Past and Future: Some Stats, Some Goals

I always love to read everyone's end-of-the-year wrap-up posts. Most years I track my reading very closely but something happened in 2013; I kind of forgot to fill in my database. I even failed to add reviews to my review index here on the blog. Ooops!

Thus this is a quick-and-dirty wrap-up post, that's very light on details. Besides my few lame stats, I want to share some of my thoughts on how my blog has changed and what you can expect in the year to come.

And I promise to catch up on my review index and my recipe index just as soon as I find some of that mythical free time I've heard tales about.

Lame Stats

First and last reviews: My first review of 2013 was an audiobook for middle grade readers: Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff. My last single review was for the final entry in a beloved cozy mystery series: Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters, also an audiobook.

Audiobooks: I listened to more than 70 audiobooks in 2013 for a total of about 970 hours.

Print books: I have no idea how many I read.

Most comments: My 5-year blogoversary post received the most comments this year. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to stop by and say yay!

Changes, Goals, and the State of the Blog

Reviews: Slowly over the last few months, I've eased up on my self-imposed pressure to write detailed, analytical, critical reviews of every single book I read or listen to. This one change has made my life, both on and off line, less stressful. Although I'm still motivated to write full, formal reviews of many of the books I read, I love the freedom to write about books in a variety of styles.

My reviews currently take several forms: full (formal) review, Bullet Review, quick review as part of Today's Read, in-progress review as part of Thursday Tea, and short grouped reviews (when I need to catch up). If my stats are any indication, you all like the variety, and the shorter reviews are gaining in popularity.

Challenges: I have given up hosting all challenges expect for the perpetual Amy Einhorn Books Reading Challenge. The link-up page for all AEB titles can be found on the gateway post.

New Types of Posts: In 2013, I wrote my first product review (for a phone case), introduced new features (for example, Who's Birthday Is It?), and reviewed more movies than in other years. Although I don't write a personal blog (and don't want to), I'm considering making my Stacked-Up Book Thoughts a weekly feature and using it to share some thoughts on my reading life in general (kind of like the Sunday Salon meme, which is now closed to new members).

After a week of best-of posts, photos, and wrap-ups, you can expect a book review tomorrow and Weekend Cooking on Saturday, as the familiar rhythm of Beth Fish Reads returns for another year. Happy New Year to all of you!