Books I've Read in 2013

When I got an e-mail from Goodreads with the books I've read in 2013, I thought it was a great idea to write a post with what I've read, and what's on my list for 2014!  Since I only joined Goodreads in March, it wasn't totally up-to-date, but luckily, I use my blog to write book reviews!  (Books I've reviewed here have links to the original posts.)

Before I share what I've read this year.  I added a widget from Goodreads to my sidebar.  It will show the ratings and reviews of books I've recently read, AND it will also show what I'm currently reading.  Also, feel free to check out my Reading List page.  I also found and added a widget from Goodreads with my current books to read.

1. The Little Book ~Selden Edwards

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2. The Casual Vacancy ~J.K. Rowling

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3. The Kingmaker's Daughter ~Philippa Gregory

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4. The Poisonwood Bible ~Barbara Kingsolver

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5. Gilt ~Katherine Longshore

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6. The Giver ~Lois Lowry

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7. Gathering Blue ~Lois Lowry

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8. The Messenger ~Lois Lowry

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9. Number the Stars ~Lois Lowry

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10. A Spear of Summer Grass ~Deanna Raybourn

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11. Redeeming Love ~Francine Rivers

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12. Between Shades of Gray ~Ruta Septeys

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13. The Phantom Tollbooth ~Norton Juster

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14. Hatchet ~Gary Paulsen

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15. The River ~Gary Paulsen

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16. Inferno ~Dan Brown

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17. The White Princess ~Philippa Gregory

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18. The Perks of Being a Wallflower ~Stephan Chbosky

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I didn't review The Phantom Tollbooth, Hatchet, or The River  here on my blog mostly because they are books that I only read because my students chose to read them for reading class.  I did enjoy all of them, though, and I have two of the other books about Brian Robeson (by Gary Paulsen) on my reading list.

I literally read Inferno, The White Princess, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower from December 23rd to December 28th.  I LOVE Christmas break.  :)  I WILL have my reviews for these posted soon.

So there you have it!  I read 18 books in 2013!  I have decided to set myself a reading goal for 2014.  I want to have 20 books read by this time next year.  I have one more book I picked up and have marked as "currently reading" on Goodreads, but I haven't officially started it yet.  So I think that I'm going to have that be my first book of 2014.  

What was the best book you read in 2013??

Year-In Review: Blog Stats & Popular Posts

It's New Year's Eve!

Scott and I have plans to go out to dinner at this amazing restaurant with a bunch of our awesome friends!  I'm sure it will turn out to be a great night and a great way to say farewell to 2013 and welcome 2014!

With 2013 coming to an end, I thought it would be fun to take a look back over my most popular posts (and other blog related stuff) from this year.  I moved to Blogger from WordPress in January, so there's plenty to take a look at!

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Blog Stats from January 2013-December 29, 2013
Page views: 18,555
Posts: 205
Followers via GFC: 100
Followers via Bloglovin': 46
Top 5 Search Keywords that led people to my blog:

• rebeckann.blogspot.com
• dr. pepper pulled pork
• the rest of the ingredients (This is weird.)
• glee
• and so i'd have to say that (This one is really weird.)

Top 5 Viewing Countries:

1. United States

2. Russia

3. Germany

4. France

5. United Kingdom

Top 10 Posts of 2013

1. Lasagna! (I am very flattered by this one.  It's just a basic recipe from the back of a box of lasagna noodles, but I share how I make it and variations I've tried!)

2. Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork 

3. Potato Salad

4. It's Ok Thursday 3/7 (Read this one at your own risk.  It's the one where I share all the things that were NOT ok that day!  I had a really difficult school year last year.)

5. Dinner Time Tuesday: Ribs

6. Influenster VoxBox: Colgate Total Mouthwash

7. Dinner Time Tuesday 3/5 (This is the one where I tell you how I very simply throw together my chicken salad....with FRIES!!)

8. I have Thoughts  (This is my most recent post on the list.  I share some thoughts on the whole Duck Dynasty controversy.)
9. Feeling Glee-ful (Oh... :(  In this post, I gushed about my Glee obsession just days before Cory Monteith- who played Finn Hudson- passed away...)

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10. Dinner Time Tuesday 2/5 (I share my chicken Parmesan "recipe.") 

Thank you all for making my blog part of your 2013!  I hope to continue to enjoy your comments and blogs into 2014!