I thought it was time to share the results of my 2023 challenge of attempting to read my height in books.
I read several books on Kindle in 2023 so I got the dimensions of each book off Amazon and worked out that together they added approximately 5.8 inches. I then went hunting around the house to find something that would represent that on the pile of books. My husband found a notebook which when stood up was the correct height, hence the book stood up on the top of the pile of books.
So here is the final picture!
I did it! The stack of books measures 67.5 inches and I am 67 inches. I’m so pleased because I was rather worried I hadn’t made it again but finally I have managed to complete the challenge. The stack is made up of the 72 books that I read in 2023.
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?
Hello!
My first week in 2024 has been wonderful for reading. I am thoroughly enjoying my free time and rather dreading going back to work next week because I know I won’t be able to read so much.
What I am Currently Reading
I actually read two and a bit chapters of The Shadow Rising today so I am already ahead with my challenge of reading one chapter a day. I had forgotten just how good this book is but I did read it in 2014 for I have forgotten quite a bit. The Earl and the Pharaoh is a fascinating read and a real eye opener about how the super rich lived in the 1890’s.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I crammed quite a few books in the last week of 2023 and here is three of them. I have the full set of the Penguin Classics little black books but have only read a few so it was good to tick a few more off the list.
What I Think I will Read Next
This year is all about reading the books I own and these are currently sat in a big pile waiting to be read.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
It has taken me quite a while but I think I have finally decided what my bookish goals are for 2024. I started thinking about this in December and I have changed my mind quite a bit but I think I have finally settled.
Goals for 2024
Read 50 books
Read 24 books that I own in 2024 (official list will be published soon)
Finish the Shardlake series by C. J Sansom
Read at least one chapter from The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan a day. I started The Shadow Rising yesterday and have read just over 2 chapters so far.
Keep going with my Maigret, Agatha Christie and Classics Club challenges.
Keep up to date with my book reviews.
Reading 50 books is my lowest ever Goodreads Challenge but this year is going to have some massive books in it so I thought I would go for a lower challenge. If I get to 50 before the end of the year I will increase my challenge but 2023 I had to lower my challenge and I don’t want to do that again.
I really want to make a dent in my TBR pile this year. I own so many books and it is time I read them rather than just adding to them and ignoring them. I have chosen 24 books off my shelves and these I plan on definitely reading this year. I also plan on getting rid of more books this year. Any books I rate at two dragons or below are leaving the house and never returning!
My husband has finished the Shardlake series but I have only read 3 of the books so I thought this year I would actually finish a series. I’m not great at finishing book series so this will be a challenge.
My Agatha Christie challenge got rather ignored in 2023 so I need to get back into that. Maigret and Classics Club challenges have just been chugging along nicely.
Book Reviews! I am always behind with my book reviews. In fact I have about 10 I still need to do for 2023. For 2024 I plan on writing my reviews as soon as I finish the book. Hopefully, I will manage this but it might take me more discipline than I will have, especially when I’m back at work and tired.
So there are my goals. What are your goals for 2024 or are you free styling it this year?
I got more reading done in December than I was expecting. December was a very busy month for me work wise so I was quite surprised just how much reading I managed. I am still really behind with my reviews though!
I hope everyone has had a good week so far. I have managed some wonderful reading over the last few days which has been really useful to completing my Goodreads Challenge.
Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.
Hello!
How is everyone coping with the weird time between Christmas and New Year? I am loving all this time I have for reading, oh and drinking loads of tea. I also went for a lovely walk today between all the rain we have been having so that was also a bonus.
Anyway, back to the books. These are the books I got for Christmas off my lovely family.
World of Wonder by Aimee Nezhukumatathil – My niece and nephew bought me this book for Christmas and it is a really nice surprise because I have never heard of this book before. I’m really excited to read this book as it looks fascinating.
The Earl and the Pharaoh by The Countess of Carnarvon – This was on my wish list and I dropped quite a few hints to my husband. My husband thankfully picked up on the hints and bought me this wonderful book. I have already started reading it and I adore it. I just love the writing of The Countess of Carnarvon, she is so good at getting the history across.
Diddly Squat: Pigs Might Fly by Jeremy Clarkson – I have already read this book in basically one sitting. I love the Diddly Squat books and this did not disappoint. Thankfully, this was another book I dropped a lot of hints for and the husband picked up on. I have a very good husband!
I hope everyone had a good Christmas with lots of book shaped presents under the tree.
The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights by various authors
Blurb
The tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories, authored by some of today’s most loved and lauded writers of historical and gothic fiction, are all centred on Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret, these stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights.
Featuring new and original stories from Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jess Kidd, Natasha Pulley, Elizabeth Macneal, Laura Purcell, Susan Stokes Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Stuart Turton, and Catriona Ward.
Review
I spotted this book by the checkout when I went to buy a pile of books from the bookshop and thought that looks intriguing. I’m so pleased I decided to buy it because once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.
Some of these stories really creeped me out but there wasn’t one story that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. The one which really got to me was The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins, I will be honest I wasn’t keen on switching my lights off at night after reading this story. I was convinced I would see something moving in the moonlight or hear something moving. I did feel disappointed with this story because I felt like it finished just as it was getting interesting. I wanted to know more!
I find it far too hard to choose a favourite story from this book but I think the ones I enjoyed the most were Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley and Widow’s Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman. Widow’s Walk was predictable but very cleverly done, nothing was quite said out loud so it made your imagination run wild. The Salt Miracles was excellent and a really good story I would have loved more of, in fact I would happily have read a full book about this storyline.
Quite a few of these stories were along the lines of if you are bad you get punished which could be a little repetitive but because the stories were so varied I didn’t mind this at all. Some of these stories were new authors for me but I will definitely be exploring more of their work especially Natasha Pulley whose writing style I absolutely loved. Her use of description painted the scene perfectly and I loved her characters.
I really loved this book and as all the stories were set either in Advent or Christmas it was the perfect read for December. I think I will read The Haunting Season next year during spooky season. I give this book a big 5 out of 5 Dragons.
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Lady Book Dragon 