2021 Reading Wrap-Up

I had a goal of 38 books to read in 2021 - they're listed at the link if you're interested. I read 10 of those books in the first 3 months of the year! At the very beginning of April, I received some news that turned my world upside-down. I haven't had the desire, time, or mental/emotional energy to read fiction since then. I've read a lot of self-help articles online and a couple non-fiction books. I finally picked up a fiction book again the day after Christmas and I'm hoping to get back into reading next year.

In 2021, I participated (sort of) in the Back to the Classics, Chunkster Reading Challenge, and other challenges/goals of my own. I didn't read a Christmas book this year, but I  did read a play - which I try to do every year! I also started a book club with my friends, but that only lasted 2 months before it fizzled out. Below is what I read in 2021, organized by challenge. My reviews are linked to the book titles.

Back to the Classics Challenge:

Note: I read 6 books, so I get 1 entry into the drawing.

1. 19th-century classic 

(published 1800-1899)

-The George MacDonald Treasury (1858-1895)

    -Phantastes   

    -The Light Princess

    -The Giant's Heart

    -The Golden Key

    -At the Back of the North Wind

    -Lilith

by George MacDonald 

(Scottish, 1824-1905)

2. 20th-century classic (published 1900-1971) 

-The Innocence of Father Brown (1911)

by GK Chesterton (English, 1874-1936)

3. Classic by a woman author

-Shirley (1848)

by Charlotte Bronte (English, 1816-1855)

4. New-to-you classic by a favorite author

-The Professor (written 1846 - published posthumously 1857)

by Charlotte Bronte (English, 1816-1855)

5. Children's classic

-The George MacDonald Treasury

    -The Princess and the Goblin (1872)

    -The Princess and Curdie (1883)

by George MacDonald (Scottish, 1824-1905)

6. Classic play

-Press Cuttings (1909)

by George Bernard Shaw (Irish, 1856-1950)

Chunkster Challenge:

1. The George MacDonald Treasury (1858-1895) - 650 pages

by George MacDonald 

(Scottish, 1824-1905)

2. Shirley (1848) - 480 pages

by Charlotte Bronte 

(English, 1816-1855)

3. The Circle Opens Quartet 

-1,266 pages; by Tamora Pierce 

(American, 1954- )

Author Challenges:

1. Bronte Sisters - COMPLETE!

(English, 1816-1855)

-After reading Shirley and 

The Professor in 2021 (both by Charlotte), I have read all 7 books published by the Bronte sisters!

-You can read all my reviews of the Bronte Sisters' books by clicking the link above.

2. Tamora Pierce 

(American, 1954- )

-The Circle Opens Quartet
     -Magic Steps (2000) - Sandry
     -Street Magic (2001) - Briar
     -Cold Fire (2002) - Daja
     -Shatterglass (2003) - Tris
-I started the final Circle trilogy the day after Christmas!

3. Mercedes Lackey 

(American, 1950- )

-None read in 2021.

Ranked Books - Best and Worst:

I use a CAWPILE Rating for each of the books I review. This year, I would consider the books I read either average or good. There were no horrible books - nor great ones. 

Nonetheless, here are the top 3 books and bottom 3 books from 2021:

1. Briar's Book - Street Magic (2001) - The Circle Opens #2 - 8/10

by Tamora Pierce (American, 1954- )

2. Tris's Book - Shatterglass (2003) - The Circle Opens #4 - 7.9/10

by Tamora Pierce (American, 1954- )

3. The George MacDonald Treasury - averaged together = 7.7/10

    -The Princess and the Goblin (1872) - 7.3/10

    -The Princess and Curdie (1883) - 8.1/10

by George MacDonald (Scottish, 1824-1905)

8. Press Cuttings (1909) - 5.9/10

by George Bernard Shaw 

(Irish, 1856-1950)

9. The George MacDonald Treasury

    -Phantastes (1858) - 5.9/10

by George MacDonald 

(Scottish, 1824-1905)

10. Daja's Book - Cold Fire (2002)  - The Circle Opens #3 - 5.1/10

by Tamora Pierce 

(American, 1954- )

I hope there will be a Back to the Classics 2022 reading challenge, but nothing has been posted yet. I have a large TBR shelf right now, so I'm planning on focusing more on that next year rather than doing a bunch of online challenges.