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:

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:

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.