A Personal Note of Reflection
As I sit here contemplating my blogging journey so far, I’m honestly at a loss for words. I’ve considered doing many different types of posts to celebrate this milestone, even just ignoring it and doing a regular review. However, nothing has really felt right. So, I guess I’ll just go with a reflection post. It is in the blog’s name after all. 🙂
When I started blogging in March 2021, I knew nothing about it. I’d never really read any blogs before, and I made the decision to start on a whim. I had recently quit my Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology after going through treatment for neuroendocrine cancer. I was hiding from COVID and rarely left my house, and my days had become a blur with little structure or purpose. I started reading a lot in late 2020, which was fun but also added to the isolation because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about my books other than my wife, who doesn’t read that much. So, I started looking online for ways to express my bookish opinions and maybe make some money doing it. I still don’t make any money (LOL), but I’ve definitely enjoyed the community I’ve found here. I am eternally grateful to everyone who has visited the blog and liked or commented on a post.
The road to 500 posts hasn’t always been easy. There have been plenty of days when I feel like this is pointless. There have been numerous others where I’ve been bored or burnt out. Honestly, I kind of feel that way now. However, I cannot imagine leaving this behind even on those days. This journey has enriched my life in ways I never expected, and I don’t want to give that up. I get bored easily and have always bounced around between careers, jobs, and hobbies because of it. For the first time, I think I’ve found something I want to stick with for a long time to come. My blog will likely transform a lot over the next 500 posts, I’m sure, but I definitely want to be around long enough to reach 1000 posts and beyond, whatever that looks like. That’s actually one of the things I like about blogging. It can be whatever I want to make it, both visually and content-wise.
Thank you for coming along for the ride so far. I look forward to sharing my love for reading for a long time to come. 💖
Books I’ve Read Because of Blogging
One of my favorite things about blogging is finding new books to read. My TBR has exploded since March 2021, and the number of books I’ve read has increased significantly. Truthfully, almost every book I’ve read since March 2021 should be listed here. Prior to blogging I read a small amount from a tiny, repetitive list of authors, who are actually no longer in my top authors at all. The depth and breadth of my reading has expanded considerably. I can’t list them all, though. Therefore, here are 10 of the 5-star books that blogging most influenced me to pick up because I’ve seen them everywhere. Have you read any of them?
10 Favorite Posts
500 posts is A LOT to sort. However, 10 posts stand out to me as favorites. Some are reviews of books I loved and am super proud of, while others are tags, reflections, or memes I enjoyed.
- ARC Review – The Spear Cuts Through Water
- ARC Review – Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
- Magical Readathon Character Introduction
- The Book Recommendations Book Tag
- Top 5 Tuesday – Top 5 Books That Changed My Life
- Book Review – More Happy Than Not, Deluxe Edition
- The New Superman Is Bi! (My Thoughts & Reactions)
- Book Review – She Who Became the Sun
- Book Review – The Darkness Outside Us
- Book Review – Star Wars The High Republic: Into the Dark (MY FIRST POST!)
Some of My Favorite Bloggers
I’m hesitant to even write this list because I’m sure I’ll forget to put someone on it. There are so many bloggers whose work I love to read. You all have influenced both my reading and my blog in numerous ways, and I’m thankful to have gotten the chance to know you. Please take a minute to check out all of their blogs! You won’t regret it because they have lots of awesome reviews, recommendations, and other bookish content.
- Celeste @ A Literary Escape
- Dini @ dinipandareads
- Caitlin @ Realms of My Mind
- Jordyn @ Birdie’s Book Nook
- Janette @ Wicked Witches Blog
- Julie @ One Book More
- Sahi @ My World of Books
- Jodie @ Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
- Kat @ KBbookreviews
- Shazzie @ reader@work
Congratulations on 500 posts!! That’s amazing!! Also love some of your favourite books you have included! I adored SWBTS and TBD, and I have a lot of the rest on my tbr! And thank you so much for including me on this list! I look forward to following your blog for a long time and watching how it continues to grow and change! 💜
Thank you! I look forward to following your blog for a long time too. 🙂
I’m honored to be mentioned here and congratulations on 500..!!! I’m sure you’ll get to 1000 with even more excitement and I’ll be here to cheer you on 👏👏👏
And now I’m gonna go back and read your favorite posts in case I missed any of them…
Thank you! That is super kind. I appreciate the support. 🙂
Awww, thank you for tagging! And congrats on 500 posts! It’s so great to find a community of people who *get* the hobby you’re into; here’s to 500 more posts!
Thank you! I honestly never expected to interact with so many great people when I started, and it is awesome. I thought I’d be shouting into the void. Lol
500 blogs in that time is a great achievement. Well done. Thank you so much for including me in your list.
Your blog is definitely one where I know I will find great recommendations and content. Here’s to the next 500 posts!
Thank you! I always love visiting your blog, as well, and all of our interactions.
Congratulations on #500!!! You put a lot of time and effort into your blogging and your passion for reading shows! I feel so honored to be included in your list. I’ll never forget you were my first book blogger friend! ^_^
Similar to how you’re currently feeling, I’m also feeling slightly burnt out. I think a big part of it is I’ve fallen behind on my reviews. But, to a certain extent, I’m a little tired of keeping up with ARCs, so I plan on reeling in my requests in 2023 and being super selective, probably sticking a lot with the Orbit books. Reading my backlist will be just as fun.
Thank you! I think all the ARCs are a large part of my problem too. I’m grateful to have access, but too many of them is just overwhelming. I was thinking of doing mostly backlist reading next year too. That was my plan for this year, though, and we see how that’s turned out. Lol.
Congrats on 500 posts; here’s to another 500 more! I definitely relate to feeling burnt out and feeling like blogging is pointless, but like you mentioned, the journey has been enriching, and I honestly feel like I would be tearing a part (probably a huge part?) of my soul if I just *stopped* blogging out of the blue.
Thank you! Yeah. There are definitely days I think about quitting, but I agree it would leave a huge hole in my life. It has just become such a big part of me that dropping it would feel almost like losing myself to some extent.
Congratulations on 500 posts! That’s such an amazing accomplishment. And I love some of the books you mentioned! I read The Song of Achilles because of recommendations from blogging friends, and I adored it!!! Thanks for the shout out 🙂
Thank you!
Oh, wow, I’m honored to be considered along your favorites!
Your writing is amazing and you’ve added to my tbr as well!
Congratulations on such a big millstone, and here’s to many more!
Thank you!
Chris!! Congratulations on 500 posts!!! That’s so awesome! 😃 I love constantly meeting new book lovers who give great book recommendations too. I love quite a few of the ones you mentioned above and I definitely wouldn’t have come across these books had I not been on here. Thanks so much for the shout—I’ve also added a few books thanks to your reviews and posts, and I always enjoy reading your reviews! 😊
Thank you, Dini! 🙂
Chris! I’m sorry I didn’t see this earlier — congratulations congratulations congratulations on 500 posts! That’s so, so, so much work. You consistently put out fantastic well-thought-out reviews, and I love reading your posts. Thank you so much for the shout out! I’m glad I ran across your blog 🙂
Thank you! 😊