So a Big Book Year, what’s that all about? “A Big Year”, refers to the life of a birdwatcher, it’s a year in which a bird watcher will try and see the largest number of species that they can, often within a confined geographic area. As a naturalist I’m familiar with this concept, with friends disappearing off for long periods of time, evenings, weekends, chasing the next number or species on their list, but what’s that got to do with books?

Well, this year I set a target via Good Reads to read thirty books in 2011. I reached this target in less than six months, which I was amazed at, the most books I’ve ever knowingly read before in a year is thirty-seven books, so reaching my target so early meant revising that target upward, so I doubled it to sixty. I reached that target a month or so ago, now I’m just seeing where I get to by year end. At the time of writing I’m at seventy-two books and reading!

But this year has been so much more than numbers, I’ve discovered so many “new” authors. It’s made me think as to why this year has been different. Well first probably because I got a kindle at the start of the year, which has made reading more accessible for me, you can carry thousands of books in one small device, rather than one or two paperbacks where ever you go. Second because I’ve been writing much more myself, and “hanging out” with other writers in various social media circles; Twitter, Google+ etc. I’ve also been “featuring” many more book reviews and guest posts on my blog, I’ve been participating in “virtual tours” for authors. Reading their books, reviewing them and then having them on my blog for an interview or a guest post. As a result I’ve also had a lot of “free” books, those given to me for review. In fact much of this has over taken my writing. I think I’ve written less of the current work in progress than I would have liked, but what I have written has been influenced by the other things going on and as a result has been a better result.

 

I’m planning to go back over my year on my blog during December, pick out my top thirty-one books in ascending order, with my top pick coming on New Years Eve. There are some more guest posts planned, and at least one “virtual tour”.

Expand Below the Line if you want to see the Seventy-Two books read to date in order!

Continue reading “Coming in December – My Big Book Year” →