Once again, Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner has created her annual End of Year Book Survey and I thought I’d join in the fun! I skipped some that I’ve already included in top ten posts and added some fun graphs to my stats at the beginning. Hope you enjoy!
2017 Reading Stats
Number Of Books You Read: 200
As I mention all the time, the unrated books are books I edited or proofread in 2017 (since I don’t review those due to the conflict of interest). I’m actually taking an editing break, so I only edited two books this year.
Genres Read (And Other Various Stats):
For the fun of it, I thought I’d graph out the genres I read and the age ranges (YA, MG, etc). These graphs aren’t going to be exact because it’s sort of hard to classify some of these things exactly, but it should give you the idea.
Still mostly fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal (if you add those together), but then contemporary is close behind!
No surprise that it’s mostly YA.
I read mostly physical books this year, which was a little surprising, then ebooks, then audiobooks!
A pretty wide variety here. I get my audiobooks and manga from the library, so that’s why that number’s so high. One thing this tells me is that I didn’t read enough of the books I got at ALA this year. It’s so hard when publishers are then also offering to send me other review books—I’ll confess that I tend to say yes, even though I have books from ALA sitting on my shelf. I am making it my mission to read those in 2018 (and I should probably try not to go to any events like ALA—instead, I think I’ll go to a writing conference.)
Best in Books
1. Best Book You Read In 2017?
I wrote a Top 10 of 2017 post on this the other day. But I decided to go crazy and choose ONE that made the most impact. I chose One Dark Throne because I talk so much about this series via comments on my blog (because of my spoiler-filled discussion posts) that it’s always in the forefront of my mind! I get comments on these books almost weekly still—lots of people want to give their theories!
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I was super excited about a Phantom of the Opera retelling, but Roseblood just bored me.
3. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2017?
This is a really hard one this year because it was the year of the series for me—I finally got to SO many series that the rest of the world has already finished. One Dark Throne is obvious for best sequel, but since I just mentioned it above, I’m not counting it here. So, I went with these three (listed in order of the questions above):
4. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?
Without a doubt, it’s Maggie Stiefvater, but I wrote a whole Top 10 of 2017 post on New to Me Authors
5. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I very seldom read non-fiction. I actually didn’t review The Memory Illusion on the blog, but I read it as research for a book I’m writing, and it’s fascinating!
6. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?
Basically, anything written by Maggie Stiefvater.
7. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?
SO MANY!!!
8. Best 2017 debut you read?
My Blogging/Bookish Life
1. Favorite review that you wrote in 2017?
I love my spoiler-filled discussions of these books!
2. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
Lots of people found my NetGalley post really helpful!
3. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
ALA Annual!
Looking Ahead
1. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?
I actually lowered my reading goal in 2018 because I want to focus on writing a bit more. I’m hopeful that this is the year I’ll get an agent!
If you’d like to see my Goodreads Year in Books, click on the link!
And don’t forget to link your year-end wrap-ups to the Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up!
Did you write a 2017 wrap-up? Link me up in the comments! If not, tell me one of your favorite things about your blogging or reading life in 2017.
Looks like you had a pretty good reading year judging from the ratings! And such a balanced variety of sources! I also read Coldest Girl in 2017 and yeah, why did I wait so long?! Interesting post, I love seeing people’s stats in graphs 😀
I wrote a whole post once about how graphs make me happy! I’m actually keeping a spreadsheet this year, so I can capture more stats and make more graphs. 🙂
Love this post! I do not even want to talk about my reading in 2017. It was horrible. I was so short of all of my goals! That’s ok though, I’m really working to hit quite a few of them in 2018 dang it!
I have One Dark Throne through OwlCrate. It’s sitting right behind me! I haven’t been able to get to it yet but now I’m intruiged and want to read your spoiler filled discussions! Do you talk about all three (is it a trilogy?) May have to add that to my Jan TBR 😀
I have spoiler-filled discussions of the first two books up right now. If you’ve already read Three Dark Crowns, you’re safe to go read that one (it also might help jog your memory before you read One Dark Throne). There will be four books in the series (and two novellas). So far, two books and a novella have been released. I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a short spoiler-filled discussion of the novella as well, but I haven’t done that yet.
I didn’t write a year in review post since I only got up to 60 books or so. My problem is that I often don’t have enough books to consider for questions. Clearly, I need to read more, which is the coolest “I need to” ever. “Three Dark Crowns” blew my mind this month, and I intend to pick up its sequel in the upcoming months because WOW. Who is your favorite queen in that book?
I second Christina’s questions on these books. I thought book 3 is a prequel, but I am not quite sure.
Your pie charts are SO COOL. I’m a fan and I’m also in need of brushing up on my EXCEL knowledge, because…I like charts and stats.
I didn’t know you edit books. That’s brilliant. Best of luck on writing this year. I am still learning to write poetry, and I tend to write in bursts. Would love a post on your writing practice. *Pleasepleaseplease*
*Has no chill*
Happy new year!
A post on my writing practice might not be entirely satisfactory because I am horrible about following a pattern—I need deadlines to work effectively! (And I’m not so good at sticking to self-imposed ones). But I might try to wrote a post about it anyway for you. 🙂
So, as far as Three Dark Crowns goes—so far there have been two books and a novella released. If you’ve read the first book, you’re safe to go read that spoiler-filled discussion, but avoid the one for One Dark Throne until after you’ve read it! The novella is a prequel, but I’d wait until after reading the first two books to read it (I can’t remember if it spoils anything from ODT, but you definitely need to have read TDC).
Great year of reading! I hope you get an agent this year too. That would be amazing and I would totally go to your future author events. 🙂 Oooh let me know if you go to a writing conference. That would be fascinating, if it was close enough to me. I am determined to do more of my own writing this year, since I told you SO many times last year. Sigh. I should have a lot less books to review so I just need to switch some reading/blogging time and make it my writing time. 🙂
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I’ve been scoping out conferences. I’m interested in one that I had to apply to. I won’t find out till mid-February if I get in (and I honestly have no idea how competitive it is), but if that doesn’t work out, I’m definitely doing something else!
Every year I tell myself I want to keep track of all those different things so I can make cool pie charts at the end of the year! Obviously, I never do. Maybe this year will be better? What a great year! I hope you land a STELLAR agent this year!
Believe it or not, I created those charts based on just looking through my Year in Books and clicking on the ones I couldn’t remember—it took me WAY too long, so this year I made myself a spreadsheet. Hopefully I’ll keep up with it!
Wowww you rated all but TWO books!? And they were books you edited!? HOW!? I rated… well, not the majority, looking at my little graphic hahha. I agree with Defy the Stars, and One Dark Throne was probably the best sequel for me, too! Sad that you won’t be going to any book events though! I will miss seeing you. And your mom.
And oh my goodness, an agent would be SO exciting! I will be cheering you on!! You got this! 😀
I HAVE to rate every book I read before I put up that month’s recap. It’s like a compulsion! I’m crossing my fingers about the agent. I’ve been working on revising based on the feedback I got. I just have to not wimp out and actually go for it!
Looks like you had a great reading year. Simon VS is one I want to get to in 2018 as I have put it of for so long!
There are tons of books that the rest of the world has read and I haven’t—it’s just impossible to get to them all!!
I think it’s great that you (obviously) read from so may genres. My pie chart would be like 95% contemporary with a little sliver for a few fantasy/paranormal books. LOL I love seeing Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda. That books just makes me all kinds of happy and gooey. I also lowered my GR goal for 2018. I read 100 books in 2017 but my goal for this year is just 50. I’m fairly certain I’ll read a lot more than that, but I’m all about reading for sheer pleasure this year. No pressure, possibly no challenges, just getting back to basics.
Yeah, I got too focused on making that 200 number, especially toward the end of the year. I’m going to just let myself read this year and see what happens.
Happy 2018! I love looking at people’s graphs! Also, I’m very envious that you can read so many books in a year. At the speed I read, it will take me about 5 years to get through my current TBR list. Yeah . . . not going to happen.
Well, my TBR isn’t much better—it would take me five years to read them all, even if I kept up a pace of 200 books a year! (But my TBR isn’t only books I own!)
I love your graphs. I like to see data presented like that. I have no doubt your spoiler discussion about One Dark Throne was the most viewed. That has been a really popular post for you. You read a lot of genres I don’t even venture into, like romance and non-fiction. I need to read more diverse genres.
My 2017 reading/blogging life has inspired me to pursue a new goal for 2018. I am not really sharing all the details yet, but it is a big deal for me personally. I did set myself up for some (i hope) very achievable goals for 2018 on the blog with ways in which I plan to get there.
Thanks for sharing your stats! This is a fun post!
Good luck with your secret goal! (Hahaha! I’m going to just constantly think of it that way now.)
I’M SO EXCITED THAT YOU PICKED ONE DARK THRONE AS YOUR FAVORITE!! I just finished Three Dark Crowns a few weeks ago and I was so mad at the cliffhanger because I NEED MORE. I’m just waiting for our local bookstore to stock a hardcover of One Dark Throne so I can finally devour it!!!!
Awesome post, Nicole! I hope you get a (really good) agent!!! <3
I hope you get Three Dark Crowns VERY soon!!
Fingers crossed that 2018 will be your writing year!
Thanks! I’m hoping!
I kept cheering as I went down you list. I love the TDC series, so I was overjoyed to see ODT on your list. Speaking of Ruby Circle, don’t think Mead should do a spinoff for Declan?
Yes! I assume it’s coming someday—I mean, she set one up perfectly.
I’m so glad your posts inspired me to read One Dark Throne this year. Definitely a favorite. Also very happy that you like Simon Vs. so much too! I hope 2018 is indeed a year of writing for you.
I have a month to get my book ready in case I get accepted for a writing workshop I applied for (we shall see—I have NO idea how competitive it is!). It’s good for me to have a deadline. 🙂
200 books is awesome. And contemporaries were kind of a surprise for me too this year, that along with thrillers which were even more so. Funny how each year shakes out! And the One dark Throne spoiler posts are the best! I just read the new novella and it was awesome. 🙂
I loved the novella too! I’ve already got the paperback version of the two novellas per-ordered. 🙂
OMG so many books!!!!! How did you read 200 books??!! Tell me all your secrets!! I love reading posts with stats like this, it’s super interesting to have a breakdown of books like this. I’m glad you enjoyed Simon Vs, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone!! So many good books… Awesome post!!
I wish I could tell you my secrets—hmmm… avoid all housework and read instead? Yep, that about sums it up!
I desperately need to pick up a copy of Three Dark Crowns as yet, considering your glowing review of the sequel. I was a big fan of the Splintered trilogy (apart from Book three which we don’t speak about) and I was really disappointed too. I couldn’t even finish it it was so bland. I’m hoping to finished finales this year and older releases but no matter what 2018 will bring, I hope you have a fabulous year Nicole filled with love, life and of course, books <3
I never read that final book in the Splintered Trilogy, I’ll confess—I got scared off by the reviews!
You had a good year, and a lot of 5- and 4-star books! Thank you for the specific recommendations, too. I need to read Stiefvater one of these days. Nice work on the pie charts–how did you create them?
I created the pie charts with Visme. You have to sign up but it’s a free service (there are paid levels, but I made these with the free version).
Thanks!
I love your pie charts! *whispers* Cooler than the ones I used for year-end totals…
Hmm, I might have to check out One Dark Throne.
Tarissa
http://inthebookcase.blogspot.com
I’m kind of obsessed with these end of year charts. I LOVE seeing them in everyone’s posts and I think they’re fun to put together!
Ohhh I really need to get to Maggie Stiefvater this year! I’ve had her books in my Kindle and also at my library that I can borrow for years, eeks! And I LOVE your graphs! I ♥ graphs too and do them for our finances all the time and my husband just rolls his eyes at me. Yup, Jen made another graph lol. But I have a feeling my YA, NA, Adult books would look similar to your chart. Fabulous wrap up and cheers to 2018!
Graphs make all statistics better. No matter what.
It seems like you had a great reading year, I’m seeing so many 5 and 4 stars reads here, yay! 🙂 I am happy you read The Raven Boys, I found it beautifully written as well and can’t wait to read more from her 🙂 And THUG was an incredible debut! 🙂
Hope you will have a fantastic reading year <3
It really was a great reading year!