It’s officially July now, of course, so I thought I’d do a quick update on my Sitzbook project since we’re now halfway through 2012. 

As you possibly know, my goal with the project is to read an average of one book a week. On that front, I’m doing just fine. I’ve finished 26 books since January and am well into my 27th (a funny novel called Lamb by Christopher Moore, a “gospel according to Biff, Jesus’s childhood friend”). I also wanted to do at least a short review of each book I read this year, since last year I read quite a few without even mentioning them. On that front I’m doing OK; I’ve had to do a few “group reviews” because not every book warrants a full-post review, and there are a few missing still (but I have plans to write longer reviews for The Yiddish Policemen’s Union and Breakfast at Tiffany’s).

Another thing that’s different this year is that I seem to have gotten more into nonfiction, although that’s mostly a coincidence. Still, just over half of the books (14 out of 26) on this year’s list are nonfiction, whereas in all of last year only 10 out of 52 were nonfiction books.

But who cares?

So, what have been the “best” and “worst” books so far this year? I think I can honestly say there’s not been a book I didn’t enjoy, so that either means that I get good recommendations and gifts, and/or that I personally have great taste in books. I guess if I had to choose my least favorite one, I’d go for the second Harry Potter (although the third was better, so most was forgiven). And as for my favorite books, in nonfiction I might say The Omnivore’s Dilemma, since it’s still making me think months later. In fiction, I’d have to go with The Yiddish Policemen’s Union since it was such an interesting and original work (as I said, I’ll be writing a longer review of that one soon).

And what about you? What have you been reading? What do you recommend? I’d love to hear your comments.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!