Some thoughts on 2008

As I'm sitting here thinking about the year that has just passed I'm realising how quickly it went by. If I think about February, the month I moved into my lovely bedsit and started living on my own (no sharing) for the first time, it seems like just a month ago. At first I thought I might feel lonely, but in fact I've totally enjoyed my life without worries of unwashed dishes (mine), unwanted noises in the morning or at night (theirs), or just plain crazy flatmates.
The only thing I wasn't enjoying was my job in the new bookshop, which I endured till september when I moved back to my original shop. That time coincided with my starting the training to teach Italian. I need to acquire the practice experience to get the qualification and I've been going to Italian classes once a week since then, listening to an experienced teacher, who let me do something with the class at the end of the lessons. I found out I really enjoy doing this, so I'm thinking of starting to teach my own pupils, maybe at home, to get more experience and to earn some money too.
When I was working in the other bookshop I had to travel 1 hour and a half every day to get there, between bus and train. People thought that was my main problem, but actually the travelling was sometimes the best part of the day, because I could read loads! I trained myself to read on the bus without feeling sick, and it worked. I read much more than last year, thanks to all the travelling.
Looking back to my resolutions for this year, I can be quite proud of myself. For the most part I've enjoyed reading and even though I freaked out a little about the challenges, in truth, I felt quite liberated. I even took some books from the library, happily ignoring my tbr shelves.
I didn't write reviews right after finishing books, but I took notes sometimes and it helped. Also I tried to write a review for every book that I read, which I didn't last year. I think that's a great improvement. I want to try again this year to see if I can actually read a book and write a review straight away, or shortly after.
I've also almost finished the story I've been writing for ages, and that's mostly thanks to NaNoWriMo. As a resolution for 2009, I want to 1) finish the story 2) take part in NaNoWriMo for real.
Reading resolutions:
- try to read from the tbr pile as much as possible. There's plenty of wonderful books to discover there!
- don't fall behing with reviews
- read more

Other memorable things that happened in my blogging year:
-I started reviewing picture books and I've loved it. I'm looking forward to discover more gems this year.
- I've done the Read-a-thon. I really hope someone can carry on Dewey's legacy and organise it again this year. If I can, I'd like to help.

As for the books, I don't know if I can pick a list of favourites. But I'll mention a few titles that really stood out, and will probably make my all-time list of favourites.
-The Book Thief by Mark Zusak
I've read it early in the year but it's still up there, my absolute favourite. I've bought it for all my family and friends and I talk about it with customers all the time!
- The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
Close runner up. It made me want to read everything that Charles de Lint wrote.
And then in no particual order:
- War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
- Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
- Tales of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones
- High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- Nation by Terry Pratchett
- The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- Hellfire by Mia Gallagher

Reading recap:

Total books read: 69
Fiction: 61
Non-fiction: 8
YA and Kid's: 41 + lots of picture books...
Written by Men: 30
Written by Women: 33
Written by Men and Women together: 6
New Authors: 40
Re-Reads: 2
New Favourite Authors Discovered: Charles De Lint, Toni Morrison, Shannon Hale, Jenny Valentine, Mary E. Pearson, Emma Bull, Marjane Satrapi, Mia Gallagher, Nick Hornby, Dan Rhodes, Diana Wynne Jones, Louis Sachar.