End of Year Book Confessions

I didn’t used to keep track of how many books I read in a year, but then a few people started asking me what I’d read over the last year and so for and so on and I realized it might be easier to answer those queries if I actually kept track of what I was reading. For the first few years, I just kept a written list in the back of my planner (yes, I still use a paper planner – I’d be lost without it. I’ve tried all the various apps and as computer nerdy as I am…I just need paper when it comes to a calendar. I use, and adore, my Planner Pad.) Then someone turned me on to Goodreads. I love the fact that it keeps track of my books for me with very little effort on my part (especially with the phone app that can scan a UPC and make it even faster.)

But I’ve also noticed my habits as a reader are slowly changing now that I’m keeping track of what I read. I love to re-read things. To me, it’s like visiting an old friend to sit down with a well-worn book and wander back through its pages. I do a lot less of that now, though. Between a Kindle loaded with 300+ books just waiting to be read and hesitation to see the same book listed over and over on my Goodreads list (yes, I realize that shouldn’t matter!) I’m branching out and reading more new things these days, re-reading much less.

I’ll admit I also don’t read as much mainstream romance as I used to. Now, some of that is because a few of the authors I really enjoyed in the past seem to have gotten considerably more raunchy than they used to be. I was used to skipping pages here and there but still having a solid plot. Now, those same authors seem more concerned with titillation than storytelling and that’s just not why I read romance. Throw in the fact that I’m going to want to add the book to my list, for all the world to see, and I think twice about whether or not I really want to read the book. But, moving out of mainstream has introduced me to some great indie and contemporary Christian romance authors – so that’s a definite plus.

In the 120 books I read this year, there’s a broad variety of genres. There are some fantastic books and some that I’d really like to figure out how to go back in time and convince myself not to waste the time. I was going to try and pick a favorite…but that’s kind of like asking me to choose my favorite child. So instead, I’m going to ask you – what was the best book you read this past year?