David Pearce – Popular Culture and Personal Passions 2023 Highlights and Hidden Gems

It’s that time of the year where everyone seems to be reflecting on the 12 months past. In 2023 I have written 56 new blogs, beating my intended target of averaging one blog post a week. The 26 posts associated with Blogmas helped of course! Some of my posts got a lot of views – by my standards anyway – and some definitely need more! So, I will choose 5 of my most successful blogs for those who might have missed them, and my 5 favourite blogs this year that didn’t pick up a lot of readers first time around. I will go chronologically and add a line or two to explain why I think they are good reading

Blog 1 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at the BFI

Only 19 reads for this, but this reflection on a childhood movie and a childhood crush was well received by those who did read it.

Blog 2 What Are You Doing Here? by Floella Benjamin

56 reads for this blog about the autobiography of the year, my highest of the year for one of my 2023 entries. Floella Benjamin’s life is simply an incredible and inspiring read.

Blog 3 The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers

25 reads for this review of a book that is one of the best I have read this year. Give the review and the book a read if you have any interest in music.

Blog 4 A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll – A Personal Reflection

A book that explained to me why my Asperger’s has affected me in the way it has. It is the most revealing book I have ever read on a personal level. 20 views so far for a book I am incredibly evangelical about.

Blog 5 Extended Review Lines of Flight More Than Human EP

30 views for this first in an ongoing series of reviews followed by a Q&A. Lines of Flight kindly agreed to help me out by becoming the first subjects for this in-depth treatment.

Blog 6 Villager by Tom Cox

My second most read new blog of the year was seen 47 times, which is very pleasing for such a good book. Find out why this very original novel is a must read.

Blog 7 The Tomorrow People Re-View

The most famous episode of the original series, The Blue and The Green still hits the spot 50 years on. Just 23 views, but for any child of the 70s it’s a real trip down memory lane.

Blog 8 The World of Work 1983 Style

A look back at my first ever job and the way we worked back then. It is a reflection on changing times that 23 views, but which would strike a chord with anyone who was in the workforce then.

Blog 9 Extended Review Karmaa – Thrones EP

My favourite artist of the past 3 years is simply amazing on this EP and the Q&A is really revealing on both sides. It has to be worth more than the 15 views it has received.

Blog 10 Blue Peter Eleventh Book Re-read

A large proportion of my Blogmas entries have received fewer than a handful of reads. This one only has 3 to its name, but I think you’ll find it really interesting.

Well, thank you for reading to the end. There are 10 blogs here, and another 40 or so for you to choose from, so please consider giving them a first, or even a second, look.