January 2, 2008
Hey, what am I doing in this aisle?
There’s been lots of posts recently looking back on reading accomplishments for 2007. Well, let me tell you, when I looked in my reading rearview I was surprised at the new landscape I’d entered without noticing!
While I haven’t a clue as to how many books I’ve read. I did notice one pattern that has emerged far more strongly than in any year previous: there were many (many, many) books started, but few finished. I’d honestly say about half. And I suspect my reading as a whole was down last year too. (But it was a trade off because I watched waay more DVDs and spent more time with friends.)
As for Romances, they represented a paltry 1/3 of what I read in 2007, instead the majority of my reading was fiction, mainstream, suspense/thriller, mystery, horror, YA, etc. Which also meant that 90% of the authors I read were new-to-me. (Yay!)
Of the romances I did read, most were either comfort/re-reads, or from my favorite genre– Historical Romance. I did try (and enjoy) several contemporary romances, but imho most of them, while marketed as contemporary romance, were actually Woman’s Fiction. With very few notable exceptions I stayed away from the ‘hot’ subgenres of romance– erotic and paranormal.
Conversely, because I side-stepped most of the paranormal/erotic glut of the past years, I do find my interest piqued by a couple of upcoming releases. 
I’m also really interested in some good sci-fi romances (if you have an recommends, I’d appreciate it!) Having said that, I think that my reading will probably continue in the same vein this year as last, with romance (while being my favorite genre) not being the genre I read the most of. (yes, yes, that *was* a dangling preposition. Geesh.)
I don’t necessarily look at this turn of events as bad, it just means when I do pick up a romance, when it works, it’s going to really work because I’ll appreciate that magic, that can only be found in romances, more, while avoided the inevitable ennui that accompanies over-indulgence in any one thing.
What about you guys? How did your reading break down for 2007? And what do you expect it to be this year?
I think overall I read more YA than anything and it was all paranormal. I read a LOT of paranormal too– mostly vamps, some urban fantasy, very little actual romance but that’s not terribly unusual for me–I’m also WAY behind on the paranormal craze … as a reader because I tend to shy away from “what’s uberhot”, so I sorta spent a lot of this year catching up (it wasn’t intentional it’s just how my tastes ran. i”m a bit burnt out on suspense and I can’t find any good women’s fiction). I also think overall I was much pickier about what I read, so (again) overall I had a lot of winners. I’m sure that somewhere along the way I set down some books, but I didn’t keep track.
This year……I’ve already started by ordering a bunch of UF’s I’ve been dying to read. I definitely hope to read more…and again, I’m DYING for some good women’s fiction.
My reading (what little there was, hanging head in shame) was kind of all over the place in 2007. I did read a couple of urban fantasies. Interesting, but I need light to balance the dark.
I’d love to get into some GOOD romantic suspense, but it’ll really have to intrigue me.
I think I see myself reading more cross-genre work, paranormal, mystery, etc., with romantic ELEMENTS.
And yes, hot sex…but not where the sex is the star of the book.
Cece, definitely I’ve become much more picky. (of course that all goes out the window if the author’s voice really works for me). But I found I was perfectly content with by passing a lot of books that were getting a lot of buzz. Sounded interested but not enough for me to go hunt them down because I forgot mention another shameful development. I return books. *gulp*. I’ve lost count of the amount of books I’ve returned. Yeah, I skimmed parts in the store, but that’s really a different experience to actually sitting down and reading.
Just to be clear I can usual tell way before chapter one has reached it’s conclusion whether the book goes back or not. But with the average price of a MM $11 here in Canada, you can see why I’d be disinclined with sucking it up and taking a hit to the pocket book. On the flip side, I’ve actually bought more tradebooks this year. Makes more sense to pay $18 for a keeper trade, than get stuck with a $10 dnf paperback.
Raine, I hear ya on light balancing dark. Now that you mention it, a Iot of what i read last year at the extreme ends of the range, either I was reading horror/serial killer suspense/gritty fiction, or I was reading lighter ‘comfort read’ romance, with very little in between. Cross-genre has really worked well for me too. The enjoyment factor is always increased with the addition of some type/hint of romance. As for the 90% sex 10% story/characterization, books, they ‘re the main reasons I took a pass on a lot of the erotic/romance offerings. It was a trend I noticed a couple of years ago, way before the online grumblings started in earnest this year.
Oh man, this last year was pretty much a bust in both reading and writing, so there isn’t a trend. I managed to read a few books by favorite authors (romance) which I loved. I’ve been dealing with mom’s death, the diagnosis of bipolar, etc. But this year will be different. I’m reading again - but I’ll still probably stick with the romance genre as that’s my favorite.
Bailey, ((hugs)) on the trials of 2007. I hope this year is much better for you and yours. There is something to be said for comfort reads, isn’t there?
Jaye I totally don’t blame you for taking books back. Hell even here I paid 8.00 for a MM at BN!
My reading has been soooooooooo spotty lately. I’m like you, I don’t finish half as many as I toss in my wallbanger box. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s my attention span problem. Unless a book hooks me from the start, my mind has a tendency to drift, until it’s a chore to even turn the next page.
Cece, you know what My brain is still stuck at $5 for a MM. As a reader that seems like the right price. (As a writer, bring on the $11 price tag!
lol)
Tanya I wish I knew what it was too. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with my emotional response (or lack of thereof) to the main characters.
I’ve been reading lots and lots of comic books. Lots of them. Of course this is research for my new book. *ahem* I’m also reading lots of women’s fiction rather than romance.
I am becoming more of a library girl than a bookstore girl. It’s not just the money, it’s the clutter. If I don’t love a book, I’d just as soon give it back after I read it. And it’s totally guilt-free (especially as authors in the UK get paid whenever someone borrows their book).
My best recent read was Devil in the White City, a nonfiction book about the 1892 Chicago World’s Fair and a serial killer who preyed nearby.
Very nice blog, girls!
Devil in the White City was a great book!
Suuuure, Julie.
Which ones are your reading? ds is a big comic book fan– we have boxes and boxes of them down in the basement. His pride and joy is his Daredevil collection because he has all 100 of issues of the latest story arc. 
I have an idea for a comic book collecting hero and plan to pump ds for info.
I have been using the library more, too lately. With a kid in college, gotta watch those pennies, plus it’s a small house and I just don’t have the storage. As a matter of fact I just came from the library today, picked up Agnes & the Hitman, and something by MM Kay. Devil in the White City sounds really intriguing, I’ll have to investigate.
Thanks for dropping by Julie!