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Last year was a bit of an unusual reading year for me. My fiction:nonfiction and new read:reread ratios were unusual, as was the fact that I read either very long books or very short books, and nothing in between. And virtually all of my reading was in English, which is outside the norm for me.
How many books read in 2023?
In 2025, I read 101 books cover-to-cover, i.e., I read every chapter, glossary, index, author’s note, etc. in the volume.
Favorite first-time read?
In fiction, Disha Bose’s I Will Blossom Anyway, with Anna Burns' Milkman and Sophie Keetch's Morgan Is My Name close contenders for the top spot. In nonfiction, Ronald Hutton’s Pagan Britain, with Helen Brennan's The Story of Irish Dance, Michael O'Malley's The Beat Cop, and Alice Robert's The Celts close seconds.
Least favorite first-time read?
In fiction, M.C. Beaton’s astonishingly bad Death of a Witch, with Sharon Emmerich's Shield Maiden and Eddie Robson's Hearts of Oak close seconds. In nonfiction, Miranda Aldhouse-Green's Bog Bodies Uncovered, which is more speculation than nonfiction.
Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?
I read 60 fiction and 41 nonfiction books.
Author gender breakdown? (Counted by books read, not number of distinct authors.)
Women:59
Men: 38
Nonbinary: 1
Multiple authors, anthology, or author unknown: 3
Most books read by one author this year?
I read three each by Leigh Bardugo, Gry Kappel Jensen, and Jon Klassen.
Any in translation?
None this year.
In languages other than English?
Yes, one in Japanese. And Phil Kelly's Absolute Beginner's Manx, which is in English and (obviously) Manx.
Oldest?
J. Romilly Allen’s Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times, published in 1904.
Newest?
Swiz by Shawn Brown et al., which came out on October 7, 2025.
Longest Title?
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson.
Shortest Title?
It's a tie between Swiz by Shawn Brown et al. and Fehu by Malene Sølvsten.
Longest book?
In fiction, Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting. In nonfiction, Ronald Hutton’s Pagan Britain.
Shortest book? Jon Klassen’s Your Farm.
Format of books read?
Paper: 93
Ebook: 8
Paper/Ebook both: 0
Audiobook: 0
Great Course: 0
Re-reads?
I reread 11 books this year.
First book acquired:
Kevin Danaher’s The Year In Ireland and Roger Zelazny's The Chronicles of Amber omnibus.
Last book acquired:
Peter Heller's The Dog Stars, a Thingsgiving gift from ma soeur.
First book finished:
Greg Rucka et al.'s The Old Guard vol. 1.
Last book finished:
Sheila Sturrock’s Celtic Knotwork Handbook.
Book that most changed my perspective:
Mike Parker Pearson’s How To Build Stonehenge, which is an absolutely fascinating exploration of the logistics of building monuments like the titular site with only neolithic tools.
Favorite character:
From a first time read, Sturmhond from Leigh Bardugo's Siege and Storm.
Favorite scene:
Of my first time reads, Emma Seckel's The Wild Hunt contains several scenes that were so creeping horror scary they gave my physical goosebumps. Conversely, multiple scenes in Martin Millar's Ruby and the Stone Age Diet had me laughing aloud.
Favorite Quote: More than I can count from Martin Millar's Lux the Poet and Ruby and the Stone Age Diet of which this, from Ruby is just one:
Favorite Cover: Of first time reads,
Tabitha Stanmore's Cunning Folk
with honorable mentions to:
T. Kingfisher's A Sorceress Comes To Call
Sophie Keetch's Morgan Is My Name
,
and Sam Davey's The Chosen Queen
.
(Yes, I have an aesthetic.)
Of rereads, I will always be partial to this cover of Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle:
Number of in-progress books as of December 31:
I currently have 110 books tagged as in progress LibraryThing, and about half a dozen going this week.
What do you want to read in 2026?
There was something I was super excited about just the other day, but I cannot for the life of me remember what it was now. Without doubt, it will occur to me at 3:00 am in the morning, at which time I will update this entry.
Happy New Year, everyone!
これで以上です。
How many books read in 2023?
In 2025, I read 101 books cover-to-cover, i.e., I read every chapter, glossary, index, author’s note, etc. in the volume.
Favorite first-time read?
In fiction, Disha Bose’s I Will Blossom Anyway, with Anna Burns' Milkman and Sophie Keetch's Morgan Is My Name close contenders for the top spot. In nonfiction, Ronald Hutton’s Pagan Britain, with Helen Brennan's The Story of Irish Dance, Michael O'Malley's The Beat Cop, and Alice Robert's The Celts close seconds.
Least favorite first-time read?
In fiction, M.C. Beaton’s astonishingly bad Death of a Witch, with Sharon Emmerich's Shield Maiden and Eddie Robson's Hearts of Oak close seconds. In nonfiction, Miranda Aldhouse-Green's Bog Bodies Uncovered, which is more speculation than nonfiction.
Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?
I read 60 fiction and 41 nonfiction books.
Author gender breakdown? (Counted by books read, not number of distinct authors.)
Women:59
Men: 38
Nonbinary: 1
Multiple authors, anthology, or author unknown: 3
Most books read by one author this year?
I read three each by Leigh Bardugo, Gry Kappel Jensen, and Jon Klassen.
Any in translation?
None this year.
In languages other than English?
Yes, one in Japanese. And Phil Kelly's Absolute Beginner's Manx, which is in English and (obviously) Manx.
Oldest?
J. Romilly Allen’s Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times, published in 1904.
Newest?
Swiz by Shawn Brown et al., which came out on October 7, 2025.
Longest Title?
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson.
Shortest Title?
It's a tie between Swiz by Shawn Brown et al. and Fehu by Malene Sølvsten.
Longest book?
In fiction, Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting. In nonfiction, Ronald Hutton’s Pagan Britain.
Shortest book? Jon Klassen’s Your Farm.
Format of books read?
Paper: 93
Ebook: 8
Paper/Ebook both: 0
Audiobook: 0
Great Course: 0
Re-reads?
I reread 11 books this year.
First book acquired:
Kevin Danaher’s The Year In Ireland and Roger Zelazny's The Chronicles of Amber omnibus.
Last book acquired:
Peter Heller's The Dog Stars, a Thingsgiving gift from ma soeur.
First book finished:
Greg Rucka et al.'s The Old Guard vol. 1.
Last book finished:
Sheila Sturrock’s Celtic Knotwork Handbook.
Book that most changed my perspective:
Mike Parker Pearson’s How To Build Stonehenge, which is an absolutely fascinating exploration of the logistics of building monuments like the titular site with only neolithic tools.
Favorite character:
From a first time read, Sturmhond from Leigh Bardugo's Siege and Storm.
Favorite scene:
Of my first time reads, Emma Seckel's The Wild Hunt contains several scenes that were so creeping horror scary they gave my physical goosebumps. Conversely, multiple scenes in Martin Millar's Ruby and the Stone Age Diet had me laughing aloud.
Favorite Quote: More than I can count from Martin Millar's Lux the Poet and Ruby and the Stone Age Diet of which this, from Ruby is just one:
I meet Jane who is selling socialist newspapers outside the tube station.
'We can't find anywhere to live.'
'Of course not. The government won't provide houses for poor people. They don't give local councils any money to build council houses. They are only interested in rich people buying property.'
A strange accusation, it seems to me. Everyone knows that if you can't find somewhere to live it is because you have offended Ixanbarg, the Bad Housing Demon. I'm sure the government is doing its best.
Favorite Cover: Of first time reads,
with honorable mentions to:
Sophie Keetch's Morgan Is My Name
, and Sam Davey's The Chosen Queen
.(Yes, I have an aesthetic.)
Of rereads, I will always be partial to this cover of Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle:
Number of in-progress books as of December 31:
I currently have 110 books tagged as in progress LibraryThing, and about half a dozen going this week.
What do you want to read in 2026?
There was something I was super excited about just the other day, but I cannot for the life of me remember what it was now. Without doubt, it will occur to me at 3:00 am in the morning, at which time I will update this entry.
Happy New Year, everyone!
これで以上です。