Monday 2 August 2021

Reflections On A Decade Of Blogging

Ten years ago today I sat down and hit ‘publish’ for the first time. A few hours later, I was doing the same again, possibly the only time in this blog’s ten year history that two posts have gone live on the same day. What started as a vague idea to keep my brain ticking over in post-University life has blossomed slowly into a more focussed endeavour that has introduced me to innumerable fellow bookworms. It’s got me reading books I’d never have picked up on my own, and has undoubtedly kept my read count up.

The gentle ebb and flow of activity indicate some major moments in my life - personal tragedy, further study, ill health, and happiness, all have been present in the intervening years, perhaps imperceptibly to you my dear readers, but every absence, indeed, every post, takes me back to the life I was living when it was written or abandoned. There are notable absences, Wuthering Heights, for example, my most read book, has somehow evaded review, appearing only in passing comments in discussion of other books. It’s only been in recent years that I’ve begun keeping a log of my reading, mistakenly thinking that this site sufficed, and yet I’m constantly amazed by the books that have somehow fallen through the cracks.


For most of this blog’s life it’s been my own little space to muddle out my thoughts about books, theatre, exhibitions, and the occasional bit of food. In the past couple of years I’ve begun sharing my posts, getting to know other bloggers, and even being sent books to review. The supportive book blogger community has been a happy revelation, eager to share enthusiasm, but similarly happy to discuss differences of opinion. Thank you to anyone reading this, and to everyone that’s interacted over the years - your recommendations, support, and shared passion have kept me reading, writing, and enjoying book blogger life despite the ever growing to-be-read pile, ready to topple at any moment, and the self-imposed deadlines that can at times make it all feel a bit stressful.


I can’t quite believe this blog has existed for an entire decade, and if you’ll excuse the indulgence, here are the reviews of some of my reading highlights. Here’s to the next decade and all the books and friendships that are waiting to be discovered.


The Humans, Matt Haig

The Moon and Sixpence, W. Somerset Maugham

The Museum of Modern Love, Heather Rose

The Story of a New Name, Elena Ferrante

The Shock of the Fall, Nathan Filer

The Crimson Petal and the White, Michel Faber

A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara

How Was It For You? Virginia Nicholson

The Heart’s Invisible Furies, John Boyne

Hired: Undercover in Low-Wage Britain, James Bloodworth 

9 comments:

  1. Congratulations on ten years! Such an incredible achievement! x

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  2. Wow! Congratulations. It's great to see how far you have come. More wins . x

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  3. That is so encouraging to read about you blogging for 10 years. I've only been doing it for a year. Hoping to be able to write a similar post one day.

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    1. Thanks so much, really exciting that you're near the start of your blogging journey, I look forward to seeing how it develops.

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  4. Happy 10 year Blogoversary!! My own 10 year mark comes up in October. In the world of blogging we're considered ancient. Sometimes I feel it. lol

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    1. Thank you! Whoop! Congratulations on your ten years too! Haha, definitely. I'm always so impressed by how sleek and engaged people's blogs are, it took me so long to even start sharing my posts anywhere.

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