December is a time for relaxation and reflection - for the most part. While I was able to snatch a few moments to look back at the year that was, a blogger's task is never done, and I've already been busy with what the coming year will hold. Despite all that, here's hoping you all had a great Christmas and New Year - and if you're still interested, here's how mine finished off ;)*****
Total Books Read: 11
Year-to-Date: 130
New: 9
Rereads: 2
From the Shelves: 3
Review Copies: 5
From the Shelves: 3
Review Copies: 5
From the Library: 3
On the Kindle: 0
Novels: 6
Novels: 6
Novellas: 2
Short Stories: 2
Non-Fiction: 1
Non-English Language: 11 (8 Japanese, 2 Korean, French)
Short Stories: 2
Non-Fiction: 1
Non-English Language: 11 (8 Japanese, 2 Korean, French)
In Original Language: 0
Aussie Author Challenge: 0 (1/3) - BIG FAIL :(
Japanese Literature Challenge 8: 8 (12/1)
Japanese Literature Challenge 8: 8 (12/1)
*****
Books reviewed in December were:
1) The Adventures of Shola by Bernardo AtxagaBooks reviewed in December were:
2) Dinner with Buffett by Park Min-gyu
3) Texas: The Great Theft by Carmen Boullosa
4) The Republic of Užupis by Haïlji
5) Rain over Madrid by Andrés Barba
6) Wayfarer - New Fiction by Korean Women, edited by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton
7) The Flying Classroom by Erich Kästner
8) Zone by Mathias Énard
9) The Bird by O Chong-hui
10) Arpan by Park Hyoung-so
Tony's Turkey for December is: Nothing
Nothing to report this month - luckily I had four saved over the year for Christmas ;)
Tony's Recommendation for December is:
Mathias Énard's Zone
I reviewed several excellent books this month, and many of the writers can consider themselves unlucky to miss out on the top prize. I was sorely tempted to opt for Haïlji's Kafkaesque trip through Lithuania, but the reality was that one book was in a class of it own - for a week or so, I was truly in the zone ;)
With 2014 done and dusted, it's time to look ahead to 2015, and (of course) I've wasted no time in getting the new year off to a literary start. You see, the first month of the year is all about January in Japan, my personal attempt to get more people interested in J-Lit. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, please feel free to join us :)
