I saw a blog post from my friend Paul Randal recently in which he recounted the books he’d read in 2009. It’s an impressive list, 100 books, that he compiled in his travels. Paul and his wife, Kimberly, travel a lot, and I think if I were in a similar situation, I’d read 100 books a year as well. However it got me wondering how many I’d read. I’ve tracked them in the past, but since I moved my blog and started using the Kindle and iPhone, I haven’t been doing it. My totals in the past were:
- 2008 - 47
- 2007 - 65
- 2006 - 68
- 2005 - 112
- 2004 - 59
- 2003 - 42
- 2002 - 47
- 2001 - 43
- 2000 - 49
- 1999 – 49
2008 is also wrong as I got the Kindle in September and started to read on there, forgetting to track books since I was busy and reading quicker on there. I went to my Amazon Kindle account and noticed a few books that are missing, so I’ll need to add those back.
However.
This post is about 2009, so in terms of looking over 2009, here’s what I have:
- 54 ebooks from Amazon
- 6 ebooks from Barnes and Noble
- a total of 68 books
- of the 68, 19 were re-reads
- 1 classic from the Gutenberg project. I started a second (War and Peace) that has not been completed.
I don’t have the breakdown of books, though they’re mostly fiction. Of the books I read, I think that a few stood out.
The Count of Monte Cristo – I grabbed this, along with a few other Gutenberg project books when I first got the Kindle. I struggled with it, and I have to say the first 100 pages barely held my interest. However I plugged away, and eventually really enjoyed this book. The story is amazing and I was surprised how much was happening in there. I ended up really enjoying it.
The Snowball – I noticed this at the 2007 PASS Summit when Andy Warren and I were walking around the bookstore. He needed books for the ride home, and since I had the kindle I was just keeping him company. I actually made a note and bought this on my way home, starting it then, but finishing it in 2009. I’ve read a lot about Warren Buffet over the years, but this was an amazing look at the guy. Made me realize that not only am I nothing like him, I wouldn’t want to trade places at all.
Grift Sense – Not sure why I picked this up, but it captivated my interest and I read all the books by James Swain. It deals with cons and casinos, and I loved it. Looking for a similar series from someone else.
It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy, USS Benfold – This caught my eye in a bookstore and I decided to try it. It’s fantastic, and it shows how someone can really transform a group with good leadership.
The Clone Republic – I got back into Science Fiction in 2007 with Old Man’s War, which I think is one of the best books I’ve read. This series, which I started on an Amazon recommendation was great as well. Not an all time favorite, but really enjoyable.
The full list, as best as I can determine, is:
- Hear No Evil, James Grippando
- Nine Dragons, Michael Connelly
- The Night Monster: A Novel of Suspense, James Swain
- The Merchant of Death, D.J. MacHale
- Pursuit of Honor: A Novel, Vince Flynn
- Long Lost, Harlan Coben
- The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown
- Sucker Bet, James Swain
- Midnight Rambler: A Novel of Suspense, James Swain
- Deadman's Bluff: A Novel, James Swain
- The Night Stalker: A Novel, James Swain
- Dark Watch, Jack Du Brul
- Skeleton Coast, Jack Du Brul
- The Doomsday Key: A Novel, James Rollins
- First Family, David Baldacci
- A Plague of Secrets, John Lescroart
- Killer Summer (Walt Fleming), Ridley Pearson
- Havoc, Jack Du Brul
- Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels), Janet Evanovich
- The Scarecrow, Michael Connelly
- Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher, No. 11), Lee Child
- Gone Tomorrow: A Reacher Novel, Lee Child
- Cemetery Dance, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
- Dance of Death, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
- Wheel of Darkness, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
- Wicked Prey, John Sandford
- Private Wars, Greg Rucka
- Walking Dead: A Novel of Suspense, Greg Rucka
- Patriot Acts, Greg Rucka
- Critical Space, Greg Rucka
- The Lost Fleet: Relentless, Jack Campbell
- Valiant, Jack Campbell
- Courageous, Jack Campbell
- Fearless, Jack Campbell
- Dauntless, Jack Campbell
- Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Doris Kearns Goodwin
- To the Nines (Stephanie Plum, No. 9), Janet Evanovich
- Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum, No. 10), Janet Evanovich
- Helfort's War Book 2: The Battle of the Hammer Worlds, Graham Sharp Paul
- The Da Vinci Code: A Novel, Dan Brown
- The Clone Alliance, Steven L. Kent
- Rogue Clone, Steven L. Kent
- Helfort's War Book 1: The Battle at the Moons of Hell, Graham Sharp Paul
- Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, No. 8), Janet Evanovich
- Seven Up (Stephanie Plum, No. 7), Janet Evanovich
- Hot Six (Stephanie Plum, No. 6), Janet Evanovich
- High Five (Stephanie Plum, No. 5), Janet Evanovich
- Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, No. 4), Janet Evanovich
- Three Plums In One, Janet Evanovich (three books, #s 1, 2, and 3 of this series)
- Fleet of Worlds, Edward M. Lerner
- The Clone Republic, Steven L. Kent
- Boys Will Be Boys, Jeff Pearlman
- The Billionaire Who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney Made and Gave Away a Fortune Without Anyone Knowing, Conor O'Clery
- Along Came a Spider, James Patterson
- Atomic Lobster, Tim Dorsey
- The Bodies Left Behind: A Novel, Jeffery Deaver
- Teddy Roosevelt, Edd Winfield Parks
- The Clone Elite, Steven L. Kent
- It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy, USS Benfold, Captain D Abrashoff
- The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, Alice Schroeder
- Grift Sense (Tony Valentine Series #1), James Swain
- Funny Money (Tony Valentine Series #2), James Swain
- Deadman's Poker (Tony Valentine Series #6), James Swain
- Sacred Stone (Oregon Files Series #2), Clive Cussler
- Mr. Lucky (Tony Valentine Series #5), James Swain
- The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexander Dumas
I started out 2010 with a vacation after New Years and finished 2 books I’d started in 2009 early, plus re-read 4 more since I didn’t have an Internet connection and it was convenient. As of Jan 25, I’ve got 16 books done, but that’s with a week’s vacation.
It will be interesting to see where 2010 takes me. I’ve started rewriting book reviews on my blog, so I’ll be able to track things.
