Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 728
Well here we are at the end of another year and with a month that turned out to be unexpectedly productive. Who could have predicted that because it was also a really, really busy month. I’ll probably have another rejig of the format of this post for next year, I’m not quite sure how yet but I’ve got a month to think about it haven’t I! I’ve also been thinking about my reading goals and aims for the year but that’s a story for another day. I’ve already told you about my favourite books of the year – you can find those links here, here and here. Onwards we go!
Bonus picture: one last Christmasy photo from the walk to work last week in the Twixtmas.
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including this month
Most read author: probably Margery Allingham because of the Campion re-listen
Books bought: 5 ebooks, two preorders and think that’s it!
Books read in 2023: 313
Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 708
An okish month. It went a bit off course at times, but towards the end I think I was getting my mojo back. Onwards into November and the start of the real run of Christmas reading…
Bonus picture: a houseplant success – I’ve killed one of these before, nearly killed another and yet – this one has got a new shoot coming!!!
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including this month
Favourite book this month: Hard to chose actually – either We Could Be So Good or Maiden Voyages I think.
Most read author: Still Simon Brett as I finished the Mrs Pargeter binge
Books bought: 6 books, 3 ebooks and three pre-orders
Books read in 2023: 283
Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 707
Well, it was a slow start to the month, but the two weeks off – with a couple of trips and plenty of reading time sorted it all out. And now we’re into the last quarter of the year and I probably should take another look at that Read the USA list to check what I’m missing and start working on the gaps now…
Bonus picture: the Teide volcano on Tenerife off in the distance from the interior of Gran Canaria.
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including 1 this month
Most read author: Georgette Heyer if you’re counting the Audiobook re-listens, Simon Brett if you’re not – with two Mrs Pargeters.
Books bought: Astonishingly only one ebook, although a pre-order of Codename Charming arrived, and five books – four of which came on one afternoon, mostly in The Works! I’ve added a couple of pre-orders to the list – all stuff that’s coming much closer to Christmas.
Books read in 2023: 252
Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 704
I still need to work harder on the non fiction, and some of those long runners of mine are non fiction so it shouldn’t be as hard as I’m finding it. But basically it wasn’t a bad month in reading all in all. Lots of mysteries, a few good romances and reminders of more than one series I had forgotten about!
Bonus picture: I will never be over the Freddie Mercury auction show, so of course it’s another picture from that. This is the last weekend before it all goes under the hammer and I wish I could go back again for another look.
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including 3 this month
Most read author: if you don’t count the Georgette Heyers in the audiobook re-reads, then it’s Kate Carlisle – with the latest Fixer-Upper mystery and one of her Bibliophile mysteries
Books bought: 11 ebooks, 10 books and two pre-orders arriving. Oops
Books read in 2023: 221
Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 699
I need to do better on the non-fiction front, but apart from that, I’m doing ok on the variety front but perhaps not so much on the purchasing one…
Bonus picture: the Albert Memorial after the Proms the other night. What a sunset. And so much gold leaf…
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including 1 this month
Most read author: Sherry Thomas – all three novels in her Fitzhugh series and one of the novellas too.
Books bought: 5 paperbacks, 8 ebooks bought, 3 preordered paperbacks and one pre ordered ebook arrived.
Books read in 2023: 191
Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 693
Quite a satisfactory month in reading all in all. Lots of new books read, I don’t think the physical pile got any bigger (although it also didn’t get any smaller!) and loads of stuff that I’ve wanted to tell you all about. I’m actually not sure how much I have left to write about in the Quick reviews I’ve already written about so many of them. But I’m sure I’ll manage somehow. And of course the major victory here is that I’ve already posted my New Summer Romance Recommendsday – because usually I’ve been very, very bad at getting any summer reading recs out before the summer is nearly over!
Bonus picture: some peonies in the wild that are much more impressive than the plant in my garden. They really are my favourites.
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including 1 this month
Most read author: If we discount the re-listening, then it’s Josephine Tey (two books) or Michael Cragg (Reach for the Stars is 600+ pages!)
Books bought: 9 ebooks, plus 2 new ebook preorders and then 5 books and 2 arriving pre-ordered books. So quite a few…
Books read in 2023: 158
Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 698
I read some really good stuff in May, but also some really less good. Still not everything is going to be for me and I did have a really excellent April so it all evens out. I’m very pleased with my progress down the to-read shelf – I was on track for a net reduction this month – until a little buying spree on the 31st. Oopsie daisy!
Bonus picture: the downstairs plant shelf enjoying the spring sunshine. I’ve added a few more to the collection this month too…
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including 1 this month
Most read author: if we discount the Ngaio Marsh re-listen spree, then it’s Kate Carlisle with three Fixer Upper mysteries (and a fourth started).
Books bought: This is tricky because I bought a few in person and they’re harder to keep track of when they arrived (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) but 3 ebooks and five actual books, plus the arrival of the preorder of Romantic Comedy which came with another book I’d ordered from the same place at the same time so already counted previously.
Books read in 2023: 126
Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 696
A good month in reading. There were some real stinkers, but there were many more really good ones and for once I did most of the NetGalleys that I had earmarked for the month. As I said on Monday, three bank holidays this month and who knows what that’ll mean for the reading, but I’m hoping it’s good things!
Bonus picture: this is from my walk to the rugby ground – it looks like it could be in the middle of nowhere, but it’s actually in a not very big park in a fairly central part of town. It’s all about the angleS!
*includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – including 1 this month
Verity Reads Books (lots of them) 