So a Big Book Year, what’s that all about? “A Big Year”, refers to the life of a birdwatcher, it’s a year in which a bird watcher will try and see the largest number of species that they can, often within a confined geographic area. As a naturalist I’m familiar with this concept, with friends disappearing off for long periods of time, evenings, weekends, chasing the next number or species on their list, but what’s that got to do with books?
Well, this year I set a target via Good Reads to read thirty books in 2011. I reached this target in less than six months, which I was amazed at, the most books I’ve ever knowingly read before in a year is thirty-seven books, so reaching my target so early meant revising that target upward, so I doubled it to sixty. I reached that target a month or so ago, now I’m just seeing where I get to by year end. At the time of writing I’m at seventy-two books and reading!
But this year has been so much more than numbers, I’ve discovered so many “new” authors. It’s made me think as to why this year has been different. Well first probably because I got a kindle at the start of the year, which has made reading more accessible for me, you can carry thousands of books in one small device, rather than one or two paperbacks where ever you go. Second because I’ve been writing much more myself, and “hanging out” with other writers in various social media circles; Twitter, Google+ etc. I’ve also been “featuring” many more book reviews and guest posts on my blog, I’ve been participating in “virtual tours” for authors. Reading their books, reviewing them and then having them on my blog for an interview or a guest post. As a result I’ve also had a lot of “free” books, those given to me for review. In fact much of this has over taken my writing. I think I’ve written less of the current work in progress than I would have liked, but what I have written has been influenced by the other things going on and as a result has been a better result.
I’m planning to go back over my year on my blog during December, pick out my top thirty-one books in ascending order, with my top pick coming on New Years Eve. There are some more guest posts planned, and at least one “virtual tour”.
Expand Below the Line if you want to see the Seventy-Two books read to date in order!
Burning Angel - James Lee Burke
Rose In A Storm - Jon Katz
Dead Like You - Peter James
Iron Lake - William Kent Krueger
A Morning for Flamingos - James Lee Burke
First Thrills - (edited by) Lee Child
Dante’s Numbers - David Hewson
Deal Breaker - Harlan Coben
The First Rule - Robert Crais
Dead Simple - Peter James
Gardening Philosophy for Everyone - (edited by) Dan O’Brien
Open Season - C J Box
A Troubled Man - Henning Mankell
Sixty Days and Counting - Kim Stanley Robinson
Season for the Dead - David Hewson
Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm - Jon Katz
The Villa of Mysteries - David Hewson
Dead Man’s Grip - Peter James
Field Notes on Science & Nature - (edited by) Michael R Canfield
Virals - Kathy Reichs
The Sacred Cut - David Hewson
Fire Season - Philip Connors
Borkman’s Point - Hakan Nesser
The Ice Princess - Camila Lackberg
Wild Thoughts from Wild Places - David Quammen
The Fifth Woman - Henning Mankell
The Innocent - Vincent Zandri
The Sentry - Robert Crais
Cimarron Rose - James Lee Burke
Crusader Cross - James Lee Burke
Macbeth - David Hewson & A J Hartley (audiobook)
Short Lean Cuts - Alex M Pruteanu
Over Sea and Under Stone - Susan Cooper
Darwin’s Radio - Greg Bear
The Remains - Vincent Zandri
Concrete Pearl - Vincent Zandri
When No One Is Watching - Joseph Hayes
Promissory Payback - Laurel Dewey
Unrevealed - Laurel Dewey
Back of Beyond - C J Box
Lake Charles - Ed Lynskey
Dexter in the Dark - Jeff Lindsay
Adventures of Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles - Edward A Grainger
The Lizards Bite - David Hewson
The Cleaner - Brett Battles
Judge Dredd 14 - John Wagner
Savage Run - C J Box
Silverbirch - Rob Kaay
Last Car to Elysian Fields - James Lee Burke
The Best of Kim Stanley Robinson - Kim Stanley Robinson
Freight Train Across The Outback - Simon Worrall
Eat That Frog - Brian Tracy
Dinosaur In A Haystack - Stephen Jay Gould
Nine Dragons - Michael Connelly
90% of the Game is Half-Mental - Emma Span
Off the Grid - Nick Rosen
Dull Knife - C J Box
The Road to Somewhere - James A Reeves
Suicide Run - Michael Connelly
Moonlight Rises - Vincent Zandri
The Savage Altar - Asa Larsson
Adventures of Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles II - Edward A Grainger
An Angel With Fur - Russell Blake
A Stab In The Dark - Lawrence Block
Shed Working: The Alternative Workplace Revolution – Alex Johnson
Swallowdale - Arthur Ransome
Angle of Investigation - Michael Connelly
On a Rooftop in London - Helen Babbs
Remington and the Mysterious Fedora - Chuck Waldron
Dumb White Husband vs The Grocery Store - Benjamin Wallace
Carnival for the Dead - David Hewson
Naked Addiction - Caitlin Rother
1 comment:
Am looking forward to December. Although, I seem to have slowed down and come to a total stop in the reading department. I have only read one of the books you have read, so I look forward to reading your reviews.
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