I find it hard to believe
that twelve months ago my blog was a small and rather unloved thing, followed
by a number of my friends, but not really doing what I wanted. I started it in
October if 2011, but it was in early February 2012 that I attended a seminar on
blogging at my local library run by two established bloggers who happen to live
in the area. Jessica who was writing Read React
Review at the time and Kristen from Fantasy Cafe shared a load of advice with
us and made me realize that I could find a way into the blogging world.
In March I made a major break through
when I saw a Twitter advert for the
Little Red Reviewer’s Read Along for The Lies of Locke Lamora. Not only did
this introduce me to a great author, but also to other bloggers who were
interested in the same types of books as me . . . and the whole world of
blogging opened up dramatically. This year I have taken part in a grand total
of ten Read
Alongs and introduced me to two more brilliant authors: Brandon Sanderson
and Neil Gaiman. I have recently started a truly epic Read Along that should
take me through the entire series of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and
Brandon Sanderson . . . assuming that we have the determination to keep going
for the next few years! :D
At the beginning of April I committed
myself to A Challenge of Ice and Fire, with the aim of completing Mr Martin’s
epic series before the end of the year, and here I am with the last post
published earlier today. It took me thirty-eight weeks, but was one of the most
enjoyable aspects of my blogging this year. I had been toying with the idea of
doing a similar challenge for The Wheel of Time, but the Read Along seems like
a better idea. At the same time I signed up for the Once Upon A Time VI
Challenge at Stainless Steel
Droppings, since then I have completed a second Challenge through Carl’s
site and have signed up for another. I think these Challenges are going to be
regular fixtures of my blogging year for the foreseeable future. One thing I
like about Challenges
is that they make me look outside my comfort zone to find new authors and
titles to enjoy, which is always a delight. With the New Year approaching I
have been signing up for Challenges that I think will encourage me to read new
things and take risks in my book selections, as well as getting books off my
TBR list and also completing some of the series that I have started.
In June, I took part in the Armchair BEA 2012 event, which was
exhausting but led me to lots of new and interesting blogs. I also launched my
Sue’s Saturday Suggestions feature, which I have used to highlight posts that I
have enjoyed reading and books that sound interesting.
By the end of the year I have
received a mention on a SF
Signal Podcast and am starting to feel a little less like a complete newbie
in the blogosphere. I am a little disappointed that my most heavily read post
is my (not very thorough and totally off the cuff) review of The Simon’s Cat
Quadrilogy . . . and there is no need to link to it because I am quite sure
that it will remain on the top of my ‘Popular Posts’ widget forever! :D
Top Reads of
2012
You can get more details here,
but here is my list:
A Song of
Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin – My Favorite
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon
Sanderson
The Gentleman Bastard Series by Scott
Lynch
World War Z by Max Brooks
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini
Taylor
Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the
Pie by Alan Bradley
Most
Anticipated Books of 2013
You can get more details here,
but here is my list:
Celtic Moon
by Jan DeLima – Most Anticpated
Wake Up! by Simon Tofield
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter by
Richard Parks
The Republic of Thieves by Scott
Lynch
Shattered Pillars by Elizabeth Bear
A Memory of Light by Brandon
Sanderson
Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by
Neil Gaiman
Etiquette and Espionage by Gail
Carriger
Top Films of
2012
The Hobbit –
My Favorite
Django Unchained
The Avengers
The Hunger Games
Most
Disappointing Film of 2012
The Dark Knight Rises
Prometheus - Most Disappointing
New Year’s
Resolutions
1. This year I posted seventy-two
reviews: next year I hope to get closer to a full one hundred.
2. I will get around to writing some
blurbs for the BookStore-BookBlogger
Connection
3. Reread and review some of my
favorites from the Roman Mystery genre: I feel like I have neglected Lindsey
Davis and Steven Saylor terribly.
4. I will make a special effort to
read SF&F books written by women.
Finally
I need to thank my long suffering husband, Ian, for his patience and encouragement this year . . . and for not getting too angry when I spent many hours ignoring him whilst reading, writing or thinking about the blog! I would also like to say a huge “Thank
you!” to all of you who have read my posts and encouraged me to join in the fun
by commenting on my random musings. I no longer feel as if I am shouting in the
dark! :D
I really enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy and Hunger Games. I am also looking forward to Etiquette & Espionage. Also loved the movies you did, but I didn't see Django Unchained. Great post! Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2013. Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven
ReplyDeleteGreat end of the year post! So great to have you in on the challenges and read-a-longs this year, thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Range of Ghosts on a couple of other blogs too and I love the cover...gotta check that book out.
Of course thrilled to see Graveyard Book and Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie on your list. Love both of those books.
Sorry to see you were disappointed in The Dark Knight Rises. I actually enjoyed it. Not as much as the other two, but I thought it was a nice ending to trilogy. Overall I'm getting pretty tired of superhero films though.
You had a really great year. I'm happy that you stuck with the blogging and that you've seen growth throughout the year. I hope 2013 is an even better one for you. :)
wow you have posted 72 reviews! I've been blogging for 4- 5 years now and yet I can only review 50+ books per year! That's super great you know! Reading and blogging is a lot of work for me so I can only imagine yours....
ReplyDeleteglad to see that you watched The Hobbit... also my favorite.
btw, thanks for stopping by my blog and im your newest follower!
I too began actually reading the Song of Ice and Fire Series this year and it too is my FAVORITE! I had to stop for a while after ASOS though b/c the Red Wedding and the ending of that book was a total mind fu*k for me. I'm so ready to get started on A Feast For Crows though.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a very fun and productive year in reading and blogging!
Good luck with A Feast for Crows: I'm sure you'll enjoy it! :)
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the Dark Knight Rises, and Prometheus, was that my expectations were quite high and then the films did not live up to them . . . but I guess topping Heath Ledger's Joker was going to be a difficult task! :)
ReplyDeleteDjango Unchained was hilarious and one of Quentin Tarantino's best films to date.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too! :)
I haven't seen Prometheus yet. I heard so many mixed reviews that I gave it a pass at the theater and the violence I've heard about in it, from friends, means I know my wife won't watch it and so I haven't had a lot of motivation to see it on the small screen. I will sometime this year though.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have huge expectations for DKR because, again, I have been getting a little burnt out on superhero films and that is probably why I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Despite that enjoyment I didn't rush out and buy the bluray or anything and don't have any strong desire to see it again anytime soon.