Starry Says – Episode #66 — ’22 Book Year in Review

Manuscript Word Count (MWC) – 74,545

2023 Reading Goal to Date – 0/124

In 2022, I spent much time thinking about books and reading. Not only did I exceed my Goodreads goal of reading 100 books, I also continued to regularly post Starlight Book Reviews (SBR). As mentioned in Episode #65, I completed 3 out of 5 Stellar Reading Challenges (SRC) by the afternoon of December 30. The next day, I also finished the 2022 Sacred Text SRC. Click here to read about last year’s SRC. I officially kick off the 2023 SRC on Sunday, January 15 so there’s still time to complete last year’s SRC.

Below are what I consider my “Top 9 Reads” in 2022. Some books I read for various SRC, others just happened to be stellar reads for last year. I listed the fiction in alphabetical order by author’s surname, nonfiction in order Dewey Decimal Codes. Books with SBR are linked.

Fiction

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Curse of Salem (Bishop/ Special Crimes Unit #20) by Kay Hooper

Nothing to Lose (J.P. Beaumont #25) by J.A. Jance

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Nonfiction

Bible in 90 Days

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

The Combat Diaries: True Stories from the Frontlines of World War II by Mike Guardia

Skybreak: The 58th Fighter Squadron in Desert Storm by Mike Guardia

Prophetic City: Houston on the Cusp of a Changing America by Stephen L. Klineberg

How about you, Gnomies? How was 2022 in books for you?

Starry Says – Episode #65 — 3 Out of 5 Isn’t Bad

Starry Night Elf’s ’22 SRC Status – 30 December 2022 | © Starry Night Elf

Manuscript Word Count (MWC) – 74,545

2022 Reading Goal to Date – 124/100

Each December, I announce the Stellar Reading Challenges (SRC) for the upcoming year. With each batch of SRC, I learn something I want to do for the next year. As I know that any sort of reading challenge takes extra time for me to begin and end, my SRC start mid-January and end the following mid-January.

Towards the end of 2021, I determined I appreciate even more buffers than late starts. Heck, I still posted Starlight Book Reviews (SBR) through the end of February because I ran out of time in 2021. So, I decided to try SRC which only required up to ten books, with down time for part of January and all of December.

I think this served me well. I wrapped up the two 100 Years SRC earlier this week and completed the Local SRC last month. Click here to read more on the 2022 SRC. I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts on the 2022 SRC in the weeks to come.

I anticipate finishing the Sacred Text SRC tomorrow, New Year’s Eve. I also find myself eager to start reading the Bible again in a version to be announced in 2023. Once this happens, I will have finished four out of five of the SRC.

The only SRC that remains unfinished is the Foodie one. I did eat something from a book and reviewed it but I wanted to try out more eats. Someday, maybe I will.

All and all, this is to say, I think 5 SRC per year with ten “on months” suits me well, Gnomies… and I surpassed my Goodreads Reading Goal of 100 Books.

How do you feel about any reading challenge, SRC or otherwise?

Regardless, I thank all my Gnomies for continuing to read and follow me and I wish you a most stellar 2023!