Once upon a time, Kait Nolan mentioned on her blog something about reading 100 books before attempting to write one. Or something along those lines. I’m a bit on the lazy side as I’m typing this up. Oh heck, let me find the link…Reflections on the Book 100. Anyway, I’ve been stalking following Kait for a few years now and her advice hasn’t steered me wrong yet. Of course she was talking about learning craft while reading. And I wasn’t serious about my writing when I read her first post on the subject. However, I took up the challenge of the 100 books in a year.
I'm nice & warm now!
I even created a lovely spreadsheet :pets Excel: (Here’s an online version if you dare: Book List. I have one sheet for books I’m looking for, one for TBR, and one for read.)
No, beastie girl isn’t part of the whole reading theme here but peeps wanted to see her model the sweater I knitted for her.
How did I do?
Well, as of the typing up of this post…113 for the year.
Some were short stories and novellas. So I made some adjustments. Using 200 as an average page count, 1-70 page books scored a 1/4 point, 71-135 page books scored a 1/2 point, 136-200 page books scored a 3/4 point, thus anything over 200 pages equaled a full point.
How did I do?
76.75
LOL, gotta love those partials, but not too shabby.
How much did you read in 2011? Care to join me for 100 in 2012?
~I’m sure someone out there has an actual challenge for this 
Dec 27, 2011 @ 06:13:42
You made that sweater for her? That’s amazing and oh so chic. I’ll bet she loves it. It brought a smile to my face as soon as I saw her picture.
I never keep count on what I read. I judge how current I am by how well I can keep mixed company from getting bored in the conversation.
Dec 27, 2011 @ 06:35:27
Thanks Maria. You can’t really see it in the picture but it’s a cable knit pattern (Scottish…love my cable knit sweaters, LOL) and has hearts running down the middle of her back. Originally I was going to use that red color on the hearts but ended up not liking it. The wee beasties want me to make her another one in pink
Ref: How well I can keep mixed company from getting bored…
I’ll bet no one is bored if you’re in the room! You have to be one of the most diverse people I know!
Thanks for stopping by.
Dec 27, 2011 @ 06:42:21
Aw, cute sweater
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I didn’t take a formal count this year. I bet it’s between 75-100 though. Maybe this year I’ll keep track. I received a good pile to start with for Christmas. Santa was very bookish this year.
What’s your reading goal for 2012?
Dec 27, 2011 @ 06:43:19
ETA–Duh. 100!! I’ll join that challenge
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Dec 27, 2011 @ 06:55:01
My list morphed. It started out as a way for me to NOT buy duplicates of books, LOL. So I have a list of books I read before I started keeping track, a list of books I’m looking for (recommendations, series, etc.), a TBR list so I can keep up with the physical and electronic books, and finally a read list for each year I’ve been tracking. :pets Excel: Nice spreadsheet
Santa wasn’t overly bookish here. But that’s okay. If he had been I’d be buried under Mt. TBR because adding books to it would have caused an avalanche, LOL.
Thanks for stopping by Erin!
Dec 27, 2011 @ 09:40:05
Beastic girl looks marvelous dahling. Marvelous.
100 books in a year. Let me consider that. I’m actually getting more interested in the reading as I get into my writing, you know, the whole craft thing and all.
Dec 27, 2011 @ 12:09:31
Thanks Angela.
The more I write, sadly, means the less I read. I suspect the longer I pursue writing the worse that will get. Not for lack of enjoyment but because the more I learn the less tolerance I have for my pet peeves
Thanks for stopping by.
Dec 27, 2011 @ 10:03:04
I will accept your challenge. I downloaded the spreadsheet. I know I’ve read quite a bit, but I couldn’t tell you an exact number. I have two books at over 1000 pages staring at me from the bookshelf that I need to get into. Hmm. How many points would those count for on your scale!! lol
Love the sweater too. Only clothing I’ve been brave enough to try is a crochet cap. Not too bad for a first effort.
See ya in 2012!!
Dec 27, 2011 @ 12:26:32
LOL, I would just count it as one (I had a couple 1000+ pagers over the year) but that’s up to you. Prior to 2009 I can’t remember picking up a short story or novella or, if I did, didn’t count them as a book. And my prior average book length was 300 pages. I created the scale this year because so much of what I read was shorter works (the scale may even be adjusted from year to year based on what I read). Definitely tweak that spreadsheet to meet your needs.
Thanks Melanie. I’ve been knitting since I was 5 but I’m also rusty as the last serious knitting I’d done was a good 20 years ago, though, I did do some baby sweaters and blankets when pregnant with beastie #1 (14 years ago). I’m guess you have me hands down in the sewing department
Thanks for stopping by.
Dec 29, 2011 @ 15:14:24
I know I haven’t been reading as much as I should or want to.
2011 was a dismal year for me as a reader. And I’m a big reader. Or I used to be. I have to admit that since I’ve been writing I haven’t been reading as much as I’d like to. And there’s always, always, the factor of time. Never enough. You know the quote I’m sure. So many books; so little time.
But I do have my Kindle Fire and I’m finding that I do read faster on it and there’s the convenience of being able to carry around loads and loads of books so that as long as I have my Kindle with me (which I pretty much always do!) I can always steal a few minutes to read something.
So, yep, my goal is to read more in 2012 so thanks for the handy-dandy spreadsheet!
Dec 29, 2011 @ 15:26:23
LOL, I’ve had people look at that spreadsheet and run screaming from me. I always have the handy-dandy Nook with me (and just picked up a Kindle) so no excuse for not having something to read here.
I hear you on not reading as much since writing, for me at least, the more I learn the picker I’ve become. I never used to put down a book and I had 10 DNF in 2011 (not counted in the total in this post)…gasp!
Thanks for stopping by Jenna.
Jan 01, 2012 @ 15:08:42
I’ve already made use of your spreadsheet and have entered the books I’m starting for 2012.
Speaking of spreadsheets, I wish you could see all the spreadsheets I use in my writing. Some of them seriously border on obsessive-compulsive!
Jan 02, 2012 @ 05:43:22
I have a bunch of writing related spreadsheets, LOL. I have a daily scheduler from Janalyn Voigt I’m giving another try using. Then there’s the plot, character, etc spreadsheets! Some from Joely, some I came up with, some from others…need to sort through them and ditch the ones that don’t work for me.
Glad the Book List is working for you
Dec 30, 2011 @ 04:54:21
i started using goodreads later this year, and it’s organized what i’m reading in a great way! i often forget that i want to read something – or, if i buy a group of books, that one or two are sitting on my shelf!
happy reading
Gina
Dec 30, 2011 @ 05:37:18
I’m sure I’ll get around to Goodreads at some point
Right now it just feels like one more social media site to keep up with and I’m struggling with the ones I’m already on.
Happy reading to you too and thanks for stopping by.
Dec 30, 2011 @ 07:43:22
I might just join you if you make it official. One of my goals for next year is to read more…
Happy New Year!
Dec 30, 2011 @ 08:33:30
What would make it official?
Happy New Year to you as well and thanks for stopping by.
Jan 03, 2012 @ 16:53:06
Ooh, yours is a much more accurate count than mine! My list comes out tomorrow morning
Jan 03, 2012 @ 17:04:08
LOL, one of my crazy traits
I’ll be checking yours out.
Thanks for stopping by Deniz.