I’m still working on my Top 10 list for 2008, so I thought I’d wrap up a few things first.

My personal reading goal this year was 60 books.  Unfortunately, I only completed 46.  That’s even less than the number of books I finished last year.  The plus side is that there were a lot less DNF this year.

Harlequin’s 100,000 Book Challenge book count has passed the 30,000 point.  It will be extended, so we’ll get the chance to reach 100,000 by the end of next year. Approximately 54% of the books I read this year are from one of the publisher’s imprints (they ask that at least 50% be from the publishing house).  Harlequin will donate the equal number of books we read to the National Center for Family Literacy.

I’ve completed a total of 8 challenges (not counting the Harlequin book challenge) and there are  5 challenges that I did not complete.  I’m participating in one perpetual challenge that started this year and there are four more challenges that started in 2008 and will end in 2009.

This year I’ve awarded 19 books with a Five Star (LOVED IT!).  Sixteen books were given a Four Star (Liked A Lot) and nine others were given a Three Star (Enjoyed it!).  Only two books this year, that I finished, were awarded a Two Star (It Was OK).  In 2007, I did not award stars until the end of the year, and looking at how things panned out this year, I think I like that method better.  There are several books that I would have graded lower in retrospect.

As for the new year, I will probably tweak the look of the reviews (list ISBNs, etc).  I’ve noticed that my reviews do not follow any one format (back blurbs sometimes, sometimes not; some more lengthy than others, some with more personal feelings).  Maybe a more structured approach to the reviews will help me when I sit down to write them and maybe I get them done faster, too.  I haven’t decided whether I will change how I grade a book, or when I will bestow it.  I guess I have a little time to make a decision.  Looking forward to starting to starting all the new challenges!

Happy New Year and Happy Reading

Christina