Reflecting on My 2022 Reading Journey: Insights and Trends
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Chapter 1: The Year in Books
In 2022, I completed a staggering 83 books, marking the highest number I’ve read in recent years. Interestingly, I didn’t plan to read this many at the start of the year—it just unfolded naturally. A combination of factors contributed to this reading surge: I started a new job that involved a lengthy commute, switched from podcasts to audiobooks, discovered a captivating new author whose entire backlist I devoured during my summer vacation, and, to be honest, my tendency to escape into books increased as my mental health fluctuated.
This year also brought a revelation: audiobooks can be enjoyed at 2x speed! I can hardly believe I didn’t realize this sooner. Consequently, a 9-hour audiobook can be condensed to just 4.5 hours, significantly boosting my reading capacity. These elements combined, allowing me to read a remarkable 83 books—nearly 60 of which were consumed in the latter half of the year.
What was I reading, and how did my choices reflect my mood? Let’s delve deeper.
The first video titled "My 2022 Reading Wrap-Up" provides an engaging visual summary of my reading experience, highlighting the books that shaped my year.
Reading Moods
Examining the emotional landscapes of my selections reveals a clear pattern. The predominant themes of the books I chose were emotional, dark, and adventurous. Given my extensive romance readings, it’s no surprise that emotional narratives led the way, while fantasy likely accounted for the darker, more adventurous tones. Unsurprisingly, my category for informative reads was the smallest, as I typically avoid non-fiction except for the occasional memoir.
Page Count Insights
As mentioned in a previous article, I tackled a substantial number of lengthy reads this year, with over 20% of my books exceeding 500 pages—totaling more than 16 titles! Some of the most notable long reads included:
- Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas (the longest book of the year)
- House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
- The Shining by Stephen King
- Babel by R. F. Kuang
- A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
It's evident that I indulged in a lot of Sarah J. Maas' works this year.
Fiction vs. Non-Fiction
It comes as no surprise that my non-fiction reads were primarily memoirs. I would like to claim that I plan to explore more non-fiction in 2023, but the truth is, it's simply not my preferred genre (memoirs aside). I enjoy immersing myself in fictional worlds and characters, something that non-fiction often lacks.
Genres Explored
This past year, I tackled 32 romance novels, with fantasy also making a strong showing due to many fantasy-romance reads, including the complete Throne of Glass series (excluding Assassin's Blade), Crescent City, and A Court of Thorns and Roses series currently available. I hope to diversify my reading list with new authors in 2023, while eagerly anticipating the release of Crescent City #3. This marks a significant change from 2021, where I only read five fantasy titles.
Reading Statistics
The accompanying graph illustrates my reading trends over the year, showing that I completed over 70% of my books in the last six months of 2022. Up until mid-June, I had only read 24 books. February and April were particularly slow, with just one book each month due to a demanding work schedule. Conversely, August was my most productive month, during which I read 13 books. Notably, this was also the month I battled Covid for two weeks, followed by two weeks of vacation, providing ample reading time.
Book Ratings
This year was marked by a successful reading experience, with a notable increase in four- and five-star ratings compared to previous years. I attribute this to diving back into fantasy books, which I eagerly consumed from summer through fall. I had 10 five-star reads and discovered several new favorites (stay tuned for my best books of 2022 list). While an average rating of 3.7 stars out of 5 might seem modest, it far surpasses my 2021 average of 3.35.
A special thanks to my favorite reading tracker, The StoryGraph. I love data, and this platform makes it easy to monitor my reading habits. If you haven't yet tried The StoryGraph, I highly recommend it for 2023; it provides valuable insights into my reading patterns and allows for half-star ratings—no more rounding!
I’d love to hear about your favorite genres from this past year. Share your thoughts, and happy reading in 2023!
The second video titled "2022 Reading Wrap Up & Reading Strategy for 2023" offers a personal reflection on my reading journey and strategies for the upcoming year.