As many of you know, I'm a compulsive list maker. I not only record all the books I review, but all the books I read. Here are my stats for last year:
Books read in 2007: 144
That was down slightly from 2006 (150 books read) and down quite a bit from 2005 (175 books read). It is more, however, than 2004 (125 books read).
Books reviewed in 2007: 60*
That is very close to the 2006 total (59 books reviewed), down from 2005 (72 books reviewed), and up slightly from 2004 (57 books reviewed).
The newspapers I reviewed for were:
Chicago Sun-Times: 56 books reviewed
Philadelphia Inquirer: 6 books reviewed
Washington Post: 2 books reviewed
Philadelphia City Paper: 1 book reviewed
(The reason this adds up to 65 is because I reviewed 5 of the books twice.)
Of the books I reviewed for the Chicago Sun-Times, 50 of them were included in round-up columns (10 of them) and 6 in single-book reviews. All the other newspaper reviews were single-book pieces. (That represents a total of 25 separate articles in newspapers.)
I also reviewed some books on here and had several Book of the Week picks. I'm nothing if not prolific!
*I also reviewed one book for the New York Times, but the piece never ran.
Dave,
Was trying to put together a semi-inclusive list of 'best of 2007 books' lists... Any additions/suggestions?
http://bibliopod.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Steve | January 01, 2008 at 11:19 PM
I should post a Best of 07 list. I'll see what I can do.
Posted by: David J. Montgomery | January 02, 2008 at 07:41 AM
I wish someone in this silly blogosphere would have the guts to post a worst of list.
Wouldn't that be so much more interesting to read than yet another Best of?
Walt and I think so.
But then, we're generally mean-spirited types.
Posted by: guyot | January 02, 2008 at 02:52 PM
How about a year-end summary of places to review? You and I have emailed a bit off list about this, and I'd be curious to see a blog of your thoughts on the review scene: Any place expanding? Any good editors finding smart ways to get more books in, even at shorter lengths? Or is it all bad news?
Posted by: Clea Simon | January 03, 2008 at 12:05 PM
What a sense of humor that Guyot has, huh?
Posted by: Elaine Flinn | January 03, 2008 at 12:37 PM
How about a list of best debuts? That's one thing that Oline Cogdill does in her column that I really appreciate.
Posted by: Roddy Reta | January 04, 2008 at 12:07 AM
A great year! I speak for both of us.
As for Paul's idea: it's very unkind, I know, but I always have so many more titles I hated (against their obvious success) that I feel the same way he does. Must be the writer's frustration coming out.
Posted by: I.J.Parker | January 04, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Roddy, here you go:
http://www.crimefictionblog.com/2008/01/top-5-debuts-of.html
I.J., I know what you mean. I dislike at least as many books as I like. I'm not sure there's much value to making a list of them...Although I would enjoy reading other people's selections. :)
Posted by: David J. Montgomery | January 04, 2008 at 09:46 AM