Wrapup for 2024

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 Usually I would sum up all the challenges I finished and the best books of the year, and so on, but this year I didn't finish any challenges and in fact I hid in the familiar and in children's literature for months on end.  And that is just fine!  2024 was an extremely difficult year, with the exception of the fantastic adventure of the Ridgeway hike, and I lost almost all my reading energy.

I took refuge in Diana Wynne Jones, Joan Aiken, and other children's literature or Ridgeway books (not enough of those, I have quite a few now).  I'm only slightly disappointed in myself for not reading the many, many heavy-duty books on my library and TBR shelves.  This was not the year.  

So what's my plan for 2025?  

  • I hope to regain my reading energy, but I'm not taking on any challenges.  I do want to keep posting here, even though I'm so bad at it these days and so few people are book-blogging at all; it's really valuable to me to be able to look up books I've read in the past.  
  • Topics I'd like to read about include my usual preoccupations with history -- especially as pertaining to women and eastern Europe; all things UK, especially walking; and whatever corners of classic literature I have yet to poke my nose into.  I may try to learn about the French Revolution.
  • I'm going to try to be choosier and to that end, I weeded 4.5 bags of books out of my house, which is nowhere near enough but certainly helped.
  • I want to keep reading my favorite children's authors so I don't wind up in a wasteland of incredibly depressing books. 

I'm not super optimistic about 2025 but who knows, and anyway, reading books and being happy are always needed.  Excelsior, my friends!  And to quote Julian of Norwich, who I did read this year, 

'It is true that sin is the cause of all suffering, but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'

I miss proper sparklers

 

Comments

  1. Silvia CachiaDecember 29, 2024 at 10:09 PM

    Been there! Children’s books are wonderful if they’re wonderful children books, and you know which they are! I hear you about not adding any challenges pressure and I wish you the best for 2025!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM

    Our comfort reads are important, even if they are children's books. I have lots of middle grade books on my shelves I enjoy reading. Hope you do regain your reading energy, Jean, for your reading plans for 2025. Wish you peace and happiness and strength for 2025. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Robin McCormackJanuary 2, 2025 at 4:25 PM

    Oops, I guess I'm not signed in. Robin from My Two Blessings and Read 52 Books

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeanJanuary 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM

      Thanks Robin! And good wishes to you too.

      Delete
  4. Cleo @ Classical CarouselJanuary 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM

    What happened to all of us book bloggers?! How did we lose all our steam? I've started posting again but we'll see how long I can keep it up. Your 2025 plan sounds sensible for where you're at. Please keep posting your reads. You're one of the few people who makes my TBR list grow longer and it would feel weird for it to stop, lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeanJanuary 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM

      I know! I feel the same way! I've seen you post here and there just the same as I do, trying to get it back and not quite sticking. But let's keep going!

      Delete
  5. looloolooweezJanuary 5, 2025 at 6:06 PM

    Sometimes whole years are just not "reading years", you know? When everything else is a struggle in some way, it's natural and healthy to allow your spirit to take refuge in the well-worn good stuff again instead.

    Speaking of Diana Wynne Jones, I just recently finished Howl's Moving Castle and LOVED it. I read some of her other work as a kid and am considering doing a little comfort-rereading myself this year.

    And hey, 4 and a half bags of books actually sounds like a great start :)

    Hoping 2025 is kinder to you! Excelsior!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeanJanuary 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM

      Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I highly recommend continuing. And a happy 2025 to you too

      Delete
  6. Jenna @ Falling LettersJanuary 7, 2025 at 9:26 AM

    Hi Jean! I can't recall how I came across your blog, but I recently added it to my feed reader. I read a lot of middle grade so I can understand the comfort of children's literature. I hope 2025 is a better year for you, with many great reads in store whether children's or otherwise :)

    ReplyDelete

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