The new year is a time to look back and forward, and I’ve been thinking about my reading and writing this past year.
I wrote two books, both for Little Black Dress. Girl from Mars will be out in May 09, and Nina Jones and the Temple of Gloom will be out, I’m guessing, late in 2009 or early in 2010. That is, after I get it in to my editor next week.
In June, I started keeping track of the books I’ve read, which tells me I’ve read 44 books, though some of those are the picture books I’ve been reading with the Fecklet.
I’ve got a confession to make. Whenever I go to a person’s house, I check out their bookshelves right away. I love going to someone’s house and seeing they have shelves full of books that I’ve read and loved, and lots more that I’d like to discover. I’m also interested when the books are things I’ve never heard of and would never think to read. Looking at bookshelves can tell you who a person really is…or maybe, if they prune their bookshelves, who they’d like you to think they are.
Anyway, in the interests of being completely honest with you about who I really am, here are the books I’ve read in the last six months, listed in order since June, leaving out the ones I’ve just read to Fecklet.
1. The Other Boleyn Girl, Phillipa Gregory
2. Any Way You Want It, Kathy Love
3. This Charming Man, Marian Keyes
4. Pillow Talk, Freya North
5. Silver Bay, Jojo Moyes
6. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Kim Edwards
7. Run Among Thorns, Anna Louise Lucia
8. Pandora’s Box, Giselle Green
9. Glitterwings Academy: Flying High, Titania Woods
10. The Self-Preservation Society, Kate Harrison
11. Watchmen, Alan Moore
12. The Ungarnished Truth, Ellie Mathews
13. Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
14. Challengers of the Unknown Must Die!, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
15. Holly’s Inbox, Holly Denham
16. Tell Me Something, Adele Parks
17-20. the Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer
21. Falling for Mr Dark and Dangerous, Donna Alward
22. Blue Remembered Heels, Nell Dixon
23-31. The Sandman series (9 books), Neil Gaiman
32. The Sweetest Taboo, Carole Matthews
33. Duma Key, Stephen King
34. Thunderstruck, Erik Larson
35. The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama
36. The Rules of Gentility, Janet Mullany
37. Trashed, Alison Gaylin
38. Batman: The Killing Joke, Alan Moore
39. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, Brian Augustyn
40. Batman: Tales of the Dark Knight by various
41. Cherrybrook Rose, Tania Crosse
42. Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman
It’s a lot (16) of commercial women’s fiction, which makes sense, and also a lot (14) of graphic novels, which also makes sense as one of the books I wrote this year is about a comic book artist. But I’m a comics fan anyway. Four nonfiction, which is less than usual. Only one category romance, which is way less than usual. Nothing literary, though I did read some more literary stuff in the first six months of the year. Eleven of the books are by people I have met, and of those, several are friends.
I like keeping track of the books I’ve read. It reminds me of the kind of time I’ve had while I was reading them, because your experience of reading isn’t just to do with the book; it’s about everything that’s going on in your head while you’re reading it.
So I remember that I read Watchmen first in 1991, and picked up my copy again this summer while I was at my parents’, and read it on the couch on rainy days listening to the rain on the roof and the lake lapping the shore. I read Twilight on a train and cried, and though I was disappointed with the sequels, I read them like I eat popcorn, munching as quickly as possible and knowing I’ll regret it when the salt shrinks the inside of my mouth. I gulped down the Sandman series just as quickly, but went back to savour it afterwards, and it haunted my dreams for weeks. I read Glitterwings Academy after going to the launch party, where everyone was dressed as fairies. I read Pillow Talk after it won Romantic Novel of the Year at a glamorous party where I was on the shortlist for the Romance Prize.
What book has carried memories with it for you, this year?
I have read a couple of Phillipa Gregory this year, several chic-lit and shed loads of LBD. 2008 was the first year I hadn’t kept a diary of what I have read. I love checking out other bookshelves and I have to confess to a tincy bit of pruning, but I really do intnend to finish these books one day! Check out peoples socks if you want to know about them….
Socks? Do tell…
Hey Julie
Great list of books and what an accomplishment to finish two STs with a toddler in tow. I’m jealous!!
I too keep a list of books I’ve read – it’s great looking back on the year.
Looking forward to reading both your new books soon. Oh and are you not writing any M&Bs anymore?
Rach!
I haven’t read enough books this year! it’s a huge regret but between kid time and writing time and not the least husband time – reading has been squished quite badly – however my list echoes yours
Great choices!
Ahh well I figure that writing is the job I’m paid for, and reading is a big part of writing. So I tried to prioritise it in 2008 and will keep on in 2009. This list tells me I need to diversify a bit.
Anyway Rachael I should have said I *finished* two books; I think I started Girl from Mars in 2007. It’s amazing what deadlines can spur you on to do.
I haven’t written for M&B for a little while now, as I’ve been concentrating on the longer books. I’ve loved writing for them though and the door is open if I have a bit more time in the future.
I know we’ve read some of the same books, Liz! Great minds…?
I’m your ONLY category?
I feel so honoured.
There are a lot of books on your list I’d LIKE to read or are in my tbr. I managed 56 last year. I have a lot more nonfiction in my tbr as well.
Well, in the first half of the year I know I read Michelle Styles, Kate Walker and Kate Hardy. But I guess not since June. I also bought your book in Walmart in Maine and told everyone the author was my friend.
I keep a list of all the books I’ve read on the side of my blog which I’ve found incredibly handy – especially when it comes to questions like this!
Anyway, after consulting my list (!!!) I would have to say Wrath of a Mad God by Raymond E Feist carries the most memories for me, simply because my dad and I first started reading his books over twenty years ago and even though my dad is dead now, I can still imagine him reading them over my shoulder (and getting pissed off because he’s a speed reader and I’m not!!!)
When do you get time to read?!
Rich & I totally prune our bookshelves that are on show in the lounge (as you’ve seen!) but the shelves hidden away upstairs have the real dirty laundry, as it were…
I keep a book of books for my own records too. A book that made a big impression recently is ‘La’s Orchestra Saves the World’ by Alexander McCall Smith…very simple but oh so beautiful. I also just read The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett which I think you’d like. It’s fabulous. And short. Short is good in toddler world.
I don’t know how you manage to keep track of everything you read! I could spend hours trying to remember what I’ve read in the last week and fail completely. Actually I can tell you that, because it’s mostly been my Christmas books, including one on style from my mother who might be trying to tell me something, and Princeps’ Fury by Jim Butcher. Which I loved, as I usually love his books.
I love looking at other people’s shelves too, especially when you see they’re full of well-thumbed paperbacks and not showy coffee-table books about travelling in Nepal, or stodgy, unread classics. Although I confess all my well-thumbed paperbacks reside in my office, often in heaps, where no one can see them!
A quick glance at my shelves still would tell you nothing, however, as the books I’ve read most recently are still under my bed. I read my first Jasper Fforde, the Eyre Affair, and will be buying more. I also binge-read three Loretta Chases, including Mr Impossible and one set in Venice (it’s not in front of me, and I can’t remember the title). I read a book of essays on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, because I’m that much of a geek. And a history of London in maps, because the BTVS book wasn’t geeky enough.
Oh, and this book about a female detective and an alcoholic rockstar, by this random unknown author who lives in Reading…
That is a good selection of books, a few that I’ve read because like you they are by people I know eg Nell Dixon. I have also read the Glitterwings books (just read the Xmas one) and really enjoyed them. I have got the first of the Twilight series to read to see if I like it or not. Over the break I read 6 books, half of which were children’s books as I write for children at the moment. Happy New Year. Julie, could I link your website to mine please?
Oh yes, and I read Kate Johnson’s Sophie Green series, which were fun.
Julie, I’m deeply honored to appear next to Barack Obama!
Amanda, I love the idea that you think of your dad every time you read a special author. Thanks for sharing that.
Ruth, I’m a bad mother and read while I’m playing with the Fecklet. Hey, I figure at least I’m being a good role model for him…I’ve never read any Alexander McCall Smith though I know several fans.
Kate, I can only keep track because I’ve been doing it on Virtual Bookshelf on Facebook. I get the impression that you read more than I do. I can’t read e-books because I don’t have a reader yet and spend too much time on the computer as it is, so I need to figure out how to read more of those.
I can’t keep books under my bed as there is so much other crap under there!
Julie, of course you can link here, I’d be honoured, thank you! I need to pick up the Glitterwings Christmas book, too.
Janet, I’m sure you and Mr O have a lot in common!!
Julie D, I’m so glad you liked them!
Julie C, I read ebooks on my PC…but have just got a little netbook which is about the size of a hardback, so I could read them on that, it’s a lot more portable. I actually don’t read a huge number of ebooks, compared to physical books. Probably because, like you, I spend enough time at this machine as it is! Maybe if/when e-readers become more available and affordable over here, that’ll change things.
I’d like an e-reader when they become more affordable. There are so many e-books I’d like to read, and I like the idea, too, especially with my cluttered bookshelves.