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I’ve been thinking about my book-buying habits lately. Partly because I’ve been reading ebooks on my iPad and partly just because I’m fascinated by the evolving business of publishing.
So I decided to be systematic.
Here’s a list of the books I’ve read in the last year, and either how I found out about them or why I chose to read them.
What and/or who influences your reading decisions?
I’ve read 79 books so far this year, mostly from the Vancouver Public Library. (I ran out of my 50 holds sometime in May!) Most of them were recommended by friends on Goodreads, including you, or on other forums. :) There were also some books that I couldn’t get through before I had to return them and a few that I couldn’t get through at all for various reasons. (The Hunger Games series came under the latter, in spite of almost everyone I know and whose opinions I respect recommending them enthusiastically.)
What I do find frustrating though is when someone on Goodreads who I know has similar tastes recommends a book or series and they aren’t available at the library! I usually only buy books now by my 10 or so favourite authors, all of whom are prolific, so even though I keep culling my books, I have at least one bookshelf in every room in my apartment, including the hall but excluding the bathroom! :D
My taste in reading material, as in almost everything else, is eclectic, although this year I’ve read mostly fantasy, paranormal romance, contemporary suspense and a few non-fiction. I still have a few more weeks – and a few more books on hold – before the end of the year.
I’m trying to be a bit broader in my reading this year and so I’ve been trying to read through the list of Booker prize winners to see if I find any new authors I like. I’ve had really mixed feelings about the ones I’ve read so far so it seems just as hit and miss a way of finding books as my previous method of browsing the library shelves and pulling off ones with titles/covers that appealed to me.
The only book I’ve also read from your reading list was Miss Smila’s feeling for snow which I also loved. I’ve read a few others of Peter Hoeg’s and I enjoyed A history of Danish dreams the best.
Really great post, thanks so much for sharing this.
I’m impressed by a) how many books you read in a year! and b) how many books you finish that you hate!