Sunday Salon: January 6, 2013

Happy New Year! (yes, I know it is the 6th already but this is the first TSS since we welcomed 2013). I hope you all had a nice holiday season and New Year and are settling into 2013. My family was here until Wednesday this week and it was great to spend so much time with them. I went back to work on Wednesday and, although I first wondered why I hadn't just taken vacation until Monday the 7th, now I am glad to have three days under my belt and not walking into a firestorm at the office tomorrow. The short week definitely helped ease me back into work!

  Challenges
Looking back, I did pretty well with challenges in 2012 - a first for me. I think it was because I was measured in my sign-ups and the levels to which I committed for each challenge so I am planning to do that again this year. In the meantime, I want to wrap up the challenges I took part in for 2012. I wrapped up successful completion of the Ireland Challenge and The South Asian Reading challenge in an earlier TSS post, but here is the read-out on the others:

 What's In a Name 5: Finally, I finished this one! I love how the categories really make me think and hunt for books that fit. What I read (links for my reviews):
Topographical Feature: Dune Road by Jane Green
Something You Would See In the Sky: The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds by Alexander McCall Smith
Creepy Crawly: Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Type of House: The Bungalow by Sarah Jio
Something You Can Carry in a Pocket, Purse: Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Prunty
Something You Find on a Calendar: The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller

British Books Challenge : I signed up for 12 books but only finished 7 - there is always next year!
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
Dune Road by Jane Green
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Gold by Chris Cleave
The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds by Alexander McCall Smith
The Queen: A Life in Brief by Robert Lacey

Southern Literature : I definitely want to do this one again - I had some other books picked out for this year but reached my commitment level with others so I have a pile all ready to go for 2013!
The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain
Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (review not posted yet)

Mount TBR: This is a much needed challenge for me and I am ashamed to admit I did not succeed - I will try harder in 2013 (running out of places to put the books).  I cleared 7 books off the shelves - goal was 12.

I will post about my selected challenges for 2013 next week.  For those of you still considering challenges, I will be hosting my Immigrant Stories Challenge again this year.  I hope you will considering participating or helping to spread the word about the challenge!

Downton

Downton Abbey is back, Downton Abbey is back!  I am counting down the minutes till 9 tonight when I can settle in with the Granthams! Right before the holidays, I hosted a giveaway for the newest Downton book - The Chronicles of Downton Abbey.

Selected by Random.org, the winner is Carrie from Fitness and Frozen Grapes!  Enjoy!

Have a great week!