I read 49 books in 2011. I’m pretty happy with that number, though I’d like to read more next year. A number of these reads were short stories or novellas. However, a number of them were thick books too.
I’m going to do a followup post where I list my favorite reads of 2011. Here it’s all about the stats.
Of the 49 books read:
28 romance
21 non-romance
| In romance I read: | **** | In other genres I read: |
| 15 contemporary romance 6 historical romance 2 fantasy romance 2 romantic suspense 1 paranormal romance 1 science fiction romance |
8 fantasy 4 urban fantasy 4 mystery/suspense 3 historical fiction 2 science fiction |
I was surprised I only read 1 paranormal romance, but the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance is a little thin. Also Ilona Andrews’ The Edge series has paranormal-romance elements but I classified it as fantasy.
I read 16 gay romance and 3 gay fiction.
I read 3 YA.
My late-year push was into historical fiction, which I really haven’t read much of.
I don’t think I read any Canlit or Canadian-set books this year, which surprised me.
I did 2 rereads, one of a book I read years ago, The Charioteer by Mary Renault, one where I turned around and reread the book immediately, The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan.
My ratings stats. (Just to note, I put aside books easily, so no low ratings.)
9 As
16 Bs
8 Cs
My non-romance books tend to get higher ratings. Not because I think the romance genre isn’t as good as any other genre. There are three things going on there, I believe:
1) I’m more likely to put down a non-romance book rather than read through and give it a C.
2) I’m more likely to pick up non-romance books that have been highly lauded and/or which I have reason to think will appeal to me. I’m more adventurous with romance.
3) There’s the “freshness” factor. A different genre offers me something I haven’t read for a while. Whereas if I read as deeply in, say, mystery/suspense as I did romance, I wouldn’t be struck by certain tropes or characters or plot twists.
I’m pretty pleased with all the books I did enjoy, and next I’ll write about my fave reads of 2011.
