Somehow, the first half of the year is already over. You know what they say: “Time stretches impossibly on yet simultaneously speeds by when you’re grieving.” I don’t think anyone actually says that.. but they definitely should.
I like to check in on various reading statistics periodically to ensure I’m reading widely and diversely. So here’s a compilation of some reading stats that feel relevant to me, as well as a closer look at a few of my favorites of the year so far. I also filmed a flip-through video of my reading journal so you can see what it’s looking like so far!
Reading Statistics
These stats come from a few different sources. I track my statistics on Storygraph, Goodreads, and through this spreadsheet, which I slightly modified.
Book Stats
From January to June 2023, I read 37 books. That’s certainly the most I’ve read in a 6 month period since I started heavily reading again in 2021. I kept my book goal at 52 this year, but I’m thinking I might raise it to 80 to challenge myself!
- format: 18 print books (49%) / 8 e-books (22%) / 11 audiobooks (28%)
- 7,378 pages & 91.4 hours read
- 19 non-fiction (51%)/ 18 fiction (49%)
- acquisition: 16 library (43%) / 11 purchase (30%) / 7 owned (19%) / 3 gifted (8%)
- length: less than 300 pages – 22 (59%) / 300-499 pages – 14 (38%) / more than 500 pgs 1 (3%)
- 2 re-reads
Genres
Moods
It also isn’t surprising that my two bigs book moods are emotional and reflective. I’ve always gravitated towards emotional stories, but this year especially, they’re where I find the most solace. I have recently gotten to a weird spot in my grief journey where I’m wondering if investing into heavy reads so frequently is doing more harm than good. I’m still working that one through, honestly.
I do love how many moods show up, though! It means I am branching out and exploring different “book vibes” fairly regularly. Or choosing books that have a spectrum of vibes. I dig it.
Author Statistics
- author gender:
- woman – 27 (73%) / man – 6 (17%) / non-binary – 2 (5%) / ensemble – 2 (5%)
- cisgender – 34 (92%) / trans & enby- 3 (8%)
- author sexuality: queer (30%) / not queer or unknown (70%)
- author race: BIPOC (49%) / white 51%
- author birthplace: USA – 27 (73%) – Nigeria (2), UK (2), Vietnam (1), Canada (1), China (1), Argentina (1), Malaysia (1), Australia (1)
Favorite Fiction and Non-Fiction Reads So Far
Top 3 Fiction Reads
When I was looking back through my reads for the year, I realized I haven’t read that much stellar fiction. There have been some good ones, for sure – lots of 4 star fiction. But only a few that I think will really stick with me long-term. Here are the 3 that do stand out:
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
I won’t go too in-depth about this book, because I already have a whole blog post dedicated to my thoughts and feelings about this one. But just know that seeing myself, as a Black woman who experienced a stillbirth , represented in a fiction book was so healing. It’s also just a really excellent second chance romance for my romance homies! And has some good but not-too-spicy smut as well.
Purchase
Bookshop | Author Website
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Based on the reviews I’ve seen floating around Bookstagram, I knew this one would be a nice, cozy read. And it was. The vibes of this book are simply immaculate. You’ve got a standard fantasy world, a WLW romance, and a coffee shop with a rat who bakes all sorts of delicious treats.
It inspired a lot of specific imagery, and I had a lot of fun creating the review spread for it in my reading journal. I’m SO SO excited for the sequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, that’s coming out this November.
Purchase
Bookshop | Author Website
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Although this book has been on my radar for a while, a post in one of my book Facebook groups bumped it up my TBR so fast. The post, from a middle-aged white woman reading the book, said: “The subject matter of this book is so upsetting to me that I’m thinking about DNF’ing it. I just don’t know if I can handle any more of this hurt and anger! Thoughts?”
Someone in the comments swiftly reminded her that the hurt and anger portrayed through this book SHOULD be upsetting and uncomfortable. That the choice to not engage with such stories was a privilege not afforded to many POC, especially Black Americans. Just an absolute MIC. DROP. 🎤
Anyway, the book lived up to the hype. It was tragic and devastating, but unfortunately, a necessary story in the current US climate. There were so many wonderful and diverse characters. I especially related to Starr’s dilemma of not knowing where she belongs between two worlds. As a young mixed girl growing up in a largely white suburb, I just really empathized with lots of her struggles.
Purchase
Bookshop | Author Website
Top 3 Non-Fiction Reads
Unlike my fiction reads, I have read lots of amazing non-fiction during the first part of 2023. These are the top 3 that stand out.
The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O'Connor
Normally it takes me a while to read books about psychology and/or neuro-science because it takes some time to digest the data and concepts presented. But I ATE THIS BOOK UP! It was fascinating from beginning to end, and I flew through it.
There are two concepts from this book that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. The first, the Dual-Process Model, I talk about a little bit in this post. It’s basically a more accurate model of grief and bereavement, meant to replace Kubler-Ross’ 5 stages non-sense.
The second is the idea that guilt in grief is a coping mechanism. Guilt means we think there’s something we didn’t do that we should have, or that we did did that we shouldn’t have. It means that there is rhyme, reason, and rule in this world, and we just didn’t follow the rules closely enough.
For most people, it’s easier to believe that there are rules to the world that you broke than to accept that the world is a chaotic place, and sometimes things happen for no discernible reason. And it’s completely out of your control.
Some days, that idea brings me peace and helps pull me out of guilt cycles. Other days, it fills me with absolute terror.
Purchase
Bookshop | Author Website
Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad
I love this book so much that after listening to the audiobook from my library, I purchased a physical copy to annotate and keep on my shelf. This is a brutally honest, raw, graphic, and vulnerable depiction of Jaouad’s battle with cancer. She then details her cross-country sojourn following its remission in which she tries to process and come to terms with her grief.
Part of my appreciation for this books is due to timing. I read it about 6 months after my son Oliver was stillborn, at a time when I was inhibiting a liminal space between deep grief and fulfilling life (truthfully, I still am 8 months out). Jaouad writes at length about this space, how healing from tragedy and trauma is often much harder than surviving the initial event.
It was also just a superbly written book. I already know it will be one of my absolute favorite memoirs for years to come.
Purchase
Bookshop | Author Website
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
This book was everything I want in a memoir. It was informative, emotional with some sarcasm mixed in, and the writing was impeccable. In it, Foo details the rampant abuse she faced from her parents as a child and the effects of this abuse on her life as an adult.
A formal diagnosis of Complex PTSD is the first domino in a line of various treatment options she explores to bring peace to her present. She also explores the effects of generational trauma on individuals and communities, noting that trauma often goes unrecognized in immigrant communities.
Foo’s commitment to healing and openness to the forms it may take was truly inspiring.
Purchase
Bookshop | Author Website
Reading Journal Flip-Through Video
If you’re curious what my reading journal is looking like this far into the year, check out my flip-through video! You can find still shots and further explanation of the yearly spreads in this blog post.
As always, thanks for reading and/or watching! Appreciate you all so much!
