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lebateleur) wrote2024-12-31 07:17 pm
lebateleur) wrote2024-12-31 07:17 pm
2024 Reading Roundup
Because chances are I will neither finish an additional book this afternoon, nor post complete this meme if I let it go until evening. And with that, here's what my 2024 reading looked like.
How many books read in 2023?
In 2024, I read 103 books cover-to-cover, defined as I always do as reading every chapter, glossary, index, author’s note, etc. in the volume.
Favorite first-time read?
In fiction, Ann Leckie’s Translation State. In nonfiction, Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing.
Least favorite first-time read?
In fiction, Emily R. King’s Wings of Fury. In nonfiction, it’s a tie between Lucy K. Tsado & Robert Osgood’s odious Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics and Ben Rigg’s Slaying the Dragon.
Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?
I read 73 fiction books and 30 nonfiction.
Author gender breakdown? (Counted by books read, not number of distinct authors.)
Women: 54
Men: 34
Nonbinary: 2
Multiple authors, anthology, or author unknown: 13
Most books read by one author this year?
Nine in Japanese by Sugiura Shiho, and nine in English by Ann Leckie, just edging out eight by Gerald Morris (all in English).
Any in translation?
An Yu’s Ghost Music (from Chinese), Maria Dava Headley’s Beowulf (from Old English), Dominique Lanni and Karen Doering-Froger’s Atlas of Dream Lands (from French), Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s Heaven Official’s Blessing vol. 2 (from Chinese), and Tore Skeie’s The Wolf Age (from Norwegian).
In languages other than English?
Yes. Ten in Japanese, one in Scots Gaelic, one in Manx Gaelic, and one in Orcadian English.
Oldest?
Alexander Charmichael’s Carmina Gadelica vol. 1, published in 1900.
Newest?
The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg, which came out on October 22nd.
Longest Title?
The Princess, the Crone, and the Dung-Cart Knight by Gerald Morris.
Shortest Title?
Hitomi by H.S. Tak & Isabella Mazzanti.
Longest book?
In fiction, Sarah Monette’s Corambis. In nonfiction, Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing.
Shortest book? Valiska Gregory and Barry Moser’s Through the Mickle Woods.
Format of books read?
Paper: 81
Ebook: 20
Paper/Ebook both: 2
Audiobook: 0
Great Course: 0
Re-reads?
I reread 31 books this year, including seven by Sugiura Shiho and six by Ann Leckie.
First book acquired:
Mara Freeman’s Kindling the Celtic Spirit.
Last book acquired:
Mike Pitt’s How To Build Stonehenge.
First book finished:
Ann Leckie’s Translation State.
Last book finished:
Courtney Davis’s The Art of Celtia.
Book that most changed my perspective:
Culture Vannin’s Loayr Gaelg! Keim Nane, which opened up a bunch of new grammatical constructs for me.
Favorite character:
Qven from Ann Leckie’s Translation State. How can you not love a Presger Translator? Makri from Martin Scott’s Thraxas series continues to delight. I read three novels from this: Thraxas and the Warrior Monks, Thraxas at the Races, and Thraxas and the Elvish Isles. Lampo from Ferdia Lennon’s Glorious Exploits is an indelible character, although not a “favorite” in the sense that this question probably intends.
Otherwise, the old favorites: Breq and Seivarden from the Imperial Radch series. Felix Harrowgate and Mildmay Foxe from The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Gawain, Lynette, and Guinglain from The Squire’s Tales. Shigeka Narushige from Silver Diamond. Imogene Herdman from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Granny Weatherwax, Tiffany Aching, Rob Anybody, and Daft Wullie from Terry Pratchett’s A Hat Full of Sky.
Favorite scene:
A few scenes from Ann Leckie’s Translation State were marvelous, which is why I’m not going to spoil them here. The same goes for certain scenes from Terry Pratchett’s A Hat Full of Sky; if you’ve read it, you already know which ones they are and why. There’s also a climactic scene from the third volume of Sugiura Shiho’s Shuten Unknown vol. 3 that I just love.
Favorite Quote:
I can't think of any particular quote that really stuck with me, but the banter between Koh and Chigusa throughout Silver Diamond is so witty and intelligent. I love how Sugiura plays—and is playful—with language.
Favorite Cover:
Valiska Gregory and Barry Moser’s Through the Mickle Woods.
Number of in-progress books as of December 31:
LibraryThing tells me the number is 106, of which I have actively read something from about 23 in the last month.
What do you want to read in 2025?
High on my list are the new books coming from Paraic O’Donnell and Natasha Pulley. I’d love for Joan Smith’s Unfortunately, She Was a Nymphomaniac or Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman's Irish Food History to be published on the US market.
Happy New Year, everyone!
これで以上です。
How many books read in 2023?
In 2024, I read 103 books cover-to-cover, defined as I always do as reading every chapter, glossary, index, author’s note, etc. in the volume.
Favorite first-time read?
In fiction, Ann Leckie’s Translation State. In nonfiction, Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing.
Least favorite first-time read?
In fiction, Emily R. King’s Wings of Fury. In nonfiction, it’s a tie between Lucy K. Tsado & Robert Osgood’s odious Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics and Ben Rigg’s Slaying the Dragon.
Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?
I read 73 fiction books and 30 nonfiction.
Author gender breakdown? (Counted by books read, not number of distinct authors.)
Women: 54
Men: 34
Nonbinary: 2
Multiple authors, anthology, or author unknown: 13
Most books read by one author this year?
Nine in Japanese by Sugiura Shiho, and nine in English by Ann Leckie, just edging out eight by Gerald Morris (all in English).
Any in translation?
An Yu’s Ghost Music (from Chinese), Maria Dava Headley’s Beowulf (from Old English), Dominique Lanni and Karen Doering-Froger’s Atlas of Dream Lands (from French), Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s Heaven Official’s Blessing vol. 2 (from Chinese), and Tore Skeie’s The Wolf Age (from Norwegian).
In languages other than English?
Yes. Ten in Japanese, one in Scots Gaelic, one in Manx Gaelic, and one in Orcadian English.
Oldest?
Alexander Charmichael’s Carmina Gadelica vol. 1, published in 1900.
Newest?
The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg, which came out on October 22nd.
Longest Title?
The Princess, the Crone, and the Dung-Cart Knight by Gerald Morris.
Shortest Title?
Hitomi by H.S. Tak & Isabella Mazzanti.
Longest book?
In fiction, Sarah Monette’s Corambis. In nonfiction, Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing.
Shortest book? Valiska Gregory and Barry Moser’s Through the Mickle Woods.
Format of books read?
Paper: 81
Ebook: 20
Paper/Ebook both: 2
Audiobook: 0
Great Course: 0
Re-reads?
I reread 31 books this year, including seven by Sugiura Shiho and six by Ann Leckie.
First book acquired:
Mara Freeman’s Kindling the Celtic Spirit.
Last book acquired:
Mike Pitt’s How To Build Stonehenge.
First book finished:
Ann Leckie’s Translation State.
Last book finished:
Courtney Davis’s The Art of Celtia.
Book that most changed my perspective:
Culture Vannin’s Loayr Gaelg! Keim Nane, which opened up a bunch of new grammatical constructs for me.
Favorite character:
Qven from Ann Leckie’s Translation State. How can you not love a Presger Translator? Makri from Martin Scott’s Thraxas series continues to delight. I read three novels from this: Thraxas and the Warrior Monks, Thraxas at the Races, and Thraxas and the Elvish Isles. Lampo from Ferdia Lennon’s Glorious Exploits is an indelible character, although not a “favorite” in the sense that this question probably intends.
Otherwise, the old favorites: Breq and Seivarden from the Imperial Radch series. Felix Harrowgate and Mildmay Foxe from The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Gawain, Lynette, and Guinglain from The Squire’s Tales. Shigeka Narushige from Silver Diamond. Imogene Herdman from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Granny Weatherwax, Tiffany Aching, Rob Anybody, and Daft Wullie from Terry Pratchett’s A Hat Full of Sky.
Favorite scene:
A few scenes from Ann Leckie’s Translation State were marvelous, which is why I’m not going to spoil them here. The same goes for certain scenes from Terry Pratchett’s A Hat Full of Sky; if you’ve read it, you already know which ones they are and why. There’s also a climactic scene from the third volume of Sugiura Shiho’s Shuten Unknown vol. 3 that I just love.
Favorite Quote:
I can't think of any particular quote that really stuck with me, but the banter between Koh and Chigusa throughout Silver Diamond is so witty and intelligent. I love how Sugiura plays—and is playful—with language.
Favorite Cover:
Valiska Gregory and Barry Moser’s Through the Mickle Woods.
Number of in-progress books as of December 31:
LibraryThing tells me the number is 106, of which I have actively read something from about 23 in the last month.
What do you want to read in 2025?
High on my list are the new books coming from Paraic O’Donnell and Natasha Pulley. I’d love for Joan Smith’s Unfortunately, She Was a Nymphomaniac or Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman's Irish Food History to be published on the US market.
Happy New Year, everyone!
これで以上です。