I read a lot and enjoy doing it. And for some reason lost to antiquity, I began keeping a list of books read since 1997. As 2004 closes, I hit a new record, 70 books. Behind the cut is the complete list for those who care. The breakdown though is interesting:27% Star Trek20% Non-Fiction20% Mystery/Crime18% Fiction15% Genre (Science fiction/Fantasy/Horror)Obviously it’s weighted towards Star Trek since it’s both a hobby and a profession. The fairly even split beyond that surprises me since I thought I had read more fiction and less non-fiction than in the past.This is not to say that’s all I read. After all, there is also:Daily: USA Today, Connecticut Post, (parts of) The New York Times Weekly: Time, The Week, Entertainment Weekly, TV GuideMonthly: Approx. 100 comic books, Smithsonian, Starlog, CFQ, Playboy, Premiere, Alter Ego, Wizard, Comic Buyer’s Guideand stuff here and there. None of the above includes the stories I also read as I prepare collections at DC so that just adds to the total.Theodore RexEdmund MorrisThe Zero GameBrad MeltzerStar Trek: A Time to Be BornJohn VornholtStar Trek: A Time to DieJohn VornholtStar Trek: A Time to ReapDayton Ward & Kevin DilmoreStar Trek: A Time to SowDayton Ward & Kevin DilmoreAngel in BlackMax Allan CollinsBet Your LifeBrian DoolingThe True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt SistersElizabeth RobinsonThe Return of the Black WidowersIsaac AsimovTong LashingPeter DavidThe NamesakeJhumpara LahiriStar Trek: The Case of the Colonist’s CorpseBob Ingersoll & Tony IsabellaStar Trek: Catalyst of SorrowsMargaret Wander BonannoBad BusinessRobert B. ParkerBuffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in SunnydaleJames B. South, editorStar Trek: SCE – FoundationsDayton Ward & Kevin DilmoreEnterprise – Daedelus’s ChildrenDavid SternManna from HeavenRoger ZelaznyTil Death Do Us PartKate WhiteBlanketsCraig ThompsonPortarit of the AritstGary Milledge, editorThe Little FriendDonna TarttSlave MastersSusan WrightDiary of a Teenage GirlPhoebe GloecknerStranger to the GameBob GibsonDeath by HollywoodSteven BochcoIs that a Gun in your Pocket?Rachel AbramowitzStar Trek: Worlds of the Federation 1Una McCormack/Heather JarmanOne Night Stands with American HistoryRichard ShenkmanBaseball ForeverRalph KinerSmoke and MirrorsNeil GaimanA Spectacle of CorruptionDavid LissCandyfreakSteven AlmondStar Trek: A Time to KillDavid MackStar Trek: EnigmaMichael Jan FriedmanStar Trek: A Time for War/A Time for PeaceKeith R.A.DeCandidoStar Trek: Tales of the Dominion WarKeith R.A. DeCandido, editorDragon PrecinctKeith R.A. DeCandidoGrosse Pointe GirlSarah Grace McCandlessTatiana & AlexanderPaullina SimonsKushiel’s DartJacqueline CareyMurderer’s RowOtto Penzler, editorMailroomDavid RiskinQueen & CountryGreg RuckaHelp, I’m Trapped in a Chinese BakeryAlan KingDouble PlayRobert B. ParkerCallgirlJeannette AngellStar Trek: Stargazer-MakerMichael Jan FriedmanPetty TreasonMadeleine E. RobbinsStar Trek: A Time to HealDavid MackMelancholy BabyRobert B. ParkerThe Universal Baseball Association, Inc.: J. Henry Waugh,Prop.Robert CooverStaying DeadLaura Ann GilmanStar Trek: SCE – WildfireKeith R.A. DeCandido, editorThe Bad Guys Won! A Season of Brawling, Boozing, Bimbo-chasing,and Championship Baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, The Kid, and the Rest of the 1986 Mets, the Rowdiest Team Ever to Put on a New York Uniform–and Maybe the BestJeff PearlmanCrisis on Infinite EarthsMarv WolfmanHour GameDavid BaldacciFrom Sawdust to StardustTerry Lee RiouxGrifter’s GameLawrence BlockFade to BlondeMax PhillipsStar Trek: Vulcan’s Soul – Exodus Book 1Josepha Sherman &Susan ShwartzTwo in the FieldDarryl BrockStar Trek: New Frontier-After the FallPeter DavidMurder by MagicRosemary Edghill, editorGuilty PleasuresLaurell K. HamiltonDragon MoonChris Claremont & Beth FleisherStar Trek: Genesis ForceJohn VornholtDick Giordano: Changing Comics, One Day at a TimeMichael EuryAlmost Like Being in LoveSteve Kluger
This is a good idea. I have not done this in the past, but as I was asked the other day about what I’d read this year and when absolutely blank, I’m going to do it in 2005. I’m currently reading THE DC COMINCS ENCYCLOPEDIA by Yourself et al, and NAKED PICTURES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE by Jon Stewart, and since I don’t anticipate finishing either before 2005 starts, those will be the first items on my list.
Hey, Bob, I enjoy the blog! I used to try and keep track of my various purchases (mostly CDs and video), but when I hit 10,000 CDs the book-keeping overwhelmed me. Keeping track of various books, magazines, comics and newspapers would be a crusher!