Second Birthday!

January 17, 2012 by Claire (The Captive Reader)

The Captive Reader turns two today! It seems bizarre to write that. Has it already been two years? Has it only been two years?

My first year of blogging was exciting and nerve-wracking in a rather magnificent way. When I started, there was so much I wanted to do, so many other bloggers I wanted to impress and befriend, just so much I had to say after having spent years without any bookish friends. I was intoxicated to find amazing people all over the world who loved the same books I did and, what was even better, loved to discuss them.

This second year has been even better. The insecurities that plagued me during my first year (will they like me? Can I say that about this book? How do I respond to their comments without sounding like a ninny…no, wait, still haven’t totally come to grips with that last one) have largely vanished as I’ve come to feel comfortable in the community and more confident of my role in it. I look forward to hearing what readers have to say if I post a negative review of a popular title and I no longer worry about reviewing books I loved that I know most of my readers couldn’t care less about (though sometimes you surprise me and those are the best days of all). I’ve discovered authors I had never heard of or never even considered trying before I started blogged, who have fast become my favourites; it’s difficult now to imagine not loving Angela Thirkell, Guy Gavriel Kay, or Anthony Trollope but I’d never read a word by any of them before last January. And of course I’m endlessly amused by keeping track of my stats and pondering just what people find when they come to my blog having used the search term “Indian boarding school photos” or “the royal corgis” (and how they decided that this was the most likely link to click).

Most of all, this second year has been wonderful as I feel I’ve come to know so many of my readers and fellow bloggers better. I value the friendships I’ve made online and was thrilled to meet Simon and Darlene when I was in London in September, both of whom I deeply admire and who I am delighted to call my friends. I am constantly amazed and thankful that there are so many people in my life now with whom I can share my enthusiasm for reading. That was exactly what I had hoped for when I started this blog two years ago and the discussions we’ve had over the years, the friendships that have formed, the support I’ve received has far exceeded what I’d dared to hope for.

Thank you all for a wonderful two years!

51 Responses

on January 17, 2012 at 00:18 | Reply Harriet

Happy birthday to you and long may you continue with this delightful, beautiful and informative blog.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:03 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Harriet.
on January 17, 2012 at 00:25 | Reply Mystica

Happy birthday and many more happy years ahead.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:04 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Mystica.
on January 17, 2012 at 00:29 | Reply Simon T

Happy birthday Claire! And thank you for your kind words – it was so lovely to meet you. Almost as soon as I found your blog, it became one of my very favourites, and it still is. I’m here at least once a day, usually more, and you just get better and better 🙂
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:05 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Simon.
on January 17, 2012 at 00:38 | Reply Chris Harding

Thank you for the blog – and Happy Birthday! I hope you intend to celebrate with cake and candles. I discovered blogging after redundancy and, like you, I love the fact that I can share my own bookish enthusiasms and ‘meet’ people all over the world. And I love discovering authors and books I haven’t read before and trying to broaden my horizons a little.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:07 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Chris. There was in fact cake (though less for my blog birthday and more for the dinner party we hosted, but it was very celebratory and delicious)!
on January 17, 2012 at 01:07 | Reply Geraldine

Happy 2nd blogday to you.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:07 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Geraldine.
on January 17, 2012 at 01:10 | Reply verityjdo

Happy bloggy birthday – what a lovely post. I’m glad you’ve got so much out of it.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:07 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Verity.
on January 17, 2012 at 03:28 | Reply bookssnob

Isn’t blogging a joy! I can’t believe you’ve been going for two years! I remember when you first started and how lovely it was to have someone else who liked the same books as me! I can’t even remember how long I’ve been blogging but it really does get better every year. Congratulations on your second year and on being such a magnificent writer – I always love your posts! And I’m still sorry I didn’t get to meet you 😦 one day we will have to rectify that!
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:08 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Rachel. I was sad to miss you in September but hope our paths will cross soon!
on January 17, 2012 at 04:19 | Reply Lisa

Adding my congratuations – and best wishes for many more years of sharing books with us! And not just the reviews, as wonderful as they are – but also the beautiful libraries, and the photos, especially of your travels.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:08 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Lisa.
on January 17, 2012 at 04:25 | Reply Susan in TX

Thank you to you, and happy birthday! I had to laugh at the “ninny comment” – even we commenters struggle with that insecurity. 🙂
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:10 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Susan. Comments are so frustrating (to leave and respond to) but they the best part of blogging! No matter how short the message, I’m always excited to find someone has left one.
on January 17, 2012 at 04:31 | Reply Angie S.

Happy Birthday Blogster!
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:10 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Angie.
on January 17, 2012 at 05:02 | Reply Joan Kyler

Congratulations and best wishes on your anniversary! I visit your blog every day. So many wonderful books and authors to share! I love this blogging world of friends.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:10 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Joan.
on January 17, 2012 at 06:36 | Reply lifeonthecutoff

Congratulations and Happy Blog Birthday! It is always a joy to visit you here on The Captive Reader, Claire; from your excellent reviews to you library loot and lust and beyond. Here’s to many more.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:11 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Penny.
on January 17, 2012 at 07:03 | Reply Susan D

Happy Birthday.

I’m surprised to read it’s only 2 years, which means I must have found you almost from the get-go. I assumed you’d been around all along, with DGR, Simon SIAB and Random Jottings and Darlene’s Roses.

So, seems like I’ve been coming here forever.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:12 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Susan. It’s quite the compliment to be compared to so many of my favourite established bloggers.
on January 17, 2012 at 07:50 | Reply Jeane

happy bloggy birthday!
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:12 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Jeane.
on January 17, 2012 at 09:04 | Reply shelovestoread

Happy Blog Birthday 🙂
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:12 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks!
on January 17, 2012 at 11:11 | Reply Margaret Powling

May I add my congratulations and say a big “Happy Blogday!” Yours is one of the few that I read these days … I have tried out many but time being short for reading blogs, I now confine myself to three or four and yours is up there with them. May you continue with many more posts.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:14 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Margaret.
on January 17, 2012 at 12:35 | Reply Darlene

Happy blog birthday, Claire! I can’t tell you how many times I have craved one of those veggie burritos smothered in halloumi since that night out with you and Simon! Hopefully we’ll have a chance to do it all again but next time I’ll fast all day so I can finish.

Thanks for providing such a lovely place to explore interesting books, confuse me over what I’d have as my dream library if I won the lottery and oh, those photos of out west! Here’s to many intriguing posts in the future…enjoy!
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:15 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Darlene. Those burritos were excellent – if I ever go back I will certainly have to try one with halloumi!
on January 17, 2012 at 12:36 | Reply Anonymous

Happy Blog-birthday Claire. I have been a lurker on your blog for a year now and thanks to you have been introduced to many new authors. Keep up the good work.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:15 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you so much for reading and for delurking long enough to leave a comment!
on January 17, 2012 at 13:47 | Reply Linda

Congrats on your two year anniversary! Here’s to many more years!
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:16 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Linda.
on January 17, 2012 at 14:57 | Reply Lucy

Congratulations!

I love reading your insightful posts and also enjoy seeing all the beautiful pictures of libraries 😉 As long as you’re posting, I will continue reading 🙂
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:16 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Lucy.
on January 17, 2012 at 15:37 | Reply LynS

Happy blog birthday. As a relatively recent reader, I’m really enjoying your blog. At the moment I’m waiting with interest to hear what you think of Trollope’s ‘Doctor Thorne’ – it’s one of my favourites. I’ve just finished rereading Trollope’s ‘The Bertrams’. Fascinating. One of his most annoying (but oddly entertaining in retrospect) novels for all the authorial intrusions and directions; oddly structured and unbalanced in its narrative, and very revealing of Victorian obsessions with money, honour and race.

Best wishes for another year of book blogging.
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:17 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thanks, Lyn. I’ve only just started Doctor Thorne but I am very much enjoying it!
on January 17, 2012 at 18:07 | Reply Jenny

Happy, happy birthday! Many happy returns of the day!
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:17 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Jenny!
on January 17, 2012 at 19:38 | Reply Audrey

Congratulations!
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:18 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Audrey!
on January 18, 2012 at 03:27 | Reply Alex

*raises glass with bubbly* Happy blogversary Claire! It’s been a pleasure to be around your little corner of the www 🙂
- on January 18, 2012 at 14:18 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you, Alex!
on January 20, 2012 at 19:55 | Reply Aparatchick

I just want to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. Here’s to many more years of The Captive Reader!
- on January 20, 2012 at 19:56 | Reply Claire (The Captive Reader)
  
  Thank you so much!
on January 28, 2012 at 09:13 | Reply Phaedosia

Congratulations! I really enjoy your blog.