2020: my year in books

So in 2020 I have read 83 books. This includes novellas and short stories. Four of them could not be registered on GoodRead because one ‘A Fahrenheity Christmas’ was a compilation and three were short stories and not ‘in print’ as such. I had read them online as sited in my review. However, as you can see below I have bought a physical copy

When I look over the past three years since I started this blog in May 2017, a year in which I began to have more time for reading, I read 57 books. 2018 was 68 books and 2019 65. So this strange year of 2020 when so many turned to books for comfort, solace and respite from the ‘real’ world I too had a bit of a spike – about a third more books on those previous years!

January

Mexico Street | The Liar’s Daughter

February

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

March

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

April

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

May

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

June

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

July

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

August

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

September

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

October

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

November

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

December

Just pop the name of the book into my search engine to go to the review page.

During the year I joined in with so many book events, book tours, book blitz, book promotions, cover reveals and a few challenges. Also, a few music events online. Whether it was just the odd tweet, a review, viewing or blog post. Here are just a few of those I enjoyed.

I have documented some challenges: The 1920 club reads; 20 Books of Summer reads; Orentober reads; with the Reading Ireland Month 2020 it was more about support through tweets. That leaves the reading bingo to be looked at.

More than 500 pages: The Lincoln Lawyer | A Forgotten Classic: A Burglars Christmas | Book to Movie: The Hell Bay series (Pulpit Rock) is in production for TV / already a film: The Lincoln Lawyer| Book published in 2020: so many! Includes Mexico Street | Book with number in title: Three Hours | Book whose author is under 30: The Cut Glass Bowl| Book with a non-human character: Rain before Rainbows| Funny Book: Bang, Bang You’re Dead!| Book by a female author: At least 3/4 of the books I read! Includes: Avenge the Dead| A mystery: Murder Unjoyful | One word Title: Betrayal | Book of short stories: several! Includes: Christmas is Murder | On a different continent: Paper Sparrows| Non fiction: Memories | 1st book: The Plankton Collector | Heard about online: The Sins of the Father| Bestseller: Three Hours (Sunday Times)| Based on a true story: From Highlights to Lowlifes| From TBR pile: Perfect Remains | My friend loved: Pulpit Rock – and so did I! | Scary book: Gone| Book over 10 yrs old: Case of the Demented Spiv| 2nd book in series: In Plain Sight| With a blue cover: Old and Ugly

2021

I doubt that 2021 will see me reading quite so many as 2020, although you never know, so I have set a target of 52.

This may seem low but I want to change my reading focus through this year. It will be a moderate change which will really only begin to kick in from May/June time.

I am going to move away from reading quite so many new books and ARCs. This is partly because I have to catch up with some of my favourite series books, partly because I am getting a large pile of books bought but unread (yes, my TBR pile is growing!) and partly because I want to read more classics.

I have been gifted, or bought, quite a few of the Penguin cloth bound classics. Whilst they are beautiful just to look at and hold I feel that it’s time to read them – some will be stories that I am returning to but there are also those that I have not yet read.

If I do well I hope it’s more than 52 books this year but some of them maybe weightier tomes so I don’t want to get ahead of myself!

I will continue to read ARCs, new books and go on the occasional blog tour. Indeed several months are booked up already through 2021!

The first read of 2021 is indeed a BlogTour and I’ll be posting on the 6th January. I’ve really been looking forward to this book.

Here’s 👇🏽 a little clue!

Finally…

So, let me just take this opportunity to wish you all a New Year that will bring everyone a better, brighter, kinder, healthier and safer time.

One where we will, once again, be able to meet with family and friends – in reality not just across the ether – without fear or worry of giving or catching this thing that has devastated the world in 2020.

Still, a good thing that has come from it is that books have touched so many over the past nine months. They have helped so many to get through the year. I hope that the love of reading stays with us and that it continues to grow.

We have many people to thank through this year for all they have done, shown and given us. Frontline workers, key workers, charities, our communities, authors (they write those wonderful books), artists (painters, poets, actors, musicians) who have made our lives more liveable. They have fought for us, shown us their love and given us such precious gifts. Thank you, so very much.

Here’s to a peaceful, healthy and happy 2021!