2015 Reading Summary

It`s been a great year of reading again. I didn`t read as many books as I planned, but I enjoyed the ones I read and indulged in some other hobbies.

I read 167 books.

Gender
The author gender was pretty balanced this year with 81 books by male authors, 80 books by female authors, and 4 books that had multiple authors encompassing both genders.

Source
I read 67 library books, 18 Advance Reading Copies, and 5 books through Netgalley. Because I'm not a real ebook fan, some of the Netgalley books I ended up reading the actual book as the ebook expired before I got around to it. The other 77 books I owned.

Audience
Definitely leaned towards the adult audience this year, with 157 books for adults, 5 for teens and 5 for children.

Format
Paper books predominated at 136. 28 were audiobooks, and 3 were ebooks.
13 of those paper books were graphica.

Translations
I read 11 translated books this year, translated from 7 different languages, 1 translated from Serbian, 1 from Turkish, 2 from German, 4 from French, 1 from Spanish, 1 from Dutch and 1 from Norwegian,

Content
130 books were Fiction and 37 nonfiction

Within Fiction I read 4 books of short stories; 32 that fell into the category of mystery, thriller or suspense; 28 historical fiction; 9 romance; 2 science fiction; and 10 fantasy. 18 of these books were part of a series.

Within Nonfiction I didn't read any poetry again this year, nor any plays. I did better with essays though, including 5 books of essays

Setting
Countries my reading has been set in: 28
I found this cool website that lets you map countries covered it came up with this graphic for me.
Countries new to me included Albania and Colombia.
Canadian coverage included Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and Alberta.

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

US states: I read books that contained settings in the following US states. This is a few more than the ones indicated in the Where Are You Reading Challenge as some books did more than one state and I picked the main state for the challenge.

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

I always try for a bunch of reading challenges, never making all, but enjoying the challenge and the opportunity to read beyond what I might have picked otherwise.

Challenges I completed:

1. 8th Annual Canadian Book Challenge. Completed in June at 26 books
2. What`s in a Name. Completed this in September.
3. Around the World in 12 Books Challenge. Completed in December
4. European Reading Challenge 2015. I completed the required 5 books in April, but ended with 10 by December
5. War Through the Generations Reading Challenge 2015. There was no particular war or goal this year, but I read 15 books on 6 wars.

Incomplete Challenges:
1. Where are You Reading 2015. I completed 27 states and D.C. I've decided to continue this challenge through 2016 to complete the remainder of the states.
2. The Eclectic Reading Challenge 2015. I completed 10 of the 12 categories.
3. The TBR Challenge. I completed 10 of the 12 books I said I would.
4. The Reading Assignment Challenge. I completed 33 of the 48 books.
5. Diverse Books Reading Challenge. I completed all but one of the posted challenges.
6. Chunkster Reading Challenge. I completed 13 of the 15 I aimed for, but none over the 750 page mark.
7. Reading Bingo. No bingos for me this year.
8. Monthly Key Word Challenge - I missed the words for two months
9. Global Reading Challenge - I only completed one continent

Continuing Challenges:
My current challenges are located here.
I am continuing several challenges
The 9th Annual Canadian Book Challenge began in July and continues until June 2016. I am presently at 15 books.
See my note above regarding the Where Are You Reading Challenge.
The A Century of Books Challenge got mostly forgotten. I only read 7 books, with the earliest being from 1972. I'm sure this will be over more than two years.
Gentle Spectrums Challenge goes until February 2016. I'm still short one category and several colourful books.
Monthly Mix-Up Mania goes until March 2017, and I'm into April now so doing okay.

I'll be adding some additional new challenges, but haven't finalized them yet.

Global Reading Challenge 2015 Wrap-Up

Global Reading Challenge 2015 - Not Completed

I did the expert challenge, which is 3 books from each continent. Books must be fiction.

I only completed one continent, 

Africa
1. The Ghost Runner by Parker Bilal. Finished November 26 (Egypt)
2.
3.
Asia
1. Sitt Marie Rose by Edel Adnan. Finished February 1 (Lebanon)
2. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes. Finished February 8 (Vietnam)
3.
Australasia/Oceania
1. The Full Ridiculous by Mark Lamprell. Finished February 8 (Australia)
2. Carpentaria by Alexis Wright. Finished August 22 (Queensland, Australia)
3.
Europe
1. The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness. Finished January 22 (England)
2. The Sacred Cut by David Hewson. Finished January 25 (Italy)
3. Red Gold by Alan Furst. Finished April 26 (France)
North America
1. Enon by Paul Harding. Finished January 2 (United States)
2. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny. Finished January 22 (Canada)
3.
South America
1. Bonsai by Alejandro Zambra. Finished May 4 (Chile)
2.Nothing Like Love by Sabrina Ramnanan. Finished June 3 (Trinidad and Tobago)
3.
Seventh Continent
1. World War Z by Max Brooks (fantasy future). Finished April 21 (Fantasy future)
2. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Finished October 11 (Fantasy past)
3.

Monthly Key Word Challenge 2015 Wrap-Up

Monthly Key Word Challenge, hosted by Bookmark to Blog - Not Completed.

Rules:

* Your task is to read one book each month whose title includes one or more of the key words for that month.

* The title you choose can be a variation on one of the key words. For example- your title could include the word 'snowing' or 'snowflake' even though the key word is 'snow.'

* Key words can be tweaked. For example- You could read "Cinder" or "Ashes" for the key word 'Fire' and that would be just fine. If the key word is 'family' then your title could include the word 'sister' or 'mother.'If the key word is 'food' then your title could include the word 'cake.'

I missed the words for August and October. 

MONTHLY KEY WORDS:

JAN- Bird, Girl, Ever, Silence, Bad, Truth, End    

    The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness. Finished January 23

FEB- Key, Water, Lie, Chase, Heir, Once  

     I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson. Finished February 16 (water)
     Once Upon a Lie by Maggie Barbieri. Finished February 20 (once and lie)
     Heir of the Dog by Judi McCoy. Finished February 22 (heir)
     Chase by Dean Koontz. Finished February 26 (chase)

MAR- Kind, Face, Power, City, Blue, Night, To
     Ladies' Night by Mary Kay Andrews. Finished March 28 (night)

APR- Dream, Prince, Long, Wind, Rose, The, Rock
     Dream Days by Kenneth Grahame. Finished April 30 (dream)

MAY- Ash, Road, Thief, Bend, In, Far
     Road to Reckoning by Robert Lautner. Finished May 7 (road)
     The Road Taken by Michael Buerk. Finished May 30 (road)

JUN- My, Together, Whisper, Win, Soul, Sleep
     Kill My Mother by Jules Feiffer. Finished June 7 (my)

JUL- Sun, Unto, Energy, Fate, High, Look
     On Looking by Alexandra Horowitz. Finished July 31 (Look)

AUG- Fall, Boy, Glass, Heart, Lost, Now
     Did not complete

SEP- Color, Touch, Life, Day, How, Sweet
     Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley. Finished September 27

OCT- Ghost, Home, Beach, Away, Test, Number
    Did not complete

NOV- Rise, Holiday, And, Little, Call, Dark
     Calls Across the Pacific by Zoe S. Roy. Finished November 30

DEC- Space, Mirror, Over, Flower, Trap, Cold

     Above the Waterfall by Ron Rash. Finished December 21 (over)

Reading Bingo 2015 Wrap-Up

Reading Bingo 2015 - Not Completed

Always a fun game. Thanks to Random House Canada for this. No bingos for me this year.
I think the lack of lists for some squares was one issue, but the one for L.M. Montgomery was a challenge as I've read most of her books.

Squares
* A Scotiabank Giller Prize Nominated Novel
* A Book Set on the East Coast
* A Canada Reads Nominated Book
* A Book of Poetry by a Canadian Poet
* A Book That Was Featured on Canada AM
     As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley. Finished January 31
* A Scotiabank Giller Prize Winning Novel
* A Book Set in the Prairies
     The Road is How by Trevor Herriot. Finished August 6
* A Work of Non-Fiction by a Canadian Author
     Happy City by Charles Montgomery. Finished November 1
* A Book about a Canadian Sports Team
* A Biography or Autobiography of a Canadian Celebrity
* A Book by a Canadian Author (but not Margaret Atwood)
     Remembrance by Alistair MacLeod. Finished February 27
* A Book Set in Toronto
     Gently Down the Stream by Ray Robertson. Finished January 31
* A Book by Alice Munro
* A Book that Appears in #CANLIT
     The Afterlife of Stars by Joseph Kertes. Finished April 18
     Link to #CANLIT appearance
* A Book by Margaret Atwood
     Strange Things by Margaret Atwood. Finished November 29
* A Book by an Aboriginal Author
     Keeper'n Me by Richard Wagamese. Finished January 11
* A Governor General's Award Nominated Novel
* A Canadian Novel That Was Adapted for Screen (TV/Movie)
* A Book with Snow on the Cover
* A Book Set in British Columbia
* A Book Recommended by CBC
* A Mystery or Thriller by a Canadian Author
     The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. Finished October 4
* A Book with a Red and White Cover
     All Saints by K.D. Miller. Finished May 20
* A Book by L.M. Montgomery

Chunkster Reading Challenge 2015 Wrap-Up

Chunkster Reading Challenge - Not Completed.

I tried for the same level as last year since I nearly made it, but didn't manage it.

The goal was 15 chunksters, with at least 3 over 750 pages. I had 13 chunksters, but none over 750 pages. 

A chunkster is a book 450 pages or more.

This challenge is hosted here. 

1. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes. Finished February 8 (598 pages)
2. Going Bovine by Libba Bray. Finished February 22 (480 pages)
3. The Romanov Cross by Robert Masello. Finished March 7 (495 pages)
4. We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas. Finished March 27 (620 pages)
5. A Jury of Her Peers by Elaine Showalter. Finished April 13 (679 pages)
6. The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall. Finished June 13 (599 pages)
7. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. Finished July 15 (562 pages)
8. Carpentaria by Alexis Wright. Finished August 22 (528 pages)
9. Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley. Finished September 27 (688 pages)
10. Clockwork Angel  by Cassandra Clare. Finished October 11 (479 pages)
11. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. Finished October 13 (502 pages)
12. A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George. Finished December 9 (592 pages, although I read the audiobook which was 18 discs)

13. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. Finished December 15 (570 pages)

War Through the Generations Reading Challenge 2015 Wrap-Up

War Through the Generations Reading Challenge - Completed

This year I can include books about any war. No levels for the year. I read nine involving WWII, two for the US Civil War, and one each for WWI, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, and the Lebanese Civil War.

1. Sitt Marie Rose by Etel Adnan. Finished February 1. [Lebanese Civil War]

2. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes. Finished February 8 [Vietnam War]

3. Remembrance by Alistair MacLeod. Finished February 26 [World War II]

4. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. Finished March 16 [World War I]

5. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Finished March 17 [World War II]

6. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain. Finished April 12 (Iraq War)

7. Red Gold by Alan Furst. Finished April 26 [World War II]

8. Neverhome by Laird Hunt. Finished April 26 [U.S. Civil War]

9. Uncertain Soldier by Karen Bass. Finished August 8 [World War II]

10. Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin. Finished August 28 [World War II]

11. The Eye of the Day by Dennison Smith. Finished August 31 [World War II]

12. Yankee in Atlanta by Jocelyn Green. Finished September 4 [U.S. Civil War]

13. Too Bad to Die by Francine Mathews. Finished September 24 [World War II]

14. Götz and Meyer by David Albahari. Finished December 26 [World War II]

15. Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald. Finished December 31 [World War II]

We Read Diverse Books Reading Challenge 2015 Wrap-Up

We Read Diverse Books Reading Challenge - Not Completed

This one posted a different challenge each month. I missed the challenge for June, and the challenge host disappeared towards the end of the year, not posting challenges for October, November, or December.

For January, the challenge is to read a book by and about someone of a different race.
I read Keeper'n Me by Richard Wagamese. He is a native Canadian and this book is about a young native Anishanabe man discovering his culture. 

For February, the challenge is:
Let's take a look at people with conditions that have no obvious outward symptoms, the ones they don't ask for, that nobody else can see, but which affect their behaviour in ways that other people find puzzling, incomprehensible, or even offensive. I am talking about things like autism, Alzheimer's, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression. That list is not meant to be exhaustive but I hope you get the idea. As usual, your challenge is to find novels or memoirs about and preferably by people who have one of these conditions (and different from yours, if you have one) and walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Extra bragging points if the person in question is also a person of colour.

I read Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. Her character suffers a traumatic brain injury resulting in a condition known as left neglect.

March's challenge will take us to one of the most discussed diversity categories of recent times: sexual orientation. Go out and read something in the LGBT range, something about and by someone who is different than you. The host asked a favour of people posting recommendations here: no erotica please.
I read The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. The novel has a central relationship between two women at a time in history where such a relationship was taboo.

April's challenge is to read a book in another language, either in the original or in translation. My language skills aren't great. so I'll be reading something in translation.
I read Wonder by Dominique Fortier, translated by Sheila Fischman.

For May: The challenge is to read a novel or memoir about someone of a different generation. Aim for a good thirty-year difference, more is better. Of course, there are no authorities to answer to in this challenge, but a novel that covers an entire life would be cheating a bit. Find something that will make you spend the entire reading time in a head much younger or older than yours. And, as always, if the central character can be of a different race, religion, culture, orientation, or whatever, so much the better. I read Road to Reckoning by Robert Lautner, where the main part of the story is the experiences of a 12-year-old boy.

For June: This month we will be looking for books that deal with visible disabilities or deformities, the kind that people know you have as soon as they meet you. So go read a novel or a memoir about (and if possible, by) someone in a wheelchair, amputees, people suffering from blindness, Down's Syndrome, any kind of facial or physical deformity or any other highly visible condition.
I didn't read a book for this month's challenge.

For July: This month the challenge is to read a book that takes place in a different time. We're keeping it real this month, so that means the past. You can read historical novels written recently, or memoirs or novels that were actually written in the past. The latter are probably better, because the point of the exercise is to understand the mentality of people in a different era. We so often judge the past by present-day standards without stopping to consider that people grew up in a different framework. I read The Education of Audie Merasty, a memoir of a residential school survivor.

For August:  The challenge is to read a book by an author of a different religion. The book should deal with what it means to believe in or belong to that particular religion, although it doesn't have to be the central theme of the story, just something essential to it. I read Last Train to Istanbul,  whose main characters are Muslim and Jewish.

For September, the challenge is to read a novel or memoir that takes place in a country other than the one you live in. But that alone is too easy, so it also has to take place in a country you have never read about before. And it has to be reasonably contemporary, within the last 20 years. I read The Robber of Memories by Michael Jacobs, which is a memoir about a journey in Colombia. 

For October, November, and December no challenges were posted.