Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Reflections on Reading - The Book Challenge Concludes

The Mistress wishes to thank those of you who took part in The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge.


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This time last year, several of you stated that you wanted to READ MORE BOOKS in 2016. We here at Infomaniac hope we challenged you to do so or at least inspired you to get lost in a book from time to time.

The Mistress read 52 books in 2016; up by only two books from the previous year. However, I'm pleased that I was able to indulge my passion for reading as often as I did.

Of those 52 books,  40 were Non-fiction and 12 were Fiction. I don't know how that works out as far as percentages are concerned but clearly, I have a preference for non-fiction. And of those 40 Non-fiction books, 9 were music-related and 13 were either biographies or autobiographies.

I don't know what these findings say about me. But look at your own reading choices over the past year and note what patterns you find.

There are no plans for a 2017 Book Challenge but we here at Infomaniac will continue to post about what we've been reading, from time to time, and encourage you to share your selections too.

And as the French say, "Bonne lecture!" (Happy reading!)

28 comments:

  1. I wish I would finish a non fiction book; I start many but a quarter of the way through my enthusiasm fizzles out.
    Meanwhile, The Infomaniac book challenge inspired the mini-meme: A book on a Chair, which will probably continue for many years, if not minutes.
    Sx

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    1. MISS SCARLET: A Book on a Chair is fab and it really caught on!

      But since getting your dog, you’ll be doing this with your chair from now.

      Delete
  2. you didn't read 52 books with that by the bed.

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  3. "I don't know how that works out as far as percentages are concerned"

    Pedantic Corner: 76.92307692307692% non-fiction, 23.07692307692308% fiction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LX: Thank goodness someone has a calculator.

      Now I can see that my percentage of fiction is much lower than I thought.

      Delete
    2. Or you could use one of these for your next book challenge.

      Delete
    3. MITZI: A DIY pie chart!

      So easy even The Mistress can do it. YAY! Thank you.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the book challenge! In addition to providing me with blog posts ideas, the book challenge made me read the books with a more critical eye, making me think about and examine the books in more detail, assessing their contents and context and constructs. Plus, it's fantastic getting reading suggestions from other people, helping me (re)discover some amazing authors! And I'm still enjoying the recommended by others reading list the challenge inspired. So, thanks!

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    Replies
    1. EROS: The recommendations from other Bloggers could keep our bedside tables stacked with books for 2017 and beyond.

      You rose to the Challenge big time with the addition of your book posts. Thank YOU.

      Delete
  5. I quite like your "page turner"...

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  6. What a fun thing this was to do. Now, I'm just curious, as to what you do with all the books? Keep them or donate? I only keep my bookcase supplied with ones I re read.

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    Replies
    1. MISTRESS MADDIE: Good question. In the case of eBooks, there are no storage concerns.

      Fiction always gets either donated or given to friends/relatives. There are groups of us who recycle our books amongst ourselves whenever we get together.

      Non-fiction stays on my bookshelf but only if I’ll either reread it again someday or if I use the book for reference from time to time. If I’m not going to use the book again, then I donate it or give it to friends/relatives, if they’re interested in the topic.

      Almost all the books on my shelves are non-fiction and I use them as reference sources.

      Delete
    2. This could be called a "working library", Arbeitsbibliothek or Handbibliothek.

      Delete
  7. the Challenge always results in at least one recommendation, and I always appreciate that.

    I have no Idea how many books I read this year, it's certainly a smaller total than the number of books U STARTED and gave up on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MR. PEENEE: If you’ve enjoyed at least one good book this past year regardless of where you found the recommendation, my work here is done.

      Note that I didn’t include the books I started but gave up on. There were several stinkers.

      Delete
  8. The boycotting man is back! Almost makes me feel nostalgic.
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was everywhere circa 2009!!
      Sx

      Delete
    2. Before he got elected President of the USA. Jx

      Delete
    3. ... avowed "germophobe" ...

      Delete
    4. The Mistress has deleted the boycott arsehole.

      I’d blame Donald Drumpf if it weren’t for the fact that his comment contained more than 140 characters.

      Delete
  9. No 2017 Book Challenge!? Bah. Now I'm going to have to twist some other post of yours into a series of posts for me.

    Or come up with something original of my own... Hah!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MR. DeVICE: If the Book Challenge had been a contest (casts sidelong glance at LX), you would have won, hands down.

      Therefore, The Mistress throws down the gauntlet and trusts you’ll come up with a plan.

      Delete
    2. I've already started cackling over my cauldron.
      Maybe a little too loudly?

      ::casts sidelong glance for LX::

      Did he hear yet?

      Delete