Programming Note: Over the next few days, I'll be looking back over 2019—but trying to come up with some new material, too. I know a lot of people have already done that, but I'm a stickler—I can't start doing this kind of thing 'til the year is over (for good reason, I read 3 things that will likely end up on best-of lists after I started seeing "Best of 2019" posts).
As we kick off 2020, as is my custom, I wanted to take a glance back at 2019. 275 books read (plus comics, picture books, short stories, and the like that I don't know how to count)—I exceeded my goal (nothing like exceeding an arbitrary number to boost the ol' ego), too; more than 83,000 pages; 378 posts (short of my goal by a couple hundred, but 98 more than last year, so...yay). I had some strong gains in traffic—views and visitors—actually, strong gains doesn't quite cut it. Consider my mind boggled. I'm also seeing good growth in followers here and on various social media fronts, which is encouraging as all get out—not just growth in numbers, but the level of and amount of interaction is up to the point that my socially awkward self doesn't really understand it.
So here's my breakdown of books by genre. Genre labeling is more difficult lately as I'm reading a lot of hybrids (most of us are, they're being produced more), but I tend to go with the overarching genre (for example, Brassley's The Drifting Lands books are fantasy novels in a SF setting, I went with Fantasy). Basically, everything's the same, with just a percent or two of adjustment. It's been forever since I've read a Western, although I had one checked out from the Library for a couple of months, but I couldn't manage to get to it. Theological books went up a tad in actual numbers (thanks to the Vos set). Still, for someone who doesn't plan too thoroughly, the percentages stay remarkably consistent from year to year—tastes (and series I follow) apparently stay the same.
| Genre | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children’s | 7 (3%) | 11 (4%) | 7 (3%) | 5 (2%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Fantasy | 28 (10%) | 30 (11%) | 7 (3%) | 31 (13%) | 17 (9%) | 11 (7%) | 15 (8%) | 12 (6%) |
| General Fiction/ Literature | 21 (8%) | 22 (8%) | 29 (10%) | 27 (11%) | 17 (9%) | 7 (4%) | 30 (16%) | 30 (14%) |
| Horror | 1 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (.4%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Humor | 4 (1%) | 3 (1%) | 1 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (1%) | 3 (2%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller | 105 (38%) | 107 (38%) | 102 (37%) | 61 (25%) | 64 (34%) | 62 (37%) | 63 (33%) | 73 (35%) |
| Non-Fiction | 25 (9%) | 22 (8%) | 10 (4%) | 11 (5%) | 8 (4%) | 4 (2%) | 2 (1%) | 11 (5%) |
| Poetry | 0 (0%) | 1 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Science Fiction | 30 (11%) | 25 (9%) | 27 (10%) | 37 (15%) | 16 (8%) | 17 (10%) | 14 (7%) | 11 (5%) |
| Steampunk | 1 (0%) | 3 (1%) | 1 (0%) | 2 (1%) | 7 (4%) | 3 (2%) | 3 (2%) | 11 (5%) |
| Theology/ Christian Living | 34 (12%) | 25 (9%) | 30 (11%) | 33 (14%) | 42 (22%) | 42 (25%) | 37 (19%) | 10 (5%) |
| Urban Fantasy | 25 (9%) | 29 (10%) | 45 (16%) | 36 (15%) | 19 (10%) | 20 (12%) | 26 (14%) | 48 (23%) |
| Western | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (0%) |
- Enough about me. I want to talk about you, who keep me going and show an interest in what I'm doing here and give some thanks to people for their impact on The Irresponsible Reader (the blog and the person) in 2019:
- Thanks to everyone for your comments/feedback—texts, emails, comments here/BookLikes/Goodreads, tweets, FB comments, even the occasional Face-to-Face conversation. Keep it up! I really appreciate the time you took to leave feedback. Hopefully you can tell that you've shaped the conversation here—it has, I assure you. Many of you are pushing me to be better writers—some of you push me to read better books. I'm going to give a particular thanks to Bookstooge, Paul, W&S Bookclub, Lashaan, Emma, and Noelle for their encouragement, retweets, and interaction.
- Flattered thanks to (in no particular order): Asha Seth, rosemikeals42, nikkit321, andrayachristine, Solid lover of poetry, Hannah, workwithlapo and salmanalfarisi, Dalindcy Koolhoven, ailishsinclair, allmyheroesareweirdos, ladolceamara, William J. Fulton, Shawn P. B. Robinson, Davida Chazan, wanderingminds2019, Elle, editorbtg, lollyrugs, Kara Skinner, Blood Rose Books, libarah</a and Matilde Mbulo, Kanwarpal Singh, sara, Tony H, Simon Veith, K. Alice Compeau, deborahkehoe, kelleysdiy, TheArtOfLife, Erwin Wensley, dragonflybooks, virgoebooks, BOOKVENGER-44, Blair Leftly, upstateasb, vickyofficiallyofficial, amiiiesbooks, Madam Mim, Sonam Tsering, indianeskitchen, Occidentally Orthodox (who may not like a lot of what I post, but I hope he comments) and whovinawrites, Ciidagale Raad, KayCKay, BookaholicBrittany, Crystal Grasso (Ward), Jocelyn, SED MADDY, The Happy Book Blog, Justine @ Bookish Wisps, Ailish Sinclair, flowersinthebrain, tracyvende, Britt Skrabanek, TheReadingNook, Tony Self, Somik Bndopadhyay, Sesame Limited, devouringbooks2017, theguywiththebook, geekhutdrone, weewritinglassie, crimebookjunkie, David, Kyles, Thomas Neil, Michelle Eddington, Queerying Literature, IM Fletcher, and Bestiality, karishmarele, Aurore-Anne-Chehoke, Sovely Matters, chapterinmylife, Shana Gorian, Caroline Vincent, Tales of alenshy, The Unseen Library, penninkreviews, Diana, miscellanypages, brian2010, TooFullToWrite, fionac13, lindajacksonblog, Self Development, Vee Aozoraa, happytonic, Elizabeth Ruggiero, adiswings, Kitty Marie's Book Reviews Blog, rashidul.huda, Lashaan Balasingam @ Bookidote, Naba Kumar Garai, Psychotherapist ,Counsellor, Film Screenwriter,Playwright,Producer - LONDON.UK, Sonam Sangpo Lama, Tammy (great site logo), Curled up with a good book, Kathryn Speckels, ChadeeMañago, 1800PetsAndVets®, Global Books, neoverttun, Isabelle @ BookwyrmBites, KATO NASHIF, William Johnson, tourinfonepal, AKidneyStory, agnieszkaweiner (say that fives times fast), Bill, Aqsa haleem, OwlBeSatReading, bryan_lunsford, Mohit Malviya, jackiesreadingcorner, Patrick Lynn, kbbookreviewer, _forbookssake, thelostwoman, amanja, Steven Colborne, Anthony Day Grandin, Donald Wilson, lisasbooksgemsandtarot, Adrianna, Scarlett Backus, Lee, likeherdingcatsblog, caffeinefocus, intentforcontent, entertainingly nerdy, The Awesome Dad, juniorgareth42, Tom Gamache, proofreadingebooks (the name is making me nervous about my content), Yvonne, Fragilistic, babblingstories, Zoé O'Farrell, kerrimcbooknerd, tracy cole, lidija.biskup, Notes Kecil, Beth Tabler, R., overtherainbowbookblog, simplyclaudianicole, Freedom is the luxury I seek, APB813, Maya's Musings, David W, Rain Alchemist, alittlebookproblem, forwarddog, Tim Onayemi, Gehad Gamal, Anton Michaux, Brandi Robbins, Mental Health •Lifestyle •Finance, Kelly Curtis, and (last but not least and whatnot) brainyjaney for being new followers (at least for a post or two) of the blog (in one of its forms) this year—the size of this list shocks me, and I hope you all got at least something out of it. (I sincerely hope I didn't miss anyone)
- Hearty thanks to all the authors, editors, illustrators, translators, and other people behind the production of the books I spent time with this year—this blog would be nothing without your efforts, your blood, sweat, tears, fears, work, love, dreams, hopes, art and words. Your books were my companions throughout this year, and I can’t thank you enough for them (and I hope I get to spend time with many of you again soon!). (I typically link to them all, but honestly, who reads it, and it was taking too long to put together the links for all 271 names involved).
- More thanks to all those who requested that I read and talk about your (or your clients') books. I know how much the work, effort, heart, and everything that went into your books. It's super humbling, I know you all didn't like what I said, but, I am grateful for the opportunity.
- Many thanks to T Gamache, Steven Max Russo, Dr. Heather L. Beal, Nick Kolakowski, Beth Ruggiero York, Anne Dolleri, Malcolm J. Wardlaw, F J Curlew, Christy J. Breedlove, Richard Steele, Maggie Lynch, Brian VanDongen, Devri Walls, Ian Shane, James Bailey, Melissa Simonson, Ian Patrick, Duncan MacMaster, Sarah Chorn, Jo Perry, Russell Day, Luna Miller, Russ Colchamiro, Gray Basnight, and Matthew Hanover for taking time out of your busy schedules to answer a few quick questions with me this year! For three or four of you, this was the second time you've done this—the second and third for Nick Kolakowski, a true glutton for punishment. I thoroughly enjoyed picking all of your brains and hope I can again.
- A special thanks to my wife. Without your support, indulgence and patience this thing wouldn't exist—and I'd read a lot less (the horror!). Thank you. I love you.
- And thank you all for reading. Honestly, each time I get a notification of a like, or a share, or a follow, etc. it makes my day. To know that someone took a couple of seconds or more out of their day to glance at this? It means the world to me. Thanks.
Have a great 2020, hope you find plenty of good things to read!
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