After writing a couple reading challenge wrap-up posts, I’m a bit leery of writing another look back at 2013, but I wanted to check in with some statistics and my list of favorites for the year.
I reviewed a total of 52 books on Ms. Wordopolis Reads in 2013, and 25 of them were translations. Also, close to 50% of the authors were women: 24 by female authors, one by a pair of women, and one by a male and female duo. My books were set in 24 different countries, and the most-visited countries were the US (10), Sweden (7), and Norway (6). The statistic most surprising to me was that 33 of the books were by authors new-to-me (63%), but that shouldn’t be shocking because I was part of the Global Reading Challenge which was full of new-to-me authors for me.
I’ve written about my favorites of the year already in some challenge wrap-up and Crime Fiction Pick of the Month posts, so I’ll just list them below:
- Needle in a Haystack by Ernesto Mallo
- Behind the Night Bazaar by Angela Savage
- The Maid’s Version by Daniel Woodrell
- Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller
- The Hanne Willhelmsen series by Anne Holt
Happy new year, and thanks for reading!
Ms. Wordopolis Reads 
Rebecca – You’ve read such a great variety of books. I think that’s terrific. And I couldn’t agree more about your top choices (OK, I’ve not read the Woodrell yet, but the rest…). Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Margot. I’m glad the variety of reading led me to some great books, because that’s my ultimate goal. I liked your best-of-the-year post on Pulp Curry too.
Thanks 🙂
Hmm – I didn’t look at the balance of women to men in my reading – interesting! It’s also surprising how many translations we’re all reading these days – I feel that a decade or so ago, we were all much more insular in our reading habits. Of course, the availability of books from around the world is one reason for the massive growth in TBR lists…
I’m hoping to read more non-Scandinavian translations in the coming year, and I like the challenge of finding some good books I’ve never heard of. Thanks to your blog and others, I’ve definitely broadened my reading list, and I’m grateful. I used to read lots of series I’ve read for ages and a handful of other stuff.
Rebecca: I liked Needle in a Haystack a lot. I have not read any of your other top picks but I do have an Anne Holt on the TBR piles. It sounds like 2013 was a good reading year for you.
It was good, Bill. How was yours? I’m still catching up on my blog reading because yesterday was filled with snow-shovelling breaks so I haven’t caught up on your posts. Hope you enjoy Holt, and happy new year.
You have reminded me I still have Mallo’s second book on my TBR somewhere – a travesty because like you I really loved Needle in a Haystack.
Nice to see one of my favourite Aussie authors in your list too
Thanks for putting your favorites on my radar, Bernadette 🙂 I’d like to devote a chunk of this year to getting back to some of my favorite authors instead of reading so much new stuff. Mallo is definitely on that list.
I know exactly what you mean. I feel like I have been doing nothing but summary posts for the last week or two. It does close up the year and start a new one though.
I am sure I have not fared as well with proportion of women writers in 2013. I will be trying to add more women writers in 2014.
A very nice list. All authors I want to get to someday.
Writing wrap-ups can take a lot of time, but I like referring back to them at the end of next year so I do them. I’ve gotten lots of ideas from your favorites in your wrap-up post: thanks, Tracy!
Rebecca well done. There’s a few of your bests on my unread pile, which is encouraging for when I get to them. Good luck for 2014!
Thanks, Col, and good luck to you too! So far 2014 has been half good half bad, but I’m only talking about two books I’ve finished this week…
Haha, you’re one book ahead of me – I’m still mired in end of year posts, which I will do as much for my own benefit as for anyone else’s interest – probably about another week or so and I can get back to reading!
I have a two of those in my to-read pile, and will add the others forthwith! I used to avoid translations, because I felt that it wasn’t really reading the author’s words which bothered me for some reason, but then The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo changed all that and I’ve never looked back!
I jumped on the translation wagon when I started getting bored with the crime novels I was reading in English. I’ll admit that I was mostly keeping up with series then instead of trying new authors, but still, I thought I’d get a different take on the crime novel by digging into translations.
Great choices Rebecca!