TBH's 2012 Book List Meditation

Pics: Famous author, recent art acquisitions, KHB and THB after deciding they are going to Rio, famous author


Quote of the Day (by famous author):

Listen to those dancing feet close your eyes and let go
But it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing
Bop-shoo-wa, bop-shoo-wa, bop-shoo-wa

Everybody dance, do-do-do
Clap your hands, clap your hands
Everybody dance, do-do-do
Clap your hands, clap you hands

THB Book List: THB Book List

Where to start?

First, in 2012 THB read a lot of books (a few were non-Kindle books, such as listening to audio books, something called a single, etc.), 77 in total. This is not possible. On the other hand, we all know THB keeps track, and there they are, all of them, in another posting on the blog.

THB (of course) sorted the books:

•  8 Top Picks: 4 novels, 4 non-fiction (random, though THB does read about the same in each category). Spoiler: Watergate and Bring Up The Bodies (both novels) were THB’s top two
• 26 Recommended: 16 novels, 12 non-fiction 
• 29 Neutral: 15 novels, 14 non-fiction
• 3 Something Else: all 3 non-fiction
• 11 Not Recommended: 5 fiction, 4 non-fiction

THB alternates fiction and non-fiction. It takes a lot longer to read non-fiction, so THB figures that averages about 2 novels a week (20 weeks or so), and one non-fiction per week (35 weeks) if reading straight through, one category finishes up, then move on to the next…does this make sense? THB is saying: non-fiction takes longer to read. Oh, THB just said that, so it must bear repeating.

Novel Conclusions: the novels are getting shorter and shorter, and the Kindle is making them easier to read. And, THB has noticed an alarming trend in fiction: there isn’t much serious work out there; things are sliding quickly to snarky, non-realistic (unless you think snarky is the current mode of serious discourse…that must be another meditation), and few novelists grappled with the big issues and ideas of our age. If he/she did, his/her book generally moved up in the rankings.

Non-Fiction Conclusions: We have officially entered the golden oldies era of rock and roll memoirs, et al. Neil Young, David Byrne and Nile Rodgers (who????) are on the list, plus one compilation of music reviews and an intense review of one album. THB does lean towards memoirs, first person histories, and biographies: 24 (TWENTY FOUR???). That is way too many. Maybe THB mis-counted? More likely that at this age, THB is finding books about facts or theories are generally not all that interesting, it’s the people that count.

Complete Conclusion: around half of the books THB made it through this year (i.e., neutral and not recommended categories added together) are not worth reading. That seems like a lot. Or, half of the books THB made it through this year are worth reading. Does that seem like a lot? Should THB figure out how to be more discriminating? Is there another way to select books THB will like other than reading reviews in the NYT and NY’er (and the odd reco or two from friends and family)?

Incomplete Conclusion: Most of the non-fiction books were published well before 2012 (THB keeps a list and reads the oldest first). THB is catching up in the fiction category and soon will be “out” of books on his list. Hmmmm….maybe it is time to switch to two n-f read for ever novel read?

Final Conclusion: Just about everything on THB’s list has keen Kindle-ized, which is one great thing for a guy with fading eyes.