January 2024 in Retrospect: What I Read/Listened to/Wrote About

Before I get into anything, I want to give a shout-out to the tech wizard behind all this, Micah Burke, who (seemingly effortlessly…but probably not) got this site updated and fixed overnight. Hopefully the comments that I inadvertently broke are back online–many other things behind the scenes are much improved, too. You’re a legend, sir. Check out his website, buy one of his pics, hire him for something…

I finished 17 titles (10 down from last month, 3 down from last January), with an equivalent of 5,655 pages or the equivalent (2,250 down from last month), and gave them an average of 3.89 stars (.1 up from last month). I’d realized that I was taking longer with most books this year, I just didn’t know it was that much slower. I’m okay with that number–I only track so I can see how I’m spending my time–it’s just strange for me. Another thing that stood out to me is that my Traditionally vs. Indie Published ratio isn’t what I hope for, but looking at my TBR for the year, that should level off.

Most of my writing was focused on 2023, but I tried to keep a hand in and an eye on 2024 as well, with decent results. I left a couple of items on the drawing board, but not enough that I care. All in all, I’m calling this a good month and a strong start for ’24 for myself and for this wee lil’ blog.

Now, next week something’s happening in that part of my life that pays for all this. I don’t know how that’ll impact my posting frequency or my reading and listening. I’m pretty sure it will…but what do I know? The last 3-4 times I’ve said something like this, no discernible change was visible. Stay tuned, I guess.

But let’s get back to January, here’s what happened around here:
Books/Novels/Novellas Read/Listened to

Book 3 of The Azure Archipelago

Still Reading

Ratings

	1		0
	3		1
	8		0
	3		0
	1
		Average =	3.88

TBR Stacks/Piles/Heaps

Breakdowns:
“Traditionally” Published: 14
Self-/Independent Published: 3

Review-ish Things Posted

• Such Sharp Teeth (Audiobook) by Rachel Harrison, Kristen Sieh: Hallmark’s Werewolves
• Miles Morales Suspended (Audiobook) by Jason Reynolds, Narrated by Guy Lockard & Nile Bullock: Who Needs a Mask? Miles Can Carry a Story on His Own
• I’m Not Sure How to Write About The Blacktongue Thief (Audiobook) by Christopher Buehlman, But I Really Liked It
• Clearing the Deck II: Tweet-length thoughts about books I can’t find time to write about
• The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett: This Mystery/Fantasy Hybrid is My First 5-Star Read of the Year
• The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 43: Missing Things by R. T. Slaywood: A New Home
• The Existence and Attributes of God by Shephen Charnock, edited by Mark Jones: This Time-Honored Classic Matches Its Reputation
• Warriorborn by Jim Butcher: Butcher Serves Up Quite the Appetizer Before The Olympian Affair
• America Fantastica (Audibook) by Tim O’Brien, Oliver Wyman (Narrator): Nothing Fantastic…or Worth Bothering With
• Grandpappy’s Corner: How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide by Ame Dyckman, Jennifer Harney
• The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 44: Bound in Darkness by R. T. Slaywood: What Did You Say?
• Silly Rhymes for Belligerent Children by Trace Beaulieu, Len Peralta (Illustrator): Wonderfully Weird Poems for Children of Most Ages
• The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown: We All Know Books are Magical, but Some Books Really Are Magic
• Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett: I Can See Me Becoming a Slavering Fan of This Stuff…
• The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 45: Implications by R. T. Slaywood: Maybe I’m the Problem…
• Death in the Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan: If It Weren’t for You Meddling Bookseller and Your Stupid Dog…
• The AItheist by Michael J. Svigel: Do Apostles Preach to Electric Sheep?
• Grandpappy’s Corner: What’s in Your Howl? by Douglas Gamble, Illustrated by: Steve Humke, Terri Isaacson: If Only Ylvis Had Asked This Question Instead…
• The Last Dance by Mark Billingham: The Dancing Detective and the Whingeing Widower

Other Things I Wrote
Other than the Saturday Miscellanies (6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th), I also wrote:

• The Irresponsible Reader in 2023: Thoughts, Thanks, and Stats
• MUSIC MONDAY: Auld Lang Syne by Radio Company
• Fourth Quarter Check-In/Wrap-Up: 2023 Plans and Challenges
• Grandpappy’s Favorites of 2023
• My Favorite Audiobooks of 2023
• My Favorite Non-Fiction Books of 2023
• My Favorite Non-Crime Fiction of 2023
• My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2023
• My Life in Books 2023
• MUSIC MONDAY: Here’s To The Losers by Extreme
• My Favorite Crime/Mystery/Detective/Thriller Fiction of 2023
• 2024 Plans and Challenges
• Book Blogger Hop: The To-Be-Read List
• MUSIC MONDAY: Treasury of Prayers by Joe Pug
• Top 5 Tuesday – Top 5 books I will definitely* read in 2024
• Opening Lines: Hacker by Duncan MacMaster
• MUSIC MONDAY: Linus and Lucy by Foggy Mountain Spaceship
• Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Meant to Read in 2023 but Didn’t Get To
• I’m Curious: Know Any Good Orcs?
• MUSIC MONDAY: Aiga by Shepherds Reign
• Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023
• WWW Wednesday for January 3, January 10, January 17, January 24, and January 31, 2024.

Enough about me—how Was Your Month?