Reading Challenge: 2013 Recap

In 2013, I started the year with a goal to read 50 books throughout the year. I chose this number based on the fact that I read 40 *new* books in 2012 and the fact that I wanted to re-read several of my favorite series. In 2012, I tried to limit the number of books I re-read but I missed some of my go-to favorites so I wanted to revist some of them in 2013.

The beginning part of the year was off to a great start! By June I had read 25 books and I was halfway to my goal, running right on schedule. However; mid-way through June I got a new job which lead to several adjustments in my lifestlye, having to commute about an hour and a half a day, and traveling for work which I had never done before. Then in September another big life change happened when I got engaged and started quickly planning for a November wedding! Needless to say, the second part of my year was a bit more full than I was used to and I had to adjust my goal accordingly.

In October, I decided to reduce my goal back down to 40 books. Alas, I was sad to do it but it just made sense for me this year. I'm happy to say that I did reach my 40 book revised goal! Here is a link to a list of all the books I read this year!

Another goal I had was to post a book review blog about each of the books I read, I fell a little short of that goal with only 25 posts. 15 books I read didn't get properly reviewed so here is a short recap of those books:

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens - Really excellent story about a woman who escapes after being kidnapped and how she copes with returning home. 4/5 stars
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashers - I love this series, wonderful stories of friendship and growing up. If you haven't read them you should and I particularly love the final installment Sisterhood Everlasting which follows the girls in to their adulthood.  5/5 stars
Memoirs of a Geisha - This was a book club book, a classic for sure and I'm glad I read it. I never would have sat through it on my own, thanks again book club! 3/5 stars
Her Fearful Symmetry- Strange story of two twins who travel to London to live in there recently deceased aunts flat that she bequeathed to them. A little bit of a ghost story with family dynamics but very strange all around. 3/5 stars
The Heros of Olympus Series (Books 1-3) by Rick Riordan - I love this series as much as the Percy Jackson series! I'm about to start book 4 and am on pins and needles thinking about how I'll have to wait until October for the final installment. 5/5 stars
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker - Another book club choice, but this one had been on my to-read list for a while. Unfortunately, this book has no plot. Apparently the concept came from a short story that Karen Thompson Walker has previously written that she expanded in to a novel. It should have remained a short story. Really interesting concept, but not novel worthy. 2/5 stars
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris - Really funny, at least the the first story about his time working as an Elf at Macy's. The rest was also funny but not as good as that first story. 3/5 stars
Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell - I hated this book. I was expecting a story about friendship and ended up with a memoir mostly about alcoholism. 1/5 stars
The Maze Runner by James Dashner - Pretty good, I was told that since I like those dystopian YA novels that I should add this to my reading list so I gave it a try. It was only okay if I'm being honest and I'm not that eager to move on to book 2, I might eventually though. 3/5 stars
Allegiant by Veronica Roth - Loved. It. So. Much. If you're intregued by the trailers for the upcoming Divergent movie you really really should read the books. This final installment was a little different from the first two but so perfectly concludes the series. It's a tear jerker, that's for sure! 5/5 stars

To read about the other books I read in 2013 check out my Reading Challenge blog posts here!

In 2014, I took my goal down a bit to 30 books. I'd rather read more than my goal than have to reduce it again, looking forward to more reading this year!