2021 reading in Review

Goodreads has THREE different totals for me across the site. I've gone through all my books, but I can't find any recording error on my end. Anyways, I've actually read 312 books in 2021. Quite a lot for the year! It was over my intended goal of 240 books. For 2022, I've kept a similar goal of around 240 (it might be as high as 260) but we shall see. 

I read so much because of Covid. I'm still being quite careful. I don't have children or dependents, so it's easier for me to stay inside. I've been too antsy to sit down and watch most new television shows. So reading has been my entertainment for the past few years. 

The initial "Year in Books" page on Goodreads lists me at 307 books, with 92,043 pages read. Even with the additional five books added, it won't make such a huge change in page numbers. Most likely less that 95,000 pages total for the year (probably around 93,000). 

You can see an additional number below. I reached my initial goal of 240 in the early fall period. 

I actually read my shortest and longest in the beginning of 2021. Kill the Clutter is a cleaning guidebook. I enjoy watching CleanTok/CleanGram, so I picked up a few books. I still prefer the Konmari approach to cleaning and decluttering, but I thought Heather Lane's book was a nice and quick guide. 

My longest book was Bulfinch's Mythology. I picked this up a while ago, but it's been on my TBR shelf for a long time. It is quite long but easy to read in chunks. I'm familiar with most of the myths listed within as I took many Classics classes for my degree. My second longest book was most surely Jane Austen's Emma. It's around 800 pages in length. 

I had finished Jane Austen's Emma and Pride and Prejudice in the same year. They're both annotated versions with one side of the page being the original story and the other side being notes and images that enhance reading. I think it was good for me as I had never picked up Austen until after university! I thought it would be nice to have a guided reading so I would understand some hidden aspects (hidden to me). 

Amanda Gorman's poem was quite beautiful! I did watch it live and appreciated the oration but reading it was a huge treat. I think I prefer poems in written form more than spoken. I have no poetic talent, but I do like reading poetry! Gorman has a few other pieces being published soon that I'll probably pick up. I liked the way she formed verse. This is just the poem, so it's a fast read. Great for a tea break! 

The extent of Goodread's public stats is just a list of the books you read. I took a few screenshots to show what it looks like. Also, I can talk about some of the books I read that were excellent! 

• I read quite a few Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. It's fine. Some books are better than others.  I think the earlier books in the series are my favorite. I think of the later books, the only ones that match the vibe (to me at least) is Twisted 26 and Fortune and Glory/Tantalizing 27. I hate the love triangle. Don't have any interest in the side series (with Diesel and Wulf). I rate the book by how much sighing I've done. It makes Evanovich tons of money I suppose. I get why she doesn't end it, but the meandering aspect is a bit rough. She's coming out with a new series that I'll try at the library, but I haven't enjoyed any of her collaborative efforts. 
• I'm still enjoying Rhys Bowen's "Royal Spyness" Mysteries. They're cozy and fun. I have her newest in this series, but I haven't read it. I meant to read it for Christmas (it's holiday themed) but I didn't get around to it. 
• I think Lynn Messina's series (a romantic mystery set in regency England) was fun. The writing is less contemporary in some ways. They did take a few days to get through. 
• Hampton Sides' Hellhound on His Trail is EXCELLENT. I totally cried while I read it. It follows the final days of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life, as well as the investigation and manhunt for his assassin. It is well researched, and I learned a lot. 

• I'm still in the midst of Victoria Thompson's Gilded Age mystery series set in New York City. They're mostly mysteries with a romance between the two main characters. 
• I re-read Tami Hoag's Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust. A dark duology. It's a police procedural and murder mystery. Very good, very intriguing. I adore Tami Hoag, she's one of my favorite authors. 
• Georgette Heyer is the "grande dame" of the regency romance/historical romances...but I prefer her country house mysteries. Her mysteries tend to be set during a Roaring 1920s type time and great to follow. 
• I read Catherine Ryan Howard's The Liar's Girl. It's quite suspenseful! It's set in Ireland and follows the life of three college students (one who dies, one who survives, and one who is accused of murder). It had quite an interesting "twist" in plot. 

• I picked up Alexander Lee's The Ugly Renaissance. It is jam packed with information. I learned most of it in college, so I enjoyed reading it as it was a great refresher. The political intrigues of the Italian courts in contrast to the beautiful art they financed is fascinating. 
• I keep reading through Anne Stuart's backlist. I enjoy her writing. I think I tend to rate them 3 star and above with her Ice and Fire series constant re-reads for me. 
• Samantha Irby's Wow, No Thank You is a book of essays. Irby's essays tend to stay with me. I find myself pensively thinking about them after I close the books. 
• Jenny Bayliss' The Twelve Dates of Christmas was my holiday read! It was cute. Absolutely a fun read during a storm (since I live further south, it's mostly a rainstorm and now a snowstorm but still...). This winter though!! 

This year (2022) I began to log my books of Storygraph as well as Goodreads. I'm using the free version of Stroygraph. It took me a second to understand how to do a proper review, but I think I have the hang of it now. 

There is a monthly breakdown of the books you read in several different ways (digital/print, genres, page numbers, etc.). There are also trigger warning options in reviews. I like this option. I have friends with PTSD from war (soldiers and refugees) and they run into issues with media. PTSD and other trauma can present in anyone, so I like that option. It just gives a person warning. 

On the right is a screenshot from StoryGraph from my January 2022 reading. I've read 38 books so far, across multiple types of "moods." I mostly read mysterious, informative and lighthearted. I think this is good for any mood readers out there. I tend to be a mood reader, but a lot of my library books came in and were "informative."