My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

Happy New Year! Here’s to a year of joy, health, appreciation… and lots of lots of books!

My husband and I broke our annual tradition of staying home on New Year’s Eve — for the first time in many, many years, we actually went out to celebrate! We enjoyed a lovely meal at a favorite restaurant… although we still made it home in time to be cozied up in pajamas well before midnight.

Year in review:

My Goodreads challenge goal for 2023 was 150, and I made it to 178! (Actually, 179 — I finished one more graphic novel at the end of the day on 12/31, but didn’t bother updating my record for the year.)

Even though I exceeded my goal in 2023, I plan to keep the same number for my 2024 target. I like to make sure I have breathing space and ability to take my time with longer books, if I feel like it.

A few other statistics from this past year, according to Goodreads:

• Shortest book: The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman (36 pages)
• Longest book: Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon (902 pages)
• Average book length: 316 pages
• Most shelved: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid — 2,782,872 people also shelved (!)
• Least shelved: The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh — 331 people also shelved (but I suspect the number is low only because it was released in late December)
• Average rating: 4.1 stars
• Number of 5-star reads: 60
• Star rating used most often: 4 stars
• Star rating used least often: 2 stars
• Star rating not used at all: 1 star
• DNFs: 4 (only counting those that I stuck with for more than a page or two)

I’ll share a small selection of my favorite books from 2023 for tomorrow’s Top Ten Tuesday post.

What did I read during the last week?

Emmett by L. C. Rosen: This contemporary, queer retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma is everything I’d hoped for, and more. Just loved it. My review is here.

The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh: A Judy Leigh audiobook is always a good time! My review is here.

Not the Ones Dead (Kate Shugak, #23) by Dana Stabenow: Can you believe that a 23-book series is still this good? I love these books – #23 is no exception. My review is here.

Ruined by Sarah Vaughn: A really enjoyable graphic novel! Highly recommended (and my final book of 2023).

Pop culture & TV:

My family went to see The Boys in the Boat on Christmas Day, and thought it was great! I really enjoyed the book when I read it several years ago. The movie can’t capture it all, but even so, it was very uplifting to experience.

We also went to the theater to see the touring production of Broadway’s The Lion King, and loved it! I’d seen it quite a while back, but seeing it again was just wonderful. I’d forgotten just how beautiful the staging, sets, costumes, and dancing all are.

I’m continuing my way through Crash Landing on You on Netflix. It’s so good! I’m not quite at the halfway point yet (I still have 9 episodes to go), but I’m so happy I decided to give it a try.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal: The only novel by this author that I haven’t read yet… so it’s about time!

Now playing via audiobook:

Get Lucky by Katherine Center: An earlier book by an author I always enjoy. Just getting started!

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2), reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 28 and 29 (of 49). Progress: 51%.
• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 34%. (We’re taking a two-week break over the holidays, picking back up the week of January 8th.)

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…