll be a hundred books a year kind of girl anytime soon.
  2. Focus on the Classics Club – I am running behind on the challenge so will aim to read 5-10 from my list.
  3. One French language book – At least one French language is good enough for me.
  4. One Poetry book – One does not sound like a lot, but since I did not even manage one in 2013, it’s a good way to start.
  5. Read more from my cookbook collection – I have a lot of lovely cookbooks, many of which I can actually read as well as try out. I should read and review them more.
  6. Continue reading more nonfiction – I’m quite proud of the amount of nonfiction I’ve read this year.
  7. Read things out loud more – I wish to speak slower, more clearly, and enjoy the joy of reading out loud again.
  8. Authors to read more of because of series an and other reasons: George R. R. Martin, J. K. Rowling, and a slew of other classic authors

Finally, a complete list of books for 2013 which can all by accessed via the 2013 Books tag:

January
The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo
The Beauty of Color by Iman
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson
The Sandman: The Dream Hunters by P. Craig Russell and Neil Gaiman
Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Fanny Merkin
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

February
The Best American Travel Writing 2012 Ed. by Jason Wilson et al.
Paris in Love by Eloisa James
Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
I am Pole by Stephen Colbert
Here’s Looking at Euclid: A Surprising Excursion Through the Astonishing World of Math by Alex Bellos
Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman

March
The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark
Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste by Carl Wilson
Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t by Stephen Colbert

April
Walden, or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
Brief Encounter by Noel Coward
If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
Bear by Marian Engel
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde

May
The Best American Travel Writing 2008 Ed. by Anthony Bourdain et al.
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark
War Horse by Micharl Morpurgo
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

June
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
Unnatural Creatures by Neil Gaiman
Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 2 by Gail Carriger
Raven Girl by Audrey Niffenegger
Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
Stoner by John Edward Williams
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell
William – An Englishman by Cicely Hamilton
On the Road by Jack Kerouac

July
Son by Lois Lowry
Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan
The Last Train to Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari by Paul Theroux
Through the Children’s Gate: A Home in New York by Adam Gopnik

August
Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer
Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer
The Foundling by Georgette Heyer
The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

September
The Toll-Gate by Georgette Heyer
Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin
Naked by David Sedaris
Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? by Neil Gaiman
Faro’s Daughter by Georgette Heyer
The Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman

October
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman

November
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

December
Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love by Helen Fisher
Winger by Andrew Smith
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
A Little Princess: The Story of Sara Crewe by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Looking for Alaska by John Green

5 thoughts on “2013 Books and 2014 Reading Goals

  • Geoff W

    Great to see Cloud Atlas on the list! So many people didn’t give it credit as a book because they hated the movie. I thought both were uniquely and beautifully done. Also yay Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.

    Reply
    • athena (Post author)

      Hey Geoff! A lot of people didn’t even see the movie sadly. I loved them both as well, and it was one of the best written books that I read last year. Mr Penumbra was so fun and well written. Great stuff. Happy New Year!

      Reply

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