Finally, 2017 is limping to an end. I look forward to welcoming 2018 and hope it will be better behaved, but first, it’s time to check-in on the 2017 reading challenge. I’m a total geek for data so please excuse this post (and my usual year-end reading wrap-up next month) for the slight nerdiness.

Though the challenge had few real rules and left a lot up to interpretation, I chose not to count any single book for more than one category where a book would be the first-read for more than one requirement. My total books read was 63 (I’m working on #64 right now but I expect it to be the last of the year) spread over the 24 categories and 3 substitutes.

Categories Finished Per Month:

This list is the categories I finished for the first time in a given month.

  • January (5)
    • A library book
    • A book written by a woman or with a kickass woman protagonist
    • A book set somewhere you’ve never been
    • A book set in a school
    • A thriller
  • February (4)
    • A book that teaches you something new
    • A book recommended by a friend
    • A book you’re embarrassed to be seen with in public
    • A book that takes place during winter
  • March (3)
    • A collection of short stories
    • A book with a one-word title
    • A book adapted into a movie or tv show
  • April (4)
    • A book by a new-to-you classic author
    • A book based on a true story or historical event
    • A banned book
    • A famous author you’re embar-rassed to admit you’ve never read
  • May (2 + 1 substitute)
    • A book with a purple cover
    • A coffee table book
    • A book that’s been on your TBR for more than 3 years
  • June (1)
    • A book with the name of flower or plant in title
  • July (0)
  • August (1 + 1 substitute)
    • A book that helps explore your family history and/or heritage
    • A book with a punny title
  • September (1 + 1 substitute)
    • A book written the year you were born
    • A book written by a doctor
  • October (2)
    • A book written by an author of another race or belief system
    • A memoir or biography
  • November (0)
  • December (1)
    • A book by a one-hit wonder author

Categories By Number:

Some categories only had one book for the entire year. Others had many – specifically books from libraries and books with female protagonists or authors. I can’t say any of these really surprised me. I was happy to see 45 of 63 were written by female authors or had great female protagonists. Almost half came from the library (which explains why I never make any progress on my shelf of unread books). Also, a lot of my books may not have resulted in checks in all applicable categories (for example, many books are banned for many reasons – I only gave the distinction to one).

  • A book written by a woman or with a kickass woman protagonist (45)
  • A library book (30)
  • A thriller (23)
  • A recommendation from a friend (9)
  • A book set somewhere you’ve never been (8)
  • A collection of short stories (7)
  • A book that teaches you something new (6)
  • A book set in a school (6)
  • A book adapted into a movie or tv show (5)
  • A book based on a true story/historical event (4)
  • A book with a one-word title (4)
  • A famous author you’re embarrassed to admit you’ve never read (3)
  • A book with a purple cover (2)
  • A book by a new-to-you classic author (2)
  • A coffee table book (2)
  • A book with the name of flower or plant in title (2)
  • A memoir or biography (2)
  • A book written by an author of another race or belief system (2)
  • A book that’s been on your TBR for more than 3 years – sub (2)
  • A book written the year you were born (1)
  • A book that helps explore your family history/heritage (1)
  • A banned book (1)
  • A book by a one-hit wonder author (1)
  • A book you’re embarrassed to be seen with in public (1)
  • A book that takes place during winter (1)
  • A book written by a doctor – sub (1)
  • A book with a funny title – sub (1)

Book That Fit the Fewest Categories:

I didn’t count my annual re-read of “Zen and the Art of Happiness” (Chris Prentiss) for any categories so I’m leaving that out. However, I actually managed to read one book that didn’t fit any categories this year:

  • “Poems Bewitched and Haunted” (Hollander, John)

Books That Fit the Most Categories:

Many books ticked off four categories but only three hit five:

  • Slaughterhouse-Five (Vonnegut, Kurt)
  • And Still I Rise (Angelou, Maya)
  • Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (Favilli, Elena)

What patterns do you see when you look back over your reading for the past year? Any surprises? Any areas you’d like to focus on more for 2018? Let me know in the comments.

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