2023 Wrap-Up

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Here we are again, at the close of another year. How has 2023 treated you? Well, I hope.

It’s been a good reading year for me. My numbers may be nothing exceptional (23 as I write, likely to tick over to 25 by the time the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve), but the content has been strong. I’ve managed an almost exactly even split between fiction and non-fiction, and both categories have included gems. Early in the year I finally picked up Invisible Women, an important read which opened my eyes to the manifold ways the world is designed for men. The Science of Storytelling was also an excellent read as someone interested both in psychology and writing, and I’d urge any budding writers to pick up a copy. I borrowed it from the library but might need to add it to my own collection. Finally, one that hasn’t made it on to this blog yet, but was one of the most gripping non-fiction books I’ve read in a long time - Lost Connections by Johann Hari was an enlightening look at depression and anxiety. It made me reconsider what I’ve been told about causes and treatment, and think more deeply on the way shifts in society impact our mental health. I couldn’t stop talking about it while I was reading it.

For fiction, some highlights were the second in Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet (I’ll get to book three soon..) which absolutely left me desperate for more, I’m just not one to binge series. Recently I enjoyed The Winter Garden for a bit of magic and wonder, and The Confessions of Frannie Langton which was intense and dark and absolutely gripping. My favourite fiction read of the year has to be Demon Copperhead (many thanks to the fabulous readalong leader who got me to read it). It is by no means an easy read, it deals with difficult topics, but you feel so much empathy for the characters, and learn a lot about real life in Appalachia as a result. Any Kingsolver fans reading this, please offer tips on what to read of hers next.

I’m not one for planning my upcoming reads much, but I’m likely to be reading Unwell Women and The Moonstone soon, both of which have been sitting patiently on my shelves for too long. I also have excellent recommendations from my bookish friends to see me through the next twelve months. Have you read any of them?

My theatre consumption this year has been varied - from the brilliant Hamilton to the sweet Winnie the Pooh Musical and the bonkers The Great British Bake Off Musical. Many an enjoyable night out has been had. My exhibition game has been lacking somewhat, but the highlight was likely The Rossettis at the Tate Britain, one I would gladly have spent more time in. The Maria Bartusová at Tate Modern was also fascinating and thought-provoking. In the new year I’m looking forward to heading to the Royal Academy for Impressionists on Paper.

I’ve not travelled as much this year, but was lucky to have an incredible trip to Germany in December. Highlights include visiting Neuschwanstein Castle. Yes, it’s an unoriginal day trip, but there’s a reason it’s popular. Perched on a crag in the mountains, the views from it are utterly breathtaking. The interiors are incredible, inspired by the Middle Ages, they are lavish and beautifully crafted. You can only visit by guided tour, and it moves you through at quite a pace, but it is absolutely worth it. (If you’re thinking of going, I’d recommend taking a Flixbus from Munich for around €14 rather than the organised tours that cost four times that and don’t offer much more than transport). Going up Zugspitze was also a highlight. Having had heavy snow a few weeks before we visited, it was a frozen winter wonderland. The Alps stretch for as far as the eye can see, and the views take in five countries. It’s expensive but absolutely worth it, and is a full day activity. A day trip to Innsbruck from Garmisch-Partenkirchen was a lovely unexpected addition to our time there. The bus ride was so beautiful as it winds through the mountains, it was worth the €6.99 for the views alone. Innsbruck itself is a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains, and dressed in its finest for Christmas. 

The view from Neuschwanstein

I was also able to spend a few days camping in Scotland earlier in the year. It rained a lot and I came back with nigh-on 70 midge bites, but it was a refreshing trip. We based ourselves in Luss, on the western shores of Loch Lomond, which proved an excellent base for exploring the area. A ferry across from Tarbet to Inversnaid led to excellent walking routes, and on return, the walk from Tarbet to Arrochar via the Three Lochs Way was a treat. My highlight, though, was kayaking to one of the small islands. It was a day with storm clouds threatening, but the beauty and peace of the island, draped in purple rhododendrons, was something my heart longs to return to. We’re hoping to spend more time in Scotland in 2024, walking the West Highland Way. I hope that you’re able to take a break in the coming year and enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of whatever type of holiday you prefer.

Farewell 2018

2018 has been a hugely stressful year with politics and democracy around the world in crisis. I hope you’ve found a way through the madness and that 2019 will bring less division and that the progress that has been made for equality continues to grow. 

Book haul from Hay Literature festival, almost all read

For some positivity, this has been my most prolific blogging year. Thank you readers regular and occasional for coming along for the ride. For the first time I‘ve also kept a book log so I can look back and see what I’ve read this year, something I should really do for theatre and exhibition visits too. My to-be-read pile may not have shrunk this year but I have got better at reading books when I get them. There’s still a whole library’s worth waiting to be read though, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Taking part in FutureLearn’s How to Read a Novel course (twice) really opened my eyes to more contemporary works of fiction. It’s a brilliant course for both readers and writers and if they run it again with the next wave of James Tait Black shortlist books I’ll be signing up once more.

An unexpected highlight of the reading year

Some book highlights of the year include The Sport of Kings, The Lesser Bohemians, Notes on a Nervous Planet, and The Price of Belonging (blog post due on Wednesday). They are varied but all made me think and feel and enriched my life. There were also a few that I expected to love but didn’t as much as I’d anticipated. Middlemarch looked promising in its early chapters but I found the strange, strong-willed Dorothea became disappointing in her transformation into a meek, subservient wife. Rebecca, although interesting and one I’d happily discuss for hours, has a narrator that became tiresome in her naivety and moaning. Despite not being quite what I'd expected I’m glad I read them.

Non-fiction also made a re-appearance in my reading and is something I intend to carry on into the new year. I also hope to read more Margaret Atwood, any recommendations gratefully received (I’ve read The Handmaid’s Tale and Oryx and Crake and watched Alias Grace so want to wait a while before reading it). What are you looking forward to reading in 2019?

Whistler, Canada

As for travel, Canada feels so long ago it’s hard to believe I was there this year. Whistler was a definite highlight. The snow and cold were more extreme than I’d previously experienced and the Airbnb would have made the perfect place for a writing retreat. Closer to home I thoroughly enjoyed spending more time in Wales and exploring the beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast. And then there was Paris and the day trip to Auvers-sur-Oise which would happily have extended to a long weekend. We have some ambitious travel aims for this year which we’ll hopefully find a way to fund. My to-visit list is becoming almost as long as my to-read list. Where will you be exploring in 2019?

As with every year there has been successes and failures, stress and joy, and I expect the new year dawning will hold its own rollercoaster. My hopes for us all are to stay happy, loved, and creative, and to make the most of this beautiful life we’ve been given. Be the change you want to see.

Book Survey 2018

Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner hosts an annual end of year book survey for fellow book bloggers. I decided to take part this year, for more bookish love check out the other blogs linked on her site. What have been your reading highlights of 2018?

**2018 READING STATS**

Number Of Books You Read:
 34

Number of Re-Reads:
 0 (part of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in French, so it doesn’t feel like a re-read)

Genre You Read The Most From: Classics (not really a genre, I know)

1. Best Book You Read In 2018

Notes on a Nervous Planet, Matt Haig

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Middlemarch, George Eliot

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

The Professor, Charlotte Brontë (in a good way)

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read

 The Price of Belonging, Naomi Landy

 5. Best series you started in 2018? 

 The Book of Dust, Philip Pullman

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

 C. E. Morgan

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham

  8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 White Tears, Hari Kunzru

 9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

Melmoth, Sarah Perry

11. Most memorable character of 2018?

 Sylvie, The Price of Belonging

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

 The Professor, Charlotte Brontë

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?

 Time Warped, Claudia Hammond

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read? 

 Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?

There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it. But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy. - A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

Longest – Middlemarch, George Eliot - 838 pages

Shortest – A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway - 126 pages               

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

White Tears, Hari Kunzru (eye opening) 

1     18. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?

https://bundleofbooks.org

 19. Favorite post you wrote in 2018? 

The Professor, Charlotte Brontë

 20. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.)?

Hay Literature Festival – highlight being Margaret Atwood

4     21. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?

How to Read A Novel course on FutureLearn. Brilliant for both readers and writers and got me reading books I wouldn’t have otherwise have picked up.

2   22.  Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Keeping up with posting while ill.

23. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

The Lesser Bohemians, Eimear McBride

24. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old

25. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Shakespeare and Company in Paris. Not exactly a hidden treasure but nonetheless a booklovers haven.

26.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

To read books as I buy them rather than just building up an ever-increasing to be read pile. Mostly successful, but the pile hasn’t got any smaller.