From a database I keep on my computer, I compiled some of my personal reading statistics for 2012:
I read/listened to a total of 45 [new] books. *
Out of these, only 6 were printed on paper.
(I had some renewed eye trouble back in the spring.)
But I read 9 on my Kindle since I bought that in October!
Which means 30 audio books (cd, mp3 or downloaded).
Out of those 19 were borrowed from the library.
Out of all 45 books, 19 were in English, and 26 in Swedish (17 originally written in Swedish, 9 translated).
[* In addition to the “new” ones I have also re-listened to a few old favourites without repeating them in the list. Sometimes I prefer listening to something I already know, so that it does not matter if I fall asleep]
I thought it might be interesting (mainly for myself!) to write this down and make a comparison next January, as I do expect to read more on the Kindle in 2013!
The first book that I read back in January 2012 was:
Allan Karlsson is about to celebrate his hundredth birthday and a party is planned at the retirement home where he lives. Allan is not so interested in the party, though. Instead he climbs out of the window and disappears. He finds a bag of stolen money and gets chased by drug dealers and the police. Intermixed with the present time events, we also learn about his past; which turns out to have been rather extraordinary for an ordinary man…
"This quirky novel is a sly, satirical look back at international relations in the 20th century through the eyes of an old man who has seen it all."
--Library Journal
if i tried to calculate my statistics it would blow up the calculator. i average a book every 3 days, so that is a lot. i have 45 in archives since i got the kindle but about 4 of those i started to read and did not finish.
ReplyDeleteThat IS a lot. Over the past ten years I've been reading or listening to around 40-60 books per year, i.e. roughly speaking one per week.
DeleteThat's a good lot of books, however they were assimilated!
ReplyDeleteI listen to audio books sometimes when I am painting... It's restful. And of course I have my new Kindle too :-)
The '100-year-old man... ' sounds great. I have a back-log before I get to any new ones, however...
You choose very interesting books!!!
ReplyDeleteGinny, I try to avoid boring ones if I can... ;)
DeleteWow, I'm so impressed... I don't have a Kindle, but I do listen to piano music at night before I fall asleep.... I need to get some audio books and change my plan a little.
ReplyDeleteWanda, for me audio books have been great company since I often need to rest both neck and eyes. As I live alone I also often listen to books while doing household chores that don't require too much concentration.
DeleteSomeone else who listens to piano music before going to sleep! A number of my friends think it a rather odd habit but I've been doing it for a while. Not that I usually hear much of it because I tend to fall asleep very quickly.
DeleteOf course, after your post, I immediately had to go and look at how many books I read in 2012 - and it turns out to be 45 as well :-)
ReplyDeleteI have not split them up between Kindle editions and printed books, but I am quite sure there were more ebooks than printed ones, and I know for a fact that there were no audio books at all (I am not patient enough to just sit and listen).
Meike, while I often do listen when my neck and eyes need the rest but my brain still wants some activity, another great thing about audio books is that one can also continue to read while doing other things. Especially if one has them on a mobile device ;) So I quite often also listen while doing things in the kitchen, for example.
DeleteI'm a man so audio books wouldn't be a good idea. It's well known that men can't chew gum and think at the same time so listening to an audio book and cooking would be two steps too far.
ReplyDelete