Reflections on the A to Z Challenge 23

A Reflections post. I think this is one of the most enjoyable parts of the A2Z Challenge. Looking back over the month, thinking about the blogs I’ve visited and those who visited me. And so, in no particular order…

Random Reflections

• I think this has been my most successful year for consistent visits–both visits to my blog and me visiting other people. I did have a couple of weekends off, but went back to it straight after.
• I was slightly disappointed by the number and range of the participants. 231 is a lot less than it used to be. I suspect that the amount of build-up that used to take place was missing, and started too late. Maybe our wrangler was busy with his book and other problems? I wouldn’t want to be wrangling something like this in the lead up to a book publication.
• I think that like me, the old hands were ready, on the whole. A lot of us had resorted to doing books. It’s a great topic, we attract people who read what we like to read, and in theory they might like what we write as well. Funnily enough, I only visited a few other types of book blogs regularly, and almost no ‘stories’. I may have missed out, but since I don’t get on with these installments through the month, I don’t go there. The same with poetry. You may think I’m a philistine, but I don’t generally get on with Poetry, with some notable exceptions (Liz)
• Certain standouts delivered as always – TarkaBarkaHolgy – your folklore was Magnificent, Csenge. Loved your approach to getting rid of your TBR, Ronel–bet it didn’t work. Miss Andi (Life with Mia) and Kristen (Finding Eliza) were a breath of fresh air every day.
• New finds – Ruth Blogs Here, and not only that she does wonderful, colourful paintings, and you should see her progression through the month! And I was overwhelmed with the detailed toolwork needed to create jewellery – all thanks to Maggie at From Cave Walls. Several very good craft blogs attracted me, including the dolls house which I gave several visits.
• I was also hopeful of the travel blogs, but although the photos were nice, there wasn’t much else in the ones I visited. Travelogue it was not.
• The most important reflections: how astoundingly grateful I was that I’d done most of my blog posts before even the theme reveal, as the combination of newly diagnosed arthritis and tendonitis in my hands and wrists made typing painful. I discovered that more of the blogs recognised my credentials without eternal retyping if I used my iPad. Others would only accept me if I was in Blogger mode. So although I tried to visit and encourage everyone (nearly), there were vast gaps in the people who actually find me on their visiting list.
• One person I missed was Lynne in Peterborough, and I’m glad to know she is recovering from Covid, but having signed up, dropped out for this year. Get well soon, Lynne, and see you next year, arthritis willing!

Grateful thanks

Grateful thanks to all who visited me and left lovely messages. And book suggestions! Oh, yes, the book suggestions – many complaints about towering TBRs all round! As I needed to sit and rest my hands, I ended up having a real reading binge during April. So much so, that I have only a net gain of 11 on my TBR!

One thing I thought, when nearing the end of my letter posts… All these books I’ve scrolled back through, looking for the covers, and they return to me as old friends. But what about the ones I look at think “what?” Did I ever read it? Did I review it? Why are they unmemorable? And… could I make that a theme for next time? A much shorter post each day, hopefully! ‘The A to Z of books not to bother with’. Hmmm, maybe ‘forgettable books’? – how to lose friends, perhaps?

Thanks for visiting, it is much appreciated, and I will get back to your blog, even if I can’t demonstrate it with a comment. So frustrating.