I missed Melwyk's post again, somehow, but I love the idea of using the first line of the first entry of the month as a way to review and reflect on one's year in blogging. A somewhat representative picture of the entire year can be had, it seems, by hopscotching in a measured way. At least this year I'll get the post in before the clock rolls over to 2014!
Funnily enough, we start this year with... last year's first lines!
January
Even though I'm a little late with it this year, I always enjoy this post.
(first lines meme 2012)
February
I love that my adult book club asked to read this book.
(A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
March
This book has everything: murder, politics, possible elopements and runaways, battles, mysterious heroes, snowstorms, fires, and more.
(The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters)
April
I have absolutely no excuse for taking over a month to finish this book, because it's really fantastic.
(Bird Sense by Tim Birkhead)
May
This book grew on me.
(Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill)
June
You're not likely to see a lot of parenting books show up here.
(Just Because it's Not Wrong Doesn't Make it Right by Barbara Coloroso)
July
One of the reasons I write this blog is to examine my own reactions to what I read.
(The Zabime Sisters by Aristophane)
August
I would have done better with this if I'd written the review right after finishing the book, but so it goes.
(Books by Larry McMurtry)
September
I do so love my adult book club.
(Cheating Death by Dr. Sanjay Gupta)
October
This is a book I've been holding on to for a long time.
(Days of Sand by Hélène Dorion)
November
There is something about Margaret Mahy's writing.
(Heriot by Margaret Mahy)
December
"Evidence that science doesn't know everything: Science will tell you that the Northern Lights are silent, cherry blossoms have no scent, and the likelihood of Santa Claus actually existing is low, to say the least."
(Coal Dust Kisses by Will Ferguson)
So, my determination to actually fully read the books I assign to my book clubs is showing up here; three of those twelve first lines are from reviews of books I've read for the adult book club I lead, where we read adventurously from many different genres. I seem to be getting over my self-imposed anxiety about reading to a deadline, but it helps that I don't worry too much if I haven't managed to finish the book by the time the meeting rolls around. All of my wonderful groups are very forgiving.
Also, I have been a lot less finicky about getting my posts up in a "reasonable" time this year; occasionally I'll finish a book and let it go a week or two before I finally post my thoughts. This more relaxed mode seems to work for actually writing about the books, rather than getting so behind like I did last year, but can come back to bite me, as my August first line points out; occasionally, if I didn't love or dislike the book, I can forget enough about it that I am at a loss for what to say.
It looks about right for the year - a mix of things I really enjoyed, and some disappointments, but overall a very solid reading year for me.
4 comments:
Oh, this IS a fun way to look back on your reading! I, too, am becoming less finicky about my reviews. I think I am going to experiment with new ways of reviewing next year, for books that are either not that complicated or ones that are TOO complicated for my normal reviewing style.
I think those of us who have been blogging for a long time manage to keep on blogging because we can be flexible, right? If there are things we are doing that aren't working, we change them, or try new ideas or experiment with new styles. It keeps the pressure off, and it keeps things fresh, too.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
I agree, blogging with no pressure is the only way to stay at it.
Love your first lines -- very, very bookish indeed! :)
I was going to count the number of times "book" appears in the first sentence of one of my reviews, but then I decided I'd rather not know. ;)
Thanks for the idea again this year!
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