Analyses of the Books I Read in 2012

I found the source for this blog from Fizzy Thoughts and modified it a bit. (For a complete list of my books, go HERE. Without further ado, here are the stats...

How many books did you read in total?

148: an average of one book every two-and-a-half days

How many works of fiction and how many non-fiction?

Nonfiction: 8, Fiction: 140 (wince), a ratio of 1:18. In 2010, the ratio was 1:57 and in 2011, it was 1:15, so hopefully the trend will show more nonfiction in 2013

Which percent of male versus female authors did you read?

Male: 10, Female: 138 (double wince). So the male authors read are about 7% of the total. In 2010, the number was 3% of the total, and in 2011, it was 5%, so it's a positive trend. Of the ten books by male authors I read in 2012, four were nonfiction.

How much romance versus all other genres?

27 non-romance vs. 121 romance, which is a little less than 82% of the total books read. In 2010, I read more than 85% romance, but in 2011, I read 79% romance, so I read more romance in 2012 than 2011. All the non-romance books were in the following categories: children's and young adult fiction, literary fiction, women's fiction, poetry, mythology, and non-fiction

What were the categories of the books and how many books did you read in each category?

Medieval (9), Stuart (1), Tudor (3), Georgian (10), Regency (70 + 2 DNF), Victorian (10), Western (7), Contemporary (10), Inspirational (1), Mystery & Historical Mystery (8), Chick-Lit/Women's Fic (4), Literary Fiction (2), Children's & Young Adult (2), Poetry (2), Mythology (1), Humor (1), Memoirs (1), On Writing (3), and Parenting (3)

Which was your top favorite book that was published in 2012?

"The Garden of Happy Endings" by Barbara O'Neal
The rest of my list of favorite books of 2012 was published on this blog on January 30, 2013.

Which was your surprise favorite books and why?

"Bringing up Bébé" by Pamela Druckerman, because books on parenting are rarely entertaining or witty
"The Good Fellow's Toast Book" by George N. Madison, because I thought it would be pontificating but was light and witty

Which were the oldest and newest books, by pub date?

"Beacon Lights of History: Great Writers" by John Lord (1896)
"The Last Renegade" by Jo Goodman (Sep 2012)

Which were the longest and shortest book titles?

Longest Book Titles:
"Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting" by Pamela Druckerman
"Why I Live on the Mountain: 30 Chinese Poems from the Great Dynasties" by C.H. Kwôck and Vincent McHugh

Shortest Book Titles:
"Frederica" by Georgette Heyer
"Isabella" by Loretta Chase
"Devilish" and "Hazard" by Jo Beverley
"Defiant" by Kris Kennedy
"Deception" by Kris Kennedy
"Untamed" by Pamela Clare
"Marianna" by Susanna Kearsley

Which were the longest and shortest books?

"Africa is Not a Country" by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove(48 pages)
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" by John le Carré (371 trade paperback pages)
"Have His Carcase" by Dorothy Sayers (252 hardcover pages with small font)

Who were the most-read authors of the year?

Joan Wolf, Loretta Chase, Jo Goodman, Mary Balogh, Jo Beverley, Kris Kennedy, Carla Kelly, and Lisa Kleypas

Which authors were new to you in 2012? Would you want to read their entire backlist now?

Would love to read Carla Kelly's, Emma Jensen's and Dorothy Sayers's backlists.
The other authors were: Heather Snow, Cecilia Grants, Maya Rodale, Amanda Scott, Karen Witemeyer, Sharon Kay Penman, John le Carré, Pamela Druckerman, C.H. Kwôck and Vincent McHugh, E.B. White, Asha Bhalekar, George N.Madison, Sherwin Cody, and John Lord

Any books in translation?

"Why I Live on the Mountain: 30 Chinese Poems from the Great Dynasties" by C.H. Kwôck and Vincent McHugh
Seven Poems (no titles) by Hans Christian Anderson

Any re-reads?

Books by Eloisa James, Jo Beverley, Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas, Kris Kennedy, and Connie Brockway among others

Which books you wouldn’t have read without someone’s specific recommendation?

"Mariana" by Susanna Kearsley recommended by @sunita_d
"A Grand Design" by Emma Jensen recommended by @janga
"Reforming Lord Ragsdale" by Carla Kelly recommended by @janga & @janetnorcal
"Madam, Will You Talk?" by Mary Stewart recommended by @sunita_d & @redrobinreader

Did you read any books you have always been meaning to read?

>"Why I Live on the Mountain: 30 Chinese Poems from the Great Dynasties" by C.H. Kwôck and Vincent McHugh
Seven Poems (no titles) by Hans Christian Anderson
Books by Jo Goodman and Joan Wolf (which I predicted I will glom in 2012)

Which books that you read in 2012 do you think you will re-read in 2013?

Books by Jo Beverley, Joan Wolf, Jo Goodman, Meredith Duran, Connie Brockway, and Kris Kennedy among others

Which authors do you predict you will glom in 2013?

Jo Goodman

Which types of books would you like to read more of?

Poetry and nonfiction

What information are you missing in your data collection for 2012?

Month and year of publication, publisher, category, whether I own it or borrowed it from the library, and star rating