Metamorphosis

Split the shelf at the midpoint — 65 books Then (2020–2021), 66 Now (2021–2026). Same reader, different creature.

Then

2020–2021 · 65 books

Fiction: 55%
Avg rating: 3.74★
Median length: 288p
Median lag: 12y

Top genres

Fiction 34
Classics 26
Nonfiction 16
Science Fiction 15
Young Adult 15
Adventure 14

Top moods

Reflective 28
Inspiring 22
Adventurous 21
Emotional 21
Mysterious 21

Top authors

Brandon Sanderson 8
Raymond Chandler 7
Agatha Christie 3
Cal Newport 2
Ernest Hemingway 2

Now

2021–2026 · 66 books

Fiction: 79%
Avg rating: 3.80★
Median length: 269p
Median lag: 26y

Top genres

Fiction 45
Classics 26
Fantasy 22
Literary Fiction 14
Science Fiction 10
Young Adult 10

Top moods

Reflective 40
Emotional 35
Challenging 31
Dark 28
Sad 27

Top authors

Haruki Murakami 15
David Sedaris 2
Donna Tartt 2
Elif Batuman 2
William Shakespeare 2

What shifted

Deltas from Then → Now. Positive means the later half grew.

Fiction share 55% → 79% +24 pts
Average rating 3.74★ → 3.80★ +0.06★
Median length 288p → 269p -19p
Median pub→read lag 11.5y → 25.5y +14y

Genre morph

Share of books touching each genre — bars show Then (left) vs Now (right).

Literary Fiction + 21 pts

Then 0%

Now 21%
Fiction + 16 pts

Then 52%

Now 68%
Nonfiction -16 pts

Then 25%

Now 9%
Adventure -16 pts

Then 22%

Now 6%
Fantasy + 13 pts

Then 20%

Now 33%
Science Fiction -8 pts

Then 23%

Now 15%
Young Adult -8 pts

Then 23%

Now 15%
Classics -1 pts

Then 40%

Now 39%

The cut is chronological midpoint of finished books, not calendar years. Trace the year-by-year path on Evolution, or dig up what went extinct on Fossils.