Monday, April 27, 2009

Comments and Statistics

Comments
I was going to reply to the one comment made on my list, then decided it might be worthwhile just to blurt it to everyone. (Hi Moonrat! Thanks for commenting! :) )

One of the reasons I chose someone else's list to start with when I started compiling my list is because there are so many other authors that people are passionate about (or at least passionate about wanting to read) that I've never even heard of - or never considered reading before - because they're outside my comfortable reading zone. And even though I was using this challenge to fill in the gaps of my classics/Hugo/Nebula/etc. knowledge...I knew I wanted to read some books that, given an option, I wouldn't even read the title of, let alone the jacket cover. [There are just some aisles I never even walk down when I visit the book store...]

Thank you all for posting such really kewl lists!

That being said....I've started compiling a second list of 100 books, because it's clear my education won't be complete, even with 100. I'm really enjoying the reviews (which I'm using to populate this second 100 list). I only hope that mine turn out to be as informative as the ones I've already read.

Statistics
Someone mentioned early on in one of the comments that they would like to see some statistics on the books. I've actually started doing that...although people keep adding lists and my spreadsheet is getting LONG. :) Is anyone else compiling statistics? If not, I'll be happy to share...but if anyone else were compiling, I didn't want to reinvent the wheel (and I'll probably stop). Here are the things I was going to look at:
  • Total number of books (since there's a lot of overlap)
  • Book which is on the most lists
  • Books which only one person chose to read (it might be interesting to see *why* those books were chosen at some point)
  • A running statistic (perhaps weekly?) of the number of books which have been read
  • Maybe some individual statistics on books which a lot of people are reading (% of people who liked it, who didn't etc.)
I'm open to computing other numbers of folk have some suggestions. (For instance, it would be GREAT to show the stats on fiction vs. non-fic vs. literary vs. SciFi, etc. I've started adding genre info to my spreadsheet, but there are just too many books I don't know where to categorize...so if anyone's interested I may ask for help...)

So...is anyone else interested in statistics?

Kelly
My Web Site: kellyaharmon.com

16 comments:

Liyana said...

Me! It's always interesting to see the stats.

PurpleClover said...

Wow, if you are willing to take on such a huge task, I'm totally interested in seeing the results.

I would especially like to know the most popular books amongst all lists.

Amanda said...

I have the first twenty lists compiled and organized. There is a post near the beginning called Books in Common where I listed out the most common books and most common authors (we turned out to have more authors than books in common). I think I still have the spreadsheets and stuff for this if you want it. It'll at least save you 2000 or so entries. My address is amandagignac [at] gmail [dot] com.

moonrat said...

wow. i can't wait to see what you get w/statistics.

i know what you mean re: a new list. i'm trying to resist writing up a list of my next 100... which will focus on nonfiction. i might be making some notes in a little book, though, already.

that said--i'm reading MIDDLESEX, by Jeffrey Eugenides, at the moment (it's on my Gaps list). so far, i've learned about the burning of Smyrna, the Detroit race riots of 1967, and the physical make-up of a hermaphrodite--all things i'd heard about but hadn't really understood, and all of which i'm really, really happy to be smarter about. so honestly i think there's a ton to be learned from fiction.

Alyce said...

I would love to see the stats! Especially the books that are popular vs. the books that no one else is reading. I'm pretty sure I have at least one of those on my list. Anyone else reading Leonard Nimoy's bio "I Am Spock?" :)

Anonymous said...

I would very much like to see the statistics. I had thought of doing the same thing, so thanks for undertaking the work.

Your idea of a second 100 list also appeals to me. My list was of the 100 most prominent books I hadn't read, but that means a high proportion of "dead European males." So my second list, inspired by Alyssa's, would represent as many countries as possible.

And I can see the need for a third list of perhaps 20-30 great books I read many years ago and need to re-read.

Kelly A. Harmon said...

Oh, yes! I'm definitely seeing a need for a list of books I want to re-read!

Emily Cross said...

Aw this is brilliant, I'd contact Amanda though as she made up an original list.

MR - i love your 100 non fiction book list idea, its definitly something i've been thinking of, along with my world book list and women writers list too

Anonymous said...

I totally wanted to see a full, complete list of all the books in all the lists. I can help compile, if you need - my email is aerinblogs@aol.com

Matthew Heuett said...

Yes, those statistics would be fascinating to see. Good luck on the project!

Bee said...

I think that it's a brilliant idea, I would definitely be interested in seeing the results!

Anonymous said...

Ditto what everyone else has said, especially the most popular. It would be a pretty massive task though!

Linda said...

I love numbers. Almost as much as words. So give me a holler, and I'll be happy to run a zero-inflated negative binomial model :^)

Peace, Linda

Jenna said...

I'm such a sucker for statistics! More than interested in anything you have!

Matthew Heuett said...

I just noticed your request for help at the end of your post. If you need any help compiling/categorizing books, I'd be more than happy to help.

Jennie said...

I'm a sucker for statistics and would love to see some for this!