December 2014 Wrap-Up

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 😉

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Total Books Read: 11
Year-to-Date: 130

New: 9

Rereads: 2

From the Shelves: 3
Review Copies: 5

From the Library: 3

On the Kindle: 0

Novels: 6

Novellas: 2
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)

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Books reviewed in December were:

1) The Adventures of Shola by Bernardo Atxaga
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 😉

 

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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 🙂