By the NumbersTeen: 176
Tween: 78
Children: 71
Sources
Review Copies: 116
Swapped: 2
Purchased: 8
Library: 167
Standouts
Teen (Selected in September) Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein (link leads to my review)
"The companion novel (not sequel!) to Code Name Verity delivers all the same grit and darkness of wartime. I've seen some reviews that say it's darker but I think it's a different quality here."
Tween (also selected in September; that was a good month): The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
"This is a standout pick because of Oscar, who is shy and bewildered by anybody who is not a plant or a cat. Ursu's deft, honest narration brings you right into that place with him."
Children: (selected in August): Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
"On a family visit to Taiwan, Pacy struggles with being in a place where she feels like an alien but is expected to feel right at home. For every kid who's ever been caught in the middle and had to carve out their own place, this is for you."
Soooooo. That was 2013.
I've been thinking about the way I read lately, especially since KidlitCon. In the past, I've tried to read one book a day on average. I'm getting to the point in my life where that's just too much, and I'm reading for the sake of reading fast. There's probably any number of reasons for that, but the effect is that I'm not enjoying the actual reading as much, and that's . . . well, guys, that's just awful.
So, I'm giving myself permission to slow down. To cut my TBR list, to renew my library book if I need to instead of hurrying to finish it, to request books for review only if I'm excited about them, to take as long as I need to over a book, to give myself enough time out to review them if I want to. That's another thing: I've been so busy pushing myself to finish more books that I haven't been writing about them, and what the heck is this blog for, if not that?
I'm also giving myself permission to read other books than the ones on my TBR list. Re-read old favorites, pick up a romance novel or a fascinating adult nonfiction book if I want to.
I guess my New Year's Resolution is to get back to the fun.
2 comments:
Good for you, Maureen! I hope you can get back to the fun. One of my goals for 2014 is to read more - not to blog more, not to review more, not to read any certain kind of book. Just to read more. Because I always want to ;-) Happy New Year!
Yes! My reading resolution for 2013 was to read LESS. In 2012, I found myself pushing to reach the goal I had set for myself and it was taking the fun out of it. In 2013, I set an easily-achievable goal that made me feel better about reading (and taking breaks from reading when I need to!). And I actually ended up reading more than in 2012! (Nowhere near a book a day, but still.) So I think you are setting a great goal!
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