How much did you read in 2009?

It’s rather a lot when the words are added

I originally started writing this paragraph to introduce my little book awards ceremony, The Tarts 2009, with a tally of the modest 75 books I’ve read this year (14 from Frankston Library reviewed, 42 in the ‘others 2009’ listing in the blog’s sidebar and the piles of books around the house I’ve read but haven’t done anything with yet). But the idea grew … just how much did I read this year?

A million words a month.

Look. See!

All estimates are conservative and I excluded research and reading in permanent paid employment – this is my reading by choice total.

I can’t upload the spreadsheet here (despite trying only four different ways) so you can have a quick stab at it yourself. Have a go anyway using your own estimates; no one will think you’re insane, promise.

The most humbling aspect of the total is that when I think about all my gaps in the ‘top 100’ lists and books to read before you leave the planet, all the classics I’ve never picked up and all the books written in languages other than English that haven’t been translated for my reading pleasure, the sum of my endeavours is a speck of dust on a back shelf of the world’s combined libraries.

How many words have you read this year?

Oh yeah, I wrote more than 80,000 words, too.