December 31, 2013

2013 Year in Review Reading Reflection

Statistics give me some feedback to ponder.

I read 124 books according to Goodreads. That is just over 38 000 pages, publication date ranging from 1949 to 2013, most being after 1990 - 2013.  I wrote reviews for 96 books.
All in all I am happy with that, in 2014 my aim is to write a review for every book I read, and to remember to leave a shorter review for all books on Goodreads and Amazon.

I participated in three challenges and managed to complete most of them reasonably. In the audio book challenge I set out for 12.  I listened to 8 that I can track!

The other two were TBR challenges, one was Super Librarian Wendy and the other was Eve at Bookish.  While I kept up with most months with Super Librarian Wendy's challenge, I am going to drop it in 2014 as I don't like having a book read and reviewed for an exact date each month. I am going to continue with the Bookish TBR challenge.  I wasn't so good at organising my recording of these challenges, however the role modelling form Kristan at Always With a Book, has shown me how it can be done.  I have signed up for about ten in 2014, and have started up one from Book Date - Full House.


I read 21 new authors to me. Now that is rather good for me because I like to read the authors I really enjoy and usually find enough of their books to read, however joining NetGalley in mid-year and reading blog posts helped me extend out a little.  Of the new to me authors I read I found some that now have progressed to ones I want to read more.
Stand out new authors to me read:

collage of new to me authors

In 2014 I hope I will have tried at least 25 new authors.

All the books I read by favourite authors - I enjoyed.

Stand out books for 2013 from favourite authors were:
Collage of authors

There are many books to look forward to in 2014, as well as a sizeable TBR shelf of books either on my bookcase or on my Kindle.... or in my wishlist!

In about May I was fortunate to have Parajunkee design my blog for me, one that I feel at home in. Also as I don't have  skills in design for blogging it was money I did not regret spending. I am now in the process of reorganising my Pages as they need an overhaul - some more blog visiting to be done, to pick up tips of what to have.  Perhaps at some time in the future I will also consider moving to Wordpress.org.  I will wait awhile to decide.

I enjoyed joining the Its Monday! What Are You Reading? meme, and it helped me to find readers who could stretch my reading choices a little. I joined up with a few other things like Bout o Books as well.

I became involved in a few giveaway hops as that too helps to find people with similar reading likes. However the most I found were YA and New Adult blogs and I am not really into those. However those bloggers do contribute blogging tips which I also find helpful.

I joined NetGalley in June.  Newbie that I am to book blogging I didn't know it existed and would accept the likes of me.  Jess on Goodreads suggested I join after I had drooled over her review of one of Susan Mallery's new releases.  I decided to step out and risk it and was very pleased to receive most of what I requested - all bar one, because the audience they were seeking was mainly the USA.  Ironic as I haven't found how to connect to bloggers in New Zealand who like romance and women's fiction.  They must be around.  In the meantime I am quite happy to find blogs anywhere!

When I first started this blog on 28th December 2012, I felt like I was in a dark room with no windows.  I knew from teacher blogging, there must be thousands of blogs out there, but I didn't know how to connect.  Gradually, I started on Goodreads and followed people with blogs out into the book blogosphere.  Thanks to all those who I have connected with and I look forward to 2014.

6 comments:

  1. Wow, sounds like you had a fantastic year! Sarah Jio and Robyn Carr are two of my favorite authors. Happy reading in 2014!

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  2. Another successful year of reading! I am finishing up my last book of the year now, and then I'll go in and see all my statistics - although it won't be as many books as you!

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    1. Yes it is a funny old thing, statistics. I am trying to hold off entering my next book into Goodreads, and because I am in New Zealand it will be 2014 in about 8 hours, but I will have to wait until Goodreads catches up. Although I must look on settings to see if I can time change. Thanks for commenting.

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  3. I already knew we had similar reading tastes. 2 of Kristin Hannah's made my favourite read list last year and I loved Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. Did you see the new book in Susan Mallery's Blackberry Island series is up on NetGalley ... Evening Stars.

    Love Sarah Jio and hoping to get to Blackberry Winter this year and also Detained. Looking forward to your posts in 2014 :)

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    1. Indeed I did notice Evening Stars! Its on my Kindle!!

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