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Books: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Jan. 3rd, 2026 05:47 pmLooking back to 2025, I did a quick analysis of my books read into three categories:
1) Library/Non-library
40.5 library, 41.5 non-library. (49.5%/50.5%) The half book is because I started off borrowing one from the library, realised it would take me a very long time to read it, so bought a cheap second hand copy and read it over nine months. I'm definitely pleased that half my reading was library books, which is an increase on 2024.
2) Crime/Other Fiction/Non-fiction
38 crime, 35 other fiction, 9 non-fiction. (46%/43%/9%) Which will be no surprise at all to most of my friends. The proportion of crime novels has dropped to below half of my reading, which I'm pleased about, as I am keen to broaden my reading.
3) Male/Female authors
43 male, 39 female. (52.5%/47.5%) Not very much in it. For anthologies I count half each.
As usual for 2026 I have split my reading into 6 lists, with the aim being to read at least one book from each list each month. They are:
A) Library - initial list of 16 books, which allows for returning one or two unfinished
B) Library - 15 Maigret books, all the Maigret's in the library which I haven't read
C) Book shelf - 15 books, 12 last year's purchases plus 3 crime anthologies
D) Mixed Bag - 12 books, split as follows: 4 odd purchases from years ago; 3 Sister Joan mysteries; 3 Yarn Retreat mysteries; 2 Christmas presents from Son
E) Book Club - aiming for 1 per month, from Shedunnit, an online group I join occasionally, read Christie etc
F) New Books - purchased new releases or new books in the library
I have signed up for a Goodreads goal of 75 books again. I realise there are more on my lists, but there's bound to be the odd DNF and I'd rather exceed by a few books than struggle to make it.
( graphics )
1) Library/Non-library
40.5 library, 41.5 non-library. (49.5%/50.5%) The half book is because I started off borrowing one from the library, realised it would take me a very long time to read it, so bought a cheap second hand copy and read it over nine months. I'm definitely pleased that half my reading was library books, which is an increase on 2024.
2) Crime/Other Fiction/Non-fiction
38 crime, 35 other fiction, 9 non-fiction. (46%/43%/9%) Which will be no surprise at all to most of my friends. The proportion of crime novels has dropped to below half of my reading, which I'm pleased about, as I am keen to broaden my reading.
3) Male/Female authors
43 male, 39 female. (52.5%/47.5%) Not very much in it. For anthologies I count half each.
As usual for 2026 I have split my reading into 6 lists, with the aim being to read at least one book from each list each month. They are:
A) Library - initial list of 16 books, which allows for returning one or two unfinished
B) Library - 15 Maigret books, all the Maigret's in the library which I haven't read
C) Book shelf - 15 books, 12 last year's purchases plus 3 crime anthologies
D) Mixed Bag - 12 books, split as follows: 4 odd purchases from years ago; 3 Sister Joan mysteries; 3 Yarn Retreat mysteries; 2 Christmas presents from Son
E) Book Club - aiming for 1 per month, from Shedunnit, an online group I join occasionally, read Christie etc
F) New Books - purchased new releases or new books in the library
I have signed up for a Goodreads goal of 75 books again. I realise there are more on my lists, but there's bound to be the odd DNF and I'd rather exceed by a few books than struggle to make it.
( graphics )
