When Simon first introduced the idea of his A Century of Books reading project in September 2011, I was impressed. It seemed quite ambitious, this idea of reading one book published in each year of the 20th Century, and very tempting. I resisted signing up immediately but the project proved irresistible. I joined in and I am so glad that I did because it made for an extraordinary year of reading.
You can find the full list of what I read on my A Century of Books page but I thought it would be fun to mention a few things I’ve learned while doing this project:
Not all years are created equal – One hundred books is not a particularly large number for me (I’m currently reading my 233rd book of the year) but the adventure was in working within the parameters of the challenge. Some years are ridiculously easy to find books for (at times, it seemed that every book I wanted to read had been published in 1912, 1925, or 1947) while others are excruciatingly difficult (I spent months searching for something I wanted to read from 1900 and 1969).
Plan, plan, plan for failure – The pressure to read a book, whether you enjoy it or not, that fills in one of your “missing” years is intense. But just because that book was published in a convenient year does not mean it is worth reading. I kept an ongoing list of books published in all the years I had not yet completed so that I had multiple options to choose from. If I started a book and was not enjoying it, I always had a second or third option to consider switching to. There is no point in reading 100 books that you don’t enjoy.
Get to know your favourite authors really well – Angela Thirkell, Elizabeth von Arnim, Georgette Heyer, D.E. Stevenson and, of course, A.A. Milne were my best friends this year. Between those five authors, I filled in 41 years of the century and, if I had wanted to, could have filled in at least ten more.
Use the buddy system – I know that a number of people have been working through A Century of Books at their own pace but, for me, the greatest motivation I had was knowing that Simon was also reading all the books in one year. Every time he posted a new review I was reminded of how far I had fallen behind in my own reviews or my own reading and I rushed to catch up. I really wanted to do this is one year and, thanks to Simon’s example and encouragement along the way, I did.
Prepare to be surprised – I knew I was going to have fun reading the books from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s – and I did – but the greatest thing about the project was finding delight in unexpected places. The 1910s turned out to be possibly my favourite decade of all and the 1970s surprised me with some of my most thought-provoking reads of the year. I was also shocked by how much I struggled to find books I wanted to read from the 1950s and 1960s.
Now that A Century of Books is done, I have to admit that I am looking forward to being able to read without checking the publication date of every book I pick up! It did restrict my reading choices, particularly towards the end of the year, and though it was interesting to work within that kind of structure I am ready to be free of it. I want to wallow in 18th and 19th Century authors, read 20 books all published in the same year of the 20th Century if I want to, and crack open all of the 21st Century biographies and memoirs I have waiting on my shelves. And, maybe, after a year of reading like that I will be ready to do A Century of Books again in 2014. I have already started on a booklist so I will be well-prepared if I do!
Congratulations on finishing the century, I’m less than a third of the way through mine and it’s inspiring to read about your adventures with the list – especially since I love the idea of using it as a way of getting to know a few authors much better. 🙂
Thank you, Alex. Good luck on your own Century!
Claire, I just wanted to write to say how very much I have enjoyed reading your blog this year and appreciate the work that you have put into it. I look forward to joining you again in 2013 and wish you all the best.
Thank you so much, Donna, and all the best to you as well.
Congratulations again on achieving this milestone. I, too, like your idea of getting to know a favorite author better, and I’m looking forward to more surprises as I try to complete my century next year.
Thank you, again! Have fun with the rest of your Century!
Congratulations! I’m in awe of all you have read this year. How do you do it?!? I’m also reading “One Fine Day” right now. I can’t wait to read your review.
Happy New Year!
I have always been a fast reader so I am afraid there is no special technique or ‘trick’ to it. Hope you’re enjoying One Fine Day!
Congratulations! I’m so proud of us for finishing it – and, like you, definitely found someone else doing it alongside very encouraging. I think we were the only two who wanted to do it all in 2012, and we both succeeded – hurrah!
We did good, didn’t we? Now to ready ourselves for 2014!
I know I already said this yesterday in a comment, but I’ll repeat it – Congratulations! Well read, you are, indeed. 🙂
This project is a *wonderful* idea; I’d love to do it myself… someday. 😉 Maybe I’ll join you in 2014, Claire?
I am taking part in my first ever reading challenge this year – the Book Mine Set’s Canadian Book Challenge, and I have enjoyed that immensely. I long ago fulfilled the “goal” of the challenge – 13 Canadian books in the year between July 1, 2012 & June 30, 2013 – but am happily adding to my list. It’s been so interesting to discover how many Canadian books/authors I inadvertently have been reading, and occasionally I’ve deliberately searched out something to read with a “Canada connection” just for the challenge. It does add an extra element to my reading, giving just a dash of “purpose” to the book list, which otherwise can be extremely random!
Loved your observations and recommendations for successfully and enjoyably taking on such an ambitious Challenge as the Century, Claire.
And Simon (if you’re reading this) – great idea! Congratulations on your own marvelous Century reading list. Take a bow, you two, and everyone else who is part of that project!
Thank you, Barb. And do join us in 2014! It’s a really interesting reading challenge and certainly the least restrictive one I’ve done so far. I’ve been doing the CBC as well and quite a few of my books overlapped.
When I started my blog pn January 1, 2012, I was too overwhelmed to take on the Century of Books Challenge. I have certainly enjoyed reading about your journey though. (And Simon’s.) Congratulations. I might just take a look at the publication dates of the books I did read and see if I came anywhere close. One never knows!
Do take a look, Belle! It is always interesting and sometimes surprising to see how your reading is distributed over the decades and centuries.
A standing ovation for you, Claire!
Thank you, Darlene!
Congratulations – to fill in every year in a single year is amazing. And your advice is spot on. I enjoyed just reading and fitting books in for one year but planning and organisation are needed to make sure I finish in two.
Good luck in year two, Jane! I love your 10% updates and look forward to keeping track of your progress that way.
Congratulations on completing the challenge. I’ve enjoyed reading your reviews & you’ve inspired me to read more EVA in 2013. I have several of her novels on the tbr shelf & more on the e-reader so I have no excuse!
Thank you, Lyn. Do read more EvA next year; she is too delightful to ignore! Access to her books was one of the major reasons I got an e-reader earlier this year and I’ve certainly made good use of it since then.
Congratulations Claire! Such a great achievement that will help me as well with “difficult” years…
Glad to be of help, Patty!
This is a tremendous achievement – wonder why it was difficult to find interesting books from the 50s and 60s. Any clues??
Those are decades I’ve always struggled with, particularly with fiction, so it is really just that my tastes don’t match up with the literary trends at the time.
WOW! I’m impressed: in ONE year! I’ve been thinking of taking on this challenge and wondering how many, many, many years it would take me to finish.
I was fascinated by your list. (Oh, I loved The Secret World of Og!)
However many years it takes, it is a challenge well worth attempting! I had so much fun doing it and I really would encourage anyone contemplating it to try it.
Congrats! How wonderful that you’ve finished (and given us a wonderful list to peruse!) This sounds fascinating and I think I’ll have to join you in 2014…since I’ll have a whole year to make a list 🙂
Thank you, Melwyk. I hope you do join us in 2014 and have fun first in 2013 making your list!
I am a little bit in awe. That is an amazing accomplishment!
I am also very much tempted to do this myself. However, I don’t think I would be able to do it on my own. Perhaps in a few years time I can tempt others to join me?
Simon and I are both planning to do it again in 2014. Do join us then! I certainly found it helpful to have someone else doing at the same time and same speed as me.
Oh, I’ll definitely want to join you in 2014! Can’t wait.
[…] Claire’s advice – given at the end of her one-year century – was spot-on. […]
Clare… it’s been a few years… I’m thinking of doing this again in 2018! What do you think?? Are you in?
I am probably doomed to failure with this (work is much more intense these day than it was back when we did this the first time) but I am in regardless!
Just seen this – hurrah!!
[…] read, and here’s what I read. My post also has some stats and tips; Claire also has some helpful hints on how to get the most from […]