Ally Aldridge Book Tube, Books, Goal setting, Reading Challenge, Review, YouTube

Which Reading App – My 2023 Reading Stats

Published on YouTube on 27th December 2024

Which is your favourite app for tracking your reading journey?

I have used Goodreads for years. I started using Story Graph this year, and very recently I started using Fable.

I thought I’d share what each is like and if I have time, I’ll also do a longer YouTube video comparing them. There is another reading app I use too called Litsy. However, at the time of writing, I cannot log into that app so shall not be covering it.

Which of these is your favourite? Is there another one I should check out?

Fable Reading App

Published on YouTube on 1st January 2024.

I actually finished one more book after making this video and before the year was out – 2023 total was 25 books, that’s an average of a book a fortnight. I’m really pleased with that.

Fable Reading App

I discovered this app via Lemon8 but was reluctant to download another reading app. But, I kept seeing it, so in December I decided to give it a go. This app is VERY new to me. Initial reaction is I wished I downloaded it sooner. It has a really good community. It literally is a social media app just for readers.

I joined my first book club. We are reading IceBreaker by Hannah Grace. I’ve new been in a book club before but it’s fun to try new things.

The round up on this app asks you to pick your top 5 books to make a summary image. Oh my gosh, picking just five was sooooo hard. I’d struggle to pick only 10, but 5! Aghhh!

Blood Moon – Borrowed from the library. Thought it would be about shifters or vampires, but it’s a teen romance with coming of age themes like starting your period.

Scythe – This is a dystopian with a lot of gore. The world building and characters is epic, I loved the whole series.

The Diseased Ones – I’m currently reading this series but this is book one. It’s about a society that has put lawed super powers as a disease that must be irradiated. Think Marvel, seen in the future.

The Guidal – Another futuristic super power series. This one has a more magical feel, and more romance. There’s so much to love, and the series gets better and better.

Trouble – I checked this out as the author was one of YALC’s ambassadors, and the book blew me away. It’s a dual POV romance with coming of age themes like pregnancy and bereavement.

Sometimes my Top 5 also included Making Trouble by Rachel Churcher #dystopia , The Girl Behind the Glass #fantasy by April Grace, and Glass House #paranormalromance by Rachel Caine, Hunger Games #yadystopian by Suzanne Collins.

Fable: Follow what I’m reading on Fable–it’s free! https://fable.co/redfae-239209522672

Story Graph

Published on YouTube on 29th December 2023

What is Storygraph?

Someone on Lemon8 mentioned Storygraph earlier this year and I checked it out. I wasn’t ready to give up on Goodreads so decided to use both apps.

What I love about Storygraph is that it shares stats about your reading. Without this app I’d say I don’t tend to consume audio books, but it turns out I’ve finished more audio books than print books. I’m not surprised to see ebooks is my top medium.

I do read non-fiction but I don’t record it. The fiction genres chart shows I mostly ready YA and Fantasy, which is no surprise. And, I noticed I’ve been very into dystopia this year, however, I was surprised Romance wasn’t higher. I don’t tend to like books with no romance.

In the app, you can click on any of the chart segments to see more. For example, I can find out which books I read that were fast paced, or that I rated five stars. I think it’s fun to see my reading habits in charts. It’s been interesting.

Do you use Storygraph? Here’s my profile for Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/redfae

Good Reads

Published on YouTube on 28th December 2023

I’ve used Goodreads to track my reading for years.

I love how you can set a reading goal, and how at the end of the year it shares your stats. I set my yearly goal at 18 books. I am a slow reader and it can take me a month to finish one book! I didn’t want the challenge so hard that it was unrealistic and demotivating. I ended up reading 23 books and there’s a chance I could finish one more before the year is over.

I like tracking my progress on my current reads and seeing the percentage complete is rewarding for me. I love writing reviews so I can reflect on what I liked about the books. I’m good at choosing books I love which is why my ratings are high. I don’t force myself to read a book that doesn’t appeal to me. Most my reviews are 4 to 5 stars because I love them. 😍

I’m not surprised that Hunger Games is the most shelved book as it’s had so much publicity, whereas a Soul of Glass and Fire is a less well-known indie book. I’m going to continue using Goodreads, and will likely set my 2024 goal at 18 again, because it worked well this year.

My Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4150643

Ally Aldridge Books, Festival, Fiction

Felixstowe Book Festival – Children’s Events

There was plenty of choice for kids this year with many events being free of charge and no need to get a ticket. This is great for parents with young kids who have no idea how their kids will be feeling on the day or even awake at the scheduled time. My biggest challenge was how to fit in activities for my children when there were so many events I wanted to go to for me!

Story Walk in the Woods

The first event we attended was at the Grove, out local woodlands.  The event was run by Elly Crichton Stuart who led the children (or get them to lead us) through the forest and hunt out spots for story telling.  During our walk she shared a total of ten stories.  She was animated in her story telling which appealed to the children and often got them involved.

Sitting on a log, the first story she shared was the Grufflao that she recalled from memory.  The children were all familiar with this one.  Later, sitting by a large oak tree, she shared a Scottish tale about a White Stag and  a girls trip to fairyland.  Next, the children sat on a tree stump whilst she shared with them a fable about a pigeon and an ant.  Finally, on the field she told a story about the Loneliest Giant and how the salt water shrank him.  She encouraged the children to not forget the stories she shared with them and to tell them to others.

You can find out more about Elly by clicking here.

Bread Babies

I had not planned to go to this event, but whilst at an event of my own, I was told about it and when I asked my son if he would like to go, he did.

This event was run by author Richard O’Neil and took place at The Bakery which was a very fitting venue considering the story being shared.  The children all sat beautifully at the back of the bakery, listening to a very imaginative tale of a Baker that decided to make bread babies for their customers but there was enough dough left over to make a life size baby. Once baked the big baby vanished only to turn up in the home of a couple that desperately wanted a baby of their own but never had such luch. Now the bread baby is alive and they adopt it.

It was a very entertaining story and Richard shared it in a way that engaged the children.  I was very impressed with how Noah paid attention and even whispered “Our baby isn’t made of bread?”

At the end, the owner of the bakery kindly shared some bread babies that she had baked for all the children – there were even some little redhead (jam) ones.  My compliments to the Baker – they were so delicious and didn’t make it home.

To learn more about Richard O’Neill and his books, you can follow him on Twitter or visit his website.

If you liked this post, you will enjoy:

Spotlight on Summer Literary Dates calendar

A local girls guide to Felixstowe Book Festival

What you need to know about Children’s Picture Book Publishing

Art and craft with Arty Mouse

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