Though I haven’t been updating here about my reading, and actually took those widgets off my sidebar because they were populated by LibraryThing and I’ve been using Goodreads instead (link to my Goodreads account), I have been reading what I think is an impressive amount (for me). Considering that I’ve still been reading submissions, and that I’ve taken two trips in 2010 already (and I read very little when traveling), I’ve still managed to read 34 books to date in 2010.
As I said, I’ve been tracking my reads on Goodreads. I did a fairly decent job of it in 2009, but right around the time all of the upheavel happened in my professional life last fall, I also stopped updating Goodreads. However, since I read mostly digital, I was able to browse my Fictionwise, Kindle and Calibre records and fill in most of the gaps from September to December. When I was done, and knowing there were books missing because I hadn’t been diligant about keeping up my Goodreads records, I discovered I’d read at least 220 books in 2009.I was happy with not only that, but the variety of genres I’d read. I felt like I pushed myself last year to read a little more outside my comfort zones and I managed to do that. This year I’m also going to be specifically tracking the genres I read.
So what have I read so far in 2010? A lot of Charlaine Harris, apparently. Not the Sookie books, I’ve already read all of those several times, but I read the Lily Bard and Harper Connolly series. Neither of which I actually liked that much, but I found something oddly compelling about them. Weird when that happens. Also, true to form, I’ve read a lot of urban fantasy. Last fall I discovered Karen Chance’s Dorini Basarab series but had not read her Cassandra Palmer series, so I got to catch up on that these past few weeks. Also read Eileen Wilks’ and Nalini Singhs’ new books. Two of my favorite authors, and I loved these offerings.Oh, and I bought some Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz digital backlist titles from Fictionwise, so I’ve been indulging in those. I’m a little disappointed in the quality of the Amanda Quick books (they were obviously scanned from print and not proofread for scanning errors) but the stories remain good for me!
Now I’m patiently waiting for the next JD Robb book to release in 2 weeks. And the Patricia Briggs book in March. Another two of my favorite authors.
Right now I’m in between books (I was catching up on back episodes of Chuck last night). I have a significant list of books TBR but I can’t decide what to read. What are you reading?
I just started goodreads this year, to keep track of my goal to read 100 in 2010. (Paltry to some, I see.)
I have fallen head over heels with the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine and am making googly eyes at everyone I know in publishing who might be able to get me an ARC so I don’t have to wait until May for the next one.
I’ve got some lighter books up next–Kristan Higgins and a Jennifer Crusie I managed to miss somehow. I’m trying to read more paranormals too–which you would think is a no brainer since that is what I write, but not so much. I’ve got Ilona Andrews and Meljean Brook on deck.
And I’ve think I’m at 20 for this year so far. 80 more to go.
The last book was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I didn’t see the movie. Today, on my first day off in almost three weeks, and working 12 hours a day or more, I started The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison. I loved the first sentence…the reason I bought the book…
“I leaned over the glass counter, squinting at the price of the high-grade redwood rods, safe in their air-tight coffins like Snow White.”
I’m a sucker for a good first sentence! It’s a you-had-me-at-hello kind of thing.
I am definitely on the road to being a better book reader this year than simply a book buyer. So I vowed to read 10 books from my TBR epile before I bought any new books. (I kinda broke that vow when I heard about the Lora Leigh backlist thing at FW last week but I’m blaming that on Twitter. )
I think Goodreads is my new favorite site. I love posting the books I’ve read and seeing what everyone else is reading all in one place.
I disavow all knowledge of how the Lora Leigh thing got started on Twitter. All knowledge.
I don’t use Goodreads to its full potential. I meant to talk about that in this post. Next post, definitely.
And I still don’t know what to read. Maybe I’ll catch up on Castle.
Just finished Jeffrey Zaslow’s The Girls from Ames (non-fiction about a group of 11 friends from a small town in Iowa)–I love that sort of thing (stories about people’s lives and relationships). Have Larissa Ione’s Passion Unleashed up next
I’ve been super lazy about tracking what I’ve read; I’ve signed up for Goodreads but haven’t done much with it at all…
Gwen, I don’t think I know anyone at Signet or I’d have tried to help you out, sorry.
Fedora, I have REALLY got to read Larissa’s books. I read the first one, I think, but none since then. I do own them all, though.
Brit, is that KH book the new hardcover, or the one before? I think I’m two books behind, soon to be three, in that series.
I love reading your reviews on Goodreads! It’s always interesting to see what editors read in their free time. And you read A LOT. I’m at 37 books myself, but I don’t technically have a full time job getting in the way. (We both read enough to qualify for a 12-step program.) I keep hoping someone will come up with an amazon-to-goodreads widget, so everything I buy would automatically populate my goodreads list.
I’m also trying to push myself into other genres this year. So far I’ve read the Mercy Thompson series, the Rough Riders series and a bunch of random library books. I couldn’t get through any of the non-Sookie Charlain Harris books. I’m going to try some JD Robb on your recommendation, right after I finish working my way through Judith Ivory’s back list.
Thanks, Amanda. I feel weird reviewing books, but I figure as long as people understand it’s just random thoughts and I’m a reader too, not just an editor!
I am so excited you’re going to discover the JD Robb books. I can’t wait! From what you listed, I think it sounds like we have similar reading tastes (I edited the Rough Rider books, did you know?) so I hope you love them!
I wish more people would post full reviews. Although it can be hard – I want to review all the Rough Rider books, but I dunno, tough call there. How to articulate my love of hardcore cowboy erotica in a meaningful way? (I’m going to try! I swear! They were so good I couldn’t read them fast enough). I also hate posting negative reviews. I think it comes from being taught to keep my mouth shut if I don’t have anything nice to say. (And I’d hate to be the author who gets a terrible review.)
But goodreads is still my favorite place to find books, especially when you find other readers with similar tastes. Now I REALLY can’t wait to read JD Robb!
I have really enjoyed Castle…I was worried they would cancel it since almost every show I like gets the ax.
I have been catching up on the Halle Puma series by Dana Marie Bell and I have a couple of Meredith Duran’s books on deck. I am saving Archangel’s Kiss for a special occasion…when my reading chair and I can spend a few quality hours with each other.
As the person who orders materials for a library, I really appreciate goodreads. I started ordering YA this year, and I feel like a get a really good sense of the book in question reading goodreads reviews.
As for me, I just started Lauren Willig’s Betrayal of the Blood Lily.
Angie, it’s the hard cover, a holiday present to myself. It’s a long-standing holiday tradition for the entire family to give books or gift cards for books since we’re all crazed readers. My youngest son always has a book in his hands, sci-fi. My daughter is also a writer and an avid reader. And the oldest married a woman who can almost keep pace with us.
I’ll definitely have to check out your Goodreads reviews b/c yours recs are always ones I can trust.
I haven’t utilized GR very much. I guess I can’t help feeling self-conscious using my Dakota Flint account–the gay lit and gay romance pond is very small. Though I should probably rate/review all the other fiction and the loads of non-fiction I read.
I actually recently finished re-reading some of my favorite Julie Garwood historicals. I binged, lol. They’re great comfort reads. I just started Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight (it’s been in my TBR pile for FOREVER). Next up are The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie and Coming Home by Ava Rose Johnson. Oh, and I always have a non-fiction book going, so I’m in the middle of Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the NSA by James Bramford–it’s research for a WiP of mine, but it’s very, very interesting.
I worked on my goodreads account today. I’m trying to just add what I’ve read and what books I own up to date. Not keeping track of 2010 reading yet. I found the page that lists all romances and have been going through over 600 pages adding what I’ve read since I was 12 years old LOL. It’s a lot of books!
Here’s the link http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/romance?page=1
One warning, I’ve been seeing books and authors that I’ve not read in 30 years and I want to go find them and read them again! My used bookstore list has tripled! Or maybe I’ll wait to see if they get released in ebook form in the big backlist release we’ve been hearing about.
I’m still trudging through the Outlander books, for the second time. Currently on The Fiery Cross… and, honestly, I’m bored to tears at this point in the series. I don’t remember feeling that way when I read them the first time, but snoooooooore!
I also started Elizabeth Hoyt’s To Desire a Devil last night. I devoured the first three of that series, but have had this last one sitting on my shelf for ages!! So far, I’m enjoying it a lot more than The Fiery Cross!
I, too, love to read your GoodReads reviews, Angie! Keep ‘em coming!!!