OSR: December 2011, and a reading recap

So here's the thing: I read one book in all of December. And I read half of it on the plane to Colorado two days before Christmas. I had started reading a Fitzgerald book and couldn't bring myself to keep reading it because I was so bored. This book that I did finish, though, was simple, enjoyable, and easy.

The Hollow by Agatha Christie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was another straightforward mystery that had enough intrigue to keep me guessing and enough simplicity to not frustrate. this was perfect reading for the end of the year when I'm low on time and patience.

View all my reviews

And now, here's a recap of my 2011 reading, arranged in order of ratings.

Five-star books:
Peace Like a River, Leif Enger
The Power of One, Bryce Courtenay
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Rocket Boys, Homer H. Hickam, Jr.
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
East of Eden, John Steinbeck

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Four-star books:
Jacob T. Marley, William R. Bennett
The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins
Shanghai Girls, Lisa See
Little Bee, Chris Cleave
Summers at Castle Auburn, Sharon Shinn
Tallgrass, Sandra Dallas
Eve and the Choice Made in Eden, Beverly Campbell
What's Up Down There?: Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, Lissa Rankin
Bossypants, Tina Fey
So Brave, Young, and Handsome, Leif Enger
The Goose Girl, Shannon Hale
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Steig Larssson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Steig Larsson
The Other Side of the Bridge, Mary Lawson
Princess Academy, Shannon Hale
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
The Star Garden: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine, Nancy E. Turner
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
Dracula, Bram Stoker

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Three-star books:
The Hollow, Agatha Christie
Slathbog's Gold, M. L. Forman
Moloka'i, Alan Brennert
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food, Jan Chozen Bays
Unbearable Lightness, Portia De Rossi
The Bride's House, Sandra Dallas
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
I Still Dream about You, Fannie Flagg
How I Planned Your Wedding, Susan Wiggs
The Girl Who Played with Fire, Steig Larsson
Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay

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Two-star books:
The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman
Boneshaker, Cherie Priest
The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards

One-star books:
The Magicians, Lev Grossman

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Other stats:
:: Of my six five-star books, four of them (66 percent) were rereads.
:: Those four books were my only rereads of the year.
:: I read eight nonfiction books, including memoirs (almost 20 percent of my 2011 books).
:: Three of my books were young-adult novels (7 percent).
:: I read five historical fiction books (12 percent).
:: Four of my books were mysteries (almost 10 percent)
:: I completely hated only one book (2 percent)
:: I read seven books in May, the most books I read in a single month in 2011 (17 percent).
:: I categorized eight books as favorites, new reads and rereads included (almost 20 percent).

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It was a good reading year for me, even if I didn't make my revised goal of 45 books. When making my 2012 reading goals I toned it down a bit. Without a commute, my reading time has decreased, so I'm shooting for 35 books this year. I'm already one down!

What are your reading goals for 2012?